Page 44 of Muse (Fighting Fate)

Aiden gave her a brisk nod and handed her the keys. “Okay. I’ll see you down there.” He turned and came towards me. “Let’s go.”

I looked back at Mia again, suddenly torn. This shit was fucking hard. She gave me a little smile that I guessed was supposed to make me feel better, but only succeeded in making me feel like the biggest fucking douche bag when I had to turn and follow Aiden down the path.

I only made it halfway before I knew I’d made a mistake. I stopped. “I might just go throw my wallet in the car.” I didn’t wait for his response. I was already walking back.

Mia was standing outside the car, hidden behind the open door when I reached the top of the path again. Her eyes widened when she saw me, and I automatically slowed my steps, my sub-conscious warning me to be cautious.

“Are you okay?” She looked nervous. I pulled my wallet out and held it up. “I told Aiden I was just going to throw this in the car.”

I stepped around the door to where she was standing and froze. Holy motherfucking shit. She was wearing the shortest fucking pair of denim shorts I thought I’d seen. Well, that wasn’t true, but on her, they were the sexiest fucking things I’d ever seen. I’d known her legs were fucking incredible – I’d had them wrapped around me, but out here in the open, they were obscene.

I groaned. “Holy shit.” Closing my eyes, I swallowed hard. “God damn it, Mia. Do you realize I’m going to have to spend the rest of the day sitting down now?”

I opened my eyes to see her blinking up at me all confused. Fuck she was adorable.

“It’ll be the only way I’m going to be able to hide the boner you’re going to give me all day,” I explained.

She blushed, but the smile I’d been anticipating didn’t come. “I don’t look like a slut do I?”

What the fuck? Why the fuck would she even think to ask that? “Of course not. You’re at the beach Mia. I’m assuming you’re going to be taking those off to go swimming...” My voice instantly trailed off as realization hit me. She was going to be taking those clothes off. “Ah fuck.” I gazed down her incredible body, hoping she was wearing some one piece swim suit that covered everything up. When I saw the strings of what could only be a bikini tied up around her neck, I groaned. “You’re wearing a bikini?”

She nodded, her eyes all fucking innocent and trusting.

“On second thoughts, maybe you shouldn’t come down. I could take you home...”

Her eyes flashed with worry. “What? Why?”

“God damn it, Mia.” I ran my hands over my face and hair. “I’ve seen you in your underwear, and I don’t know if I’m going to be able to keep away from you in a bikini.” I thought about trying to sit there while she was right there on the beach with all our friends around. Oh, fuck no! The other guys were going to be all over her. “Fuck! And I’m going to have to beat the shit out of any guy who ogles you.”

Mia giggled. Now she fucking giggles…

As distressed as I was, I melted. I loved that fucking sound. “It’s not funny, Mia,” I said, but it was only half-hearted. “I can’t even stake my claim on you. I want to be able show everyone you’re mine, but you’re going to force me to sit there and pretend you aren’t the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

Her smile faded, but at least she still looked happy. “Thank you,” she said softly. She picked up my hand and ran her thumb over the back of it. It was just what I needed. “And I’m sorry.”

I gave her a smile because I knew that was what she needed. She released my hand and shut the door. “Can I walk down with you?” She asked, her voice hesitant.

“Only if I can hold your hand.”

I was only joking, but when I saw the panic in her eyes, I mentally kicked myself. Hard.

“Relax, baby. I was only kidding around.”

She exhaled heavily and nodded. We started down the track at a slow pace, leaving a couple of feet between us.

Even though I’d prepared myself for the looks Mia was bound to get, I still couldn’t stop myself from tensing the second I saw them start to notice her. It was like a fucking domino effect, one after the other.

I almost laughed out loud though when I saw Aiden notice and punch those within hitting distance for ogling his sister. Good.

I also noticed some of the girls looking. Some were smiling, obviously happy to see Mia out for a change, but there were a few who looked less than happy. I knew that had to do with the fact that she was with me, and it just pissed me off.

“Can you see Kaeli?” she asked quietly.

I looked across the sand and found her near the back, her towel spread out and sitting on it cross legged. I didn’t know how she couldn’t see her. She was pretty easy to spot. I looked across at Mia questioningly and saw the reason why. She was purposely not looking. My heart ached a little. “Yeah, I have to walk passed her to get to Aiden, so I’ll take you.”

“Kay, thanks.”

The closer we got to Kaeli, the more apprehensive I got. I wanted to stay with her and make sure she was going to be okay. This shit sucked. “Text me any time you feel like you need to go, okay?”

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