She flipped onto her back, floating on the glassy surface. Water covered her belly, but her breasts thrust into view. His cock went hard so fast, he doubled over. She swept her arms back and kicked out into deeper water.
God, he felt like a green schoolboy peeping on his first nude woman. He should leave. Give her privacy. Her feet disappeared and she bobbed in the water. Over her head. He thought of the after-effects of shock. Dizziness. Shortness of breath. If she fainted...
“Red!” He shouted before thinking his plan through.
She spun in the water, her lips forming a perfect O before her eyes slanted. “What are you doing?”
He shoved the blanket and bandages behind his back. No chance he would admit he was concerned. Which left only one thing to do.
He dropped the items onto the beach and pulled his shirt free. When he unbuttoned the fall on his breeches her gasp rang out over the water.
“I decided I need a bath as well.”
“You—you...” She trailed off and twisted to face the sea. “There are plenty of other places to bathe, Lieutenant.”
“You don’t have to watch.” He peeled his breeches off and threw them to the sand. The water splashed around his legs as he strode toward her. When it closed around his waist, he relaxed his muscles. The perfect temperature.
He bent, submerging his head and running his fingers through his hair. The cool water caressed his scalp and he straightened, shaking his head. A few more steps into deeper water, he lowered his hands and scrubbed at his sides. Dropped one hand farther. Closed it around his cock.
Damn, he was harder than he thought.
A few strokes to clean himself. His eyes darted out to Red’s stiff shoulders and he groaned at his palm’s rough contact.
“Are you decent?”
He let go of himself and held back a laugh. “Depends on your definition of decent.”
She turned. Swam back until she could touch. Took a step toward him. And cried out.
In an instant, he was moving toward her. He crossed the distance between them in a few strides. “You shouldn’t be swimming.”
She gave him a blank stare, and he cleared his throat as he came to a stop in front of her. With wide eyes, she crossed both arms over her breasts. “Lieutenant, this is far from proper.”
A soft chuckle pushed forth. “When have we ever been proper with each other?”
She hopped on one foot as a swell lifted them.
“What’s wrong?” A cramp could be lethal in the water.
“I stepped on something.”
“Don’t get angry with me.”
“What do—?”
He swept her into his arms and she let out a shriek. One hand closed around her waist and the other beneath her knees. The slip of her skin against his brought forth a rush of heat. When he took a step toward shore, she threw her arms around his neck.
He forced himself to keep his eyes above the water. See, he could be a gentleman.
Then one of her nipples brushed across his chest.
God help him.
“Let me see your foot.”
She stared at his neck and gave a quick shake of her head. He slid his hand down to her calf when she remained silent. The movement made her suck in her breath and she wiggled, slipping lower. Onto his erection. Maybe she wouldn’t notice.
She noticed.
