Page 98 of A Perfect World
“Put me down!”
Her tiny fists beat my back, making me laugh as I shifted her in my arms. Cradled against my chest, I stepped off the ledge into the pool. She shrieked bloody murder.
The music faded into a distantthump-thumpof the bass, laughter and voices a minor hum. Her hair floated in a halo, eyes like the tanzanite stone around her throat under the blue water. My lungs screamed for oxygen at the same time she broke the surface.
And splashed me.
“Oh, you wanna play, baby?”
Her answering giggles had me diving forward and locking my sights on her. Frozen in place, I wrapped my arms around her waist and yanked her against me. She kicked helplessly.
“Cheater!”
“I never claimed to play fair.”
She thrashed harder. “Obviously, you pretty idiot.”
I nipped her ear. “Your pet names are so creative.”
She huffed and wriggled in my arms. It was impossible to keep hold of her with so much sunscreen on her skin. She twisted to hook her legs around my waist.
I licked her nose. She gasped and slapped my chest.
“I want to cover you in a sheet,” she said, smoothing away my dripping hair.
“Why is that?”
She lifted her chin, her hands gliding over my shoulders. “Because I can’t stand everyone looking at you. You’re mine.”
I chuckled, my hands roaming every inch of exposed skin as I wedged her back into the corner of the pool.
“Let them look all they want. Both of us know who owns me,” I murmured, blowing on her neck, raising goosebumps before closing my mouth over the same spot. A breathy moan escaped her. I smiled against her skin.
A tidal wave crashed over us.
I tensed, ready to wreck whoever jumped so close to us.
“Sup, Freak.”
Shock was a bucket of ice dumped over my head. The chemicals in my bloodstream slowed my reflexes. I twisted, blocking Courtney from view.
“Fuck off, Tyler.”
Void black eyes avidly dodged mine, a cruel smile curling his lips. Not a trace of humanity filled that smile.
Courtney’s nails dug into my arm. “You,” she seethed, pushing out from behind me with fire burning in her eyes.
Tyler’s forced smile didn’t budge. “Good to see you again,” he taunted.
She lunged-
I yanked her back into my chest.
She fought, teeth bared in a snarl. “I’ll fucking rip your eyes out for watching him with me. His pleasure ismine.”
Tyler’s grin faltered, inky eyes narrowing on her with dangerous intent as the vein in his temple ticked. He wouldn’t lay a fucking finger on my angel. I released her and advanced on him.
“You’re really testing my restraint,” I growled, “Between your voyeuristic habits and the stunt you pulled on my girl in the preserve, you deserve to lose all motor functions.”
