Page 60 of Captivated with Them

Chapter Twenty-four: Three Months Later

Rue

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A MASSIVE SPLASH CAMEfrom the middle of the pool. It sent waves rocking the inflatable lounger I was stretched out across, and cool water rained down on me. I squealed and leaned away from the splash, but whoever had caused it didn’t resurface.

A stab of alarm went through me, and I half sat, trying to get a better view into the clear blue water.

A dark shape moved, silent and serene, beneath me.

The shape suddenly changed direction, pushing up from the bottom of the pool and driving toward the underside of my inflatable. I knew what was coming, and I screamed and clung to the edges, though I knew it wouldn’t do me any good.

He hit me from below, tipping the entire inflatable to one side and plunging me into the water. My skin had been hot from the sun but was now plummeted into the cold. I fought the urge to gasp in shock, my head sinking below the surface. My toes met with rough tiles, and I bent my knees to push myself back up.

A pair of strong, suntanned arms wrapped around me, and together our heads broke the surface.

“Dillon! You asshole!”

I lifted my hand and slapped his naked, wet shoulder.

He laughed. “I couldn’t help myself. You looked far too relaxed lying there.”

“I was relaxed!” I protested, though I had to admit that swapping the plastic of the inflatable for Dillon’s rock-hard body wasn’t so bad. Water clung to his eyelashes and plastered down his dark hair.

I dipped my hand into the water and splashed him in return, deliberately getting him in the face, but he only wrapped his arm tighter around my waist and dragged me to him. He was grinning, flashing me straight white teeth, which only made me splash him harder.

“Hey, hey,” he protested. “We’re quits now.”

“No way. I was lovely and warm, and now I’m cold and wet.”

He yanked me closer. “I like you wet.”

His hardness pressed against my belly, and his words sent a ripple of desire through me, softening my need for revenge.

“Is that right?”

“Absolutely.” He leaned in and spoke low and sexy against my ear. “Dripping wet.”

I couldn’t help myself. I wound my arms around his neck, and he pressed his lips to mine. His tongue sneaked out and traced the seam of my lips, and I opened my mouth to him, allowing him entry. Our tongues tangled, and I squirmed against him, enjoying the feel of his body sliding against mine.

“Enjoying yourselves, you two?” Kodee’s deep voice came from the side of the pool.

We broke the kiss, and I squinted at the bright sun, Kodee’s broad shoulders and narrow waist creating a V-shape. Like the rest of us, he wore very little clothing these days. I’d say it was simply too hot for clothes, but actually, we all enjoyed seeing each other walking around half naked.

“Absolutely,” Dillon replied, throwing him a grin.

I untangled myself from Dillon and swam to the edge of the pool, bringing my face level with Kodee’s feet.

He offered his hand to help haul me out of the pool. The water threatened to tug down the tiny scraps of material of my bikini, and I yanked back up the bottoms before I could expose myself. Not that any of the guys would have minded.

The bikini had its work cut out for it, anyway. There was a lot more of me for the item to cover than there had been only a couple of months ago.

The diet of fried seafood, fresh bread, cured Spanish hams, and cold beers, all accompanied by salads drizzled with expensive olive oils, had gone a long way to putting some meat on my bones. My hips had grown rounded, my breasts filling out at least another size, much to the pleasure of the guys. I knew I’d have to watch myself at some point soon, but this was the first time in my life when I’d been able to eat without having to fear if someone was going to come and take it away from me, and I was enjoying myself. Besides, I knew the guys would love me, no matter how thick or thin I was. That was the thing about unconditional love.

Ryan was lying on a sun-lounger, reading a book, and he put it to one side for the moment, distracted by our antics. It was good to see him relaxed. He was like a different person since we’d left America, with no sign of the night terrors that had haunted him for so long. Gordon had put Ryan in touch with a professional in the city who’d been able to help him get the new, high-quality leg he’d ordered. He was much happier being back on his feet, and so far, he hadn’t had any more problems with the limb. His nightmares had also subsided—the more relaxed, laidback, Mediterranean lifestyle suiting him.

In fact, it suited all of us. Even Dillon had learned how to chill out.

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