Page 73 of Claim Me
Glass railings run along the perimeter of the rooftop, nearly invisible, allowing an unobstructed view of the city stretching out below, creating a grid of lights and distant movement.
The whole space feels elevated in every sense, removed from everything below, like a private world suspended above the city.
I lean down and check the water in the pool, realizing it’s much warmer than in the indoor pool, heated by the sun during the day, which hits the rooftop directly.
It slips out before I can stop myself. "Come swim with me, Blue. Not like in the morning, not training, just for relaxation. It’s already past nine, we can unwind a little."
He looks at me for a moment, clearly caught off guard by the suggestion.
"I only swim in the morning…" he starts, but I cut him off quickly.
"Come on, don’t make me beg. Let’s swim together. We can even swim naked if you want. Let’s go crazy!" I grin widely.
For the first time ever, I see something like embarrassment, or maybe even unease, flicker across Blue’s face.
"Obviously optional," I add quickly, softening my tone.
"I will not swim naked," he says, his voice completely different from the way he talks about science or math, higher and stiffer.
"So maybe just a regular swimsuit? The water’s warm, you don’t need a wetsuit."
His large eyes look straight at me.
Silence.
A pretty long one.
I try to smile. "Looks like you’re weighing the pros and cons?" I squint slightly. "Feels like the decision’s leaning my way."
Blue blinks slowly, then shrugs and says quietly,
"All right. Fine. I’ll go change."
That surprises me, but I feel a flicker of excitement.
Seriously? Just like that? We’re actually going to fool around in the water?
The idea came to me out of nowhere, and weirdly enough, it worked.
Blue walks off, and I head to my room too, feeling a bit jittery and excited.
I change into my black boxers again and come back quickly, but Blue isn’t there yet, so I decide to go for it and get in right away.
I walk to the edge, lower my legs into the water, then slide in, pleased by how warm it is.
The pool is lit with green and turquoise lights, creating an almost magical atmosphere, while the lamps along the edges cast a soft golden glow. It’s a perfect place to relax and maybe explore… less obvious kinds of connections. Who knows.
He’s my boss, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be buddies, right?
A moment later, the door opens, and Blue walks out.
His hair, which usually falls to his shoulders, is tied back in a short ponytail, revealing his slender neck. He’s wearing his ever-present electronic glasses and… wow… it actually takes my breath away.
He’s wearing nothing but a Speedo.
Fuck.
I’m honestly shocked he showed up in something like that.
