him. Large muscular arms slice through the water in an effortless stroke. The sun looks as if it is floating on the water off in the distance, reminding me that our day is almost over. A gentle melancholy sweeps over me, then dissipates with a heavy breath.
Don’t do this.
I demand my heart to stop beating for the foreigner. This isn’t his prison, it’s his escape from reality. And I’m not anything but an island girl being paid to hang out with him. A thick dose of perspective makes me swallow back my emotions. Bringing my legs under me, I push up to my feet as he treads out of the water. Everything about his body is perfection. Whatever he does, it includes a heavy dose of exercise.
“You have a little sand on you.”
I glance down my body and chuckle. “That’s like saying I’m breathing air.” He steps in close to me, stealing that air.
“How about I help you get it off,” he rasps.
Despite my entire being yelling yes, I force my feet to take a couple steps backward. “That would be a no.”
“Are you sure?” Without waiting for an answer, he whooshes me up into his arms and I squeal as he runs with me back into the water, effortlessly. When he’s waist deep, the water covering my butt, he sinks both of us under. I swim out of his arms, putting at least an arm’s length between us before surfacing.
“Satisfied?” I ask, stretching out my sand-free arms.
His grin fades, leaving behind heated desire. “Not in the least.”
The air between us thickens. The waves delicately crash when they hit the beach, the only sound around us. For a few endless seconds, I’m frozen in place. The desire that I keep running from, fueled by the heat in his eyes.
He exhales and takes two long strides through the water toward me, and I hold my breath as he nears. “Keep telling me no,” he whispers and falls back into the water. His eyes never leave mine.
Relief squeezes out from the cocoon of disappointment.
I don’t know how much longer I can.
Chapter Seven
Ryker
There’s fucking romance voodoo vibes on this island. It’s the only reason I can think for asking her to show me around the island.
A second time.
She was pushing off the dock in her canoe, and I was ready to say goodbye. The words I’ll see you around were on the tip of my tongue. I need to distance myself from the woman. But what came out surprised the hell out of me.
“Are you available tomorrow?”
She wasn’t. But she was the next day.
So, here we are. Day two. Same rule—no shagging. I needed a day to train, to warm up my arm. Maybe take a few pics to send Bree to show the world I’m ramping up my training for the game in two weeks. That is where my head should be. Not swimming in the ocean, trying to get close to this woman.
I stare at her, floating on top of the water. Water frames her face and her eyes close, exposing the most perfect smooth face. Between her high cheekbones and dainty nose dusted with freckles to her lush lips, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. And I’ve dated a few international supermodels.
My fingers itch to touch her. If I was less of a man, I would have covered her mouth with mine two days ago. Her eyes were begging for it. Fuck, after seeing her tit pop out of her bathing suit, so was my dick. Seeing her hard nipple out in the open, damn it was hard to walk away. But I won’t touch her while I’m paying for her to be here. I don’t want to make her feel devalued as a woman. If she wants me after today, she knows where I’m at. Then all bets are off.
“Do you know how to play football?” She rolls her head to the side, letting her body sink, and she stands up. Water hits at her waist and I force my eyes to not drop to her chest.
“Oui. I used to play with some boys in the streets.” When she mixes her French in with English, it’s sexy as hell even though I don’t understand what she’s saying. Most of the time she’s not aware she’s doing it.
“I have a ball, you wanna play?”
She shrugs. “You’re paying me, I’ll do whatever you’d like.” My mind turns dirty. The things I’d like to do to her. A splash hit