Page 93 of Caruso
He turns and dives in, cutting a powerful figure through the water, and as I hesitate on the side, he treads water as he watches me.
“You’re nervous.” He states the frigging obvious because this is where the perfect image fades.
“I, um, can’t swim.” I admit with shame, and he smiles softly. “Then it’s a good job I can. I’ll catch you.”
I sit on the edge and my legs dangle in the warm water, which astonishes me.
“Why isn’t it cold?”
“It’s set to reflect the most comfortable temperature for the time of year. In the height of summer, it’s cool. Swimming should be a pleasure, not an endurance test; we have a mountain lake for that.”
“A lake, where?”
“On the other side of the property. Giorgio loves it more than the pool. It’s another example of his madness.”
His grin almost undoes me because I’ve learned that smiling isn’t something that Tommaso does a lot of, and yet here, in this mountain paradise, he is free. I can see that now. He is relaxed, almost human.
He reaches out, and his hands settle around my waist, and as I slip into the water, I attempt to push the fear away. My legs wrap around his waist, and my pussy rubs against his cock, the water running between every crack in our bodies, my heart beating frantically both from the danger of the water and the man holding me.
I wrap my arms around his neck, and his low rumble of authority reassures as he whispers, “Relax, don’t be afraid of the water; your body will naturally float if you allow it.”
“It doesn’t feel like that.” I gasp as he eases his hold a little and says firmly. “Remember I’ve got you. I’ll hold you up, just lie back in my arms and allow the water to wash over you.”
“Don’t drop me.”I implore him, and he growls, “I will never drop you, princess. I’ve always got your back.”
As I lie back, I’m assured of that, and as the water ripples over my body, I allow myself to relax in his arms as I float on air.
“That’s better.”
His reassurance fills me with confidence, and as he moves me around the pool, he asks, “Nobody ever taught you to swim?”
“Fight yes, swim no.”
His mouth curls up at the sides. “Fighting is one survival skill, but swimming is another you must master.”
“Will you teach me?”
“Of course.”
Our smiles connect, and a warm sensation of peace wafts through me like a comforting breeze on a summer’s day.
“Tell me about Loretta.” I risk ruining the moment, and his expression tightens and then relaxes as he begins to speak.
“She was beautiful. I may be biased, but she was. Growing up, we fought with the other two, but never us. We shared a bond as well as a womb, and I shared her emotions as she did mine. We were best friends and she was the only person I could open up to. Matteo and Giorgio were close, but it was nothing like the deep connection I had with my twin. I’m ashamed to admit that we made life difficult for her, vetting her friendships and warning guys away who even glanced in her direction.”
“She must have been pissed about that.”
“She was but misunderstood our reasons. As it turned out, we never succeeded anyway.”
His eyes darken, and I add quickly, “She was lucky to have three brothers. I doubt she would have changed anything about you even if she could.”
The water laps over my body, and with Tommaso holding me, it’s so intimate, liberating even, and as he stares into my eyes, a gleam of lust sparks, simmering beneath the surface, never far away.
“I want to kiss you.” He whispers, and it’s strangely endearing for a man who always takes it as his right, to ask permission now.
“I want to kiss you too.”
His smile is sweet, and as he swings me into his arms, I love how protective they are. His hand wraps around my damp hair, and as our lips collide, the water laps around us as he kisses me hard, deeply and with more than just passion. My heart beats hard against his chest as he laps at my tongue, twisting it in his, exploring every inch of my mouth, all the time holding me safe while we are surrounded by danger.
