“It isn’t.” I made sure my voice carried to her. “I’ll see you in the pool.”
Leo rounded the corner and threw himself at my legs. “Is she going to swim?”
“Yep.” I tweaked his nose. “Let’s go get ready for her.”
“Okay.” He spun and raced away. The kid had more energy than I knew what to do with. Hopefully the time he spent running and swimming would wear him out and he’d get a good night’s sleep. We all needed that. Exhaustion dogged my steps, but I made myself move to the edge of the pool and back into the water.
Alessio was back in the lounge chair, his phone to his ear and a twisted scowl darkening his expression. He slammed the phone down to his lap and rubbed both hands across his face while swinging his legs around. “I need to find Renzo.”
“Can I come?” Leo popped up from the water.
Alessio started to deny him, the look in his eyes reminding me of his father. But then he smiled and nodded. “Sure.”
Lila walked around the corner. The small bikini hugged her curves, and my cock responded with a surge. “Alessio is taking Leo to talk to Renzo.” I rushed to get the words out.
Lila frowned, her hands landing easily on her hips. “Do you want me to come with you?”
“No.” Leo grabbed a towel and flung it around his shoulders. “You can stay and play with Matteo.”
Yes. Please come play with me.
She walked to the edge of the pool and stopped. “Alessio?”
“It’s fine.” He waved in the general direction of the gazebo. “You should enjoy yourself.”
She sat down and lowered her feet into the pool, kicking them back and forth and making tiny ripples fan out around her. “I’m not sure I remember how to enjoy myself.”
“I can show you.” I winked and dove under the water, coming up close enough to grab her ankles and pull.
She screamed and laughed. “Don’t do that.”
“What? This?” I pulled again, dragging her into the water. I caught her around the waist before she went under, kicking myself backward so we floated. “What’s bothering you?”
The sudden change in conversation settled around us. I lowered my guard and let her see the war going on inside me first, hoping she’d open up as well. “I’m worried that all this is going to be too much for all of us. Is there anything I can do to help? We’re going to have to lean on each other for support, Lila. None of us can do this alone.”
She shifted, treading water with tiny strokes of her hands and her feet fluttering back and forth alongside mine. “I feel like I’m a burden. Leo and I don’t belong here. We got caught up in this world, and now we have people shooting at us. That man wants Leo dead.” She trembled, goosebumps popping out on her arms. “I never wanted to be part of this.”
I swept my hands up her shoulders and brushed wet hair back from her face.
She leaned into me for a split second before pulling back. “I shouldn’t have sex with you. I just told you I don’t want to be part of this world.”
“Being together is not something to be ashamed of. Alessio understands that we all have feelings tied together. We all feel something for you.” We might still struggle with jealousy at times, but we were figuring it out. I made damned sure of that.
I tried not to push her into anything she didn’t want, but the new rawness of my feelings for her demanded I speak. “I’ll always be here, Lila. No strings. No pressure.” I’d give her what she needed, no matter what she asked for.
“Why do you make it so damned hard to say no?”
“Why do you make me so damned hard?” I rubbed my dick across her stomach and gave her a wicked smile. “We have time for another distraction.”
Her laugh emerged with a thick, wicked tint. “Right here? In the water?”
“Why not?” I ran my hand between us and pulled aside the thin scrap of material between her legs. “Have you ever fucked in a pool?”
“No.” She bit her lower lip and moved into my hand.
“Let me show you.” I brought our bodies together hard and fast, my cock spearing into her. Ripples lapped against the edge of the pool and splashed up the sides.
Lila locked her legs around my waist, her heels digging into my spine. I put her back against the edge of the pool and used the position to drive into her. The combination of sunshine, water, and Lila filled me to bursting. I didn’t care that she’d just been with Renzo. All that mattered was being here now when she needed me. If she needed Alessio next, or Renzo again, we’d find a way to make it work.
