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I ignored the tightening of my chest and turned to him fully. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be.”
River looked between where Lucas had gone and me, then shook his head. “Fuck if I know.”
“River, where the hell are you?” Alex’s voice traveled, and I caught the corner of River’s mouth curving and lifted a brow at him.
“What’s going on there—”
River cut me off. “I won’t ask if you don’t.”
Suddenly feeling protective of him, I nodded before swimming toward Jax and Alex. “Deal.”
It didn’t take long for the guys to drift off into dark corners with the girls I still hadn’t recognized. I swore if I heard the rhythmic slapping of water, I was stealing Jax’s truck, and they could cab it home.
I rested my head on my folded arms, perched at the furthest end of the pool. The light was dimmer here, and the noise slightly dimmed by the distance to the others. I kicked my feet languidly, enjoying the heated water against my skin.
I startled at the sound of a breath directly behind me and caught my toe on the wall in my attempt to twist around. “Ouch.”
Wide hands gripped my hips, searing my naked skin, and my eyes snapped to Lucas’s. I couldn’t make out his features, but his voice was full of concern. “Shit. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
My chest constricted at his proximity, and I struggled to speak. “It’s fine. I just kicked the wall.”
In a fluid motion, he lifted me to sit on the edge of the pool before his hands drifted lower until his fingers grazed the cheeks of my ass. “Which one?”
“Which what?” I swallowed hard, trying to remember what was happening.
A low chuckle rumbled through his chest, and I had to fight against the urge to touch him there. “Which foot did you hurt?”
Oh, shit. I shook my head, trying to snap myself back into reality. “Left.”
I didn’t dare breathe as his hands bracketed my thigh before trailing over the inside of my knee, then squeezed my calf. I felt my skin erupt in goose bumps, and I was grateful for the lack of light.
Lucas caught my ankle, then worked his thumb against my instep. My head dropped back, and I braced my hands behind me, taking in rasping breaths. Heat licked every place he touched until I felt like I would burn from the inside.
His fingers traced each of my toes with a featherlight touch. “Does this hurt?”
“No,” I breathed.
His breaths filled the space around us, and the air grew thick. Lucas moved closer, and I spread my legs, making room for him.
“Lucas. Where the fuck did you go, man?” Jax called.
I froze, suddenly aware of all the reasons this was an epically bad idea.
“Fuck.” Lucas groaned, and then he was gone.
A shiver ran down my spine, his absence leaving me cold and empty. I knew better than this, but for those few seconds, I was able to forget.
TWENTY
LUCAS
Jax:Where the hell are you?
Me: I’m on my way.
Jax: You better hurry your ass up and get here before coach notices you’re late for pre-game warm up.
Tucking my phone into my back pocket, I grabbed my bag from my bedroom floor and rushed to get out of there. I was running late to the rink, and if I didn’t get there soon, Coach would sit me out. I headed toward the front of the house, swinging open the door, but the second I twisted the handle, I heard a noise from behind me. I turnedjust in time to see Piper step out of Alex’s room and immediately shut it. I sucked in a breath, and my chest tightened as I took her in. I’d only seen glimpses of her throughout the week, having spent considerable energy to keep us apart, leaving me completely unprepared to see her now.
