Page 45 of Eye of the Hurricane
“We don’t have to play anything,” I assure her, leaning over to whisper. They all pour drinks getting ready to play. Kat and I share a look that tells me she doesn’t want to play.
“We’re going to sit this one out. We’re going to go down to the water, actually,” I announce to the group.
When we stand and begin walking away, we get a couple of looks. Especially from Ravyn, who shoots me a wink. I just roll my eyes and keep it pushing.
Katherine wobblesas her heels sink into the soft ground. I stop walking and bend down to one knee. I pat the knee that’s propped up.
“Come on, put your foot up here.” Kat looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “The heels have to go. You’re going to break an ankle walking in those out here.” She tosses me a look somewhere between unsure and irritated, but braces herself with both hands on my shoulders anyways. She lifts her foot up onto my leg and I unbuckle the strap to slide it off. She drops her bare foot on to the soil and we repeat the process with the other shoe.
“Can I just leave them here and grab them on the way back?” she asks, and I nod.
“Get on my back. Wouldn’t advise walking barefoot out here,” I tell her.
“You’re taking me on a walk, but you’re going to do all the walking?” she questions.
“Oh, we’re not going for a walk. I lied.” I bend down for her to climb up and she jumps, wrapping her legs around my back and arms around my neck. It’s the first sure action she’s taken since we arrived and I could shout in excitement over her finally settling in with me.
“Then wherearewe going?”
“Secret.”
I carry her around for what seems like forever before I find what I’m looking for, a pond that’s decently large for what it is. In comparison to the lake, it’s tiny, but it’s exactlywhat we need. Right at the edge of the water, I carefully place her on her feet.
“There’s got to be alligators in there,” she says, taking a step away from the water. I know there isn’t because when we were growing up, all of us kids would sneak off to swim in the pond when the grown ups were asleep.
“There’s not, promise.”
“We’re not getting in there, are we?”
“Of course we are. We’re skinny-dipping.”
“Who iswe?” she exclaims, eyes going wide.
“Well, I am. You’re welcome to just hang out there and watch.” I give her a wink and watch as her cheeks turn my favorite shade of pink.
I stand at the edge of the water and pull my hoodie up over my head, tossing it to the ground next to her. Her eyes flick to the hoodie then back to me, dragging her gaze from my eyes down to my waistband.
I slide my sweatpants down my thighs and throw them to make a pile where the hoodie is. I’m in just my boxers and Katherine is standing there eye fucking me with crimson cheeks. She doesn’t even pretend not to stare. Her tongue pokes out to wet her lips. Seeing her all worked up over me makes my fucking day. It’s the ego boost of a lifetime.
I turn back to her and slide my boxers down my thighs. I kick them back toward the pile of clothes. I hear a giggle ripple out of her.
“Nice ass!” she calls out to me. I just shake my head and step into the water. I expect the water to be cold but it’s still warmed from the afternoon sun.
I turn back around to face her and she’s chewing on her bottom lip, fighting a smile.
“You’d love it in here, it’s warm,” I coax, moving furtherinto the water. I watch her mull it over in her head. Finally, she pulls her dress up over head, leaving her in a matching baby blue lace set. Immediately, all of my blood rushes south.
“If I get bit by an alligator, I’m killing you.”
“Deal,” I agree.
“Will you turn around?” she asks, and I sound off in agreement before turning my back to her. Water splashes softly as she steps into the pond. The sound gets closer and closer until she finally says, “You can turn around.”
I turn to face her and she’s wound her blonde waves into a bun at the top of her head. The water is just high enough to cover everything on her, sitting just below her collarbones.
“You look pretty in the moonlight,” I tell her, stepping into her space. “Even if you are all sunshine,” I add.
“I amnotall sunshine,” she argues. When I don’t argue with her, she softens up. “Thank you, though.”
