Page 26 of Bound Bride
"I have a problem with you dressing like that in front of my men. Did you forget our vows?"
"Yup." Her smile widens and something about the honesty in her eyes leads me to believe she really has.
"I do not want my men to stare at what is mine."
She paddles backward a few inches. "Then tell them not to stare."
"Rose."
"You told me this was my home. It's not my fault you brought your work home with you when I wanted to swim."
"Men are dogs," I reply, and her eyes flicker as if she agrees. "I will not tell you again. Dress decently when my men are around or you will wake to find your wardrobe replaced with everything from the eighteen-hundreds.”
"Then I'll just walk around naked," Rose replies and her soft voice drips with heavy intent. She locks eyes with me and drags her hands through the water until they're in front of her, then she slides them around her neck and pulls at the tied bow resting there.
"Calvin," I say as soon as her bikini top grows loose. "Leave."
He's already halfway to the house.
"Rose. Enough. Out of the pool so we can talk about this."
"About what?" she pouts, holding her bikini top aloft. "You know Kon, you need to loosen up. Relax more and have fun."
"Fun?" I repeat, barely able to contain the bite of irritation nipping at my chest.
She flaunted herself to men who were never, ever supposed to see what she looks like.
Her beauty is for me and me alone, yet she's out here taunting me like she's the one in control.
I drop to my haunches and hold out my hand. "Come."
Rose pouts again, then she rolls her eyes and groans. "Fine," she mutters, and she swims forward to close the gap between her and the edge of the pool.
Just as she reaches my outstretched hand, a glimmer of mischief flashes in her eyes and I have no time to react.
She simply grabs my hand with both of hers and launches herself backward, using her momentum and her weight to drag me off balance.
Her laughter rings in my ears as I crash down into the pool and disappear beneath the surface.
8
ROSE
Kon lands with a heavy splash that creates such a large wave I'm carried back a few inches from where he lands.
His irritation at my actions is exactly what I'm going for and Ihatethat Mathew was right.
Kon seems much more reactive when there's a threat.
Water shifts and rolls as he adjusts his direction under the water, then he rises up and breaks the surface with a loud gasp that sends a thrilling tingle right down my spine.
His white shirt clings to him like a second skin, so completely soaked that his darker skin gleams through the sopping fabric.
He shakes his head slowly and sends a spiral of water droplets in all directions, then he lifts his hand and pushes his soaked hair away from his forehead.
Everything around him glitters like a thousand gemstones and heat coils low in my gut as Kon scans the surface and locks eyes with me.
"Rose." The growl that surrounds my name is unlike anything I've heard before. My heart lurches while arousal twists hot between my thighs.
