29. Daisy
29
DAISY
I wake to my body feeling deliciously sore. I’m not sure of the time, but as I move around on these soft sheets, I know I don’t need my morning yoga. Not only did we have enough exercise last night on the dance floor, but Connor woke me up two more times during the night, each one more pleasurable than the last.
“Mmmm. Good morning, baby girl,” he murmurs as his lips touch my bare shoulder, the heat of his body at my back. His beard is rough against my skin, but I like it.
“Morning. No run for you today?” I ask, turning my head back to look at him. I’m met with eyes that sparkle and a grin that promises too many things. It makes my belly swoop.
“I think my cardio over the last twenty-four hours warrants a rest day,” he says, making me chuckle.
“My muscles feel the same way,” I tell him, and he peppers a few more kisses to my skin.
“Let me help with that a bit…”
I wonder what he means before I feel his large hands on my back, and he starts to massage me.
“Ohhhhhh,” I moan. It feels fantastic. As someone who gives a lot of treatments, I’m usually too busy to get them for myself, and right now, Connor’s hands are warm and strong, moving around my back, exactly where I need them. “Wow. You’re good at this.” My eyes close as I enjoy his touch.
“I like touching you. Besides, I made your muscles sore, so it’s the least I can do to make you feel better,” he teases, and I smile.
“If you didn’t have plans today, I would like to do something with you.”
My breath catches. Am I surprised? Not entirely. Am I excited? Beyond belief. But I’m almost a little taken aback. I mean, I wasn’t sure we were anything. Last night was amazing, but he could just ask me to leave and we go on our merry way. Instead, he wants to spend time with me, and I know that shouldn’t be unusual, and maybe to anyone else, it isn’t. But my history tells me that in the morning, men make excuses and leave. Connor wants to spend the daylight hours with me too. On a weekend, with no rushing out this morning. My heart blooms at the prospect.
“I’m free,” I tell him, watching him carefully.
“Good. I want us to go to the springs,” he says, and I raise my eyebrows, smile widening.
“The springs?” I confirm as I roll around, my chest now against his. His hand moves instantly, skimming up my side, grabbing my ass cheek before running down my leg and hooking around the back of my knee. As he pulls my leg over his hips, I feel him hard at my core.
My pulse thuds in my ears as arousal builds in my center, my hips moving automatically against his.
“Mm-hmm… I’m going to teach you to swim.”
I blink a few times, wondering if I heard him right.
“Teach me to swim?”
“Well, after knowing you were there yesterday with the models for the spa, I couldn’t work at all thinking that you had drowned. So yeah, I'm going to teach you to swim.”
The fact that he was worried about me like that warms me from the inside out. I’ve always wanted to learn how to swim; it just wasn’t something I did growing up. My parents weren’t really into the beach or water, so it hasn’t ever been something I gravitated to.
“I guess a drowned staff member isn’t good for business,” I quip, biting my bottom lip as his finger hits my clit, and I gasp in a breath. “Now it makes sense why you barged in here yesterday like a man on a mission. Here I thought you were just being a Peeping Tom.” I can’t hold back my giggle at how his eyes narrow with my teasing.
“I thought I may have fucked the sass right out of you last night, but it appears I was wrong,” he murmurs deep and low.
“I guess so…” My eyes close as he continues to circle my clit. “What time do you want to go?” I ask, though there’s no way I’m leaving this bed with his hands working me over like this.
“After I make you come again one more time,” he says, moving his hips against mine, and in a matter of moments, his name is the only thing on my lips, the sass completely fucked right out of me.
* * *
“At least you can float without your inflatables,” Connor says as I step into the water quicker than he has time to disrobe. But he throws off his t-shirt and steps in just after me, grabbing my hand and keeping me close. I bite down a grin at his protectiveness, his moves swift, almost panicked.
“That I can,” I say, smiling.
“You have no fear of the water, do you?” he asks, almost gobsmacked, and I shake my head.
“No. Not at all. I probably should, but…” I shrug, not really sure where my lack of fear comes from. I guess, having not been around it, it’s not like I have a fear of the water or anything; I just don’t have the ability to swim. Like someone may not have the ability to do some yoga poses. But I’m hopeful with practice that I can do it.
