Page 62 of Get Lost

Chapter Twenty-Four

Alexander took the wind from her lungs when he walked away, but the shock—fine, and disappointment—transformed quickly to anger.

And then, her favorite,resolve.

Alexander had always been good at getting a rise out of Kelsey. He’d been born with a road map to her buttons and had studied his map well.

But she’d had time to study his buttons, too, and his biggest pet peeve? Not getting a rise out of her.

So she took a deep, steadying breath, gave her lady bits a stern talking to, stripped off her cover-up, then paused, considering her bikini. She could really up the score and tease him with her naked body…

Nah. What if someone saw her, or worse, what if nudity was illegal here? Yikes.

She turned toward the water instead of following Alexander back to the villa. He’d expect her to follow him. Dazed, confused, and dripping with desire. He wanted her to follow him.

But the last thing she’d evergiveAlexander was what hewanted. He should know her better than that.

And the last thing she would do after the shitty way he’d just blue-balled her wasfollowhim. He’d have to be out of his damn mind.

Plus, her body was heated to near-boiling, and the cool water would give her a much-needed wake up call.

Much.

Needed.

Hello? Earth to Kelsey!

She tested the water with the toes of her right foot and nearly moaned with how perfect the temperature was. Like tepid bathwater—not too hot, not too cold—the Caribbean Sea was just right. She stepped forward carefully, wary of the sand beneath her feet. Some beaches had drop-offs that would send a person in well over their head if they weren’t careful. Not to mention the rocks. And… creatures. Shit. The moon was high in the sky and nearly full, illuminating everything outside of the water, but beneath the surface was a mystery.She gulped, scanning the darkened water even though looking harder didn’t make her somehow develop underwater night vision.

She’d been bold making the decision to go into the water instead of going back to the villa and dragging herself into bed. She had an early day tomorrow and a million things to do over the next three days, but here she was, going for a night swim instead, spurred on by her annoyance with Alexander—and her desire for him. Unchecked and unappeased desire that needed to cool the fuck down. But now, as she stood in the water and it splashed at her knees, Kelsey was frozen fromwhat ifs.

What kind of sea creatures lived in the waters of the Caribbean?

Big creatures with rows of sharp teeth?

Little creatures with stinging tentacles?

Tinier creatures with claws?

Man-shaped monsters with one lone dimple?

Actually…yes. The wind carried Alexander’s scent to her before he made his presence known. How was his cologne still so strong even this late in the day? Was that just his scent? His pheromones?

Kelsey tilted her head at the thought because that possibility made sense of the way her body reacted to him. It could only be explained by pheromones.Kelseywasn’t attracted toAlexander; herbodywas. Obviously.

It was as base as the body’s ability to avoid danger by kicking into fight or flight. Her body wanted to mate with Alexander’s body. It was instinct. Nature. This was how humans were programmed to keep the species alive.

It was as simple as that.

She didn’t have tolikethe man to procreate.

Whoa, girl.They weren’t going toprocreate. Good Lord, she couldn’t believe she’d even had the thought. But looking at it this way, in its simplest terms, Alexander’s pheromones explained why her body acted all fucking wonky whenever he was around because she certainly didn’tlikethe man.

She loathed him, remember?

But he still smelled like sin. And sex. And promise.

She breathed deeply, waiting, so when he stepped up behind her, she didn’t jump at his presence.

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