The sudden, firm jerk of his hands at her waist caught the breath right in her throat. Dakota’s hips pressed flush against his, the heat of his palms soaking straight through the thin fabric of her bikini and onto her bare skin. She refused to look shaken, but the sudden, heavy thud of her own pulse against her ribs betrayed her. He was shifting the tempo, reclaiming the upper hand with that effortless, heavy dominance she always craved. His rough, gravelly voice sending a wave of electric shivers down her spine, Dakota involuntarily let her eyes flutter shut for a split second. Then came his hand, tracing a slow, agonizing path up her ribs before his fingers tangled deeply into the hair at the back of her neck. The possessive pressure of his thumb forced her face up, locking her into his gaze. She stared directly into his dark eyes, watching them glitter with that unchecked hunger, her own gaze dropping to his mouth as his lips hovered a mere fraction from hers. She could taste the heat of his breath, warm and heavy in a way that made her knees feel entirely hollow.
“I’m planning on reminding you exactly who calls the shots,” she heard him say. A quiet, breathless laugh escaped her, but the signature smirk didn't leave her face. Instead, it turned entirely wicked. "Is that a threat, Taylor?" she whispered against his lips, refusing to give him the satisfaction of the kiss just yet. With a quick, fluid movement, she slipped out from beneath his hand at her neck, her fingers sliding down his arm until her hand wrapped tightly around his wrist. She didn't give him a chance to reset his grip. Maintaining absolute eye contact, she began to back up, leading him toward the shallow end where the wide stone steps descended into the blue water. The first step hit her ankles, the shock of the water being a contrast to the brning heat of his skin, but she didn't break her stride. She pulled him down into the plunge pool with hr, the water rising up to swirl around her waist, then her ribs, instantly dampening the ends of her long hair.
The moment his feet hit the bottom of the pool, Dakota closed the distance before he could react. She used his own momentum to guide him backward until his shoulder blades hit the edge of the pool wall. Before he could reclaim control, she pressed herself entirely against him, letting the water lift her just enough to wrap her arms securely around his neck. "So..." Dakota said, her voice dropping into a low, whispery purr that was entirely seductive, her eyes locked onto his darkened gaze. She didn't wait for him to answer. Leaning forward, she buried her face in the crook of his neck, pressing her lips firmly against his heated skin. The scent of him, the Napa sun, clean sweat, and pure Taylor, flooded her senses. "You're the one who calls the shots?" she questioned softly against his skin, her teeth lightly gracing his pulse point with just enough pressure to make him feel the edge of her smile.