“So how is it that you never learned how to swim?” he asks as the water gets deeper. My heart races a little because I haven’t been this deep before when walking in. Usually, I’m floating about now.
“I’ve got you.” Still able to touch the bottom, he pulls me to him, my body gliding through the water to him effortlessly, and I hook my arms around his neck.
“We were never a water family, really. It wasn’t our thing. No one has ever offered to teach me to swim before,” I tell him as his large hands grip on to my waist. Our bodies are used to each other now, yet the sensation still makes me gasp when my breasts push up against his bare chest.
“If you’re coming down here, then I want you to at least be able to get yourself out of trouble if needed. To be able to get to the edge quickly and safely,” he says, and I can tell he’s in serious mode.
“Okay, so what do I do?” I ask, keen to learn.
“Well, you can float on your back, so let’s practice you floating upright. I’m going to let go of you. I want you to move your arms around a little to keep you buoyant in the water. Do you think you can try that?”
“Sure,” I say, not really knowing exactly what he wants me to do, but I’ll try.
“I’ll be right here to grab you if you go under. Okay. One, two, three.” Suddenly, his hands are gone, and my body starts to sink. I move my hands, slight panic crawling up my skin as my mouth gets covered with water. I can see a look of complete fear in Connor's eyes before I glide my hands in a strong motion around the water and bob back up again.
“Oh my God, I’m doing it!” I shout and laugh. It’s a major workout for my arms, but I’m too excited to care.
“Good girl,” he praises me, watching my every move, like he’s ready to pounce.
“I can bob in the water! I can bob in the water!”
“Okay, I want you to see if you can do the same motion, but move toward me a little.”
I nod before I move my hands like he shows me. It’s harder than I thought, and I start to go under again. Pushing my lips together tight, my legs and arms keep moving, but I’m not making any ground, and I go under. My head completely submerges.
My panic is short-lived as large hands wrap around me and hoist me up like I weigh nothing, and I blow out the breath I was holding.
“I’ve got you. You’re alright,” he murmurs, his hands firmly on me, not letting me go as I brush the wet hair from my face and squint the water from my eyes.
“I couldn’t get the right motion. I tried to circle them, but I couldn’t move.” I frown, not liking not being able to get something right the first time.
“Try again. Take a few deep breaths and calm yourself.” I listen to him and do as I’m told to slow my breathing again.
“Alright, this time, instead of circles with your hands, I want you to pretend you’re reaching out in front of you and grabbing something, and then cupping it and pulling it back toward you.”
My mind immediately goes to a place that’s not G-rated.
“I have no idea what you’re thinking, but if you want a reward at the end, I’m more than happy to oblige,” he says with a chuckle, a wicked grin on his face.
“I always liked being the teacher's pet,” I tease, smiling, with him still holding me tightly.
“One… two… three…” he says before letting me go slowly and stepping out of reach, and I do as he says, imagining I’m grabbing an apple, cupping it and pulling it to my chest. I keep repeating the motion, my head bobbing on the surface of the water, my mouth closed and my eyes squinting due to all the splashes.
“That’s it. Keep going…” He continually steps back, and I continue to swim toward him, Connor staying just out of reach, yet close enough to grab me, should I need it. Before long, I see the water is up to his waist, which means I can probably touch the bottom. I tentatively put my feet down, feeling the solid rocks underneath as I stand.
“Oh my God, I did it!” I say with a giddy squeal, not sure I could actually do it.
“You did. That was amazing. You, my girl, are amazing,” Connor says, and I look up at him, seeing the pure pride in his eyes. I swallow, my feelings building. My girl. Was it just a turn of phrase, or does he mean the words he says? While sex together is great, I shouldn’t think I’m special. Just the right woman at the right time, maybe?
But I do wonder what it would be like to be Connor’s girl more permanently, and my feelings for him are growing every minute of every day. Surely, he wouldn’t be here on the weekend, teaching me to swim, if what we had was nothing. But then I look at the half-finished path and remember I’m here to build the spa business, and I roll my shoulders. I said it earlier as a joke, but maybe Connor is just trying to mitigate the risk of me drowning, obviously not needing that to happen for his business. I look back at him, knowing that my feelings for him are growing, and they have been ever since I met him. But I have no way of knowing if he feels the same.
