Page 9 of Troubled Water
Something I haven’t felt since long before my mother died.
“You okay?” His voice was low, barely audible over the music, but it sent shivers down my spine. He offers me the bottle, which I note still seems rather full in comparison to the number of drinks I’ve consumed, but I reject it with a violent shake of my head.
“No! I, uh…I don’t eat or drink anything from strangers.”
“Smart girl.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah, B. I do.”
“So, we’re on a nickname basis?”
There’s a pregnant pause before, “Why not?”
“Then what do I call you?”
His lips twist. “Thorn is my nickname.”
Unusual but fitting.He’s as prickly as the thorns on Mama’s roses.The next thing I know, Thorn’s head is tossed back withlaughter. “Thank you, B. That’s probably the nicest compliment I’ve ever received.”
“I guess…you’re welcome?”
He leans forward, a tiny smirk lingering on his lips. I lean forward and moisten mine. Because he’s so close, the tip of my tongue grazes against his skin. It’s salty due to sweat, masculine, and delicious.
Our breathing increases.
His eyes flick between my eyes and my mouth. Mine drift to half-mast as his paw of a hand slides up and around the nape of my neck. His other grips the balcony between us. Holding me in place, he murmurs, “Do you want me to kiss you, pretty little B?”
“Yes,” comes my breathless moan just before Thorn’s lips capture mine. The second they do, the sun is eclipsed and the pounding music is drowned out by the pounding of my heart. His tongue strokes over mine as he tangles the fingers of the hand holding my neck into my hair. When he angles his head, I tip mine for a better fit.
His utter maleness makes me feel more feminine than I ever have before. Then again, I’ve never met a man like Thorn before—a man who has made kissing a demand of all my senses. He tugs my lower lip into his mouth and begins a slow slaughtering of my defenses when he holds my eyes as he sucks my lip in and out.
Giving me an idea of other things he’d like to do.
Since I’m on board for whatever he has in mind, I wrap my arm around his neck, causing him to growl deep in his throat. Releasing the hold he has on my neck, he’s about to haul me over the wrought iron bar when the door behind me flies open. “Bethany? Bethany McCallister? Where is your pretty little ass? Did you finally make it?” screeches my roommate, Lily.
The descent of Thorn’s lips immediately stops. His eyes search mine before he chokes out, “Bethany…McCallister?” As if knowing my full name is a shock to him.
As if it isn’t torturous to be me, especially when he pulls back and moves away as Lily makes her presence known by squealing. “Come on, babe! We have a perfect spot in the water right next to the stage.”
I cut my eyes to the side, but Thorn’s disappeared. I touch my lips, feeling the swollen bottom lip that was about to mimic the sex acts I was hoping would follow. Obviously, I can thank the men who took my mother’s life for one more thing—making an attractive man who knows my story finding me repugnant once he hears my full name.
Asshole.
7
“Then why were you in Playa del Carmen?”
Ahh, Fox is impressing me with her attempt at a run around the good oldHave you ever traveled to a foreign country? If so, what was the purpose of your visit? question. My response is simple but effective. “That’s classified.”
Fox bursts out with, “That’s bullshit.”
I quirk a brow over at Deere, who is in charge of my medical bullshit meter. He nods, indicating I’m telling the truth. Just then, the phone next to Pamola rings. Fox stomps over and snatches it up. She snaps, “What?” before her face pales significantly. “Yes, ma’am. I understand. Of course.”
I can’t help but wonder which member of my staff just ripped into Fox for sticking her nose where it didn’t belong. Still, herline of questions brings me back to the afternoon I met Bethany on the balcony between our rooms, where Brendan Blake was singing, rum flowing—albeit not even as close for me as it was for my wife, and the tropical breeze surrounded us.
Regretfully, there was a reason I wasn’t as close to intoxicated as she was. A reason I had to bail on her after the best first kiss of my life. And it had nothing to do with finding out my wife’s full name.
