Page 78 of Lore of the Wicked Wood
Atlas sighed, his breath misting before him. Reluctantly, he released her.
Everinne immediately tread backward, then stopped the moment his gaze narrowed. The skirt of her dress rode up, floating around her, and even though she doubted he could see anything below the surface, she made a failing effort to adjust the fabric all the same. She tugged the hem down and sank below the water once more.
Atlas grabbed her again, lifting her up.
“I’ve got it!” she shouted, smacking his hands away.
“Leave your damn dress alone or you’ll end up drowning yourself.” He raked a hand through his hair, the small curls now more pronounced than they were before. “Your modesty is of very little concern to me right now.”
“Fine,” she snapped, coasting her arms through the water and slowly moving her legs to stay afloat. Her dress fanned out around her, well above her hips, hovering in the ripples she made. She would bet anything he would be far more concerned about her modesty if he knew what she was wearing underneath—the tiny triangle of black lace covered very little and left absolutely nothing to the imagination.
For a moment, they watched each other. And then Everinne realized he wasn’t doing anything to stay above the water.
“Are you…” She glanced down between them. “Are you juststandingthere?”
Atlas shrugged, dismissive. “Apparently I was blessed with height, among other things.”
His insinuation was not lost on her and a flush crept into her cheeks.
Everinne dipped her head, blowing out a breath, releasing a stream of bubbles in the process.
Atlas’s lips twitched.
“I know you’re getting tired,” he drawled, rolling his head from side to side as she forced herself not to watch the little rivulets of water glide down his rather kissable looking neck.
“I’m fine,” she muttered.
He clicked his tongue, they both knew she was lying.
Everinne huffed out a breath, glancing around at her surroundings. “Whose pool is this, anyway?”
“Mine.” He angled his head toward the other side of the pool, and she followed his direction with her gaze.
Sure enough, across a slate verandah furnished with lounge chairs were two ornate glass doors. Soft, glowing light illuminated the room within, highlighting a sumptuous four-poster bed topped with a plush blanket and an overabundance of pillows. Without warning, her mind instantly filled with images of Atlas, sprawled and naked, his beautifully chiseled body stretched out on what were most likely luxurious satin sheets. Almost as quickly as she imagined it, another picture infiltrated her thoughts. This time, however, she was in that lavish bed with him.
Kissing him.
Touching him.
Taking him.
Everinne’s entire body heated, unbidden warmth pooling between her thighs, and she sucked in a ragged breath.
“Lovely.” The word was a scrape across her tongue while she attempted to disguise her arousal. “I take it this is your sex pool, then. And how many females have you brought here?”
Not that she really wanted to know, the number would only pain her.
Atlas arched a brow at her contemptuous tone. “You’d be the first. Even if it was by accident.”
Part of her didn’t want to believe him, wanted to think he was only saying it just to appease her. But it was incredibly difficult to convince herself that he was lying.
She leaned her head back into the water, arching to ease some of the ache that caused her muscles to spasm and twinge. Her arms were burning, on fire from constantly rotating forward and backward. Her legs strained as she continued to kick lightly in an effort to not sink.
“Would you please quit being so stubborn and let me help you?” Atlas asked. “It won’t look good if the future princess drowns on my watch.”
Everinne’s head snapped up.
In truth, she should probably just swim to the ledge and climb out of the pool completely. But it was so cold outside, and the water was so warm, and it would be so nice to not have to keep treading the damn water.
