AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Giggling, I start swimming for the shore on shaky legs, Wyatt matching my strokes beside me, Emrys on our heels, and Wilder trailing with an awkward armless doggie-paddle. As we emerge dripping from the surf, my chaotic family descends, everyone talking and shouting over one another.
Wyatt seems utterly unbothered, exuding a calm confidence despite the unexpected outcome. His stormy eyes blaze with hunger as they rake over my soaked body in a way that makes my pulse skyrocket.
When his heated gaze finally meets mine, his lips curve in a seductive smile. "What an invigorating race," Wyatt murmurs, his usually refined tone dropping an octave. "I do so enjoy seeing your competitive fire."
His hand comes to rest possessively on my lower back, fingers splaying tantalizingly on my bare, slick skin. My breaths come faster, desire coiling hotly at his subtle dominance on display.
Before I can fully compose myself, Aunt Beatrice's indignant voice bellows out. "A tie? This is an outrage! We demand a tiebreaker!"
A chorus of agreement rises up around us as my family members nod enthusiastically. Leave it to the competitive Sharpes to be unsatisfied with anything less than definitive victory.
My dad rubs his scruffy chin thoughtfully as he surveys Wyatt and I. "What do you say, kids? Up for settling the score?"
Wyatt's stormy eyes gleam wickedly and his hand presses more firmly against my back in silent challenge. His touch and palpable eagerness makes my pulse flutter erratically. But the competitive streak bred into me rears its head, unwilling to back down from a challenge.
I lift my chin and fix my father with a resolute stare. "Name your tiebreaker."
Dad grins approvingly at my fighting spirit. "That's my girl." He looks around at the gathering crowd of family members. "Alright folks, any suggestions for a worthy deciding challenge?"
"A rematch through the obstacle course!" One cousin shouts.
Aunt Beatrice scoffs loudly. "Boring!"
"A dance off!" Annabelle calls out enthusiastically.
I shake my head vehemently. No way am I dancing in front of everyone right now.
"Oooh, how about a breath-holding contest?" Another cousin suggests.
Before I can protest that inane idea, my dad claps his hands decisively. "Perfect! We'll hold the tiebreaker right there in the ocean. Last one to come up for air wins."
Groans of disappointment sound from a few family members, but most seem appeased. Dad gestures the two of us towards the gentle waves we just vacated with a grin. Wyatt's hand slides temptingly around my waist, tugging me closer to him.
"How intriguing," he murmurs silkily. "I do hope you've been practicing your breath control, baby. I'd hate for you to get...light headed."
His suggestive words combined with the heat of his palm skimming my bare waist make me bite my lip to hold back a whimper. Dammit, Kat! Now is not the time for lightheadedness of any kind.
Drawing myself up, I subtly lean into Wyatt's hard chest. "I was on the varsity swim team in high school, baby. My lung capacity is not to be underestimated."
Wyatt's eyes darken at the nickname, clearly affected by the double entendre.
I twist away, wading into the water with him on my heels. Once we reach chest height, we both turn and look at each other as my dad begins the countdown.
“Are you ready?!” He bellows to a crescendo of Sharpe cheers and shouts. “Three!”
Wyatt’s stormy eyes flash, one brow cocking up in challenge.
“Two!”
My tongue darts out to wet my bottom lip, his gaze following the movement as he steps even closer to me until we’re almost touching.
“One…”
He grins as his hand, hidden by the cover of the water, skims up the inside of my thigh and my breathing stutters.
“Go!”
I fill my lungs as quickly as I can and dive beneath the surface of the water, the beat of my stuttering heart like a bass drum in my ears. At the sandy bottom, I find a big rock and pick it up, letting it hold me under the waves as I try and fail at finding a calm center.
