“Come on in,” he called to them. “The water feels good.” Kylie was the first to respond. Slipping her hand from Celine’s grasp she ran to the edge of the pool and jumped, almost landing on top of Pierce’s head. He laughed and caught her then waved to Celine. “Your turn.”
She grimaced and shook her head. Did he really think she was going to jump into his arms? Not likely.
“Don’t let me come get you,” he said with a grin and hoisting Kylie onto his shoulders he began to swim toward the lip of the pool.
Celine knew not to play around then. Quickly she let the towel fall from where she’d wrapped it tightly under her armpits, exposing her bikini clad-body to his gaze. Pierce stopped paddling and his appreciative stare told Celine he liked what he saw. She could feel her body go pink all over. Wanting to hide herself as quickly as possible she hurried to sit on the edge of the pool then slid into the water, relieved when it flowed over her body. Of course the water hid nothing from his view but it gave her some small comfort knowing that something, though transparent, was covering her.
It took all of fifteen minutes before Celine began to relax. Maybe it was Kylie’s shrieks of laughter when Pierce bobbed her up and down or maybe it was this other side of Pierce that she was seeing - so carefree, playful and even mischievous. He thought nothing of playing tricks on poor Kylie, sinking to the bottom of the pool, making her think he’d disappeared, or swimming up behind to tickle her ear. It was like Celine was seeing the little boy he used to be. She could just picture him - active and naughty and loads of fun. Soon Celine was caught up in the horseplay, too. When Pierce almost drowned her with a tidal wave of water she swung after him, trying to give him a taste of his own wicked medicine. But he was too strong and too fast. As hard as she swam she couldn’t catch up to Pierce and finally she gave up and swam back to Kylie who was giggling uncontrollably as she watched from the shallow end of the pool.
Celine ducked down and whispered in her ear. “Just watch,” she said. “I’ll get him.” Then she put up her right hand, Kylie did the same, and they did a high five.
Celine turned to check out Pierce’s location. He was still on the far end of the pool but now he was lounging, doing the backstroke, leisurely floating back towards them. Obviously, he felt there was no more threat. He’d probably thought she’d given up and gone back to sit with Kylie and lick her wounds. Well, he had grossly under estimated her and he was about to get the shock of his life.
With the slippery stealth of a snake Celine slid back into the water but this time she took a huge breath and went under, traveling swiftly along the bottom of the pool. As she moved she watched Pierce float toward her, totally oblivious to the danger lurking below. Then when he was right above she crouched and, using the bottom of the pool for leverage, she vaulted straight up and shot toward him.
Celine grabbed Pierce around the waist and dragged him under and as he kicked in surprise she shot away from his reach.
She was laughing as she got back to Kylie’s side. Why had she done that? For the life of her she couldn’t tell what made her as to dunk her own boss. Dear God, she must be losing her mind.
He’d been so close, he’d been so warm when she grabbed him around the waist, he’d been so firm to the touch. And she’d been so turned on. The horseplay was supposed to have been pure innocent fun but tell that to her body. Every time Pierce came near her ni**les turned into hard pebbles she was sure he could see through the fabric of her bikini top. And every time she saw his lean muscled body cut through the water her breath caught in her throat. She was dying to slide her hands over his muscled chest and tight abs. She was craving to slide her lips down his back. She’d never had such bold thoughts in her life. What was this man doing to her?
By now Pierce had swum back to the surface and still sputtering, was staring at her through the water streaming down his face. The glitter in his eyes told her he wasn’t about to take that without a response. He shook the strands of wet hair from his face and fixing his dark eyes on Celine, ducked down into the water, his body, mouth and nose below the surface. Like a crocodile stalking its prey, with only his eyes and the top of his head above the surface, Pierce streaked toward her.
Although she knew it was in fun, and although she was fully aware that this was a man and not a beast, an unreasonable fright filled Celine and she shrieked. The game was becoming too real. She scooped Kylie up and swam quickly toward the steps, intent on getting out of the pool and escaping her stalker’s clutches.
She was almost out when a woman’s high-pitched voice cut through the air. “Well, what have we here?” As one, they spun in the direction of the voice. And there stood Sophia Redgrave looking cool and crisp in a pant suit of white linen. In her arms she gingerly held a tray on which lay a colorful cake cover.
She gave them a tight little smile. “I was ringing the doorbell but when there was no answer I decided to come around. Did I break up a party?”
Her eyes flashed with something akin to anger as they swept over Celine and Kylie. But then her face softened as she turned her attention to Pierce. “I brought you something special,” she said, her face softening into a smile. “I’ll take it to the kitchen. Come see.”
Pierce raised his eyebrows then he smiled and swam to the side of the pool where she now stood looking down at him.
“What do you have there?” he asked, his voice full of amusement.
Sophia shook her head and gave him a teasing frown. “I’m not telling. Only if you’re a good boy and follow me.” Without waiting for a reply she minced her way up the path in her high heeled gold sandals, her bottom swaying seductively as she went.
Pierce watched her go then he turned to Celine and Kylie who had not moved from the edge of the pool where Sophia found them. He raised his eyebrows and grinned. “Who doesn’t like a surprise?” he said with a shrug. Then he put his hands on the side, hauled himself out of the water and loped up the cobbled path to the house.
With each step Pierce took up that path Celine’s heart slid lower and lower. When he finally disappeared into the house she felt like her heart was a rock that had rolled to the bottom of her belly.