Page 39 of Rooster

I pull my eyes away when I realize my swim trunks are getting a little tighter than I'd be able to explain once we get outside.

"I'm going to grab some drinks," I tell her, stopping by the fridge in the den as a distraction. "Want anything?"

"Is there diet in there?"

"Yep," I say, leaning forward a little too exaggeratedly, but I need the cold air to wash over me and help with my rising situation.

I pull out two drinks, and my body threatens to put me right back where it was when I catch her staring at my ass.

"Thank you," she says, holding her hand out for the drink rather than apologizing after being caught.

"Very welcome," I tell her before walking around her to open the back door, holding it for her to walk through.

"It's so nice out here," she says. "I've always loved Vegas weather."

"Not bad for early November," I say as we inch closer to the hot tub.

I take a step past her once we get there, needing to be fully submerged in the water before she pulls off that cover-up.

I give Heathen a nod as I take the spot right across from him, leaving the last spot for Morgan to sit beside her friend.

I can't help but wish I were out here alone with her like we were the first time, but maybe the extra company is for the best.

This woman drives me absolutely insane, and there has never been another time in my life when a woman I was attracted to had such easy access to me and vice versa. I haven't determined if this is a good thing or if it's a recipe for disaster.

I keep my eyes across the yard, focusing on the pool as Morgan pulls her cover-up off.

I turn my head further away, giving her a little privacy when she takes a few steps into the water. When she settles into her spot, I pull my eyes back.

They land on Heathen, and I find the man glaring at me, eyes slightly narrowed as if he's trying to figure out what is going on. If I'm lucky, he won't call me out right in front of her, but I don't know the man well enough yet to know which way he'll go.

Morgan and Kaylee begin to chatter about a mutual acquaintance. I keep my eyes locked on my teammate, feeling like if I look away, it would be some admission of guilt. I've done nothing wrong, but it still doesn't stop the urge to explain to this man that I haven't done anything wrong.

"Arrested?" Morgan says. "For what?"

"Stealing from the store, and believe it or not, Mr. Gillis was the one who pressed charges," Kaylee says.

"I thought he was the one who could do no wrong?" Morgan says.

"Apparently, that's no longer the case. From what one of the girls from my old job told me, Derrick had the nerve to call Mr. Gillis to bail him out once he was processed."

"I never liked that guy," Morgan mutters, her hands floating over the water as if she likes the sensation of the bubbles on her palms.

I find myself fighting the urge to lift my hands from my lap under the water and do the same so that I can experience it as well.

"He's a product of what his family created. It's sad because Mr. Gillis doted on him. The guy could do no wrong in his grandfather's eyes, yet it still wasn't enough," Kaylee mutters. "I'm so glad I don't work there anymore, but with Derrick gone, I don't know who is going to take over the business. Mr. Gillis has to be eighty years old. He can't go on forever."

I can tell by context clues who they're talking about, but I remain quiet since it doesn't concern me and I have nothing to offer to resolve the situation.

I just like hearing Morgan's voice. When I pull my eyes from her so my staring doesn't make others grow suspicious, I find Heathen once again glaring at me, and I know I'm going to have to explain myself at some point. On the other hand, I don't know exactly what I would explain. Calling it a crush seems relatively immature for my age, but I can't help but gravitate to this woman.

I narrow my eyes right back at him, but it doesn't make him break his stare. Nothing seems capable of distracting him until Kaylee's hand slides in his direction under the water, and then it's like they're the only ones that exist in the world.

I watch them for a long moment, wondering what it might feel like to have someone look at me like I'm the only person they're capable of seeing. I hadn't realized that might be something I wanted until this moment. What is it about people in love that makes you ache for something similar?

I chance a look in Morgan's direction only to find her eyes closed and chin pointed to the sky. Water droplets cling to her skin, the warmth of the water bringing a slight pink glow to her throat.

I lick at my lips, taking only a brief moment to wonder how soft the skin is there and how it would feel on my lips. Would her skin be salty or sweet? Would my warm breath ghosting over her ear make her moan or gasp?

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