Compromising Kessen (Vandenbrook #1)(52)

“You can look now,” she said, putting her hair up into a ponytail.

The only good thing about the situation was, she knew she had a nice body. Granted Christian also had a nice body, but it would be good to be able to torture him for a change, rather than the other way around.

She wasn’t sure what she expected, but it was a lot more than what she got, which was a brief shoulder shrug and then his back turned toward her.

He actually turned away; he didn’t even look.

It made her want to try harder, despite the fact she knew it was an unwise course of action. She followed Christian carefully into the water, then paused; it was colder than she thought it would be. What she wouldn’t do for a hot spring!

On the last step, when Christian turned around to look at her, she tripped. It was supposed to be on purpose but ended up being by total accident, which made it look better than she had intended. Christian, always the hero, grabbed her before she went headfirst into the water. Her chest was now pressed against his. The plan wasn’t working how she had hoped. Instead of him being affected, she felt it was only her.

Her breathing had become so ragged, she was afraid she would pass out. Thankfully, Christian had enough good sense to let her go; otherwise, she would have mauled him right there in the middle of the water.

Didn’t he want her? What was wrong with him? He was more interested in her when she was fully clothed! Was it all a game? Did he want nothing to do with her? Was she not what he expected? Never in her life had she felt more insecure. She wrapped her arms around her middle and sat near the rock furthest from Christian.

****

She was insane. It was the only possible explanation for her behavior. Had she no clue the effect she had on him? He was quite honestly ready to take her right there underneath the waterfall, which he knew was probably not the most moral thing to do; nevertheless, he was a man, and sometimes men thought things they should not think.

Apparently, his brain was making a habit of thinking things it should not, especially in regards to Kessen. His earlier comment about seeing other women was said only out of anger and pure fear of the feelings she stirred within him.

He hoped to get a rise out of her; instead, she didn’t even put up a fight. She merely stripped down to her bikini and told him she was ready. He only needed a quick glance in her direction to confirm the pictures he had seen of her before hadn’t been retouched. In fact, she looked better in person, if it was even possible.

Her skin was a perfect tan against her white suit, and he could have sworn he saw sunlight pierce the clouds in the sky, highlighting only her, as if God was saying, “Take her; she’s all yours!”

How he wished it were true. The only reason he was able to even touch her after she fell strategically into his arms, was because he kept imagining all the horrible things that would happen to him if someone caught him ravishing the poor girl.

Her grandmother would probably cut off anything which wasn’t vital for his survival, and her father would probably fire him.

His father, however, would give him a cigar and a stiff drink and say, “Good job, son. I always knew you could do it.” But then again, his father’s moral compass didn’t exactly point due north.

Cursing himself for not being able to control his more carnal nature, he pushed the thoughts of her swimsuit out of his head and simultaneously moved as far away from Kessen as he could.

“This isn’t going to work,” he growled.

“I’m sorry?” she asked weakly.

“This, us—swimming. It isn’t going to work.”

Her gaze darted around the small area. “Because there isn’t any space?”

“No,” he groaned, splashing the cold water onto his face. “Because my body is on fire. It’s on fire, Kessen.”

Obviously not getting his hidden meaning, she scooted from her rock to sit next to him, as if she could somehow help him. She really was clueless.

“What do you mean?”

He sighed and turned to face her. She was a foot away from him; there was still time for him to react, still time for him to push her away. All he needed to do was come up with a lame excuse about finding Nick and Duncan, but when he opened his mouth to speak nothing came out.

She licked her pink lips and tilted her head as if asking him a question.

“I—” He started talking, but again the words wouldn’t come.

“Use your words,” she urged jokingly.

She licked her lips again and leaned closer.

“Forget it,” he muttered as he grabbed her and hungrily possessed her with a kiss. It obviously caught her off guard, and she didn’t respond for at least ten seconds.

Then, the fire he had been talking about spread to her, and they were both lost in its flames. He pulled her into his lap and took complete control of the situation.

They were alone; Nick and Duncan weren’t coming. Nobody was there to interrupt them, and he could do whatever he wanted.

His hands moved to the back of her swimsuit. It was suddenly clear he was faced with a dilemma.

He could break the trust of everyone he held dear by allowing his hands to do what they had been wanting to do since meeting Kessen, or he could keep her purity intact and wait five days, five whole days, to have his way with her.

Wars were fought over such decisions.

Her soft moan against his lips decided for him, and his hands roamed to her backside, pulling her close. Then, through a hazy cloud of lust, he heard someone yelling his name.