Page 64 of Scandal
“Believe me, love. I wouldn’t need to trick you,” I say, my gravely tone deceiving my emotions. “But exactly how were you planning on going skinny-dipping?”
Her lips press together as her face flushes. “I’m kidding, Merc. I was planning on turning around when you undressed. I can be a gentleman when I want to be.”
“Only when you want to be?”
“Believe me, love. There are times when you don’t always want a man to act like a gentleman.”
She looks up at me, wide-eyed and curious. “Like when?”
Like when he’s got you bent over the back of a sofa or his tongue buried so deep in your pussy he can barely breathe.
The way she’s looking up at me…
I need a distraction.
I need a distractionnow.
I grab her around the waist, lift her into my arms bride style, and then break into a sprint. “Like…right about now!” She squeals as we both hit the freezing water at the same time in nothing but our undergarments.
Not exactly skinny-dipping, but much, much safer.
Given how this day is going, if I got this girl naked, there’s no telling what idiotic choices I’d make. My brain would probably short-circuit, and then my dick would end up making all the decisions from there out.
We’d both be doomed.
“Oh my god, it’s so cold!” she yelps, a hint of laughter in her voice as we break apart.
“I thought you’d be used to it. The Pacific is colder than this,” I say, then dunk my head under.
“I haven’t swum in the ocean since I was a kid.”
There’s a touch of sadness in her voice, and I know it’s one of those things she worries she’s missed out on. “I guess it’s a good thing we’re doing this, then. Swimming in a loch in Scotland is way better than some beach in Malibu.”
A ghost of a smile tugs at her lips. “You think so?”
“How many people can say they’ve swum in the Pacific? Loads, I’d wager. But not nearly as many have had the privilege of dipping their toes in the magic waters of a Scottish loch.”
She glides her hands over the water as she kicks to stay afloat. “I’m not sure there’s anything magical about this water except maybe some algae, and oh my god, I think a fish just touched my leg!”
I let out a chuckle.
“It’s not funny, Ash!”
“On the contrary,” I argue. It’s pretty damn funny. “Come here.” I motion with my hand. “I’ll keep you safe.”
She floats over to me without hesitation. Who knew she’d be so scared of a fish?
I wrap an arm around her shoulder, trying my best to keep the rest of our mostly naked bodies from touching. Neither of us needs that temptation. “I’d say we’ve dipped more than just our toes in,” she mumbles.
“I have, but your hair is still dry. You’re basically still on the shore.”
Her mouth falls open. “Am not!” She tries to playfully push me away.
I shrug. “Nothing adventurous about seizing the moment. Go all the way or go home, isn’t that the saying?”
She grins. “It’s go big or go home.”
“I see no difference.” I shrug as my gaze drifts upward. “And your hair is still dry.”
