Grinning, I padded to the rooftop, where he was patiently waiting for me. With his back facing me, he stood in the water with a glass of fruit champagne we bought from the market earlier this afternoon in his hand. Gaze set in the distance, he took a slow sip on his drink.

Even though he smiled and laughed with me throughout the day, I could see his stress. His shoulders never relaxed, even when he was teasing me or kissing me. His grip on me was firmer than ever, his need to keep touching me was stronger than ever. Even when I told him to wait for me here, he didn’t look pleased.

He said he’d tell me everything today. And as the day passed, his stance grew more tense.

Hearing my footsteps, his stormy grays turned to me, making my heart skip. His hair was wet and swiped back, water droplets rolled down his broad shoulders and strong back. My mouth watered at the sight.

Will this man ever fail to amaze me?

“Took you long enough—”

His words stopped as I untied my robe and let it fall around my feet. The cool breeze kissing my bare skin wasn’t the reason for the goosebumps that crawled across my body. His lips parted as he let out a sigh, his intense gaze roaming up and down my body. My cheeks flamed hot.

Licking those firm pink lips sensually, he placed his glass of champagne on the edge of the pool and beckoned me with his head. And my feet obeyed.

The moment I was in the warm water, he pulled me flush against him. My heart thudded against my ribcage at the suddenly very awake, hard organ of his against my lower abdomen.

“Fucking hell, Rosebud! Do you want to kill me?” Letting out a curse, he ran his hands over my sides while undressing me with his eyes. They were glued on my chest that was barely covered with the lacy bra.

I let out a breathy moan when he pressed his lips against my neck, hands feeling my behind. A shiver ran through me at the feel of his hot tongue on my jaw and the calloused hands cupping my flesh roughly.

“So fucking soft,” he murmured in my ear, biting my earlobe. “You have no idea how much I crave to feel this velvety soft skin against me, to touch you, to taste you.” The husky groan of his directly hit my lower region, causing me to close my thighs. But he opened them soon with his leg in between them.

“Ace…” I whimpered as he sucked on my neck. One of his hands played with the edge of my panties.