Chapter 6

He sliced into the water like a knife, arms cutting clean strokes until he reached her.

His grip closed around her waist hard, possessive, fingers digging into soft skin with enough force to bruise.

He hauled her up, breaking the surface with her clutched against his chest, then carried her out like she weighed nothing.

Water streamed off them both in cold sheets as he dumped her onto the tile deck.

Not gentle.

Not tender.

Just… done.

Selena coughed, lungs burning with chlorine, arms flying instinctively to cover herself.

Her white top had turned transparent, clinging like wet cellophane.

The lace bra beneath did nothing to hide the hard peaks of her nipples or the faint outline of everything else.

He saved me.

The thought hit her like a slap.

My bully just dragged me out like I was already his.

She lifted her eyes to him dripping, towering, chest heaving.

“Thank you,” she whispered, voice scraped raw.

Before reason could stop her, she stepped forward.

Her arms slid around his neck in a shaky, desperate hug.

Their soaked bodies pressed flush.

His heat burned through the chill.

Ryan went stone-still.

“Selena…”

His voice came out low, gravel-rough, unfinished.

His gaze dropped.

Slow.

Deliberate.

He cataloged every exposed inch the curve of her throat, the swell of her breasts, the way the fabric molded to her like a second skin.

The air between them turned thick, suffocating.

Their mouths hovered a breath apart.

She felt the heat of his exhale against her lips.

He could close the distance.

He could break her.

He pulled back just enough.

“Where the hell is your shirt?” he asked, voice flat. “Your bra?”

Her face flamed.

“I know it’s see-through,” she muttered, trying for defiance.

It came out trembling.

“Stop staring.”

A slow, dangerous smile curled the corner of his mouth.

Fuck.

I can’t look away.

She’s shaking, half-naked in my arms, and all I want is to pin her down until she stops pretending she hates this.

His cock twitched, thickening against her hip.

He didn’t bother hiding it.

“Tell me,” he murmured, leaning so close his lips brushed her ear, “did you lose the shirt on purpose?

Just to make me look?”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” she shot back, but her eyes darted away, cheeks burning.

He laughed low, dark, no humor in it.

“I’m not flattering myself.

I’ve got you cradled half-naked right now.

And you’re not fighting.”

“Just because I’m your nanny—”

His hand slid to the small of her back, pressing her tighter against him for one punishing heartbeat.

“This has nothing to do with you being the nanny.”

He released her abruptly.

Snatched a towel from the nearest chair.

Tossed it at her chest like an order.

“Cover up,” he said coldly, “before someone else gets ideas.”

She clutched the fabric, pulse hammering.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

A small, conflicted smile flickered across her lips.

Ryan’s eyes lingered cold, assessing, hungry.

Then he turned and stalked toward the pool house without another word.

Minutes later, Ella and Lucas drifted over, smirking.

“Where’s my shirt?” Selena asked, voice flat.

Ella sneered.

“God, you’d do anything for attention, wouldn’t you?”

Lucas chuckled.

“Pool house.

Probably.”

Ella elbowed him.

“Shut up.”

Selena didn’t wait for more insults.

She wrapped the towel tighter around her shoulders and walked straight to the pool house door.

Inside, the air was warmer, heavy with humidity and the faint tang of chlorine and skin.

Ryan stood with his back to her.

He peeled off his soaked shorts without hesitation.

Naked.

Unashamed.

Broad shoulders rolling, water still glistening down the deep groove of his spine, thick length hanging heavy between powerful thighs.

Selena froze in the doorway.

The almighty Ryan… mighty everywhere.

Heat surged low in her belly sharp, unwanted, terrifying.

He glanced over his shoulder.

Caught her staring.

A slow, predatory grin spread across his face.

“Like what you see?”

His voice was velvet over steel.

“Take a picture.

It’ll last longer.”

He wrapped a fresh towel low around his hips.

The white fabric clung precariously, accentuating the sharp V of his pelvis and the dark trail leading downward.

He looked carved from sin.

He advanced slow, deliberate steps.

Selena backed up.

One step.

Two.

Until her spine hit the closed door with a soft thud.

Ryan planted one hand beside her head.

Caged her without touching.

The heat rolling off his body made her skin prickle.

“Why are you here, Selena?”

“I—I came for my shirt.”

Her voice cracked.

“Really.”

His eyes dropped to her mouth, then lower.

“Or did you follow me because you can’t stay away?”

“My shirt,” she repeated, weaker.

He leaned in until their breaths tangled.

“As you can see… I’m using the room.

Wait.

Outside.”

She blinked, dazed.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

His whisper was a threat wrapped in silk.

“Wait.

Outside.”

She turned.

Fumbled for the knob.

It didn’t turn.

Locked.

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

“Ryan… the door—”

He stepped up directly behind her.

Body heat blanketed her back like a second skin.

His voice brushed the shell of her ear, low and dangerous.

“It means you’re stuck in here.

With me.”

Selena pressed her palms flat against the door, leaning into it as if it could swallow her whole.

Her towel slipped a fraction, baring more of her shoulder.

She felt every inch of the space between them shrink.

Ryan didn’t touch her at first.

He just hovered close enough that she could feel the faint brush of his towel against the back of her thighs.

His free hand came up slowly, fingers trailing the air above her arm, never quite making contact.

“You’re still shaking,” he murmured, voice dark and amused.

“From the cold… or from me?”

She swallowed.

Didn’t answer.

His gaze dropped to her chest.

Even through the towel she’d clutched, the soaked fabric of her top still clung underneath, nipples stiff and visible.

“Look at you,” he said softly, almost reverently.

“Those pretty little nipples… so hard already.

Bet they’d taste so fucking good in my mouth.

Sweet.

Tight.

I’d suck slow… make you arch just to get more.”

Selena’s breath hitched.

A flush crawled up her neck.

He leaned closer, lips grazing the damp hair at her nape.

Not a kiss.

Just enough pressure to make her shiver.

“And down here…”

His voice dropped lower, rougher.

His hand hovered near her hip close enough she could feel the heat radiating from his palm.

“I know you’re getting wet for me already.

Sweet little pussy probably dripping just thinking about it.

Aren’t you?”

“Ryan…”

Her protest came out weak, breathless.

He chuckled dark, satisfied.

“You can pretend you hate me all you want, nanny.

But your body doesn’t lie.”

He finally touched her then just the lightest drag of his fingertips along the outside of her thigh, up under the edge of the towel.

Teasing.

Testing.

She tensed, thighs pressing together instinctively.

“Imagine it,” he whispered against her ear.

“Me pinning you right here against this door.

Towel on the floor.

Your legs wrapped around me.

One hard thrust and you’d be moaning my name like you’ve wanted to for months.”

Her pulse thundered in her ears.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

“We could have a whole round right now,” he continued, voice thick with dark promise.

“Door locked.

No one to interrupt.

I’d fuck you slow at first… make you beg.

Then harder.

Until you forget why you ever called me your bully.”

His fingers paused at the crease of her thigh dangerously close.

He didn’t push further.

Just let the threat hang.

“But I won’t,” he said suddenly, pulling back an inch.

Voice colder now.

“Not until you admit you want it. Until you say please.”