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“I’m definitely not letting you quit after hearing that. You can wear one of my shirts over the bikini,” he states.
“What?”
He gets to his feet and hands me a white round-neck shirt.
“You can wear this. You can take it off once we’re in the pool. Or not, if you don’t want to.”
I stare at him. This is such a bad idea. But I’ve come to realize that once Alexander Callahan sets his mind on something, he achieves it.
“Okay,” I say softly. I collect the shirt before closing the door to the bathroom to put it on.
The shirt hits my mid-thigh and I’m sniffing it before I can help myself. My mouth stretches into a grin when I realize it smells like him. So he doesn’t start wondering what I’m doing in here, I quickly exit the bathroom.
Xander gives me one long, perusing look that causes my body to heat. He doesn’t say anything, though. He gets to his feet and heads out. I follow him to the pool at the back of the backyard. The gleaming pool is also next to a large jacuzzi.
Fancy Smancy.
“Come on,” Xander says softly, stretching his hands toward me.
I stare at the expanse of water in front of us. It’s not an overly large pool and it doesn’t seem too deep but my heart quickens at the sight.
“On second thought, I had better not. What if I drown?” I ask him.
He smiles. “You wont drown. Even Mason and Madison swim in here.”
“Mason and Madison have probably been able to swim since they were born. Those kids are geniuses. I am not.”
“Come on, I’ll be right beside you.”
I stare at the pool and then back at his face before shaking my head. Typical of me to work up the courage to do something and lose my nerve at the last minute.
“Juliette, trust me,” Xander says softly.
There’s a sincere look in his brown eyes. It’s not often I choose to trust someone. I’ve been burned one too many times. But there’s something about the way he’s looking at me right now that makes me want to let go.
“Alright. But if I die, I swear I’m coming back to haunt you.”
His lips curve before they flatten into a stern line. “I’ll try not to let that happen.”
I start to smile but the smile dies when he pulls his shirt over his head and I lose the ability to breathe. Broad shoulders, perfectly sculpted muscles and abs. A deep V-cut arrowed toward the inside of his shorts. He looks perfect. My core pulses as my eyes eat him up. They widen at the tattoo swirled across his chest. There are three other tattoos in various other positions across his back, but the one on his chest is the boldest.
Three words written across:Luctor et Emergo.
I think it’s Latin. Unconsciously, I reach out to touch it. Xander catches my hand in the air and stops me. I get the silent message. He doesn’t want me to touch.
“You have tattoos,” I say in wonder as I look up into his eyes. They’re darker now, more dangerous but not any less intriguing.
“One for every person I’ve ever lost.” His voice comes out low and rough. Pained. “We need to swim, Juliette.”
Then, with my hand still in his, he pulls me into the pool. Our bodies are immediately submerged. All I can see is water. All I can feel is his presence beside me.
CHAPTER10
Xander
Juliette and I resurface almost immediately. Mostly because she started to panic. I probably shouldn’t have pulled her in like that, considering she can’t swim, but I was holding onto her. I wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Her hand is still in mine. Only now, the grip is much stronger. She’s holding onto me like I’m the only thing in the world. There’s fear in her clear blue eyes.
I smile as I lead her to the shallow end so she can stand on her feet. She lets out a deep breath once we’re there.
