Page 84 of Awakened Light

When she arrived in front of me, I offered her my hand, and she took it with a smile. I helped her into the boat, then pushed it away from the shore. After I climbed in, she settled between my legs and leaned her back against my chest as I paddled us away.

“Did you bring the dirt bike?” she asked as she peeked up at me.

“Of course.” I paddled faster.

“Good. Then I’m driving.” She smiled.

Pausing from my paddling, I leaned down and kissed her. My whole world shifted when our lips touched, and I knew the feeling would never go away.

“Paddle faster,” she whispered against my lips. “I need a piña colada.”

Laughing, I pecked her one more time and shoved the paddles back into the water, surging us toward shore.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Catrain

AS I SAT BESIDE THE pool soaking up the sun, Emilia filled me in on the movie she and Aiden had watched last night.

“Gah. I can’t think of the name. Baby!” she called to Aiden as he walked toward us carrying two drinks. “What was the name of that movie we watched last night?”

“Shit. I can’t remember. It was on Netflix, so I’ll look on my phone.” Aiden walked in between our lounge chairs and placed a drink on each side. “Piña colada for you. Margarita for you.”

“Thanks, love,” Emilia said, then she sat up and kissed him.

“My favorite. I lov—” Before I could finish my sentence, a big splash of water slammed into my face. I closed my eyes against the assault, but when I gasped, I got a mouthful of pool water. After spitting it out, and wiping the water from my eyes, I opened them and looked for my assaulter. The tiny droplets of water on Thorne’s skin glistened in the late afternoon sun as he grinned at me from the pool.

“Hey!” I shouted at him. “What the hell? You ruined my drink!”

“Get in here with me!”

“Oh, Thorne. Your ass is in trouble.” Aiden laughed as he saw my eyes narrow.

“Damn straight, it is.” Arching an eyebrow, I stared at him while I lifted my hand as the sparks crackled between my fingers.

“Oh, shit!” Thorne shouted as he flashed out of the way before my bolt slammed into the water where he’d stood.

He appeared at my side and caught my hands, holding them tight against my body while he pressed his forehead against mine.

“Nice try. I’m almost back to full speed though, so you’re gonna need to get faster than that.”

With a quick kiss on my nose, he flashed away again.

Emilia doubled over with laughter and shook her head. “You’ve got your hands full with that one.”

Wringing the water from my hair, I sighed. “He’s in trouble later when I can catch him.”

“I don’t doubt he is.” Aiden laughed as he slid onto the chair behind Emilia. She lay back against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her.

“You done trying to shock me?” Thorne called from the house.

“Only if you bring me another piña colada, because this one is full of pool water!” I called back.

A few moments later he appeared at my side. In his hands he clutched a fresh drink, complete with extra cherries. “Truce?”

I took the drink and twisted my lips, then shrugged and said, “For now.”

Thorne mirrored Aiden’s position and slid in behind me. I leaned back against him and sighed when his fingers drifted across my bare midriff.