He reached with his lips, and she found them in return, and when he pushed for entry with his tongue, she opened. Not soft, not fierce, not playful, their kiss just happened. He pulled back, yet something inside him tried to hold on to the peacefulness he’d felt. Another part threw up a shield. If he wasn’t careful, she could be the toughest enemy he’d ever faced.
“Relax, honey. You’ll be fine.” He carried her past the pool and headed to a stone partition at the side. “How about we get the rest of that camo out of your hair?”
“How?”
“There’s a shower right around the corner.”
She smiled. “With a rainfall showerhead?”
“Yeah. And, a lot of other body sprays, too.” He jostled her in his arms. “There’s also some fancy lighting.” He jostled her again, and she held on tighter. “And a nice, oversized bench.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Liz could barely breathe by the time Mitch slid her to her feet in the large, futuristic shower. The enclosure tucked adjacent yet outside the atrium had a retractable roof that seemed to bring the sky inside. The arrangement and sensation felt like what she imagined floating in a rain shower would feel like. He promised they’d come back at night so she could listen to her favorite song and watch the lights dance to the music in the dark. She’d rather watch the moon and stars and dance with him in the shower.
For now, though, she was happy with the soft pink and purple glows around some of the spray heads. And, she was very, very happy with the man standing in front of her. When she’d showered last night, she’d made sure to get every last bit of camo out of her hair, but she wasn’t about to let him know. As long as he wanted to ply her with shampoo and shower gel, she’d bask in his touch.
The feel of his soapy palms against her skin had her core begging for more. His fingers slipped inside the rim of her bikini bottom, nearly pushing her to escape the material. But she didn’t. She still wasn’t that brave. Not yet.
“Did I tell you how good you make me feel?” he whispered in her ear. “I’d do anything for you, Elizabeth. Anything. Tell me what you want.”
For her, talking was not an option. Only movement. Movement and Mitch.
She undid her bikini top, letting it slide away as he found the perfect spots to tease, the perfect way to bring her to the edge, then let her go. She raked her fingers down his chest, and he sucked in a breath on a deep rumble of a groan, then tugged her toward the bench at one end of the shower. He pushed his swim trunks to the floor a second before he pulled her onto his lap as he sat down.
How had she gotten so enthralled with this man? So needy for him?
He pulled her tight against him while she stole one kiss after another. She was his. She wanted more. A lot more.
His hands stopped moving. He tensed. “Shhhhh.”
She felt as if she might explode if…if…
“Damn.” He leaned his forehead against hers then moved her over on the bench next to him, as a steadybeepsounded from back in the pool area. “I have to answer that.”
“What? What’s wrong?”
“That’s the security signal from headquarters. Means Josh is on the line.”
“Can they see us in the atrium?”
“No. Nobody can see anything through the computers unless I respond with an answering click.” Mitch headed out of the shower. “But Josh wouldn’t call in the afternoon unless it was important.”
He grabbed a towel, wrapping it around his waist as he walked to the secure computer at the bar. She grabbed a towel then scurried over to grab her cover-up from the chaise. From the serious expression on Mitch’s face and the determined way he’d walked, whatever news was being called in wouldn’t be good.
All things considered…her need might not get met this afternoon.
…
Mitch clicked receive on the computer hooked into the house’s secure system. Evidently, he’d moved a little slow, because Josh and Reese were both waiting for him on the screen.
“About time you picked up,” Josh said.
“You interrupted my swim.” Mitch raked his hand through his hair. “Problem?”
“Yeah.” Josh held up a paper in his hands.
“Give it to me.”
