Page 46 of Mark Us Little Bear
“Maybe it was your day off or something.”
“Shame.”
“I got a tattoo from the best so I’m not bummed.”
When I said something similar he had the same sulky expression though it is a little tame now.
“Where’s Teddy?” I ask and straighten back up.
“With Kat. She stole him the second she saw us outside, poor boy lifted his leg to pee and she snapped a picture of his ding dong.”
And just like that Amber and I burst with laughter. He doesn’t even try half the time but I can’t scrape my smile when he’s around.
Amber
Iexit the backdoor with nothing but my white bikini and head straight to the wide pool but before I get there Kat stops me to take a picture—I strike a pose, lifting my shoulder toward the camera and piercing the lance with my sunglasses on.
The twinkle in her eyes grows as the minutes tick away and I love that she finds things to be passionate about.
Moving past her, a hearty laugh escapes me when I see Teddy on the poolside chair, lying on his back, little legs dangling in the air.That is Kat’s doing for sure.Without warning, I dive into the water headfirst and lap the pool once.
Water cascades down my heated skin as I emerge and toss my wet hair back. Two sets of eyes encounter mine, following the soft curves of my body. Their laser gaze pierces me and I find something carnal in their eyes. Something they are ready to grasp with their hands not just their minds.
Shirtless, Bradley is on the other side of the pool, getting inside the water; Ronnie is outside, whispering to him something I can’t understand even when I try to read his lips.
A wave of cool air whips me, leaving goosebumps in its wake.
“Ronnie, something is not right.” My sister calls. “It’s locked, I can’t move the focus point.”
“Oh, that’s an easy fix.” He breaks his gaze and strides toward her being the problem solver he is.
When I sweep my gaze to Bradley, he is gone.
The pleasant sensation along my leg captures my attention and I look down in time to see him dragging his fingers from my ankles up to the apex of my thighs once more.
Teeth sinking into my bottom lip, I plop my hands into the water, feeling broad shoulders swimming underneath me. His deep cuts are a masterpiece and I dip my fingers in his back. He slowly resurfaces and while my hands glide along his smooth, puffed chest, he grinds his warm body along mine as he rises to his feet in the water, letting his stiffness rub against me.
Wet strands fall over his forehead, and little droplets decorate his face like diamonds, sucking me in.
“Hey Bear,” his husky voice sends a jolt of heat to my core, “Fucking you inside this pool is all I can think about, and you make it near damn impossible to resist that urge.” He whispers, igniting my body and making me moan softly. “The two of us,” he clears up.
“Three,” I mirror the tiny smirk glued to his face and grab the sunglasses that float near me as I swim away.
In a playful tone, he shouts at me, “Okay Bear, I like games.”
I grin to myself, satisfied about my little escape. When I reach the edge of the pool, I chuck my sunglasses outside, prop my elbows against the coping, and cup my face.
A moment of happiness gets tainted with sadness. These feelings creep in swiftly. Transfixed on the line of plants Dad has been growing and tending for the last several years, I focus on breathing, letting air in and out of my lungs.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
They often leave as fast as they come.
When it envelops me like this, I always go back to my teen years—how I could never see myself in the future. How does everyone make plans, I was wondering, what’ll happen if those plans change. What if in a year from now, I want something else? Will I figure it out in time? How do they know? How would I know? What if I’m too late?
“Stop thinking, live in the moment.” Bradley’s voice engulfs me again as water sloshes around me. “She fails to see your worth because she’s fighting her demons so don’t fight hers too.” Lips press to my shoulder and a tiny kiss burns into my skin when he swims away.
I focus on Ronnie as he tugs off his Converse and lowers himself onto the edge of the pool, dipping his legs in.
