FIA
I pulled back slightly, still wrapped in the warmth of his arms and the cooling water. My body felt languid, sated in a way that made me want to sink into him forever.
"So was someone really watching us?" I asked.
His jaw tightened slightly. "It felt that way. But not anymore."
I glanced around the pool area. Everything looked peaceful and quiet. The sun had dipped lower now, casting long shadows across the deck.
"There seems to be nothing quite boring as us fucking like rabbits," I said.
A laugh rumbled through his chest. The sound vibrated against my ear where it pressed to him.
"Do you think it has something to do with Ronan?" I asked. "Or maybe Aldric?"
"Possibly."
"I think I’m holding up quite well." I tilted my head to look up at him. "You must be acting suspicious then."
He shook his head. "I don’t think that’s it."
His fingers traced lazy patterns on my lower back under the water. Each touch sent little aftershocks of pleasure through my oversensitized skin.
"I noticed it’s almost like Garrett disappeared," he said. The lightness in his voice had vanished. "He’s avoiding me completely. Have you seen him today?"
I thought back through the morning. Through the breakfast I had with Morrigan and everything that came after.
"No. Not really."
Then my heart started to panic. They wouldn’t... Right?
"Do you think something happened to him?"
Cian shook his head immediately. "They wouldn’t be that stupid."
I thought so too. But with Aldric, you could never really know. The man was insane.
"Then what?"
"I think he’s avoiding us because he realizes the second he speaks to us, then Ronan will talk to me about the card after assuming the chance of him keeping the card’s presence under wraps has now become impossible." His arms tightened around me. "I’m going on a limb here but I believe that’s why we’re being watched."
The pieces clicked together in my mind. It did make sense.
"You think we have new traitors," I said.
"Somehow, yes. Most likely new recruits after the deaths of the ones who retook the oaths and failed."
A chill ran through me despite the warmth of his body. The water suddenly felt colder.
"Another oath taking could be done," I suggested. "This time everybody could be made to participate."
"That will indeed work." He paused. I could practically hear the gears turning in his head. "But what if there are people that we haven’t realized aren’t our allies and aren’t present at the time?"
"Who else could have power and influence in the pack aside from your mother?"
"A few elders."
I nodded against his chest. Of course.
"We should get dry," Cian said.
He released me and I immediately missed his warmth. He dove under the water with practiced ease. I watched his form glide down to where our clothes had settled at the bottom. He gathered them in his arms and surfaced, water streaming from his hair.
He tossed the soaked bundle onto the deck. They landed with a series of wet slaps.
I swam to the edge and pulled myself out. My muscles protested slightly. A pleasant ache that reminded me exactly what we’d just done. I padded toward the pool house, leaving wet footprints on the concrete.
The pool house was small but well stocked. Towels lined shelves along one wall. I grabbed four fluffy white ones and headed back outside.
The late afternoon air kissed my wet skin. I wrapped one towel around my body and twisted another into my hair. The fabric was soft and warm. It smelled like lavender and the lingering heat that came from baking in the sun all day.
Cian was pulling himself out of the pool. Water cascaded down his back, following the valleys of muscle along his spine. His body moved with that easy grace that always made my breath catch.
He stood there in his naked glory. Water droplets clung to his skin. The sun caught them and turned them into tiny diamonds. His body was a work of art. All hard lines and sculpted muscle.
I held out one of the remaining towels.
He took it and wrapped it around his waist. The white terry cloth sat low on his hips. His v-line was still prominent. That sharp cut of muscle that disappeared beneath the towel made my mouth go dry all over again.
I stared. I couldn’t help it.
"Keep looking at me like that and we might do it again," he said.
I dragged my gaze back up to his face and laughed. Heat bloomed in my cheeks.
"Come here," I said.
He stepped closer. I took the second towel and reached up to dry his hair. My fingers worked through the wet strands. They were darker when wet. Almost vanta black instead of their usual black.
The moment my skin touched his, everything changed.


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