Read Online The Amber Stone by Dara Girard - Free Book Online

shook her head, taking off her jeans and top. She was already beginning to feel more alive. “No. I have to do it now.” She pulled a green swimming cap over her head then jumped up and down to keep warm as she stared at the calm waters of the bay. She stopped and took a deep breath. “Well, here goes.”
    She ran and jumped in, a scream caught in her throat as the cold water assaulted her skin.
    “Are you okay?” Jessie called.
    Teresa only nodded, too shocked to speak. She slowly began to move her arms and legs and soon her body grew accustomed to the cold temperature. She quickly began to understand Sean’s fascination with the morning swim—the quiet, the waves splashing her like kids in a pool; the sound of seagulls circling overhead. She did somersaults and spun around, closing her eyes. She used her hands to direct her, trying to see the bay in a whole new way. She bumped into some rocks and let her hands trail over their furry smooth surface and curled her fingers into something that felt soft like seaweed. Oh, if only now, somehow, her world would fall into place, her destiny would take hold. Suddenly something encircled around her waist like an eel, it was solid and warm. She opened her eyes and screamed. Sean faced her with a smile on his lips, the hazel glint of his eyes spiked with wet, black lashes.
     
     

Chapter Eight

     
    “You’re early!” she cried, backing away from his grasp.
    “So are you.”
    She struck the water with the flat of her hand, splashing his face. “I can’t believe you let me touch you like that without saying anything!”
    He shrugged, wiping the water from his eyes. “You seemed to be enjoying yourself.”
    She covered her face with her hands. Just when she thought it couldn’t get more awkward, it did. To think she had been touching him intimately and enjoying it! This had to be a nightmare, there was no other explanation. She would open her eyes and be in bed.
    She peeked through her fingers and saw Sean arrogantly smiling at her. She groaned, she would just pretend it didn’t happen. She let her hands fall to her side, lifted her chin and turned away; he grabbed her arm. “Why don’t you finish what you started?” he challenged.
    His eyes teased and baited her like a boy who’d asked his best friend to do something he was certain he wouldn’t do; Teresa was up for the challenge, eager to remove that expression from his face. She narrowed her eyes in deliberation. “All right.”
    She didn’t touch his chest first, she surprised him by curling her fingers over his left ear and massaging it. Sean took a deep breath, trying to combat the amazingly sensuous feel of her fingers there. Slowly her fingers left a caressing trail down his neck to the center of his chest. She watched him—his eyes darkened with fire as her hand continued their descent.
    She smiled coyly. He captured her hand before it went too far.
    “You don’t want to do that,” he warned in a gruff tone.
    Her heart thumped uncomfortably. “I don’t?”
    “No.”
    “How about this?” She touched the curve of his neck.
    “Only if I can do this.” His hand rested in the space between her breasts and slowly drew little circles there.
    Teresa caught her breath, heat emanating from where his fingers had been. “Fine, if I can do this.” She wet her forefinger then let it trail the outside of his lips. He had beautiful lips, full and soft.
    “You’re in over your head,” he grumbled, annoyed with the hoarse quality of his voice.
    She tugged on one of the curls plastered against his forehead and twirled it around her finger. “No,” she whispered. “You are.”
    She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him fully on the mouth. Since his mouth had been partly opened she delved into it completely, learning the intricacies of it from the moment of impact. She didn’t know what she was doing, though it felt good and wanted to stop before she embarrassed herself, but Sean kept her in his