Page 68 of Carnal Risk

Selby startled as he stepped into the pool with his pants on and swam toward her. She backed up against the side but there was nowhere to go. He surfaced, caging her with his hands. Dripping wet, he pinned his eyes on hers.

“I’m sorry, Selby. Please. I know this isn’t exactly how things should go. I should have trusted you.”

“You didn’t believe me.” Both furious and exhilarated, she struggled with her warring emotions.

“I know I should have, but you have to see this from my perspective. It’s not like I didn’t have any evidence.”

“But I told you the truth and you didn’t believe me. I know I should have told you sooner but you didn’t trust me.” Her palms pressed flat against his slippery chest. As she’d expected, touching his skin ignited her desire.

“I made a mistake.” He brought his lips to her ear. “Please. We all make mistakes.”

“You hurt me,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.” His eyes teemed with remorse. “Please, Selby. I need you in my life. This isn’t just some passing thing between us. You know it.”

“I need you to trust me, too.”

“I do, Selby. I swear it. Forgive me,” he pleaded.

“Garrett…” His abdomen brushed up against hers and the explosive heat she remembered flared to life. She’d dreamed he’d come for her, that they’d be able to somehow right an impossible situation.

“I’m sorry. I was wrong. So wrong. Please say you forgive me.”

Selby’s lip trembled as she lost herself in his eyes. His apology filled the cracks in her heart, and she could no longer resist. Garrett was a risk worth taking. If he could give her a second chance, she’d damn well give him one.

“I forgive you.” As the words left her lips, any remaining doubts disappeared. She rubbed her face into his shoulder, accepting his embrace.

“Oh God, thank you, yes.” His cool lips pressed to her skin. “I missed you so much, sweetheart.”

“I missed you, too. I was so upset.” She raised her gaze to meet his, their lips inches apart. “What I feel for you…I know we haven’t known each other very long. But I…I don’t want to be with anyone else.”

“No, no, no. You’re all mine now.”

Selby smiled into their kiss as their lips touched, elated he’d come for her. She wrapped her legs around his waist, clinging to him. Her heart exploded as he swept his tongue against hers, gently taking her mouth.

“I need you with me,” he told her. “Always.”

“Don’t leave me,” she responded.

“You left me.” He laughed.

“This is complicated.” Selby shuddered in anticipation as he untied the back of her suit. A strong hand cupped her breast and she moaned as his thumb strummed over her nipple, jolting her body alive with arousal.

“Not really. I like you.” His lips left hers for a second, their foreheads touching. “I more than like you, Miss Reynolds.”

“I like you, too.” She smiled.

“In or out of the pool?” he asked.

“Hmm? What?”

Garrett reached between her legs, and slid his fingers through her slit. She gasped as he drove his finger up into her core.

“I think in the pool. Yes?” He raised an eyebrow at her, giving her a sexy grin.

“Yes.” She nodded, breathless from his intrusion. “I, ah….can’t wait.”

“I need to be inside you,” he growled.