“Let’s do it again,” I tell him, already stepping back into the deep, wanting to perfect it.
“Let’s go.” Grinning, he follows me back to the deep, and I try again. This time, I’m not as successful, so we try a third, then a fourth time, each time with different levels of success.
“Let’s take a break. You’re getting tired,” he says, before grabbing my hand and pulling me to him. “Wrap your legs around me.” He walks out deeper, still able to touch the bottom, but I have no chance. So I do as he said and wrap my legs around him, his hands immediately cupping my ass and pulling me against him tight.
“It’s really nice down here,” I say, feeling relaxed in his hold, enjoying the serenity.
“It is.” His eyes meet mine, and he smiles, then his gaze drops to my neck. “Tell me about this necklace. I see that you wear it every day.”
I immediately look down and grab the small daisy chain that lies around my neck.
“It was my mother’s. She made it when she was younger and passed it on to me when I turned twenty-one. I never take it off.” Twisting the daisy between my fingers, I smile, thinking of my mom.
“Like a family heirloom of sorts?”
“Of sorts. How often do you come swimming here?” I ask him, changing the subject back to our location, the peacefulness of the springs now something I fully take in. I’m not sure where the local kids are. Maybe it’s still too early for them.
“Hardly ever. I’m usually too busy. I can’t remember the last time I was down here for a swim,” he says, and I frown.
“So, what, you don’t usually dance and you don’t usually swim? Why the change of heart?” I ask curiously.
“It’s all you. You make me do things I haven't done in forever, reminding me how good they are, and how much better they are with someone you enjoy spending time with.” As he looks at me intently, I can hardly breathe.
“Oh…” is all I can get out, not expecting his honesty.
“You’re making me do all kinds of things that I wouldn’t ordinarily do, Daise. I’m starting to think maybe you’ve been drugging me with your tea?” he says, grinning, and I bark out a laugh.
“No, not yet,” I tease, making him chuckle. I lean into him and take a deep breath as I look around.
“What are you thinking about, baby girl? Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours,” he asks as we bob around in the peace and quiet, my legs wrapped around him, his hand running up and down my back.
“I’m thinking of my mom’s dahl. Tomorrow is Sunday. I usually visit them every Sunday and she makes me dahl,” I say on a sigh.
“You miss your family?” he asks, frowning like it never occurred to him.
“Yeah. I know it sounds silly. I mean, it’s only been a few weeks, but we’re close, and I haven’t really been away from them for a long time before.”
“Well, do you want to go? We could fly out this afternoon. I need to go to New York for a few things this week anyway, and I’m sure whatever you need to do with the spa can be done remotely for a few days,” he says, like it’s a trip into town to do some groceries, not hopping on a private jet at a moment's notice and spending time in the city together.
I pause, thinking about it. Mentally going through my project plan, trying to remember what I have on this week.
“I could probably make it work for a few days. I just want to be back midweek so I can do the next training with the new staff,” I tell him, not quite believing what we’re talking about, but excitement bubbles in my tummy. I really want to check on my parents, and I want to talk to Mom about a few new tea recipes that I’m putting together for the spa menu with the chef from the distillery.
“Great, we can leave later this afternoon. Stay at my penthouse on Madison Avenue.”
“Penthouse?” I question, eyes wide, and a smirk quirks his lips.
“Well, I can’t make you scream every night when you have a roommate down the hall, but if you prefer to have me at your place, then I will do my best to swallow your moans, baby girl.”
I feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience.
Is this happening? Is one of the wealthiest bachelors in the country flying me home to see my parents and wanting me to spend time with him in the city?
“What do you say?” he asks, always wanting my approval before he moves forward with anything. It means a lot to me every time.
“I think that sounds like a great idea,” I tell him, grinning, still not believing any of this is real, but going with it. I want to spend more time with him, even though I only have a few more weeks left here in Whispers. Here’s to hoping I can keep my heart from getting too carried away…
“Good.” Leaning forward, he seals the trip with a kiss.