Chapter 14

LAYLA

I shivered, a full body tremor from the top of my head to the tips of my toes, which might seem a biological impossibility, with ninety percent of my body submerged in hot water.

That body was now experiencing a smorgasbord of conflicting reactions to the man sitting next to me.

“Relax,” Briggs murmured. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. I would never hurt you, or force you to do anything you weren’t comfortable with.”

“I trust you,” I whispered.

“If you want me to leave, just say the word.”

“I want you to stay.”

“You’re so beautiful, Layla,” he said, tracing my jaw with his thumb before rubbing it across my bottom lip. He gazed into my eyes, an unspoken question lighting up those dark, hungry pools.

I leaned forward, pressing my lips tentatively against his mouth. He kissed me, caressing my lips softly, his hands cradling the back of my head. I ran my hands up his hard pecs, flattening my palms against the warm flesh.

He responded to my touch with a groan that rose deep inside his throat. Tilting my head slightly, he deepened the kiss, his tongue prising my lips open, exploring.

~Holy moly!~

I was making out with Briggs Westinghouse. In his hot tub! And I had no clue what I was doing!

His tongue rubbed against mine, his strokes gentle but demanding. My body was going crazy, wires short-circuiting everywhere, especially between my legs. Did that loud moan come from me?

His hands dropped to my waist, pulling me closer as we came up for air. Then his mouth was back on mine, his fingers tracing my ribs with tantalizing caresses while my nipples turned to granite.

“You taste delicious,” he whispered.

“I brushed my teeth before I came out here,” I said, giggling nervously.

He pressed a kiss to the tip of my nose, chuckling softly before his expression turned serious. “You’ve really never been with a man?”

“No. Why is that so hard to believe?”

“Because you’re beautiful, inside and out. Guys should be beating a path to your door.”

“Most of the guys at my high school were losers. I looked after my mom ~and~ my sister after they had abortions. My sister used to bring strange guys home who she picked up at the bar.

“One night, one of them beat the shit out of her after he fucked her. I listened to my mom having sex from the time I was a little girl. And Shelly started when she was fifteen.

“The walls were thin in our house. Sex wasn’t something I was eager to have, after seeing all the problems it caused.”

~Why did I tell him all that? This would definitely be dubbed, The One Where Layla Needed An Antidiarrheal.~

“That sounds awful,” he said. “I’m so amazed you overcame that, and grew up to be a respectable human being, despite the terrible role models you had.”

“I don’t ever want to go back to that life,” I whispered. “I will be forever grateful to you for rescuing me when I needed it the most.”

“You’re never going back. You deserve better, Layla.”

“I’m too young for you, Briggs.”

“Age is just a number, sweetheart.”

“No, it’s not,” I whispered. “You’re old enough to be my father.”

“Ouch!”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“You didn’t,” he said, pressing his lips to my forehead.

“And it’s not just my age, Briggs. I’m inexperienced. You’ll get bored with me really quickly.”

“I’ll teach you,” he murmured, his fingers grazing the underside of my breast. If my nipples got any harder, they would poke holes in the bathing suit.

“I can’t think clearly with you doing that,” I laughed, swatting his hand away.

“Doing what?”

“Touching my boob.”

“Then stop thinking,” he whispered, his mouth covering mine, devouring me with another round of hot and heavy kissing.

I cried out when he rubbed his thumb across my nipple, setting off a chain reaction of need, culminating between my legs. It was just like my romance heroines described it—an aching, pulsing sensation that bordered on pain.

“We should probably go inside,” Briggs suggested. “It’s getting late, and my sisters have a big day planned for you tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

He gave me one last kiss before standing up. I gazed hungrily at his chest, my eyes roaming down to his stomach.

Tiny droplets of water clung to the line of hair disappearing inside his shorts. I gasped when I saw the bulge.

~Holy smokes!~ How big was he?

“Is there a problem, sweetheart?”

“N-no,” I stuttered, tearing my eyes away from his crotch.

“C’mon,” he laughed, holding out his hand.

“Can you turn your back for a second?” I whispered.

“Why?”

“Um—er—your sister loaned me this bathing suit, and it’s not exactly the kind of thing I’d normally wear.”

He studied me with curious amusement.

“There’s not much to it,” I explained.

He let go of my hand, reaching over to the side of the tub to grab my towel.

“Thanks,” I mumbled when he turned his back to me.

Once I had the towel secured about my torso, I climbed out and slipped on my flip-flops.

“Buy yourself a bathing suit you’re comfortable wearing,” he said, capturing my hand as we walked toward the patio door.

“I haven’t owned a bathing suit since I was ten, and I went to a day camp at the community pool.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you know how to swim?”

“No.”

“You need to learn,” he said. “I’m going to hire someone to come here and give you lessons.”

“That’s not necessary, Briggs.”

He reached for the handle, sliding the door open. I shivered when I stepped into the air conditioning. The main floor was dark, with the exception of the light over the sink.

“Yes, it is. Next summer, the boys will be out in the pool. You need to know how to swim.”

~Next summer. As in, a year from now. Would I still be here? Working as a nanny?~

He tugged me into the shadows by the back staircase, pulling me into his arms. His mouth sought mine, delivering a deeply sexual kiss that turned my legs to jelly.

“You better get upstairs before I drag you to my bedroom and have my way with you,” he growled playfully.

“Good night, Briggs.”

“Sweet dreams, pretty lady.”