Page 69 of Shiver

As expected, Luca jumps in with no preparation. Water sloshes along the sides of the small pool, jostling me.

When he emerges from under the water, he’s just a few feet from me, dripping as he brushes his hair back away from his face.

He gives me a knowing, cocky smile as he stands in front of me.

“How’s your book?” he asks.

“It’s good,” I start, clearing my throat. “Very, uh, enlightening,” I finish.

“Enlightening, you say?” he asks mockingly. “Maybe I’ll have to borrow it sometime then.” He winks, further invading my space.

Backing myself up against the wall of the pool, I think of a response, but nothing believable comes to me, so instead, I own up to it. “Enlightening wasn’t the right word,” I tell him as he further encroaches on my space, and I have nowhere to go this time.

The smooth pool tiles behind my back act as a reminder of that.

“It wasn’t, huh? Then what is the right word, Samara?” he asks, testing me.

I’ve dug my own grave. Time to lie in it. “It washot.”

He quirks a dark brow at me, and a teasing smirk coasts his lips. “Hot?” He places either hand on the edge of the pool behind me, boxing me in. My chest is heaving with the effort it takes to focus, not wanting to fully give away how goddamn turned on I am.

My pulse is at a sprint, nearly singing beneath my skin the closer he leans in.

“I’d love to know what’s making you so hot,principessa,”he says, his lips merely an inch from mine as he bends to meet my height.

My core is clenching, and I must’ve officially lost my mind because I’m the one who set boundaries, and here I am, ready to break them all because I’m turned onby a book.

Yeah, Samara.A book.EvenIknow I’m lying.

“Come on,enlightenme. I’m sure whatever’s in that book, I could make come true and do it a thousand times better than your imagination,” he taunts.

I’m sure he could.That’s the problem.

His lips are a millimeter from mine now. I can feel his warm breath and practically taste him. My body reacts to him as if my brain has no say in the matter. I tilt my head back, finally ready to give in.One good orgasm,and we can pretend this never happened at all.

His hands slip into the pool and drag down my sides, pulling me against him. I feel his heavy length slip between my legs, pressing against my clit. My head tilts farther back, and a whimper pushes through my lips. Rocking my hips into him, I release a long sigh, ready for the pleasure I know only he would ever be able to give me.

I slide my hands over his shoulders and wind my legs around his waist, further rubbing my center along him. He lets out a moan that has my whole body coiled so tightly I’m ready to burst.

Luca grips my ass, crushing me to his solid body, and just as our lips are about to meet, music blares from behind us, jolting me back into reality.1 My eyes are wide with shock as I realize what we were just about to do.What I was just about to let happen.

“Shit,” Luca says, climbing out of the pool, not even using the steps as he gets out in two seconds flat.

He towels off his hands quickly and grabs for the phone, bringing it to his face. As soon as the music stops, a brilliant smile spreads across his lips.

“Hi, Gia,mia bambina,” he coos into the phone. “Did you enjoy the park?” he asks her, but Cecily answers.

“We didn’t do much, obviously, but she seemed to enjoy being outside at least,” she tells him, and it feels like I’m intruding again.

I get out of the pool quickly, rushing to grab my towel and dry off before taking myself and my book back inside.

“One second,” I hear Luca say, and a moment later, his hand is at the base of my spine. “You stay and read. I’ll talk with Gia inside so you can enjoy the pool,” he tells me, redirecting me to my seat.

Kind and considerate Luca is a dangerous drug.

1. Cut the Cord — Shinedown

Chapter fifty-six

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