The Boy Next Door by Katy Baker Page B

that greeted her. Rory had taken his top off and now stood in only his shorts on the pool edge, fishing out leaves with a net. The afternoon sun burning above had turned the day sultry and a thin sheen of sweat beaded on Rory’s chest.
    Melissa gulped. Her eyes roamed over his hard, well-defined pectorals, down his six-pack to his narrow hips then beyond to the bulge in the front of his shorts and his small, tight buttocks that pulled the fabric tight as he bent over. Her pulse quickened, a small gasp escaping her lips. Frowning, she clamped down on her arousal, marched over and pointed a finger at him.
    “I don't know who you think you are, Rory Thompson, but my father left me in charge, not you. And seeing as he's the one paying your wages I suggest you do what I ask!”
    He straightened, shrugged. “What would you like me to do, Melissa?”
    The look he focused on her was deep and penetrating and suggested he wasn’t talking about housework.
    Loads of things , she thought. Starting by bending me over, spreading my legs…

    She cleared her throat, tried to gather her scattered thoughts. “Well you can start by cleaning the bathroom.”
    Rory slowly took out the piece of paper again and made a big show of reading it. Finally he shook his head. “Sorry. It's not on the list.”
    Melissa squealed in frustration. She'd wipe that smug expression right off his handsome face! She lunged forward and pushed him with all her strength. With a startled yelp Rory overbalanced and began to topple backward.
    As he fell toward the water a surge of triumph flashed through Melissa. That would show him! But at the last moment Rory’s hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her into the pool with him. Melissa had time for a strangled scream before she hit the water.
    It enveloped her like an icy blanket, stealing the breath from her lungs. She came up coughing and spluttering, water cascading from her in diamond droplets. She stood, gasping, and pushed the hair from her eyes. Rory stood less than an arm’s length away, hair slicked to his head, rivulets of water pouring down his torso.
    Melissa opened her mouth to scream at him but the look on his face stopped her. His full lips were parted slightly, his bare chest heaving. And his eyes had gone dark. Lust, Melissa realized. Rory wanted her.
    Melissa’s nipples stiffened, pressing against the clinging fabric of her wet t-shirt. Her heart thumped in her chest as hot pulses of desire radiated outward from between her legs.
    Slowly Rory reached out and ran his dripping finger along her jaw line. Melissa shivered as waves of delicious anticipation rode up her arms. Rory stepped closer, never glancing away, and brought his face close to hers. Melissa held herself very still, tingling at the nearness of him, feeling his warm breath against her cheek, listening to the sound of the water dripping off his hair.
    Cupping her chin in one hand, Rory kissed her, sending a jolt of rapture through Melissa’s system. His lips pressing against her felt so warm and insistent that she moaned softly as Rory’s mouth moved against hers. After a moment his tongue forced her lips apart and snaked inside, massaging her tongue in a firm rhythm. With a groan Melissa opened her mouth wider, caressing his tongue with her own. Her arms slid around his neck and pulled him close, kissing him hungrily as passion took hold. Rory’s strong hands glided down to her buttocks, squeezing the soft flesh.
    But then he suddenly broke off their kiss and stepped back. A frown pinched the skin between his eyebrows.
    Puzzled, Melissa asked, “What is it?”
    He shook his head. “I’m not sure this was on your father’s list either.”
    He waded to the edge of the pool and climbed up the ladder, water gushing off his semi-naked form.
    Melissa watched him go, incredulous. What was he doing? She’d just let him kiss her and now he was walking away? Who did he think he was?
    She narrowed her eyes as a thought struck