Page 24 of Improper Proposal
“I have to stop eating like this,” Harper says as she takes a big bite of cake. Her eyes roll. “Maybe tomorrow,” she adds, and I grin. But when she takes another bite, her eyes meeting mine as she slides the fork into that sweet mouth of hers, my cock can’t take it.
“What does everyone want to do after dinner?” Bronwyn asks.
I know what I want to do but am not about to admit it aloud.
A few suggestions are tossed around, and Ned comes out with, “How about volleyball?”
“It’s kind of cold out for that,” Harper says.
“Water volleyball,” he clarifies.
Her eyes go wide. “You have a pool?”
I lean back in my seat. They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, but I don’t get that she’s anything like her mother. She worked hard to get where she is in life, depending on no one but herself. I clench my jaw, anger surging through my veins once again. I wish I had known her years ago so I could have helped her, been there for her. Then again, she’s not the kind of girl to take, which makes me want to give to her all the more.
This is just sex. She made that perfectly clear, but maybe I’m not so good with that anymore.
“I don’t have a suit,” Harper says, bringing my thoughts back.
“We’re about the same size,” Bronwyn says. “I’ll lend you one.”
“Okay, then.”
We all climb from the table, and Harper goes still. “Hold on. Aren’t we supposed to wait thirty minutes after eating before swimming?”
I chuckle. “Technically we won’t be swimming, and the pool isn’t over your head. But don’t worry if you get a cramp, or need mouth-to-mouth, one of us will save you.”
Her face turns a pretty shade of pink when I mention mouth-to-mouth. I’m sure she’s thinking exactly where I want her mouth, and where I want mine later. We all head off to our rooms and change. Harper meets me in the hall, and my knuckles brush hers as we head back downstairs, then through the long stone hallway leading to the in-house pool.
“This is amazing,” Harpers says. “I saw this jut-out on the house when I was horseback riding, but I thought it was a guest house.”
She drops her towel, and as she slides into the water I debate my next move. If I drop my towel, everyone will be fully aware of what seeing her in that skimpy suit is doing to me. In a fast move I unknot the towel from around my waist and jump in. With any luck the water will help tamp down my hard-on.
I swim to the other side of the net, opposite Harper. This position will allow me to keep a measure of distance and let me see her just the same. Soon enough, the teams are made, and we begin to play. Harper is horrible, her team losing, but she’s laughing hard and having a good time, and every time she jumps up I get to see those lovely breasts of hers bounce, so all in all it’s a double win for me.
Bobby splashes water in her face and teases her for missing the shot, and a strange wave of possessiveness moves through me. If he weren’t my cousin, I might very well punch him in the face for just being so close to her.
Shit.
Not good, Will. Not good at all.
I give myself a quick lecture and get my shit together. My team goes on to win the game, and by the time we’re finished, everyone is exhausted and ready to sit around the fire. Not me, though. I want Harper all to myself.
“Hey, Harper,” I say as we climb from the pool. “How about a drive? We can head into town, go to a local pub.”
“Sounds like a good idea.”
“Anyone want to come?” I ask. I don’t want them to get the wrong idea—or the right idea—that I’m trying to get her alone.
A round of nos comes my way. “Been to the pub lots of times,” Annabella says. “You two go.”
We head to our rooms and get changed, and I meet Harper at the front door. As I wait at the foot of the steps and watch her descend, possessiveness once again races through me. Fuck, she’s gorgeous, and
I want her in so many ways.
I lead her outside, and we jump into my rental. We start down the road, and she looks out the window. “Gorgeous.”
“It is.”
