This was exactly what she wanted, and I was officially too weak to resist. And she was right about the cameras—theredidn’t seem to be any in this building. Hopefully we were right, or a security team somewhere would end up getting a show.
“You have five seconds to start stripping, or I’m going to carry you in fully clothed.”
She hesitated, narrowed eyes searching for a hint on whether or not I would follow through. It was my turn to smirk. Cute of her to doubt me.
Talia was coming in here with me one way or another, because I wanted to know what her wet skin would feel like sliding against mine.
“Five…” I drew out the word. “Four…”
At three she reached around her back and tried to grab the zipper that cinched her into the dress. I pushed up to sit on the edge of the pool.
These jeans would take forever to dry. My phone may or may not have survived. My gun was definitely fucked. I took everything from my pockets and tossed it onto the lounger beside Talia, then got to my feet.
“I have two more seconds.” She glared at me, her fumbling not getting her far.
If we went by actual time, she really didn’t. But Ihadstopped my countdown, and I wasn’t going to throw her in clothed unless she forced me. A dress like that didn’t deserve it.
She stiffened as I approached her, but didn’t try to move away. My alpha side forced a purr—because as much as I loved a game of chase, I was happier to know she wouldn’t make me. My omega stayed put, waiting for me.
I didn’t get too close, careful not to drench the hem of the dress. Gently, I guided her to turn away from me, and her hands dropped to her sides. The tiny metal zipper was hidden among the red satin fabric. I ran my fingertips along her spine, leaving a damp trail behind on her soft skin, and she shivered.
The scent blockers weren’t strong enough to hide all of her cranberry rose scent now; not with the extent of her arousal. I wanted the chemical hint to vanish entirely so I could have the scent of her at full power. It was enough to drive me fucking insane.
Touching her did its job, drying my fingertips enough for me to grab the zipper and drag it down one painstaking inch at a time. She expectedly didn’t wear a bra beneath the dress, but I groaned when I discovered she wasn’t wearing panties either.
As the satin slid down her body to land in a pile on the pool deck, I watched slick slide down her inner thighs.
“Jesus fucking Christ, little omega. How long have you been dripping for me?”
“How long do you think?”
I slapped her bare ass and she yelped.
“Don’t give me a sassy answer, Talia.”
She leaned forward, ever so slightly, and I took the invitation to spank her again. Her moan echoed around the pool room, her body asking for more, but I stopped there. Giving her what she wanted too soon would only ruin the fun.
Part of me knew I should rush us and shouldn’t draw it out—we weren’t supposed to be here—but she wanted me to have my fun with her. And considering it was mostly safe in this pool enclosure, far from the main house, I couldn’t let her down.
“I’ve been dripping for you since you stood in front of me in the storage room to keep me safe,” Talia whispered. “I love it when you protect me, West. As annoying as it is sometimes.”
I spun her around to face me, scanning down her naked body. Her bruises and scrapes were healing, the physical evidence of her previous trauma growing fainter by the day. All but the ragged bondmark he’d left on her neck, on display for the first time tonight.
That would stay visible forever, no matter what happened in the future.
I wished I could eliminate that reminder, heal it for her. I couldn’t, but if she wanted a distraction tonight, I could give her that.
“And I love when you’re a brat, as much as I hate to admit it.” I leaned forward to brush our lips together.
Then I swept her princess-style into my arms and jumped right back into the pool.
She gasped as we came up for air, clinging to me. Her updo was drenched, the loose strands sticking to her face. “You actually tossed me in the pool!” She sounded absolutely scandalized.
“I didn’t toss you,” I corrected. “I carried you in with me. Did you think I was kidding?”
“Yes.” She pouted.
“Remember, you pushed me in first. It’s only fair. And…” I swam us back to the edge of the pool, pushing her back against it. “I needed to know what you felt like wet.”
