Page 39 of Reign

“Whatever,” she sighs as she turns her back to me and saunters over to Camila, holding out the tray. Camila actually looks grateful as she takes the drinks and hands one to Adam, raising her glass to toastthem both.

Libby’s finally gone too far. We’ve been over this…and over it some more…and now she just walked away from me to entertain another man. I’m tired. I’m stressed. And I’m about to break. So, I’m going to shatter her instead.

I leave Diego in the pool as I plant both hands on the side and launch myself out with ease. Not bothering with a towel, I stalk over to Libby, dripping wet, and catch her wrist as she goes to take a sip of her drink. I can’t help but notice that although Libby seems content to ignore me, Camila shifts slightly closer to me and catches her bottom lip between her teeth as she eyes my wet torso, Adam completely forgotten.

“Excuse us. I need to talk to mywife,” I bite out harshly, reminding everyone in this circle where Libby and I stand.Again.

She opens her mouth to protest but when she meets my eyes, she can tell that I’m daring her to do it and her mouth snaps shut.

I can feel Camila watching us and in my peripheral vision, I see her eyes latch on to where I’ve got Libby’s wrist in a vice grip and I’m positive I know what Camila’s thinking about. If I’m right, Adam will have a hard time living up to that memory.

I feel the smirk spread across my face. “It seems I need to teach you a lesson about turning your back on me.”

Her face flames red. No small feat considering her natural tan. She holds her chin high and cocks her head to the side. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I merely wanted to bring refreshments for our guest.”

My cock twitches at her defiance.

“He’s not ourguest.He’s ourgardener.”

“He’s my friend,” Camila clarifies from beside me.

Without thinking, my head whips to look at her and words come out of my mouth before I have time to process them. “Don’t make me remind you the difference between a fuck-buddy andfriend, Camila.”

Immediately, I watch as the hope flares in her eyes. Libby yanks her wrist out of my grasp.

What Imeantwas I would remind herverballyabout her time with Luis as a fuck-buddy and me who was, well, a friend-with-benefits of sorts. But the bottom line was I cared for her and Luis didn’t and Adam probably sees a nice lay from a beautiful, lonely, rich woman but doesn’t want to get involved with all her baggage – which Camila has a lot of. Nor can he provide the life she’s used to.

“Jealousy doesn’t look good on you,Cas,” Camila says throwing my own words back in my face from the day we argued down by the shooting range behind Castillo de Hielo.

“Jesus.” I hold my hands up in frustrated surrender. “Fuck whoever you want.” When I turn back to Libby, her eyes throw daggers at me.

Fuck this.

It’s long past time to teach this girl a lesson. Completely ignoring the other two people right next to us, and not giving a rat’s ass if I embarrass her, I tell Libby, “You can walk on your own or I’ll carry you, but this shit ends now. I’m going to fuck all the defiance out of you and leave you spent and only able to remember my name and see my face.”

She swallows hard but I see the effect my words have on her in the rapid rise and fall of her chest in her halter top and her dilated pupils. We just started to get back on track and I’ll be damned if I go back to what we were a few days ago. I’m feeling a little spiteful and it’s time she pays for playing games with me.

Without another word, she turns and walks toward the house with purpose.

I look back and forth between Adam and Camila, and notice both of their mouths hanging open. “Enjoy your afternoon.”

I can’t tell if Camila is going to cry or sucker punch me so I walk away before I experience either one. I point a finger at Diego and then throw my thumb over my shoulder in Camila’s direction. He nods, understanding what I mean.

Keep an eye on them.

“I’ll be in the basement for the next hour. Don’t need me.”

He laughs as he continues his lazy laps in the lake-shaped pool. “10-4, Pollito.”

Seventeen

Libby/Daniella/Isabel

“FOLLOW ME.”

His words brush across the back of my neck like the stroke of a feather, causing me to have to catch my breath before following him down the stairs to the basement.

If he’s planning to fuck me, why does he want to do it down here?

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