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Licking blueberry jam off my thumb, I glanced around at where the hallway extended beyond the kitchen. Curious to explore, and too anxious to sit still, I walked softly as I could in my black converse sneakers.

The tile morphed into thick, white carpet as I moved along. Then the room widened on all sides, becoming a rounded space with some painted glass windows and a small bar with three stools on one side. The wall behind the gray bar-top was made up entirely of glass; sapphire blue water sparkled behind it.

An aquarium without fish?Baffled, I walked behind the bar. There were two thin speakers, an array of drink glasses, and a small fridge. Cracking it open, I saw rows of beer bottles next to cans of soda.

Will anyone care if I have a drink? Money dripped from every crevice of this place. A single can of soda wouldn't harm their bottom dollar. Taking the can, I sat on a stool, spinning lazily as I sipped. There were more speakers along the curve of the ceiling. This had to be some kind of party space.

Twisting, I came around to face the pane of glass again. Something dark moved in the water. I leaned over the bar, focusing with interest. Maybe there were fish in this aquarium after all.

The object came closer. I spit out some of my drink. I didn't see fish, I saw aperson. They were long, lean. The sun-dappled water highlighting the ink that traversed their limbs.

Bach.

He was swimming with long, perfect strokes. I'd thought he was graceful when he walked, but the man was a dancer in the water. Watching him, I forgot to breathe. I had to force my lungs to work, the rest of me involved in eating up this half-naked god.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.I warned myself to relax. This was getting to be too much. Agod?Come on, that was going over the top. He was in amazing shape, and sure, his eyes were a deeper green than wild pine trees could hope to be...

But he was human,

like me.

However, sitting there and watching him exist, I didn'tfeellike we were the same. Bach spun, suddenly looking at me through the glass. I studied his curious face. He winked, bubbles rising as he kicked out of view. Pushing my knees together, I shivered—then instantly scolded myself.Don't you DARE desire a round two in his bed!

I'd seen the texts on his phone. I knew this guy's game.

I was done playing it.