Page 45 of Inferno

Grabbingmy 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.

Chapter 16

CHARLOTTE

Gasping for air, I push myself back up to the surface of the water, flicking my hair out of my face, and swim to the stairs.

The way he speaks, so filthy, so raw, I want everything he says.

Stomping over to the chaise lounge, I grab my towel and dry myself off. As I scan the area, I can’t see him, but I can feel his eyes on me.

This burning heat just doesn’t go away.

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