18. Connor
18
CONNOR
F uck me.
I have no idea what I did to piss God off, but he’s sure making me pay today.
Spending the day with the woman I can’t get out of my mind is one thing. Seeing her half-naked right in front of me and being unable to touch her is a completely different level of control I wasn’t sure I had. I grit my teeth and swallow hard as she lies back in the water like she’s sleeping. Completely afloat, totally at ease, her beautiful curves on full display. Meanwhile, my dick is rock-hard and straining against my zipper and has been ever since I glimpsed her glorious round ass poking out from her swimwear as she stripped off her clothes.
My eyes canvass the area for the millionth time. If anyone else was here, I would have thrown that towel around her so quickly she wouldn’t have known what hit her. No one else can see her like this, and as it is, I shouldn’t be looking.
But I am. Fuck, seeing her every day in her yoga gear is one thing, but seeing her ass out, her pale peaches and cream skin, and her full tits almost falling out of her swimsuit has my mouth watering. She’s confident in her body, and I like that. Yet another thing to add to my Things I love about Daisy list that’s growing daily.
“You sure you don’t want to come in?” she asks again, and my eyes meet hers. Oh, I want to come, alright. Right down her pretty little throat.
“I’m fine,” I grit out, forcing my feet to stay on the ground. There’s no way I’m getting in that water, because I know if I do, my resolve will snap. I’ve been an asshole to her all morning because all I can think about is that guy in her office yesterday. The one who gave me the creeps, and now, my resolve is stretching, because I’m spending time with her and wanting to touch her but can’t. I’m being pushed to my limits.
“Just don’t drown,” I warn, my eyes are now glued to her, and she grins.
“Well, I can’t swim, so that’s probably likely,” she quips back, and I still.
“What the hell did you just say?” I ask her, angry now as I take a step forward, ready to kick off my shoes and jeans and dive in after her.
“Don’t worry, I can float.” Still lying on her back, she looks like she should be sunbathing in Ibiza, rather than floating around a mineral spring in Whispers. I wonder if I could take her to Ibiza, rub sun lotion on her, and watch her suntan topless. I shake my head of the thoughts.
“Daisy. Get out of the water.” The spring isn’t deep for someone like me, but for her, she won’t be able to touch the bottom in some places.
“No, I’m not getting out.”
I swear this woman always does the opposite of what I ask of her.
“Daisy, it’s deep,” I warn her, fear and frustration wrapping around my heart.
“Connor, I’m fine,” she grits out, her hands moving slowly around in the water, almost steering her body.
“I swear to God, Daisy. If you drown in this mineral spring, I will kill you.” I’m ready to jump in and haul her beautiful big ass out of that water. I might throw her over my shoulder while I’m at it, stalk back up to my place, and lock her in my bedroom.
“Hey, Connor!” I hear shouted from behind me, and I look up, seeing a bunch of local kids running down the hill on the opposite side.
“Daisy, time to get out,” I tell her once again, grabbing her towel, trying not to sound like an asshole, but they’re not seeing her like this, practically naked, wet body, her long red hair dripping.
“Why?” she asks, exasperated, looking up at me.
“Because you can’t swim and because all the kids are coming.” I barely finish speaking, just as they start running and jumping in the water, creating ripples and waves.
“Oh.” Her brows pinch, feeling the water change from still and peaceful to waves created by a full-on frat party.
“Float over here. I’ll grab you.” I tell her, angry that she’d get in the water when she knows she can’t swim.
“I’m fine, Connor.” She gets closer and moves around, now standing on the bottom and starting to walk toward me.
I clench my jaw, my teeth almost at breaking point as she steps out of the water like a goddamn James Bond girl. Water drips from her body, her swimsuit plastered to her like latex. I hear the boys start to whistle, and I jump into action. Striding over to her, I wrap her towel around her so they can no longer see her juicy plump ass that I know is on display.
“Mighty chivalrous of you.” She raises her eyebrow in question as she grabs the ends of the towel and pulls it to her chest. She’s pushing me. I know it, and if she isn’t careful, I’ll pounce. I’m about five seconds away from doing just that.
“What the hell were you thinking getting in the water when you can’t swim?” I growl, stepping between her and the boys to shield her from their eyes, even though she’s now covered in a large towel.
“I was thinking that I’d be fine. I’m an adult; I know my limits. Besides, you were there. You would’ve saved me if I got into trouble.” She throws on her shirt and shorts, and I bite the inside of my cheeks, because she’s right. I would’ve saved her, obviously. Given her mouth-to-mouth, and then once she was okay, turned her over and made her ass red.
