He tilts his head, pushes his glasses up, and rests them on top of his head. He stares at me without even blinking. “Does that bother you that I’m not going to let some man come up and talk to you?”
I shrug, not wanting him to know exactly what that possessive glint in his eye does to me. I swear he’s claimed me with that look and doesn’t even realize it. “No, but I'm not going to get any closer or get intel if you're hovering over me.”
He reaches out like he's going to grab me but then stops suddenly and drops his hands at his sides. “That's not the mission. You are not the target. You will not be the target.” He’s staring at me fiercely, and I know I’ve hit a button. This isn’t the reaction from just some man I work with. Bear may not want to admit it, but there’s more to this relationship between us.
I tilt my head back to look up at him, and for the first time, I wish I had my sunglasses still on. I’m almost embarrassed to ask, but I’m going to do it anyway. I probably shouldn't, but I can't stop myself. “Can I ask you something?”
He looks at me skeptically. “Yes.”
Before I can talk myself out of it, I blurt out, “This morning when I woke up—” and then I stop, suddenly not able to put the words out there.
He stiffens, and then I realize that maybe it wasn't my imagination. He's obviously not going to make a move, and I want to know something. I lean toward him, and my nipples pebble just from being this close to him. I'm so close. I take a deep breath, and I can feel them pucker against his chest. “I had a dream that something happened with us.”
He puts his hands on my shoulders. I don’t know if he’s trying to pull me toward him or push me away. I don’t think he does, either. He holds on to me firmly, though. “I didn't take advantage of you. I wouldn’t do that.”
I almost laugh. I already know that without him having to tell me, but I don't think he understands what I’m trying to say. “I know you wouldn’t, but would it be taking advantage if I wanted it?” As soon as the words are out, I hold my breath, waiting for his reaction.
He grits his teeth, and I lose my bravery and start to walk away. When I get to the edge of the pool, he grabs on to my waist to hold me. He pulls me back into the water, and my back is fitted against his chest. “Fuck, Sam. You might as well not have anything on.” I look down at my hard nipples and gasp before covering my chest. The bathing suit does nothing to hide my attraction to Bear, and obviously a white bathing suit wasn’t the right choice. I put my head in my hand, just thinking about him looking at me from behind. I can just imagine what he saw.
“Stay here,” he demands. He gets out of the pool, and my gaze follows him all the way over to our seats. He grabs a towel, and when he comes back to me, I notice the huge bulge in his shorts. I swallow thickly, my mouth watering. Damn, is that because of me? I get to the water's edge and barely get out of the pool before he's wrapping the towel around me. I mutter “thanks” to him and start to walk away, hoping I can get away and deal with my embarrassment. I’ve pretty much just thrown myself at him, and even though he’s interested, he’s not going to act on it.
I’m grabbing my things from the chair and about to walk back to the room when he stops me. “Where are you going?”
I try to hide my emotions and turn to him. “Well, I was trying to cool off, but I don’t think it’s going to happen.” He doesn’t say anything, and I throw my hands up in frustration. “I mean, is it just me? Is it one-sided or what? Because damn, Bear, I want you.”
His nostrils flare, and he takes a deep breath. He looks almost lethal staring back at me, eating me up with his eyes. I can see the conflict on his face, and then suddenly, he holds his hand out to me. “Come with me.”
I know that this is a big decision right now. I can either take his hand and see where he leads me and what could happen between the two of us, or I could live in my safe little bubble and wonder what could have been. It’s not even a hard decision to make. I put my hand in his, and he pulls me against him. We walk toward the hotel, through the lobby and to the elevators. I can feel people watching us, but my eyes are on Bear. To anyone else, he looks mad. To me, he looks like a man that is about to lose control.