Page 62 of Sangre
He pressed his lips together, his gaze raking over her body again, lingering on her breasts. “You’re even prettier when you’re mad. This is our first fight.” He chuckled.
She threw her ear buds into the gym bag and turned away from him.
“Where’re you going?” he asked.
“I’ve changed my mind about working out.” She pushed through the doors and stormed past Scott as she made her way to the pool.
“Wait,” Scott said.
She whirled around. “What is it?”
“The pool’s closed.”
“Seriously? I so need to decompress. I really need a swim.”
“Sorry.”
“Can I bribe you? I can give you two tickets to our show next week. Please?” She batted her eyelashes at him in an exaggerated way.
He laughed. “If you throw in an autographed CD by the band, I’ll give you forty-five minutes.”
“Deal.” Laughing, she winked at him as she opened the door leading down to the pool.
The minute she slipped inside the water, her limbs began to relax. Isla lay on her back floating, the water softly lapping around her as the lights from inside the pool cast wavering shadows on the ceiling. Bobbing in the water, she felt a tingle between her legs as the memory of her kiss with Sangre filled her mind. She was totally enthralled by him. She wanted him, every part of him, and she desperately wanted him to feel the same way about her. But the fact that he’d been dissing her since their kiss didn’t bode well. When she’d first seen him at the club after her band’s show, she’d thought he looked like a heart breaker and that she needed to stay away from him. That was before she knew he was Sangre, but she should’ve taken her own advice and kept their encounters at a minimum.He’s the only one who can shatter my heart. He’s done it before and now I’m letting it happen again.
Then she heard it. The soft shuffle of footsteps like a threatening whisper. Isla’s insides stiffened as she moved up, her legs treading water. Darting her eyes all around the room, she couldn’t see anything. Her pulse ramped up.It’s nothing. I’m imagining things.
But then footfalls clacked on the tiled floor. Louder.
The footsteps didn’t seem to come from any direction. Just a sound enveloping her in dread.
“Hello. Is anyone there?” her voice resounded through the room.
Nothing except for the sound of water and her panting.
The overhead lights dimmed. It was so slight that she thought she’d imagined it, but then a metal scraping sound—like nails on a chalk board, bounced off the walls.
Isla froze—all her breath trapped. She was most definitely not alone.Someonewas there. Continuing to tread water, she strained to hear, but her heart pounded loudly. Tendrils of terror curled into her stomach. The shadows that played on the walls and ceilings earlier now took on grotesque, eerie shapes lending to the rising panic inside her.
The scraping sound stopped.
Isla doggie paddled to the shallower part of the pool until her feet touch the bottom. She stayed perfectly still, her knees bent, water tucked in around her chin. Despite the warmth of the water, her teeth chattered and she shivered.
After what seemed like an eternity, she began to relax just a little bit.I bet it was the pool’s heater turning on and off. I’m such a fuckin’ baby.Looking toward the dressing room, she decided to get out of the pool. She waded over to the pool stairs, gripped the cool banister, and took a step, pushing herself upward.
Then she heard it. A clicking sound like some people do with their tongues. Very faint at first but then louder and faster. She pushed backward into the water and swam to the middle of the pool. Why she did that, she had no idea. She only knew that she couldn’t get out and face whoever was tormenting her.
Andsomeonewas. Isla couldfeeleyes on her.
Water splashed around her as she spun around, checking out the entire room, a cry breaking from her lips.
That was when she saw the shadowy shape of someone against the wall.
Her pulse roared.
“Who are you? Leave me alone!” The echo of emptiness magnified her strained voice.
A rush of footsteps.
