“Surprise.” He laughed.
Oh, he thoughthewas beingfunny, didhe?Well,I had somethingfunnyforhim. I took somewater and splashed it up right into his face, but then he justwhipped me around and dunked me into the wateragain.
When he pulled meback up, he turned me around to face him, my legs now straddlinghis hips as he lowered himself into the water.
“Are you done splashing?” he asked me,smiling.
“Probably not,” I replied.
“So feisty,” he said.
He took my wristsand placed them back over his shoulders so myarmslinked around his neck. I hated beingthis close to him; it was uncomfortable, but I knew I wouldeventually have tofakethecomfort.
He kept his handson my hips as he circled us in the water, and I decided I didn’twant to look at his faceanymore, so I rested my chin on his shoulder, hoping he would takeit as me just cuddling up to him. He did, and he relaxed against mybody as his arms curled around my sides and his hands rested on myback.
“So tell me about your tattoos,” he said against the back ofmy head.
“The feathers are for me, and the anchor is for mydad.”
“I get the anchor being for your dad, but why are the feathersfor you?”
I had to laugh alittle because it was a huge contradiction to my current status inlife.
“They’re there to remind me to be myself and to always takethe good with the bad.”
“How fitting.” I heard him chuckle. Glad to see he saw theirony in that.
“What about yours?” I asked, still keeping mychinonhisshoulder.
“The golden eagle on my forearm is also for my dad, and theshield is the symbol of my organization. The Latin is afamilymotto.”
“How fitting.” I had to chuckle, and I was pretty damn sure asmile cracked across his face.
“The sleeve isformy family lineage. I’m German andScottish.”
“How nice,” I said.
“Yeah. Like I said, there’s more coming, just been a bitpreoccupied lately,” he said giving me a slightsqueeze.
“What would you get?”
“Maybe something for you.”
I tookmychinoff his shoulderand looked him in the face, raising my eyebrows in totalshock.
“Why would you do that? You don’t even know me,” Iasked.
“Because …” He chuckled. “Contrary to popular belief, you meana great deal to me, Jaden, regardless of time spent. Though I don’tshow it, I’ve never been more excited to have you in my life.You’re going to be the best investment I’ve ever made. You’reeverything I’ve ever wanted in a woman and soon, once I have youtrained, you can begin to enjoy everything I have to offeryou.”
“The only thing you’re offering me is a set of chains and amassive headache,” I replied bluntly.
“You say that now.” He smirked. “But eventually, when you’vecome to acceptyourplace, you won’t see the chains anymore.”
“Oh, I’ll be that brainwashed by then?” I mocked, headingstraight for dangerous territory.
“If that’s what you want to call it,” he saiddismissively.
“Then what wouldyoucall it?”
