THE BENNETTS' CHRISTMAS (The Bennett Family and the Masters Family #6) - Brenda Jackson Page 0,38
hand. He was bare chested and wearing swimming trunks. At that moment, her book was forgotten, and his presence claimed all Monica’s attention…and senses.
“Looks like it.”
“May I join you?” he asked.
“Sure. I thought about calling you before I came down, but I didn’t want to disturb you.”
He smiled over at her as he slid into the chair beside hers. Her eyes followed the movement, appreciating the view. “You can interrupt me anytime. I needed to get out my room so housekeeping could do their thing. When I went out on balcony, I saw a number of people getting off the ship and figured this would be the best time to check out the pool.”
She nodded, forcing herself not to lick her lips. “Great minds think alike. I’d figured the same thing.”
Monica’s mind started to whirl with other things they might think similarly about—erogenous zones, positions… She took a deep breath, trying to calm her suddenly racing heartbeat. She really needed to get a hold of herself.
Through her sunglasses, she watched him stretch out beside her. This was the first time she had seen him shirtless, and her libido ramped up again. He had such a beautiful chest. It looked muscled, hairy, powerful and sculpted. The man was so well-built, she had to forcibly keep herself from drooling. He had massive shoulders, a muscled chest, and powerful thighs. His stomach was as flat as a washboard and so well defined, she could feel her own stomach muscles clenching in feminine appreciation. When he suddenly stood up, her gaze drifted to his black swimming trunks. Final verdict—Landon Chestnut’s body was a work of art—pure male perfection.
“I’m thinking about taking a swim. Want to join me, Monica?”
Her gaze moved to his face. He was staring at her with an intensity that made another crackle of sexual energy flow between them. She had no doubt that he’d noticed her checking him out, but she couldn’t help herself. Besides, what had he expected? She was a woman who appreciated a fine masculine body when she saw one.
Knowing he was waiting for her answer, she said, “Sure.” She had come to the pool to cool off anyway. Now because of him, she really, really needed to.
Easing off the lounger, she slid the cover-up off her shoulders. Did she hear his sharp intake of breath when she’d revealed her bathing suit? She wanted to look over at him but forced herself not to. Instead, she kicked off her sandals, raced to the pool and dived in.
Landon felt a deep, sexual hunger stir to life the moment Monica removed her cover-up to reveal that sexy yellow bikini. He was shaken to the core. Women with nice figures had caught his attention before, but Monica, in that bikini, held him spellbound. All he could do was stand there and stare at her. Total awareness of her flared up in every pore of his body.
He had thought the dress she’d worn two nights ago was an attention-grabber, but her bathing suit had his heart racing in his chest. Now, as he watched her move gracefully through the water, he couldn’t help but stand there and stare, entranced. It was obvious that she was an experienced swimmer. When she’d done a few laps, she swam to the middle of the pool and treaded water. Pushing wet hair from her face, she said, “The water feels good, Landon. Are you going to be a participant or spectator?”
He chuckled, then stepped out of his sandals and moved toward the pool to dive in. The water did feel good—it was the perfect temperature. He swam toward her. “I needed a moment. I like your swimsuit, by the way.”
“Thanks, and I like yours. Come on, let’s do a few more laps.”
Together, they did several and he couldn’t help but admire how easily her body glided through the water. She had the agility of a mermaid and the gracefulness of a swan. Time flew by, and he wasn’t sure how many laps they’d done before she switched directions and started toward the side of the pool.
“That was some workout for me. I haven’t been swimming in a while,” she said, pushing dripping water out of her face.
“You’re good,” he said.
“So are you,” she said, smiling at him. They both turned when they heard a huge splash and saw a few other people had found the pool. “Appears our privacy has ended.”