18. Laurie

Ismiled at Worth, glad he didn't seem offended by my reality check. "I guess I'm better at reading emotions than I am at shopping."

"That's not true. You had a great eye for what would work for you."

"You love clothes. Have you ever thought about running a fashion company?"

Worth nodded. "I have, but I don't have the design skills myself, and until now, I haven't met an artist I could trust to share my vision."

My heart raced as I realized the implications. I wanted a career in an art field. I had the skills. He liked my fashion sense. I could bring his vision to life.

I turned to look at him, and our gazes met. I was sure he was thinking the same thing, but neither of us spoke.

"Maybe we should just enjoy the sun for a little while."

He smiled as he polished off his cocktail.

"Would you like another?" He indicated my also empty glass.

I did, but I wasn't sure that was a good idea. "Maybe a little later."

He settled in his chair and gazed out at the ocean. I closed my eyes to keep me from staring at his beautiful body.

We tried our best to keep our hands off each other and cut down on the flirtatious comments and innuendos for the next few days. We went to dinner together. Worth took me to a museum, and we had several long walks on the beach. But every time I saw him, my pulse accelerated, and my dick reacted. I knew we couldn't keep this up.

On the third day after our night of dancing, we were sitting by the pool, both sneaking glances at each other but pretending we weren't. Once I'd even caught him reaching out, about to touch me. He'd jerked his hand back and looked down at his phone.

Between the hours I'd spent in the sun and the heat of Worth's gaze, I was overheated and ready to cool off in the pool. "I'm going to get in the water, but don't feel like you have to join me." In fact, it would be much safer for him not to.

He looked me up and down. "I might watch for a few minutes, then join you."

"You're flirting."

He shrugged. "Apparently, I really can't turn it off."

"It's no wonder you can have any man you want."

"When it comes to men, I do always get what I want."

"Do you?"

He seemed to be pondering the answer to that as I walked away.

I walked down the steps into the pool. The water was so much warmer than it would likely ever be back home, but it was still a shock after lying in the sun.

I decided moving in slowly wasn't going to work, so I plunged under the water, swam a little way out and emerged, flipping my hair out of my eyes. Even before I looked his way, I was sure Worth was watching me. When I turned to look at him, even at that distance, I could tell he was giving me a look that said he wanted to devour me. I lifted my hand and motioned for him to join me.

Clearly, I just wanted to keep torturing myself. The farther I stayed from him the better, but I wanted to see him in the pool, to watch the way he would move through the water, to see the droplets run down his chest. I was so fucked.

Worth rose from his chair and walked slowly toward the edge of the pool. Never breaking eye contact, he walked with long, slow strides, looking like a predator. A shiver ran over me that wasn't from the breeze whipping over my wet skin. It was all about being prey, caught in his gaze, unable to run, not even wanting to.

He walked around the edge of the pool, giving me the chance to watch his back muscles shift and his ass tighten. When he reached the deep end, he dove in, swimming underwater and coming up right beside me.

"That was so hot." The words were out before I could stop them.

"You're playing with fire."

"I know."

"I don't know how I'm going to keep my hands off you."

I frowned. "Maybe we shouldn't swim together."

"Maybe not." He moved toward me, and I took a step backward until I was pressed against the side of the pool.

I glanced around. There were several people watching us. "Worth?"

He put his hands on the side of the pool, surrounding me. "Yes?"

"You're making a spectacle of us."

"I do tend to do that."

I bit my lip. "We shouldn't."

"Tell me to walk away."

"Worth."

"I can't stand this anymore. Beck will get over it."

Was he sure? "Worth, we can't."

"Once wasn't enough."

"I know, but we should at least wait until we can talk to Beck."

His smile grew more predatory. "I prefer to make my mistakes and then ask for forgiveness."

"We already did that."

"And he forgave you."

"But has he forgiven you? You haven't even talked."

Worth moved even closer. "It will all work out."

Could we take that risk? When I raised my hand and laid it against his chest, lightning seemed to flash through me.

"You feel that, don't you?" he asked.

"Yes, but I want you to back up." A moment passed, then he did. I was finally able to take a deep breath.

I closed my eyes and ran a hand over my hair. When I looked at Worth, his eyes were wide.

"I've never had this little control with anyone. I think I'm going insane."

"I'm right there with you." I watched the muscles of his throat work as he swallowed. "Maybe I shouldn't be here. I'll go back to the villa."

"No."

"Worth?"

"You're here to relax and enjoy yourself. If anyone leaves, it should be me."

"I don't want you to leave."

He turned and looked out over the ocean. "Let's go for a walk on the beach."

My pulse pounded in my ears. What was I doing? "Okay."

We used the steps to exit the pool and grabbed our shoes. I followed Worth from the pool area to the steps that led down to the beach.