Beach episode.
This is aproperbeach episode now.
With a whole entiretouch-her-and-diemoment. A classic. Astaple.
Dominic flinches when our gazes collide. “That’s not really the expression you’re supposed to make after having nearly been sexually assaulted, August.”
I’m sure my eyes are sparkling. “Can we do that again?”
“No.”
“I’ll walk defenselessly up and down the bank until someone else harasses me, then you can practice othertouch-her-and-diemethods, like using your words. Maybe try to workentrailsinto the threats?” I turn my expression severe. “Touch her again, and I’ll tie your entrails in a bow around your neck.” Losing my hard tone, Iglitter. “Just as an example?”
Dominic’s expression withers.
“I know! I’ll take my t-shirt off. That’s sure to attract more scum—” I grip the hem of my oversize shirt, but Dominic gets me around the waist before I can drag the wet thing off over my head.
Next thing I know, I’m tossed over his shoulder, staring down the back ofhisshirt at the ground.
Wordlessly, he abouts-face and marches toward the parking lot.
Delighted butterflies swarm in my belly. “What are you doing?”
“You’re barefoot.”
“Yes, because you took my shoes and towel away.”
“I…wasn’t thinking clearly while I was cleaning up. Sorry.”
I scrabble for purchase and get my hand against his silicone swim cap. “That’s because this thing is squishing your brains out. We’re done swimming now anyway. Take it off.”
“No, and it’s really not the thing playing any role in my subpar mental capabilities at the moment, lotus.”
“Are you blamingmefor your head empty, no thoughts? When I’m a saintly beacon of innocence—according to both my behaviorsandmy character sheet?”
He sighs. “Seeing you float around in the sunshine while I packed up distracted me a great deal. That’s not your fault, but it is the truth.”
I hum. “Shocking that you’d have the gall to manhandle me like this while I’m dripping wet when just my floating around in an oversize t-shirt yards away from you has the ability to remove all the sense from your skull.”
He whispers, “Right now I just…want to get you away from other people…especially while you look like this.”
“Jealousy isn’t the greatest trait in real life. It alludes to insecurity, a lack of trust…”
He blows out a breath, then adjusts how he’s holding me to swing me princess-style in front of him, where I can take in the full glory of his beet-red cheeks. “It’s not really ajealousything. I don’t know if I’ve ever been more scared than just now.”
“You’re joking,” I say.
He keeps his attention dead ahead as the rows of cars pass, leading us to his. “No. I’m not.”
“But that was a common female experience. That’s why it’s in so many books and shows. The idea thatwhenthat sort of thing happens, someone is going to save us is everything. It’s a fantasy women drink in.”
His throat bobs, and agony touches his eyes when he glances at me.
My shoulders droop. “You’re actually serious.”
“Of course I’m serious. There were three men around you, August. One almost put his hands on you. And look how easy it is to pick you up. If I hadn’t come back at the exact right time…I don’t know where you might be right now. The very idea of that is horrifying.”
I look toward his hand looped beneath my thighs and know there’s blood beading from his knuckles. “Was that the first time you’ve ever hit someone?” I ask.
