Page 132 of Possess Me
“I know.”
“Fine. I promise you he won’t die by my hands.”
Relieved, I turned to face him, softening almost immediately. “You really are very wet.”
“Mmm… So I am. I’d prefer to be wet for another reason.” He took me into his arms and I threw mine around his shoulders.
Meanwhile, the little trickster had taken her place on the lounge, her front paws hanging over the bottom edge with her tail thumping on the armrest as she stared at us.
“You have a meeting. Remember?”
He slid his hand down to my bottom and with a quick snap of his wrist, he swatted me.
“Ouch!”
“And you, mischievous girl, are in need of a spanking.”
“I saved your life. Remember?” I gave him a pouty look, thankful that we had a little time just to be together. Without the fear of danger.
Or maybe that would always be in the equation. There were guards posted outside, although Vissarian had said nothing andcertainly hadn’t pointed them out when we’d driven in. But I’d seen them outside the windows trying to blend in.
As if big guys in black fatigues could actually blend in with the stark scenery.
“While we’re not counting, I believe I saved your life three times.” His eyes were lit up like firecrackers.
“Tit for tat.”
He swatted me again. “Uh-huh. We both know better.”
His playfulness faded, replaced with a look of concern and also determination. “Antonio isn’t the issue. He will learn that he’s nothing but a cog in a wheel. My concern is how your grandfather will handle learning that you belong to me and not as a bargaining chip.”
“So definitive. You’ve made up your mind I belong to you. Is that right?”
“Let me ask you a question, Miss Bossy Butt. Is that something you mind?”
For a man who’d been nothing but serious in the beginning, being able to see both sides of him kept my legs quivering and my pulse racing. “No.” Four days and both of us had lost our minds yet our relationship seemed steeped in the past, a dose of karma and a dash of magic tossed in. “But I’m not willing to jump into anything.”
“Good girl.” Was there just a hint of disappointment in his eyes? Perhaps. “Don’t worry, Fallon. You will be a part of future discussions. This is simply something I need to handle with my father by myself.”
“Because of Megan.”
“Yes. I owe it to her.”
I brushed the back of my fingers across his cheek. “I understand completely.” I backed away, immediately hearing Bella’s tail thumping with more excitement than before. I gaveher a sweet look and I could swear the pup knew what I was thinking. “By the way, you look very warm. Why a suit?”
“Because it’s protocol and I never know who I’ll run into.”
“Well, I don’t think it’s going to do.”
“Meaning what?” He leaned back slightly, narrowing his eyes.
“Meaning.” When I shot my fur ball another look, I learned Bella could read minds.
She jumped off the lounge chair so forcefully that when her front paws hit him in the back of his knees, he was toppled forward.
Toward the pool.
Maybe my wicked mind hadn’t thought my plan through entirely since the two of us were pushed into the pool.
