Page 83 of Lure

Once I was upstairs, the wild cadence of my heart had my breath coming in shallow bursts. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt Alphabet.

The black with the criss cross straps in the back and support in the front looked like a swim tank. The panties were a little more lace than not, but I went with it. I grabbed a towel from the bathroom and tied it around my hips before descending the stairs.

Staying up in my room wasn’t an option. If I hid away after what I’d said then I’d be lying. Our “honesty” truce had brought us a long way. Alphabet stood shirtless in the living room when I got down there. The stance caught me off guard, particularly with the top button on his jeans being undone riveted me until I forced my gaze up.

His eyes are up there, Grace. The internal stern reprimand didn’t help as much as I would have liked. It was easy to forget how down right rugged and sexy Alphabet was. Or maybe I focused on not remembering it.

Voodoo and I were already lovers. Lunchbox kissed me. Alphabet? I didn’t want to make any promises I couldn’t keep. It was easy to promise myself I’d seduce them to my side if I needed to, but theywerehelping me. Even if I didn’t understand every single choice.

“That looks damn good on you,” he said, the caress in his voice raking me over. “I’m sorry for chasing you off.”

“You didn’t.” I shook my head. At his skeptical look, I hurried to add. “You really didn’t, I felt like I was making it a big deal and making you feel bad, so I backed off. But I’m here, and I’m going to swim unless you have something else for me to do.”

I spread my arms, meeting his measuring look a lot more easily than I expected.

“First,” he said, raising one finger. “You weren’t making me feel bad. The hesitation was more about remembering I have to take off the prosthetic to swim.”

I frowned.

“Second,” he continued, “I don’t want to pressureyouinto anything and I’m not going to lie to you Grace, I promised. You’re a wildly attractive woman and I’m already interested. Getting half-naked with you in the water is incredibly appealing.”

I opened my mouth and blinked. “Okay.”

He cocked his head to the side. “What?”

“I said okay. You’re attracted to me. I like you too.” I spread my arms again. “I like all of you and yes, this is a really strange situation, how we met and stuff and this conversation is a lot more awkward than I thought it would be, but…”

It was my turn to raise a finger.

“I really like you, AB. I think that’s been part of the problem from the beginning. I have to find my sister and I didn’t understand entirely why you guys weren’t letting me go home, and yes—I was probably being pigheaded about it.”

Shut up, Grace.

“No, I was definitely being pigheaded about it. I’m having sex with Voodoo.”

He knows that Grace, shut up.

“I know you know, but you don’t know that Lunchbox kissed me this morning.”

Seriously, Grace? Did you forget how to shut the fuck up?

“Voodoo said he didn’t mind and I’m kind of unpacking that at the moment. You’re my friend. I think… you’re probably the first one who became a real friend here and I know Lunchbox and Voodoo are trying and I like them. Boney Boy doesn’t count, so I’m not going to drag him into this conversation.”

The words would just not stop coming out of my mouth.

“I guess, what I’m trying to say is that—I like the idea of getting half-naked and wet with you. I think you could use the break. The prosthetic doesn’t scare me and if you have to take it off, then take it off. But if it makesyouuncomfortable, then don’t.”

Was that it? I blew out a long breath.

“Done?” His quiet question asked me the same thing.

“I think so,” I said. “I didn’t actually realize I was going to say all that.”

“Accepted.” He closed the distance between us. The shadow he cast over me as he neared blocked out the sun shining through the glass doors. My feet were all but glued to the floor.

When he lifted his hands and raised his eyebrows, puzzlement trapped me. What… Oh, I shook myself out of whatever stupid stupor I was wallowing in. He was telegraphing his intention to touch me. He was giving me time to say no.

I nodded once. His earlier smile returned as he framed my face in his palms. They were rougher than I remembered, callused. Still, the contact sizzled right over my nerves.

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