“Who, Scarlett.”
“Brando—”
He lifted a finger. He’d only say it once more.
“Your brothers,” I blurted. “And Violet. And Maggie Beautiful,” I added, hoping those would soften the blow.
“All of them.”
“Yes.” I bit my lip. “It was before—before you knew about them. I didn’t know they were coming over. They stopped by and we were on our way to the pool.”
He ran a hand through his hair and then rolled his shoulders. “When I think of them seeing—” An angry sound came from his throat. “What you do to me is not fucking normal, Scarlett. What you make me want to do to other people who have seen you like—” He ran a hand up and down my body. “That isn’t normal either.”
“I know,” I said quietly. “I said that the other day, remember?”
He became quiet, but his eyes never left my body. No matter how he felt about the scandalous bathing suit, he still wanted me. I glanced down.Bad.
“Tell me what you’re thinking,” I said, finally.
He sighed. “All this time I’ve regretted you not being here with us—with Elliott and me.”
“And Charlotte,” I said, bitterness in my voice.
He waved a hand, dismissing her. “Now all I can feel is relief.”
“What! Why?”
“If you would’ve been here, I’d still be in jail, or would’ve gone to jail.” His eyes journeyed over me, hot and wanting. “If some asshole would’ve asked you to even take a walk on the beach—” His fists balled, all of his muscles tensing. His veins seemed to swell with his anger.
“You would’ve wanted me? Then?”
He nodded once, face serious. “It started that night in the snow, but it would’ve started before that, if you had been here. Or anywhere in my sight.”
My eyes lowered. My heart floated. “Would you have—” I hesitated. “If I would’ve wanted to—” I knew I would have. The attraction between us was too strong. If I couldn’t control it at my age, I would have been lost to it at fifteen.
“Yeah. I wouldn’t have been able to tell you no. The first time—I wanted you for a long time. What felt like my entire life. After, I knew I’d never be able to stop wanting you. You’re highly fucking addictive to me. No matter how many times you give yourself to me during the night, when I wake up, the taste of you is still on my tongue.”
“So that’s why you stayed away?”
“One of the reasons.”
I came closer, resting my head against his sticky chest. He placed his finger under my chin, lifting my face.
“You’ve always been mine. It didn’t matter if it was in the snow, or in the sand, or if you would’ve been staring out at the water, or dancing—I’ve always known.” He touched his heart. “Mine. All mine.”
“I knew it too,” I said. “That’s why I never considered anyone else. Couldn’t.”
He bent down to lick some of the rum off my neck, his warm mouth over my pulse.
“Serious issues aside,” I said, my eyes rolling back. “What do you really think of the bathing suit?”
He grinned, the shape of his mouth stretching against my skin, before he started to suck. He meant to brand me.
Once he made his mark, he lifted me up, set me on the bar, and told me to lie down. He poured some of the remaining liquid from the blender onto the exposed slots of skin, which were plenty, since the fabric was slight. I shivered from the sudden rush of cold.
“Ithink,” he finally said, eyes so hot they could have melted rock. “I’m thankful that I got to see it on you before I ripped it off. Now hold on to the sides of the bar, Ballerina Girl. I’m about to show you just how much you belong to me—my fucking name the only one on your tongue.”
* * *
