The Dom Who Loved Me (Masters and Mercenaries #1)(19)

His eyes narrowed. Grace shrank back a bit. It was as though she could feel his willpower filling the space between them. One hand was on his hip as he regarded her. His voice was deeper and smoother than before. “You are working under some serious misconceptions, little one. First, there’s nothing at all professional about the way I feel about you. Second, I don’t give a shit about the contract. It’s a job, Grace. It doesn’t matter. Answer me one question. If you tell me no, then I’ll leave. Grace, do you want me as much as I want you?”

Grace swallowed. All she had to do was get that one word out. She just had to say no, and her whole life would go back to normal. He would leave her alone, and she could focus on her sons…who didn’t need her anymore. They were off at college. She could focus on…her job? That sounded sad. Any way she looked at it, this big, blond man was the most exciting thing to happen to her since forever. Peter had been gone for so long. Her loneliness washed over her.

“I don’t hear a ‘no,’ Grace.” His voice was quiet, and she heard a well of emotion in it. “I need a yes.”

He wouldn’t move on without it, Grace knew. He wouldn’t give her the easy way out. He would make her say it.

“Yes.” She would regret it. She was absolutely sure of that. She would end up with a broken heart, but maybe that was better than having an empty one.

His smile lit up the night. His shoulders relaxed. There was a self-satisfied air about him that couldn’t be denied. “I’m so glad. You’ll see. Whatever job I’m doing has nothing to do with what’s between us. Remember that.” He held out his empty hand. “Come on. I was serious about my culinary skills. My mother didn’t get the daughter she wanted. She passed her quest for the perfect pasta down to me. And this wine is heavenly. You’re going to love it.”

Grace shook her head. Just because she’d decided to spend time with him didn’t mean she was ready to rise like Venus in front of him. He was still younger than she was, and she still had her insecurities. “You go on. I’ll be there in a minute.”

He considered the situation for a moment. It was clear to see he was not a man who was easily dismissed. A slow smile spread across his face and his foot started to tap. He leaned over, trying to get a better view. “What’s wrong? Why won’t you come with me? Are you skinny dipping, little one? Did I catch you without your suit on?”

“No.” It even sounded like a damn lie to her own ears. “I’m just shy.”

He tsked her. He paced the side of the pool like a lion stuck in a cage. “You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you? We can do this the hard way. That was lie number one. I’ll keep count. I’d watch myself if I were you. There might be punishment later on.”

There it was. Grace had to take a deep breath and acknowledge that what attracted her to the Viking wasn’t just his good looks. He had the deep, authoritative presence of a Dom when he wanted it. At least he reminded her of the Doms in her books. Now she had a two-fold problem. She was naked and wet in a way that had nothing to do with the pool she was in.

Sean placed the bottle of wine on the table and shrugged out of his jacket. He looked around the yard, his eyes taking in everything. He finally turned and studied the box that controlled her pool. “Ah, there it is.”

The pool was suddenly illuminated with a lovely blue light. It was a soothing color that also bathed her naked form in light. Grace gasped and tried to move away. There was nowhere to go, no place to hide.

Sean’s breath was audible. He stood there for a moment looking at her, his eyes wide. “You really are naked.”

Before Grace could protest, Sean jumped into the pool fully dressed.

“Sean!”

He swam toward her, his big body powerfully stroking through the water. He could hold his breath for a really long time. Grace moved to the very far end of the pool and thought about using the bench to get out. His hand was on her ankle before she could make the move.

His grin was a predatory slash across his handsome face as he surfaced and moved his hands to her waist. He stared at her through the water.

“What happened to being a gentleman?” Her voice was a breathy confection of yearning. She hoped she didn’t scare him off. She searched his face. He didn’t seem to be offended by what he saw. His blue eyes were taking in every inch of her.

“The gentleman has left the building, little one.” His hands moved up to cup her breasts. “God, you’re beautiful.”

She suddenly felt beautiful. It occurred to Grace that she had a choice. She could let her insecurities have their way and perhaps save her dignity—or she could let her dignity hang and have Sean. Her Viking won in a heartbeat. A light happiness filled her. She wanted. She hadn’t wanted in so long that the very yearning was a pleasure in and of itself. She gave herself up to the feel of his hands on her. Her nipples were hard and aching. She wound her arms around his neck.

“That’s right, Grace. Hold on to me.”

He covered his mouth with hers as he pulled her to the middle of the pool. Grace’s feet couldn’t touch the bottom, but Sean didn’t have the same problem. Five and a half feet worth of water couldn’t cover up Sean Johansson. He pulled her away from the side. She had to wrap herself around him if she wanted to stay afloat. His lips were warm and soft against hers. He nibbled tenderly at her mouth and then rubbed his nose against hers. It was a sweet gesture that had Grace’s heart as engaged as the rest of her. There was lust in Sean’s eyes, but there was a wanting there that seemed like more than simple sex.