Page 14 of Pretty Girls Never Lie (St. Mary’s)

She’s quiet, and instead of confirming, she looks away and shows me the glistening side of her flushed cheeks.

“You jumped in to save me from drowning, but you almost drowned in the process?”

Isla’s mouth parts like she’s going to say something, but she stops herself at the last second. Her entire body trembles in my arms, so I decide to keep her there longer instead of putting her on the side of the pool.

“You can’t swim?” She shakes her head. “Why would you jump in if you can’t swim?”

Isla shrugs, unwilling to answer.

She obviously doesn’t know me, because shewillanswer me.

I press her back against the side of the pool, and she gasps when she realizes I’ve let go of her. The position forces her to slap her hands against my shoulders, and her legs wrap around my waist next.

Mmm, this is a problem.

I rest one hand against the side of the pool beside her head, and the other grips her wet chin so she can’t look away. “Why would you risk your life to save the guy whoruinedyours?” I ask, using her words against her. “Not many people would save someone they hate as much as you say you hate me.”

Isla’s soft lips part, and fast breaths shoot out of her mouth and land on mine.God, why is she so pretty and tempting?Her blue eyes peer up at me, and I feel the chemistry simmering beneath my skin. I edge closer to her, and her legs clamp onto my hips to keep me in place.

It doesn’t work.

My head nestles beside hers, and she turns, giving me access to her neck. I want to sink my teeth into her and suck on the delicate skin to end the madness I feel, but instead, I whisper into her ear, “You’re easy to read. You don’t hate me at all, do you?”

“I do hate you.”

My nose trails her jaw until my lips settle on the corner of her mouth. “You nearly died trying to save me.” I press myself into her and dip my hand under the water to pull her closer.Fuck. Stop.“And I nearly died saving you years ago. I say that makes us even, don’t you?”

Her lips brush mine when she opens her mouth. “Not even…close.” She’s breathing hard, and I am too.

I can’t stop.

I want to kiss her so hard she forgets all about that night, because I want to forget too.

“Will this make us even?” I ask, gripping on to the wet fabric of her plaid skirt, pushing it past her hips. I wait for her to shove me away or tell me no, but her eyes are doe-like, and her white teeth sink into her bottom lip like some little tease. My chest is ready to explode with every labored breath, and I stare long and hard at her reaction when I dip my finger into her panties. Her skin is silky soft, and touching her is an insatiable rush.

Why isn’t she stopping me?

Isla’s eyes shut, and her head tips backward when I move my thumb over her clit.

“You’re not going to stop me?” I probe. There’s a big part of me that is slightly afraid that she’s going to push me away at the last second. My hand stops moving at the thought.Shit, she has power over me, and she has no idea.

“Keep going.” Her hips tilt to meet my hand, and I’m a goner. Minutes ago, I wouldn’t have done a single thing she asked, and now I’m wading in a pool with her pressed against me, and I’m following her commands like my life depends on it.

“Only if you tell me you’ll leave St. Mary’s.”

Those soul-sucking blue eyes grip me harder than before, and she shakes her head slowly. A whimper escapes when she moves herself just enough for my finger to gently press into her pussy.

I can’t fucking breathe.

In an attempt to steal back my control, I pull my hand out of the water and pinch her chin. “Tell me, Isla.”

“No.”

“Then no orgasm for you.” I grin mischievously.

We’re playing a game, and I’m on the edge of my seat, wondering what her next move will be.

We are no longer two people who share a traumatic memory together. She’s no longer the girl that reminds me of shitty times, and I’m no longer the guy who stood by and watched her father’smurder while keeping my hand over her mouth so she wouldn’t scream. We’re too wrapped up in the moment to remember any of that, and by the timid smile on her face, I think she’s having just as much fun as I am.

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