a break, Nina.”
Once again, that odd streak of defiance only he brought out reared its ugly head again.
“This is a pool,” I said. “A swimsuit is hardly inappropriate.”
Matthew sucked in a labored breath, then exhaled through his teeth. “I can see every damn curve you’ve got. Every gorgeous inch of those long legs.” He shook his head ruefully and pulled on the collar of his shirt, despite the fact that it was hanging open. “Christ, baby, your nipples are practically staring at me, begging to be bitten.”
I reddened. “Oh, please. The material isn’t that thin, Matthew.”
He grinned as he slowly peeled a bit of orange. The muscles in his forearm rippled with the simple movement. “Well, no. But the fact that I know them so well makes it easy to imagine.”
I bit my lip. He growled, low.
“Well, sauce for the gander, as they say.” I accepted my drink, trying not to look affected as our fingers brushed.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You could have at least buttoned your shirt.”
Matthew looked very much like he wanted to laugh, more so when the muscles over his stomach tightened. Somehow, he managed to swallow back his mirth as he prepared a twin cocktail for my mother and another for himself. Then he leaned toward me—not so much that anyone would notice, but the minuscule difference was enough to set my heart racing.
“You want me to cover up, baby?”
Another shiver traveled down my spine despite the ninety-degree heat. It was hard—so hard—to stand next to him like this and not touch him. I wanted to run my finger down the slick plane of his chest. Touch the divot where his necklace hung. Lick away the tiny drops of sweat that lingered there.
“Well, you seem to think I should,” I said. “And yet you act like it doesn’t go both ways.”
I forced myself to look away and took a sip of my drink. Of course he made a perfect cocktail. Of course he did. The spritzer was refreshing. Exquisite. Just like him.
His gaze traveled up and down my body, searing right through his glasses. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t see through them. In fact, maybe it was better. I doubted I could take the intensity otherwise.
It occurred to me then that he might say yes. He wasn’t exactly happy I was here. And he was right—I was going out of my way to be a distraction, wasn’t I? He wouldn't be unreasonable to suggest that I make myself less provoking with a caftan. Or just disappear altogether, out of sight.
But the thought anchored another, much more familiar feeling in my stomach—fear. Not fear that someone would discover us, but fear that Matthew—my Matthew—was like everyone else. That he would want me to maintain propriety above passion. That he would want to hide me away.
Or punish me if I did not behave.
Please don’t, I found myself begging internally. I really didn’t think I could take it if he did.
But before I could say anything, he pulled down his glasses so his eyes could meet mine. The force of his gaze almost made me take a step back.
“Don't mistake my struggle for censorship, doll,” Matthew proclaimed quietly as he stirred the drinks. “Any man who’d hide a woman like you should be locked up himself. A man who won’t let you shine doesn't deserve the light of day.”
God, how did he always do that? One moment we were all witty repartee, and then, just when I thought I was getting my bearings, he would completely undo me.
“Matthew, I—”
He cleared his throat roughly, replaced his sunglasses, and looked across the pool, explicitly away from me. “Nina, you need to shut your mouth and stop looking at me like that.”
“Like—like what?”
“Like you want me to drag you onto that lounge chair and ruin this whole damn charade. Right here. Right now. Don’t think I wouldn’t do it, either.” He hissed another breath through his teeth, like he was having trouble catching it. “You have sunglasses?”
I opened my mouth again to argue with him, but he just cocked his head as if to say See?
So I just nodded. “Yes.” I held up the pair I had brought out with me.
Matthew set the stirrer on the cart. “Good. You win, all right? You look stunning, and it’s going to drive me crazy in ways you can’t even imagine. But right now, I’m going to stay on my side of the party and keep your mother company while she runs her mouth