Page 50 of Faking Summer
He rested both palms on the countertop, leaning toward me. "Wanna go for a swim?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Right now?"
"Why not?" He held my gaze, and a spark of electricity jolted between us.
I looked away, trying to act cool. "Is this some plan to get me out of my clothes?"
"Is it working?" he joked, his voice dropping lower. Against my better judgment, my pulse quickened.
I scoffed, hoping he couldn't hear the catch in my throat. "Not one bit."
Reese laughed, a rich sound that sent a shiver downmy spine. Without another word, he turned and slid open the patio door. I sighed, following him into the backyard.
He strode ahead with easy confidence, the moonlight dancing over his broad shoulders. When he reached the pool's edge, he stripped off his T-shirt in one smooth motion. I swallowed hard at the sight of him. His tan skin seemed to glow, the hard planes of his chest interrupted only by the pendant necklace that hung around his neck.
Reese turned, catching me staring. Something dangerous flashed in his eyes. "Get in with your clothes on if you want."
Before I could react, he leapt into the water with a powerful dive. I jumped back as droplets spattered my legs. When he surfaced, he flung his wet hair back and grinned.
"Come on, Chaos. Live a little."
Throwing caution to the wind, I quickly peeled off my top and shorts. The night air raised goosebumps on my bare skin. I caught Reese's gaze lingering on me out of the corner of my eye, almost as if he was devouring every inch of me.
I dove in. The warm water felt amazing, because of course he had a heated pool. When I came up for air, Reese was treading water nearby, his eyes burning into mine. My heart pounded as he drifted closer.
"Knew you couldn't resist taking off your clothes for me," he murmured.
I tossed my hair back defiantly. "Don't flatter yourself. This is basically a swimsuit." My fingers grazed his arm beneath the water. Maybe he was right, though. He was alluring, and hard to resist, but I would put up a fight first. With a flick of my wrist, I sent water hurtling towards Reese. It cut through the air, splattering satisfyingly against his chest.
"Was that really necessary?" he asked, his eyes a stormy green as they met mine.
"Absolutely," I replied, with a small smile.
We splashed back and forth, laughter mixing with him chasingme around the pool. The night was calm, stars were twinkling above. But as I paused, catching my breath, Reese's gaze softened, and he faltered, water dripping from his hair.
"Tell me about that horseshoe tattoo on your hip," Reese said. The low drawl of his voice almost made me nervous. His rough thumb brushed over the inked horseshoe on my hip. A shiver raced across my skin, raising goosebumps. I could feel every single one of them come alive.
"I'd tell you," I began, my lips curving into a smile. "But then, I'd have to kill you."
"That looks good on you," he said, disarmingly earnest.
"What? The tattoo?"
"Yes," he said, his voice husky. “But I was talking about your smile.”
"Why do you always have to ruin the moment?" I countered, trying to deflect, to regain some semblance of control over the erratic pace of my heartbeat.
"Why are you always so bad at taking compliments?" he shot back.
I settled onto the lowest step inside the pool. "Because I never get them," I admitted, staring at the ripples expanding outward from where my hands played in the water. "So when I do, it feels... awkward."
"What do you mean you never get them? You’re fucking stunning."
I glanced at him. "I mean, my family doesn’t compliment me, and the only guys who hit on me are usually drunk. I never even know if they can see straight."
Then, Reese moved closer, his dimple flashed—that perfect indentation that could tilt the world off its axis. "Maybe guys are scared of you because you walk around with all those weapons," he teased.
“Can never be too safe.”
