Page 16

DECLAN

“ J immy? Really?” Conan’s grin widens as he tosses the pads at my chest, and I quickly shove my hands into them.

“First name that came to my head.”

I knew she was lying about hers. She is not Brittany. It doesn’t fit her at all.

“You seem different around her. Like you’re trying to impress her.”

The prickly stubble on my jaw itches, and I scratch it with a sigh.

“Probably ‘cause she punched me in the dick, Con.”

I play it cool, but the truth is, my heart pounds like a drum solo whenever she’s near.

And when we touch, I get pains running up my arms.

Or when I look in her eyes, I lose myself. Love at first sight doesn’t exist. But lust does. And so does intrigue. Something about this girl has me wanting more.

“I take it we won't be going for a drink later then?” Conan huffs, launching a glove at my pad.

“That, I don’t know.”

If I had it my way, I’d lock her in my room with me for the next three days and bury my face in her pussy to see how many ways I can make her scream with my tongue.

But I fear I’d never let her leave me.

I just know she would submit beautifully, yet push enough to give me an excuse to punish her.

And I bet she can handle pain. There is more than meets the eye with that little menace.

You don’t learn to defend yourself to that level for no reason.

Nor do you come to Italy on your own.

My gut is telling me to stay away. But my dick, my head, and a bit of my heart are telling me to keep going.

“I’m about to knock your jaw off your face if you don’t concentrate, brother. Either go get your dick wet or fucking help me train.”

My jaw ticks as he hits one of my nerves and I can’t hold back.

I lunge forward and smack him on the side of the head before he can get a defensive arm up.

“Remember who the fuck you’re talking to,” I spit out.

I’ve always been hotheaded.

All of us are, hence the scars we all have from beating the shit out of each other.

I rip off the gloves with my teeth and toss them next to his feet.

“So you wanna get your dick wet?” Conan smirks, rubbing the side of his head.

“Abso-fucking-lutely.”

I just have to come up with an elaborate plan to break down her walls and drag her into my lair for the night.

But even thinking about her like that, tricking her almost, doesn’t sit right with me. I want her to willingly come to me and leave all her inhibitions behind.

Like how she was at dinner, that softness under the surface. Like the blade wrapped in flowers.

Grabbing my towel from the locker, I head to the pool bar and order up a bottle of beer. I need a game plan, and I need to clear my head without Conan goading me.

Heading to the nearest sun chair, I stop when I hear the splash of water.

The cool drops hit against my bare back and I turn around.

And my heart pounds as I lock onto her blue eyes.

And that smile. Those perfect white teeth. Those full pink lips.

“Are you following me, Jimmy?” she asks, spraying me again.

I want to be soaked with something, and it sure as hell isn’t water.

I step towards the ledge of the infinity pool, resting my forearms on the tiles.

“You flirting with me, heartbreaker?”

I tilt my head, assessing her reaction.

She pouts and shakes her head.

I’m kinda into the different personalities she has. Sometimes vulnerable, other times vicious. I really like the one who tried to choke me.

But I’m also really into this fun, lighthearted, almost menacing version of her.

“Nope. Just simply asking if I should make security aware of my stalker problem. Wouldn’t want you sneaking into my room to watch me sleep. Would I?”

As she goes to push away from the ledge to swim off, I grab her arm and lift her slender frame out of the water. Enough so her nose is against mine.

The droplets of water run down her collarbones and over her breasts.

I want to lick them off her.

“I wouldn’t worry about me watching you sleep, gorgeous. What you should worry about is me breaking in and fucking you back to consciousness. But no one will be able to hear your cries, because you’ll be tied and gagged, so I’ll stay there for as long as I wish, doing whatever the hell I desire.”

Her mouth drops open and I chuckle, closing it with the tip of my index finger under her chin.

I lean in, brushing my lips along her jaw, feeling her shiver under my touch.

“Don’t forget the milkshake.”

She chews on her lip, not fazed by the way I’m holding her. Yet I can feel her heart thrash against my palm.

“But if that’s what you want, tell me your room number and that can be arranged. You know where to find me, heartbreaker,” I whisper before dropping her back into the water.

I don’t usually play games, but with her, I’m all for it.