Page 93 of Nest of Thieves
“So you’ve made your decision, then? You’re accepting our help?” He turns into the neighborhood.
I nod.
A deep purr rumbles in his chest, chased by a potent jasmine perfume. “Good.”
I chew on my cheek to keep from beaming like a middle schooler talking to her first crush. “It’s not fair.”
He opens the gate and drives toward the garage. “What’s not fair?”
“That you and I didn’t get to kiss.”
“Jo, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re trying to seduce me.”
Am I? Hell yeah. I’m horny, and these alphas offered themselves to me on a silver platter. I’m going to take every bit I can. He parks the car and I get out.
“Jo,” Lark says in a warning voice. “You can’t say things like that and then run away.”
“I’m not running,” I say over my shoulder, holding open the door leading into the house.
“Then what are you doing?” he asks, strutting toward me. He holds the door, and I walk inside.
Undoing the pins from my hair, I peel off the wig and cap. “Getting into character. Do you have any wine?”
“Red or white?”
“Always red.” His green eyes track me through the house. “Get the wine and meet me at the pool.”
I make it to my room and take out the contacts before jumping in the shower and scrubbing my dirty feet. They’re filthy from the run, but thankfully there are no cuts. Toweling off, I grab the black, slinky bikini I bought on my shopping spree and head down to the pool room. I envision the moment—Lark walking in to find me in the water. His gaze gliding over my body as water cascades off me.
Gripping the handle, I push into the pool area and stop dead in my tracks.
Lark cuts through the water with powerful strokes, reaching the end of the pool in a matter of seconds and flipping and swimming down the forty-foot lane. His arms are unstoppable. Lark doesn’t move through the water; the water moves around him. He hits the other end of the pool and swims back, stopping in the middle and flipping his long hair over his head.
Lark is cut, not bulky. Liquid slips down his pecs, teasing around nipple rings. I’ve never envied water before. I didn’t know piercings were my thing, but between him and Mac, I’m slowly converting. Lark’s attention slides to me and he swims over, walking up the steps with all the power of a Greek god. I close my mouth and straighten my shoulders, meeting him near the edge of the pool.
“Now, who’s the voyeur?”
“Watching you swim is different.”
He arches an eyebrow and reaches back to squeeze the water from his hair. His biceps bulge. Where Mac and Vette are covered in sprawling ink, Lark’s pale skin is a clean slate.
Warmth pools in my lower belly, and I pull my gaze from him before I do something stupid like launch myself at him like a spider monkey. Tension crackles between us, as tangible as the water dripping off of him. I set my towel on the ground and get in the pool, leisurely swimming to the middle. Lark follows after me, circling me like a predator, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. I bite my lip, and he stops, the soft waves lapping at his torso. He steps toward me.
I step back.
He smirks and takes another step.
I move away until my back hits the side of the pool. Lark swoops in, placing his arms on either side of me and staring down. I tip my head back to meet his gaze, dashing my tongue across my lip.
“What was it you said the other night?”
“Hmm?” I ask, losing myself in his gaze.
“Next time, I can fuck you while they watch?” He jerks his head toward the door.
Mac and Vette are standing near the door, eyes intent on us.
I suck in a sharp breath and flick my gaze back to Lark. He lowers his face toward mine until our breaths mingle.
