Page 18 of 3 Stolen Kisses

“Excuse me,” I mutter, turning to the edge of the pool. This won’t be a graceful exit, but the steps out of here are too far away, and I can’t nudge my way through so many people to get there. Not when they’re all staring at me like this. No, thank you.

My hands brace on the terrace paving stones, still warm from the afternoon sun. The rock star says something behind me, but I don’t catch it.

I’m ready to leave. Ready to head up to my room, take a long, hot shower, then bundle myself up in bed and count down the minutes until everyone is gone.

Pushing hard on the stones, I jump up, water sloshing everywhere. And I’m raising one knee, about to crawl out of here no matter how undignified it looks, but a strong hand grabs my messy bun and yanks me back into the water.

“Oh no you don’t,” the rock star yells, cracking up with laughter, like this is all such a hilarious joke. “You don’t get away from us that easily, Wainwright girl.”

The back of my head burns from where he yanked my hair. I whirl around and stare up at this man, thisstranger, frozen with confusion and fear and rage.

What’s his plan here? He’s going to keep me in this pool against my will? Even with people staring at us and some guests whispering behind their hands and my own useless father somewhere on the grounds?

Who knows? Whatever the rock star’s plan, I don’t get to find out—because a strong hand reaches past me, grabs a fistful of the musician’s dark hair, and yanks him up out of the pool in one ruthless motion.

“How do you fucking like it?” Saxon spits, lifting the other man as easily as a feather pillow. He shakes him by the hair, ignoring his yelp of pain, then dumps his sprawled body on the terrace.

Eight

Ali

Two of the other security guards step forward, grabbing a wet arm each, and it’s just as well they’re taking that guy away, because Saxon looks ready to rip him limb from limb. He looms high above me on the poolside, his chest heaving and his face cast in shadow. His fists are balled at his sides.

When Saxon glances down, I jerk back in the water. It’s nothing real—it’s prey instinct. Automatic. I’m not scared of him at all, I never could be, and I’m so, so glad he’s here.

But Saxon’s expression shutters.

“Come on,” he says gravely, crouching by the pool and lifting me out from beneath my arms. Water cascades down my body, speckling the terrace and spotting Saxon’s shoes, but he holds me like something precious. Sets me gingerly on my feet, everything so different from the way he slung that rock star around like a garbage bag. “Where’s your towel?”

My teeth are chattering, despite the warm night, and I wish I could shrink into nothing. “Inside.”

Saxon grunts and sweeps me up against his chest, bridal style. And I’m gonna soak through his suit, gonna leave the biggest wet patch ever, but when I point that out to our head of security, he doesn’t seem to care.

He strides through the party inside, jaw set, expression thunderous, carrying me from room to room. And it’s quieter in here than before, with most of the crowds out in the grounds, but there are still guests cringing out of his path, watching us go. Their whispers follow us all the way to the lobby and up the stairs.

My bedroom is on the third floor, at the back of the house. Saxon carries me there directly, my body clutched tight to his chest, his muscles rock solid with tension. He doesn’t say a single word, not for the whole way there, and after a minute or so, I get worried.

“Saxon?”

He sniffs hard and keeps walking. I pet his beard.

“Saxon? I’m okay, I swear.”

Hegrowls.Those big arms tighten around me.

And even though tonight has sucked so, so much, even though that rock star pulling my hair freaked me the hell out, with each passing second cradled in Saxon’s arms… I feel better. The tension seeps away, and my lips curve into a wobbly smile.

“I can’t believe you dragged him out by his hair.”

Saxon huffs. “Should’ve ripped it clean off.”

Words! That’s progress.

“His hair is probably insured for thousands.”

“Well, so are his hands, but I’d break those too.”

And I shouldn’t be grinning at this, shouldn’t be enjoying Saxon’s protective rage so much, but I can’t help it. This night has taken a wonderful turn.

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