“Daisy, you don’t know the water. The spring is uneven, so you shouldn’t have done that. What if I wasn’t here?” I demand, my frustration now peaking.
Swiping her things, she starts walking up the path, past me, saying over her shoulder, “I’m not stupid, Connor.”
“Could’ve fooled me.” I stride up behind her, the two of us full of steam, our pace back to the distillery now much quicker than the trip here.
She looks at me, shaking her head. “Seriously, what’s up with you today?”
“Who in their right mind jumps into a spring when they know they can’t swim!” My voice rises, along with my temperature. I move ahead of her, needing to calm myself.
I push through the distillery door and stalk right to my office. It’s the weekend. No one’s here. The restaurant is busy, but our offices are all locked. I hear the door being pushed open just as violently behind me, and I know she’s hot on my heels.
Slamming the door shut behind her, she raises her voice right back. “In case you forgot, I’m capable of making my own decisions, and as I said, I know my limits!”
“Yeah, well, I have just about hit my limit,” I tell her as I turn and look at her. I’m not sure if she can see it in my face, but I’m about to lose my composure, and my nostrils flare as I try to suck in the air I need.
She looks at me curiously with her sparkling blues, hair long and damp, face flushed but clear like porcelain. Her shirt is open, her bathing suit still wet underneath. The air around us shifts as her stubbornness softens, and my anger gives way to relief that she’s here, she’s safe, not drowned, lying face down in the springs. I’m sick of denying it. Daisy is beautiful, smart, and so goddamn sexy, and I need to taste her. I need her… just once.
“Come here,” I say in a low growl as I stand by my desk. I need her to come to me. I need to know she’s feeling the same way I do. My stare remains intense as I watch her, and her hand lets go of her towel, it hitting the floor at her feet. Her eyes don’t move from mine as she steps forward, toward me, and my breathing quickens. Shit, this is happening.
She doesn’t stop until our toes meet. I look down at her and watch her hair fall down her back as she looks up at me, hearing a shaky breath leave her lips that calls to my own desperation. My head moves before my brain catches up, and I’m putting my lips to hers.
Her mouth opens on a gasp, and she’s still for a beat, before her hands grip on to my shirt at my chest and she pulls me down to her, sealing her lips to mine fully. A rough growl rumbles from my core in appreciation, now knowing that her feelings for me mirror my own for her as my hands sweep around her damp waist and I pull her body flush to mine. We’re connected, our tongues tangling, lips meshing, and I swear I feel my soul leave my body because this woman will be my undoing, I just know it.
Relaxing her hold on my shirt, her hands move up around my neck and land on the back of my head, and she pulls me closer. I lower my hands past her waist, my palms cupping her round ass, and I groan at the feeling. My large hands are full of her, appreciating her body as I pull her hips to meet mine, letting her feel exactly what she does to me. I revel in the moan she releases into my mouth.
As our kiss becomes more frantic, I trail a hand to her front, sliding it up her body, until I can cup her breast, squeezing once. I think I’m in heaven.
“Connor…” she whispers as I mold her large breast, really wanting to put my mouth on her. She pulls my hair and I can barely get a hold of myself. But as I open my eyes for a second to look at her, I see my pile of reports on my desk, and reality sets in that I’m groping my fucking employee. My brain kicks back into gear like it’s yanked the emergency brake, and I drop my hands and step back.
Swallowing, we look at each other. Both panting, both a little shocked, and both obviously feeling a certain way about the other.
“I shouldn’t have done that,” I say, my hands threading through my hair, waiting to see what she says. I’m praying to God I got this right and she wants me as much as I want her. That I didn’t just take advantage in any way.
“Me neither,” she says breathily as her hands run down her front and she fixes herself up a little.
“We work together. We… We need to build the spa,” I say, shaking my head, feeling like I’m telling myself rather than her, needing to keep this professional.
“I’m here for just a few more weeks. I need to focus.” She nods, and I hate the words of truth she speaks.
“We can’t do that again.” Even though I really, really want to.
“Definitely not. Absolutely can’t happen,” she agrees, and I step farther away from her. If I don’t, then this will escalate. Quickly.
“I need a shower.” Gathering her towel, she moves toward my door, opening it but hesitating before looking back at me. She remains quiet before quickly opening the door wider and walking through, closing it behind her. I release a big breath, watching where she left. All I can think about now is lathering her naked body in soap and fucking her in my shower.
But that definitely cannot happen. No, absolutely not.