Page 36 of When Our Stars Aligned

He grabs the shirt and leans in close to my ear so only I can hear his voice. “You should not be walking around looking like that. Other guys could get the wrong idea.”

“And if they do? You have no claim to me. I can do whatever I want,” I hiss back. Alarm bells should be going off in my head because Trent always tried to control what I wore, but I know with Jax, this isn’t the same thing. I’m happy to push back and get a rise out of him.

“You know, you’re right. You can do whatever you want, but I suggest you put this shirt back on unless…” Jax throws his hands to his sides and then an up-to-no-good smile spreads across his face. I don’t like where this is headed, but I’m not going to back down either.

“Unless what?” I challenge.

“Unless you go swimming with me.” His grin reminds me of when the Grinch came up with his idea to steal Christmas.

“You wouldn’t!” I gasp. I’m vaguely aware of our friends watching this ridiculous scene. I can’t even imagine what they’re thinking. The only person in the group who knows about my aversion to swimming in the ocean is Jax.

Jax steps closer so we are toe to toe. He lowers his head closer to mine, and for a moment, it almost looks like he is going to kiss me, until he says the two words I never want to hear: “Fish. Poop.”

I scowl at him and turn my body away to sit down, but before I plop my butt in the sand, my feet are lifted into the air. I let out a yelp as Jax hurls me over his shoulder, carrying me fireman style towards the ocean.

“Don’t you dare, Jaxon!” I scream and smack his lower back as I bob up and down with his steps. If this was under different circumstances, I would probably be enjoying the closeness to him right now. Instead, I’m freaking out about being thrown into a cesspool of fish poop, debris, and who knows what else.

Dear God, I hope no one released their loved one’s ashes recently.

I remain hanging over Jax’s back as my view turns from sand to tide.

“Let me go!” I yell.

“Are you going to put on the shirt?”

“Never!” I challenge back. I can feel Jax’s body vibrating with laughter.

“Then I guess you’re going for a swim.”

We’re getting deeper into the water. Soon my legs or head will start to get wet. I can’t tell which end since he basically has me bent in half.

“Oh, no! If I go down, I’m taking you with me. I’m not going to be the only one exposed to some flesh-eating bacteria or Great Aunt Edna’s ashes! Also, if I die from something related to this, I’m so coming back to haunt you!”

“Seriously, what goes on in that head of yours?”

“My mind is a library full of facts and theories you never want to know.”

I work up enough energy to pull my upper body right side up. I wrap my arms around his neck and start to wriggle my legs out of his grip. Jax is strong, no doubt about it, but I know I’m catching him off guard. Plus, I know the sunscreen I applied earlier is making me a little slippery. I manage to get my right leg free and hook it around his waist. While Jax focuses on grabbing my rogue right leg, I position my left leg around the other side of his waist.

“What are you doing?” he barks. I smile in triumph as I am now face to face with Jax. Granted, I’m not in the most lady-like position. Okay, I’m straddling him, but at least I feel more in control than before.

“If you are going to throw me in this open septic tank, I’m not going to make it easy for you!” I yell as I inch my way up Jax’s body like I’m climbing a tree.

“Get down here, you crazy little spider monkey!” He struggles. For every step he takes farther into the water, I climb up him inch by inch.

“Not going down without a fight!” I yell back, but I can feel myself starting to slip.Damn sunscreen. I hook my ankles around his back for a more secure grip. This makes me slide down his body ever so slowly. If I weren’t fighting for my life—okay, yes, I know I’m being dramatic—I would actually consider this kind of intimate. Apparently, Jax is thinking the same thing because as I slide farther down, I hit something rather solid and it most certainly is not a fish.

“Shit!” I hear him mutter and he buries his head into my shoulder.

“Are we farther in the water than I thought? ’Cause I think I feel a sea creature.”

“Dammit, Aly,” he grumbles and tightens my body further around him, so nothing is visible to onlookers.

“Hmm…a swordfish, perhaps? Maybe a barracuda? Definitely not a guppy.”

Jax’s eyes narrow on me. “Not funny,” he grits through his teeth.

“Not funny? This is hilarious! This totally backfired on you. I don’t even care if you throw me in now. The water looks like it’s cold; it might benefit you to take a little swim.” I start laughing uncontrollably. “This is so worth it!”

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