“No.” His eyes hold mine. “It sounds like you’re curious.”
I hate how quickly that lands.
He keeps his hand extended toward me, palm open, water dripping down his arm. “Come in,” he murmurs, like it’s the simplest thing in the world.
“I just showered.” I glance toward the pool.
“Then I’ll try not to ruin all your hard work.” The grin he gives me promises the exact opposite.
“Try?” I scoff quietly.
“I’m being polite,” he deadpans, like that should impress me.
“Then stop,” I scoff. “I’m not getting in.”
I barely finish the sentence before he plants both hands on the edge of the pool and hauls himself out in one smooth motion. Water runs down every inch of him, dripping onto the tiles as he starts toward me.
My pulse stutters.
“Cain…”
“Too late.”
I back up one step, laughing now, but there’s no real escape in it.
“Don’t you dare.” I warn, pointing a finger at him.
“That doesn’t sound like a no.”
“It sounds exactly like a no.”
He reaches me anyway. One arm slides behind my knees, the other around my waist, and suddenly I’m off the ground with a sharp gasp.
“Cain!”
I grab his shoulders on instinct as he turns back toward the pool like carrying me is effortless.
“You’re insane!”
“You like me.”
“I like very few things right now!”
He grins, water still dripping from his jaw. “Liar.”
“Put me down!”
“Already working on it.”
Then he jumps. The cold shock of the water hits first, stealing the scream from my lungs. We crash beneath the surface together, bubbles and limbs and chaos everywhere.
“You fricking psychopath!”
His laugh echoes across the room, low and victorious, as he catches me by the waist before I can swim away.
“Look at that,” he murmurs, pulling me closer, amusement warming his voice. “You got in after all.”
“Against my will,” I snap, trying—and failing—to twist free from his grip. My glare only makes him smile wider.
