River's End (River's End Series, #1)(81)

He jerked back in surprise and put his fists in his eyes, rubbing them as he spit sand from his mouth. She grabbed more and threw it at him. She could only hit his neck and back as he was bent over, rubbing it off his face. She was about to do it a third time when he grabbed her wrists with both of his hands. He was breathing hard and glared at her with his eyes narrowing.

“You shouldn’t have done that.”

“Oh yeah. Why not? You gonna drown me this time? The only reason you get to do anything to me is because you’re bigger than I am. Congratulations, Jack. You can pick on someone half your size. Why don’t you throw Charlie next? After all, he’s the one who put water in the pool.”

Jack nodded and glanced behind her. The boys looked weary and were unusually quiet. Even Ian was apprehensive. She put her shoulders back; in for a penny, in for the pound.

He let her go and she was so surprised, she almost fell backwards again.

“You’re right. It wasn’t just you.”

Jack lifted his shirt over his head, suddenly shirtless and only two feet away from her. His jeans were secured by a brown belt and a shiny belt buckle, which he quickly undid and pulled loose from his pants. He began kicking off his boots and her mouth came open when she saw his bare chest in front of her. It was covered in fine, auburn-colored hair, with a spray of freckles that spattered over his chest and dipped into the wrinkled crunch of a nearly perfect six-pack of abs. He was ripped. She should have already known that from the endless physical work he did around the ranch. But Jack didn’t wear particularly tight shirts to advertise his muscle tone. His arms had muscles, but nothing like his chest. She was so stunned by his suddenly naked chest, she forgot to figure out what he was doing. Only when he picked her up, and again, walked into the water, throwing her over his head, did she remember; he was getting revenge on her.

She came up for air, just in time to see him throwing his older son in and chasing after his younger who was, by then, giggling and shrieking happily as he danced around the beach. Jack caught Charlie, who giggled and pleaded, while Jack, much gentler now, threw his son into the river. Then, just as quickly, Jack was in the water and swimming towards Charlie. He was there when Charlie came up, grabbing him and dragging him towards shallower water. All the while, Charlie laughed and screamed with delight.

Ben went after his dad, trying to push over his father, but he was no match for Jack. Erin was sure of it. Ben was only a few inches shorter than Jack, but his skinny frame was half the width and half the body weight. Still, Jack fell into the water, going under. He came back up, grinning, with water dripping from his hair, now turning nearly brown from being wet. He shook his head, running his hands through it. The sun glittered off the beads of water, spiking his hair; and all the while, he kept grinning, wet, and naked from the waist up as the water rushed over him. Jack looked ten years younger, and ten years hotter. She stared, stunned by how different he suddenly seemed. How much more fun he became as he splashed and frolicked with his two sons. She remembered thinking she couldn’t picture Jack ever swimming here at his own beach. Let alone, frolicking. Yet, here he was. His strong arms easily cut the water, as he time and again, threw Charlie in and retrieved him, all the while, laughing and grinning. Ben also tried to outdo Jack in swimming against the current. Ian wondered off after watching them for awhile.

Jack didn’t forget about Erin. He threw her in a few more times, despite her protests, her screams, and her pleading. He threw her in, held her down, and even tickled her underwater until she felt like she swallowed half the river.

Eventually, the boys started to tire and she did too. Her weary muscles shook from the strain of trying to fight Jack off. He simply held her out and let her struggle. She was no match for him. She finally followed Charlie out and they fell onto the sand, wet and worn out. The sand stuck to them instantly. It was hot on their wet skin and felt wonderful as it warmed her up. It wasn’t long before Jack and Ben came out and joined them.

Ben and Charlie were starting to play back and forth, and decided to run up and jump into the pool, leaving her alone with Jack. The once loud, playful noises of kids and fun suddenly stopped. Jack sat near her, leaning back on his elbows, his wet torso gleaming under the sun. She tried not to look. But he was right there. Right in front of her. He ran a hand through his hair, squeezing water off it, and his arm muscles bunched as he moved. She sat up and wrapped her arms around her legs, resting her chin on her knees. Her hair was wet and heavy down her back.

It suddenly felt different. The air seemed strained and weird. She wasn’t sure why, or what might have caused the change, but it was like Jack could hear the sudden acceleration of her heart beating. She couldn’t think of anything to say.

Why did Jack seem so relaxed, lying in the sun, and drying in the warm air? Ian mentioned at one point that Jack needed the time away. It was the only time he didn’t have to worry so much about what he did or how it reflected on the boys. It took her a few days to figure out what Ian meant. Jack was off somewhere getting laid where his kids couldn’t find out about it. And ever since learning that, she obsessively imagined what kind of woman Jack would choose to have sex with. She’d be tall, no doubt. And well built. And probably smart. Someone who was equal to him.

“Your trip was good?” she finally asked when she could no longer take the awkward silence.

He glanced over his tanned, rounded shoulder at her. “Disappointing. But fine.”