Page 45 of Alluring

Alexis fell back in the water, she threw her arms behind her, grabbing onto the seat for support. "Don't you dare tickle me, Jack." Alexis laughed at his evil grin.

"I asked you a question, Alexis," he said, inching his mouth closer to her foot.

Alexis shrieked, "No, don't. I won't do it again." She tried to pull her ankle out of his grip. "I promise."

He dropped her ankle and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her against him to straddle his lap. He planted his lips on her neck and mumbled, "See that you don't."

"Hello, Jack! I asked you a question."

Alexis sighed. She had forgotten about Janet during their play. Jack groaned. Apparently, so had he.

He turned to look at Janet. Alexis noticed it was not a happy look.

"What?" He asked. Alexis tried to scoot off his lap, but he held her firmly.

"What's going on here? I thought we had plans." Janet kept on, unwisely Alexis thought.

"Why would you think we had plans?" Alexis sincerely hoped Jack never used that tone of voice on her.

"Because you said—"

"What, what did I say? Because I remember exactly what I said in our thirty-second conversation." Alexis stroked Jack's back in an attempt to calm him. It seemed to work, as he relaxed in her arms.

"You said that you would see me later."

"I said, maybe I would see you later. And, honest to God, the only reason I even said that was to get away from you. I was in a rush to find Alexis."

Janet sneered, "Alexis, really. Out of all the women here, myself included, that's who you're going to settle with for the night?"

Alexis stiffened at the insult. Jack growled. Mase apparently thought it was time to interfere. He stepped in front of Janet, blocking Jack's view of her, and said, "You've insulted my best friend's girl. You need to leave. And I don't just mean the area. I mean my property."

Alexis couldn't see Janet, but the noises she made pretty much summed up how she felt about Mase's statement.

They watched as Janet shoved Mase out of her way. She splashed to the stairs, stomped up them and dripped across the sidewalk, until she disappeared into the crowd. Everyone was silent for a moment, then Peggy declared, "Good riddance. Now, who's getting the margaritas!"

The room was silent. The only light, that of the moon casting it's beams through the uncovered windows. They laid in bed, Jack on his back and Alexis draped across his chest. His fingers played with her curls as her foot ran up and down his shin.

"You still drunk?" he whispered against the top of her head.

Alexis giggled. "No, but maybe a little tipsy still."

"What she said wasn't true you know."

Alexis lifted her head and looked at Jack.

"Will you remember this? It's important."

Alexis smiled. "I'm not drunk." Her smile faded at his serious expression. "I'll remember."

"I want you to know, you are nobody someone wouldsettlefor."

"Oh Jack, don't worry. Her words didn't hurt me." They sodid. More than they should have.

"Don't lie to me, Alexis." His hand cupped her face, and his thumb moved across the crest of her cheek. His stare was intense as he devoured her features. "You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

"I'm glad you think so." She kept her tone as serious as his. "You're pretty spectacular, yourself." She reached up a traced his jaw. She loved the feel of his rough whiskers against the pads of her fingers.

He traced her eyebrow with his fingertip. "When I look at you. When I see you. I wonder how I can ever live up to all that isyou. I don't deserve you, Alexis."

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