Free Worth Everything by Karen Erickson Page A

to sit up, sputtering when she took in some water. She’d lost herself in thought, lost herself in lusty imaginings she had no business entertaining. Sweeping her hair away from her face again, she slowly swam to the other end of the pool, her legs aching with the movement. Grabbing the handles that flanked either side of the steps, she hauled herself from the water, shivering when the air hit her skin, cooling her to the point of gasping.
    Dripping on the pavers, she went to the lounge chair where she’d dropped her towel only to find it wasn’t there. She glanced around, shivering so hard her teeth chattered, but she didn’t see it.
    Where did it go? It couldn’t have grown legs and walked away.
    “Looking for something?”
    Stasia stilled at the sound of the voice coming from behind her. Desire slid through her body, weakening her knees. She recognized the voice, of course. Wondered how much he saw, how much he was looking at now. She was completely on display, nothing to hide behind, and he was getting an eyeful. If she turned around, he’d see absolutely everything.
    Deciding she had nothing to hide, she turned, rested her hands on her hips. He emerged from the shadow of an olive tree, the thick towel clutched in one hand, his gaze glowing as it landed upon her. He stared at her face, never daring to look past her chin, and she admired the strength he showed in doing so.
    Most men would waste no time checking out her nudity. And how could she blame them? She would be checking out a man who stood naked in front of her too—specifically the very man in front of her now.
    But Gavin’s gaze was riveted to her face only. “I’m disturbing what is clearly a private moment for you.”
    She shrugged, her drenched hair sliding across her damp skin. “I wanted a quick swim.”
    “I heard you. I decided to come down and investigate.”
    “I’m sorry I woke you.”
    “I wasn’t sleeping.”
    They stared at each other silently. She noticed he wore no shirt, was clad in jeans only, the button unsnapped, his feet bare. As if he’d slipped them on before coming down to investigate. She had no idea the sight of a man’s bare feet could be so arousing, but they were. Not nearly as arousing a sight as that undone snap on his jeans, revealing a trail of dark hair that disappeared beneath dark-rinsed denim.
    She let her gaze wander unabashedly, she didn’t have as much control as he and she was fine with it. As she assumed, he was well built, with a flat abdomen, the faint showing of a six-pack and a broad chest and shoulders. His chest was covered with the lightest bit of hair, mostly in the center, and she had the sudden urge to press her face there. Breathe him in, feel the beat of his heart beneath her cheek.
    Instead she stood naked and trembling, dripping wet with still-chattering teeth. He was at the distinct advantage, but she decided to play like the one with the upper hand.
    “I guess you need this?” He held out the towel but didn’t step closer to her. As if he wanted to see if she’d come to him first.
    She smiled. “The longer I stand here, the more dry I become.”
    A single dark brow rose, such a sexy move, her belly fluttered. “Well, isn’t that a damn shame.”
    The sexual innuendo was thick in his words, and just like that, she grew wet between her legs. Locking her knees together, she stood straighter, held out her hand in a beckoning gesture. “My towel, please?”
    He hid it behind his back. “Come and get it.”
    Exasperation filled her, along with a healthy dose of lust. He was being rather playful, which was completely unlike him. At least what she saw of him. “Are you serious?”
    “Completely.” The look he sent her was a challenge. A dare and she took a few measured steps, stopping a few feet away from him.
    His gaze finally dropped, lingering on her breasts, going farther, down her belly, down her legs, until it came back up, touching the spot between her thighs that throbbed for