Free In Bed with the Enemy by Kathie DeNosky Page A

second before he did.
    â€œYou’ve done…this before,” he said, trying to catch his breath.
    Nodding, she wiped the water from her eyes and grinned. “I was on the swim team all four years in high school, and state champion in my senior year.”
    â€œYou tried to hustle me.”
    â€œNo, I didn’t,” she said, shaking her head. “You were the one who challenged me.”
    â€œYes, but you failed to tell me about swimming competitively.”
    She shrugged. “Get over it, Yardley. I won fair and square.”
    When she started to haul herself up on the side of the pool, he stopped her by putting a hand on her shoulder. “But I would have won if I hadn’t gone easy on you.” At the feel of her wet skin beneath his palm, it suddenly didn’t matter who won. Wrapping one arm around her waist, he pulled her close.
    â€œWh-what do you…think you’re doing?” she asked, sounding more breathless than she had right after completing their race.
    He smiled. “I’m collecting the consolation prize.”
    â€œThis isn’t smart, Yardley.”
    â€œProbably not. But then, we cavemen aren’t know for being overly intelligent.” Before she could protest further, he lowered his head and captured her mouth with his.
    The water lapped at their chins and, careful to hold them above the surface, Cole leisurely savored her lips as he reacquainted himself with their softness. When Elise brought her arms up to circle his neck, he pulled her more fully against him and the feel of her bare abdomen and lush breasts pressed to his chest sent a shock wave straight to the most sensitive part of his anatomy.
    When she sighed at the contact, he instinctively knew she was experiencing the same intense sensation he was. Taking advantage of her acceptance, he slipped inside to taste the sweetness that was uniquely Elise. Boldly stroking her tongue with his, he teased her into a game of advance and retreat, then coaxed her into exploring him as he’d explored her. The tension between them rapidly increased and when she brought her legs up to wrap around his waist, it felt as if the blood in his veins turned to liquid fire.
    Her smooth thighs held him captive as she tentatively acquainted herself with him, and it was all Cole could do to keep them afloat. Never in his life had his arousal been so swift or as intense as it was at that very moment.
    Deciding that they’d both end up drowning if he didn’t put a halt to things, and damn quick, Cole broke the kiss. “Damn, sweetheart, remind me to make bets with you more often.”
    No sooner had the words left his mouth than he wished he could call them back. The passion in her emerald eyes faded instantly and she unwrapped her legs from around his waist as she tried to put distance between them.
    â€œI…I need to—” She stopped as if searching for something that needed her immediate attention. “…get back to work.”
    With his arm still wrapped around her waist, he ignored the signal to release her and shook his head. “Everything in town is closed up tight for the summer festival. There’s not a whole lot either of us can do for the rest of the weekend, but maybe watch Mercado’s activities here at the Lone Star.”
    She rested her hands on his shoulders as if she intended to disengage from his embrace. “I have accounts to go over and entries to compare.”
    Her palms heated his wet skin and made him wonder why steam wasn’t rising from where she touched him. He kissed the tip of her cute little nose. “Have you found anything you’d like to share with me?”
    Her eyes narrowed a split second before she pushed away from him and hauled herself up onto the side of the pool. “So that’s what this was all about. You thought that by kissing me you could gain information about the case I’m building.”
    How the hell did she