Take (Need #2)(64)

Oh yeah. He came over. My bedroom door was open. He left his open while he changed. I almost died as I watched. He came out of his room, nothing but those red swim trunks gracing his muscular, tattooed body, and asked me if I wanted to hang out in the pool with him.

When I agreed, he told me he’d meet me downstairs and gave me one last, hungry look before walking away from my door.

Viola. Kira changed at the speed of light.

To be fair, I think it’s clear that my * took complete control. Shit, I don’t even remember which bathing suit I picked out, but clearly it was picked out on purpose.

Brayden’s standing at the door leading to the backyard, his smoldering eyes locked on my chest. He reaches down and adjusts his now fully hard dick, and I die a little more inside. “Get out here, baby. Before I decide to f*ck you up on that island.”

I barely check the urge to jump up on it and spread my legs wide. “After you.”

With a deep sigh, he turns and heads out into the backyard. It’s night out. I don’t even know why he wants to go for a swim in the pool, but there’s no denying it—as I follow him, all I can think about is him f*cking me in that pool.

The sky still holds a few colors from the setting sun, but the darkness is setting in.

The pool glows in the backyard, thanks to the pool light. I expect him to head straight for the diving board; he doesn’t. Heading straight for the pool’s edge, he looks back at me before stepping off the ledge. He lands inside the waist-deep water, seemingly unfazed by how cool it is.

He drops down into the water, then rises back up, smoothing his wet hair back. The pool’s light reflects off his wet body, f*cking with me.

No man should be that sexy.

A man like that isn’t meant to belong to just one woman.

There will always be too many offers. Too many options.

Even if I could forgive, even if I wanted to keep him, I never could. Not without inviting a buttload of misery into my life.

And there goes my mood.

Scowling, I walk to the edge of the pool slowly, second-guessing my decision to hang out with him the entire time.

He blatantly eye-f*cks me with every step I take.

Doing my best to ignore him, I follow his lead and drop into the pool. I’m much shorter than him, so the water goes all the way up to my breasts. My nipples harden immediately.

Brayden licks his lips.

I glare at him. “All right. I’m in here. Now what?” I’m not hoping he lunges at me and presses me against the side of the pool. No, not at all.

He motions with his head to the steps a few feet away from us. There are four small stone benches built into the steps.

I follow him and sit down. He sits next to me, and leans back to brace his arms against the side of the pool. The move stretches out his upper body, enhancing every dip and curve, and I nearly go blind.

How the f*ck am I supposed to get over him when he attracts me this much?

We sit in silence for a few minutes. He seems to be contemplating something.

I grow impatient. “Is this your idea of hanging out?”

A smirk tugs the corner of his lips, but he doesn’t look at me yet. “You’re never going to learn patience, are you, Kitty?”

“Don’t make me regret agreeing to hang with you. Besides, you’re one to talk about patience.”

Laughing, he turns to face me fully. “Baby, I’ll be the first one to admit that I’m seriously lacking in that department.”

The nickname earns him yet another glare, and my cheeks heat up.

His smile widens, like he knows what I’m thinking.

No, what I’m remembering.

I still can’t believe I called him baby.

And his reaction. Dear. God. His reaction.

I can’t think about this right now. Remembering how we f*cked each other behind that bar is the last thing I need to do.

Brayden’s smile drops and my stomach along with it. He looks apprehensive. Like what he’s about to say next is going to be the very last thing I want to hear. “I want to ask you something.”

Yup, heading in a bad direction already. Shifting on the bench, I ask, “What?”

“First off, let me tell you that no matter what your answer to my question is, I’m not going to be mad at you.”

Okay?

“I just can’t stop myself from asking because . . .”

I raise my eyebrows. “Because?”

His jaw twitches. That ever-present pain floods his eyes as he focuses fully on me. “I’m sick from not knowing.”

Life would be so much easier if his pain didn’t affect me. If it didn’t make me hurt equally as bad. “What do you want to know?”

“Did you leave the bar with Austin the other night?”

I’d had a feeling he’d seen Austin follow me out. He’s been a bit distant, which should please me, but doesn’t. My first thought is to deny him an answer and let him know it’s none of his business.

Surprisingly, I can’t do that. The urges to hurt Brayden are hitting me less and less lately. I’m still hurt and angry at him, but it’s not the same anymore.

“I didn’t leave with him.” I can’t stand the way his expression melts with relief. It makes me want to curl into his lap and hug him. “Is that the only reason you wanted to hang?” To interrogate me?