He chuckled, taking a swig. “Never have I ever shot a gun.”
I smirked at him and put my bottle to my lips, watching his eyebrows raise in surprise as I swallowed. “My dad used to take my brothers out to the shooting range. He brought me a few times and taught me how to shoot.”
He nodded. I drew circles in the water with my feet as we continued our game.
“Never have I ever broken a bone.” He’d broken four.
“Never have I ever traveled outside of the country,” he said. I traveled to Mexico every summer when I was little.
“Never have I ever had a one-night stand.” We both drank.
“Never have I ever gone skinny dipping.” Our bottles stayed on the cement.
We went back and forth until our bottles of beer were empty, and our questions slowed. I closed my eyes, content to sit and feel the night air around me. The cement scraped against my palms and the placid water trickled between my toes. The smell of chlorine was overlaid with Ben’s spicy scent.
I could sense his eyes on me, and I reveled in that feeling. Like he was on tenterhooks waiting to see what I’d do next.
It was late, but I wasn’t eager to return to my room.
“How about it, O’Connor? Go for a swim with me?” I asked, nudging him with my shoulder.
“Are you serious?” He assessed me from his place beside me.
I gave him a flirty smile. “It seems that neither of us has ever gone skinny dipping. And I can’t help but take notice that the perfect opportunity has presented itself.”
He rumbled a laugh. “Sure, princess. I’m game, if you are.”
He arched a brow, clearly thinking I would back out. I rose from my spot at the edge of the pool. “Unzip me,” I said, my voice stronger than I felt.
The heat from his body enveloped me as he moved behind me in the stilted silence. His fingers shook as he took hold of the zipper and pulled it down in one swift motion. I walked to the chair where I’d left my shoes, avoiding eye contact with Ben.
If I saw his face, I might chicken out. And I wanted to do this.
I wanted the thrill of it. The excitement of doing something I knew I wasn’t supposed to.
If I could do this—strip down in front of him, push aside all my insecurities and jump in that pool with him—then I could find the courage to do what Brian had suggested and get all this tension out of the way.
My knees wobbled a little as I slipped out of the straps of my gown. I swallowed my fear and let the dress pool at my feet.
I could sense Ben’s gaze on my back, and my skin felt like it was on fire, but I hooked my thumbs in my thong and slid it past my thighs. I unclasped my bra and let it fall to the ground with my dress and thong.
I held my head high as I strode to the water’s edge and dove in, relishing the feeling of the cool water over my heated skin. I swam to the surface, finally allowing myself to look Ben in the eye now that the water provided a modicum of cover.
His gaze seared into mine as he watched me, still fully clothed with only his shirt unbuttoned. My cheeks flushed, and I licked a drop of water from my lips, my heart pounding in my chest.
“You’re not gonna wuss out, are you, O’Connor?” I called out.
He gave me his panty-dropping smile. “Not a chance in hell, princess.”
He flung his dress shirt onto the chair and tugged his undershirt over his head. His eyes found mine as he unbuttoned his pants, and I held his gaze as he slid them down along with his boxers, leaving him completely naked. My eyes didn’t stray from his as he ran and jumped into the pool, causing the cool water to splash my face.
I blinked the pool water from my eyes. “Asshole!”
He whooped out a laugh and swam for me. I took off toward the ledge, a fish being hunted by a shark. His arms were much longer than mine and he caught me before I managed to climb out.
“Oh, no you don’t,” he said, grabbing my ankle and pulling me toward him. I squealed, closing my mouth as I went underwater. He let go, and I swam for the surface, gasping and sputtering, a smile etched into my face. Ben was on me the second I took a steady breath, his hands pressing into the curve of my waist, trapping me between him and the wall of the pool.
I was panting, my heart beating furiously as he stared down at me, drops of water hanging from his light lashes. I was sure my hair was a mess, and I didn’t even want to think about my makeup. But he looked at me like he would devour me right here if I’d let him.
