Page 47 of Princes of Hollywood

“Come on. I know we McBrides are sexy beasts, but you can resist Wyatt.” Zoe draws me over to the edge of the pool. My heart trips over itself at the prospect of going into the water.

“I don’t know how to swim.”

Zoe’s eyes light up. “We’ll stick to the shallow end, then.”

I blow out a relieved breath before following her to the steps leading into the pool. There’s no demarcation between the shallow and the deep end, but if I stay near here, I should be fine.

Zoe steps down into the pool and backs away with the water covering her hips. “You know, I’ve never had a girl to hang out with here before. We’re going to have fun.”

“I agree.” Roarke’s voice is the only warning I have before I’m lifted into the air, his arms wrapped around my waist. His hot body presses against my mostly bare back. Alarm swamps me.

“What are you doing?” I grab his hands as he walks down the steps and sinks us into the pool.

“Wouldn’t want you to drown, poppet. You can hold onto me.” He turns me in his arms. My hands go to his shoulders to stabilize myself. “Think of me as your personal floaty.”

“She’ll be fine in the shallow end, Roarke.” Zoe sounds exasperated.

The water level is at my waist, but Roarke holds me up so my feet don’t touch the bottom. His blue eyes twinkle with mischief as his thumbs make circles on my bare skin.

“I’ll be fine. You can put me down.” My voice is breathy, but I try to look stern and not scared to death of the water. I know it’s irrational, but I can’t help it.

Roarke grins. “Nah, poppet. We’ll do your first swim lesson.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I’m trying not to let my fear show on my face.

The water shifts behind me and I look back to see Aiden making his way over to us.

“I’ll be right here if you need me.” Aiden’s blue eyes reassure me.

Zoe comes in closer. “We didn’t come into the pool for a lesson. We came in to goof around and show off our hot bodies.”

“Mission accomplished.” Roarke slides his gaze over her and then over me. His heated eyes return to mine. “Swimming lessons or…”

I swallow because I’ve seen that look in his eyes. Heat blasts through my body.

“Lessons sound good.”

He leans into my ear and whispers, “Chicken.”

His lips brush my ear as he straightens. My fingers tighten into his shoulders.

“Fine, I’m going to do a few laps.” Zoe kicks off the wall and heads to the opposite end of the pool, leaving me with Aiden and Roarke.

“How do you feel about going underwater?” Roarke cocks an eyebrow.

My mind feeds me suffocating darkness, being dragged under and held down. I gasp in a breath and focus on Aiden’s clear blue eyes.

“You okay, little warrior?” His hand holds my chin.

“Yeah, what the fuck was that, poppet?” Roarke’s fingers rub my waist, bringing me back to myself.

“It might be more of a fear of water.” I try to shrug it off. There are things from my life I purposely forget. A little shiver ripples through me. A whole year that I don’t want to remember and that only visits me in the darkness of night.

“How about floating on your back with me holding you?” Roarke smirks. “I get to admire the view and you get more comfortable with the water. Win-win.”

Chapter 13

Kiss Me More

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