I hold my breath and close my eyes.
Hewouldn’t. It was nothing.
Rough fingers, softening a fraction from the water, curl leisurely around my ankle. Flexing around the joint as though he's steadying himself.
But I know better.
This is payback for that bratty little comment.
This is war.
His thumb traces a slow circle against my skin.
Once. Twice. Three times.
I don't react. Don't give him the satisfaction.
Two can play this game, Morgan.
“—and Tara's been hinting about a follow-up special,” Roman continues. “Something about 'where are they now' content.”
Everett's hand slides higher. Past my ankle. Over my calf. His fingers trailing up to the back of my knee with agonizing slowness.
Every nerve ending in my leg lights up like a warning flare.
My breath hitches. I force myself to breathe normally and grip the edge of the tub.
“She's hunting for something,” Nolan says. “I don't trust her.”
“Nobody trusts her.” Roman shrugs. “But she's got reach. The exposure is worth the risk.”
Everett, the picture of absolute attentiveness, nods, keeping his eye contact on my brothers at all times. Even as he drags the backs of his fingers up the side of my thigh. Feather-light. Almost innocent.
Almost.
His knuckles graze higher. Higher. Tracing the curve of my outer thigh like he's memorizing the shape of me.
I suck in a breath and bring my knees up toward my chest, resting my heels on the ledge next to me, effectively out of his reach.
Ha. Try that, Mountain Daddy.
“Sierra?” Nolan's watching me. Of course Nolan's watching me. Nolan watches everything. “You okay?”
“Fine.” Too tight. Too fast. “Water's hot.”
“That's... kind of the point,” Caleb says slowly.
“She's had champagne,” Everett offers helpfully. Leaning back, flexing his arms across the back of the tub like he owns it. Like he owns everything in it. “Probably just the heat mixing with the alcohol.”
No sooner than the words leave his mouth, his fingertips graze under my thigh, and I realize my tactical error.
Drawing my knees to my chest didn't protect shit. Not when pulling them up left a pocket of space leading straight to my?—
Shit.
His fingers don't hesitate. They slide into that gap like they were invited. Like he knew exactly what I'd do and planned for it.
I cover my surprised whimper with a cough.
