Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Riley wasn’t normally the type to sleep with a guy on the first date.
Okay, she’d never been the type to do that. But there she was, falling hard and fast for Briggs.
There was a connection between them that she’d never experienced before.
He was literally the man—and Daddy—of her dreams. All those years, yearning for someone to fill both roles, it had been someone just like him she’d hoped for.
She didn’t understand how it had happened, but it was like this man had been plucked right out of her fantasies and deposited into real life.
And she wanted to experience all of him. Right now.
But she didn’t want to scare him off. So, she managed to keep from clawing at his clothes as they stepped onto the patio and looked at her pool that looked serene and welcoming in the night lights that shimmered beneath the water.
“Want to go for a swim?” she asked casually.
That’s one way to get him out of those clothes.
“I don’t have a swimsuit,” he said.
Now she couldn’t help herself. “I don’t mind if you don’t.” With a giggle, she started taking off her clothes.
“Whoa,” he said, but the smile on his face testified to the fact that he clearly didn’t mind.
“What? I don’t want you to feel alone. It wouldn’t be fair if you were the only one skinny-dipping.”
“Who said I was going to?” he asked.
But he was already unbuttoning his jeans even as he said that.
“Mmm.” The reaction came before she even realized it.
Briggs didn’t audibly respond, but even in the night’s darkness, she could see the admiration—and perhaps lust—in his eyes as he watched her shirk out of her clothes, too.
Fueled by his clear appreciation, she kept going until she didn’t have a stitch of clothing left on her body.
“Hey, how come I’m the only one naked?”
Briggs chuckled, looked down, and must have realized he’d stopped midway through undressing, because he went ahead and pulled his jeans all the way down, leaving only his dark boxer-briefs.
The bulge was massive, taking her breath away for a quick moment. Recovering, she said, “You’re going to swim in your underwear?”
“No. Just making sure you really want—”
“Take ‘em off.”
“Yes, ma’am! You’d think you’re the Big and I’m the Little, the way you’re giving orders.”
She laughed and then jumped in the pool. Perhaps he’d be more comfortable if she just wasn’t gawking at him.
But when she swam a few feet and then turned, the water swishing around her, she saw that he’d been doing some gawking, too.
He must have enjoyed the view of her ass as she’d dove in.
“I’m waiting,” she said.
“Demanding, huh?” He gave her a good-hearted grin, slid his boxer-briefs down, and jumped in the water.
He quickly disappeared beneath the surface, but even that quick amount of time had been enough for her to get a look at what hung between his legs.
Holy crap!
Those biceps of his weren’t the only things ginormous.
The water rippled around them as he swam closer.
“It’s heated,” he said. “Nice.”
“Yeah. You know, growing up in Arkansas, I always pictured Southern California as being hot. And we have our days. But it’s mild compared to summers where I’m from. And the humidity was so thick! Here, I quickly learned the pool can get a little chilly. So, I splurged for the heater.”
“Great call,” he said. “Do you swim a lot?”
“Every chance I get.”
“And, if I may ask, do you have naked guys in your pool a lot?”
She flashed him a devilish look. “Not much. I’d say only… two or three times a week.”
His whole face lit up as he threw his head back and laughed. “Okay. I’ve got some competition.”
“Hmm. I guess it all comes down to how good a kisser you are. If you’re better than them, I’ll cut ‘em loose.”
Briggs took the bait. Sparks of excitement exploded in Riley as he reached for her waist under the water and took hold, reeling her toward him.
His lips were about an inch away from hers when he paused and took a moment to look deeply into her eyes.
When he finally kissed her, it was even more amazing than she’d expected it to be.
And Riley knew right then and there that Briggs was her Daddy.
Forever.