All too quickly, she steps back, dropping down in the water and spreading her arms. “Okay, your turn.”
Is it possible for your palms to sweat in the pool? I feel nervous and clammy, and I don’t think it’s just because I’m uncomfortable being seductive and flirty.
“So…uh, caught any bad guys lately?” I try to do a seductive, hooded-eye look, but I’m pretty sure it just seems like sunscreen is making me squint.
Ava furrows her brows, but lets me keep going. I shift, trying to lean in the way she did, but nearly headbutt her instead. To her credit, she doesn’t shove me underwater, so I keep at it.
“So… you must have, like, a license to… catch bad guys?” My voice wobbles like I’m asking for a favor, not flirting. “Maybe later you can show me how you handle your taser?”
Ava clears her throat and sputters before her laugh escapes. “Sexual electrocution?”
“Officers have tasers!” I explain in defense of myself, splashing water at her perfect, laughing face.
“Your long, hard taser,” Ava mocks and splashes me right back. “Thick, throbbing taser.”
We dissolve into laughter, waging a water war at each other until the flirting about Declan’s girthy taser is completely forgotten.
“Maybe you should stick to the whole innocent thing you’ve got going on,” Ava says, brushing a bit of wet hair out of my face. “I bet you could still get the information out of them just as you are, Em.”
21
AVA
Emily dances like she dives. Controlled, graceful, free. We both thought her flirting game might be better with a few drinks in her. A bit of tequila and grinding might make the guys more talkative, too.
So, we got everyone to agree to a night out. Well, Emily did. It wasn’t actually that hard. Lucas and Knox were all in from the moment Emily suggested it. Declan took a bit more convincing, but anyone can see the man is head over heels for her, so of course he said yes.
The cruise ship’s club pulses with a neon heartbeat. The air is thick with laughter, sweat, and the sharp tang of fruity cocktails served in glasses too bright to look at directly. The DJ’s mixing a wild mashup of throwbacks and current hits and smoke machines haze the dance floor just enough to feel mysterious. Somewhere near the bar, a group is trying to start a conga line that’s equal parts adorable and messy. I find myself smiling, because here, under these flashing lights, everyone’s a little bit freer. Even me.
I’ve always loved dancing, but right now I’m so captivated by Emily that all I do is sway a little. We all gravitate around her.Declan in front of her, hands on her hips, eyes locked on her face. Yeah, that man has it bad. Every time Knox tries to come up behind Em, Declan growls at him. Knox just laughs and turns to dance toward me.
Bad idea. Very, very bad idea.
People crowd in on all sides of us, so he might not pick up on my scent. But I’m more likely to perfume around an alpha, and it could throw me into heat.
Not. Happening.
Spinning away from Knox, I back into Lucas, grinding and rolling as I take his hands and place them on my hips. He freezes for a heartbeat, but it isn’t long before he relaxes into the moment. Lucas called me his Disaster Buddy and the title fits too well.
I keep my eyes on Knox and Declan, the threats, the predators. But right now, I feel like the dangerous one. Knox’s gaze is heavy and heated as he watches, his eyes bouncing between Emily and me. If I’m not mistaken, he lingers a bit on Declan and Lucas, too.
The room feels at least ten degrees hotter than it did a few minutes ago. Sweat drips down my temples and gathers between my breasts. My mouth feels dry, and an ache settles between my legs. Declan pulls Emily closer and kisses her. It’s not a sweet, public kiss. This is the kind of kiss inspired by the heavy beat of the music. He’s tongue fucking her right here on the dance floor, and I’m ten seconds away from losing it. This is a side of the buttoned-up officer I haven’t seen yet, and it’s doing it for me.
“They make a pretty picture, no?” Lucas says, breath hot on my ear.
A noise I’ve never made before climbs my throat and pushes past my lips. Half whimper. Half moan.
“Ah, I thought so.” He chuckles, fingers trailing lightly down my arm. “Which is it that has you so hot and bothered?”
I lick my lips, unable to answer. Emily has captivated me more and more each day, and Declan is… well, Declan. You’d have to be blind not to be attracted to that man. But the real heat is coming off Knox. Standing in the middle of the dance floor with his arms crossed, not bothering to dance, just watching all of us with pure fire behind his eyes.
I spin around to avoid that gaze.
My skin sizzles with electricity, and I know he’s moved closer, right behind me. The look Lucas casts over my shoulder confirms it.
“You look flushed, gorgeous,” Knox says over the music. “Let’s cool you off.”
Or heat me up.
