Yeah, probably gracelessly into the water.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got you.” He held his hand out to her.
Well…let the fun begin, she thought as she leaned down, grasped his hand and jumped.
Of course she landed without incident in his boat. The man was too capable to let anything else happen. And very hard and warm.
She slid her hands around Ryder, who caught her with his body. “Good morning,” she said again, softer this time, tipping her head back in an open invitation.
“It is now,” he murmured before capturing her mouth for a slow, thorough kiss that knocked her off-kilter. When he released her mouth, he smiled down at her. “Ready?”
For anything. “Yes. Where do you want me?”
His grin increased. “I have a few places in mind, but for now, you can sit there.” He motioned to the chair next to him.
Turned on beyond measure, she was happy to sink onto the cushions, since her legs were suddenly rubber.
“Here. These are for you.” He handed her a pair of sunglasses and a life-jacket.
She put the glasses on, but frowned at the vest. “I can swim.”
“You can also drown.” His tone turned serious. “Not with me.”
“You’re not wearing one,” she pointed out.
He folded his arms across his chest and lowered his chin. “Please put it on.”
She smiled at him and shrugged into the vest. “Since you asked nicely.”
His lips twitched. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she said. “You can make it up to me later.”
“Count on it,” he said, with more heat in his tone than was blaring down on her from the sky, and her good parts perked up in response.
She loved his potent, commanding side.
Once she was secured, he maneuvered the boat backward and away from the dock, before heading the way he’d come. She watched him from behind the protection of her glasses. Potent was too soft a word. A force of nature maybe? Definitely intoxicating, because just looking at him made her dizzy with need and turned up the flame on slow burn in her belly.
Too noisy for conversation since he opened up the throttle, she sat back, closed her eyes, and enjoyed the feel of the sun on her face while her mind remained on Ryder.
He was fast becoming her favorite addiction. A necessity. Which wasn’t smart for anotforever thing. But it was what it was. She felt what she felt. And she wondered if perhaps he had the same thoughts about her.
As the boat started to slow down, she opened her eyes and nearly lost her breath. Miles of pristine woods met her gaze, and nestled between the trees was a wooden structure too large to be considered a cabin, and too gorgeous for words.
A boathouse sat on a long dock with steps that led to a huge deck running the length of the house. Gorgeous, floor to ceiling, two-story windows reflected the sun. Two smaller, private decks hugged the side of the house where she assumed the bedrooms were located on the second floor.
After backing the boat into the boathouse, Ryder cut the engine and secured the boat to an inner dock. “Give me your glasses,” he said, then stowed both pair in a compartment in front of her seat, before tossing her bag onto the dock. “I’ll get out first, then help you.”
“Okay.” She watched the muscles in his arm bunch as he grabbed a post and jumped out. He made it look so easy. She reached for the buckle on her vest but he shook his head.
“Leave it on,” he said, thrusting his hand toward her.
He was very protective, very worried about her wellbeing. Unable to fault him for that, she kept it on, and embraced the warmth his caring created as she took his hand and he hoisted her next to him.
“Welcome to my house.”
Chapter Twelve
