Then, with a sharp inhale, she took a step back, her arms falling away, and I reluctantly dropped mine, too. Her cheeks were flushed, and her chest rose and fell with quick breaths.
“I— I’m sorry,” she stammered, her eyes wide with panic. “I didn’t think—”
“Hey, hey. Don’t apologize.”
“What aboutme? DoIget a hug, too?” Zane teased as he ran over.
She turned to him, her blush deepening, and she shook her head quickly.
“N-no! That was— I don’t know what came over me. I’m so sorry I attacked you, Koko!”
“Baby, you don’t have to apologize. If anything, I should be thanking you. That was unexpected, but not unwelcome. Feel free to attack me like that any time.” I chuckled, brushing a curl away from her face.
She looked up at me, her gray eyes bewildered and her hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.
“I just didn’t like the way he was looking at you. Touching you. It felt wrong.”
“I didn’t like it, either,” I confessed. “Ididlike your hug, though.”
She nodded, but her brow furrowed like she was still trying to make sense of what had just happened, not understanding she was jealous, and that made my smile grow.
Our beloved is possessive. Good. So are we.
Although anyone, male or female, who flirted with her would end up in a worse place than a lake.
“Seri!” Zane huffed, throwing his arms dramatically and stretching his “I Pee in Pools” t-shirt tight across his chest. “When doIget attacked? I’m feeling left out here.”
Her blush deepened, and she shook her head.
“I didn’t mean to. It just happened. I don’t even know why I did that.”
“Don’t overthink it,” Cas advised her as he joined us. “Sometimes instincts take over.”
“And honestly?” I grinned. “I’m not complaining.”
“Yeah, well, some of us would like to be on the receiving end of those instincts, too,” Zane snarked. “Just saying.”
I shot him a look, but before I could retort, a loud, soddensquelchdrew our attention back to the lake. Gregory was hauling himself out, water streaming from his designer clothes, his once immaculate hair plastered to his forehead. He looked like a drowned rat, and I couldn’t suppress the smirk tugging at my lips.
“You’re fired,” Cas said in a tone that could freeze lava.
“What?!” Gregory squealed. “You can’t fire me!”
“You’ve been acting unprofessionally toward Koa since the moment we met you.”
“It’s because ofher, isn’t it? Because of some woman who won’t last a—”
“Finish that sentence.” Cas’ eyes were as flat as a viper’s. “I dare you.”
“Fine,” Gregory spat, turning on his heel and stalking away, his wet shoes squelching with every step. “I didn’t like working here, anyway!”
“What a little shit,” Zane scoffed.
Suddenly, Seri’s breath hitched, and I turned to her just in time to catch her as her legs gave out. My heart slammed against my ribs. She was so light in my arms, her body limp and fragile, as if she might shatter if I held her too tightly.
“Seri!” My voice came out sharper than I meant it to, panic clawing at my throat. “Seri?”
I lowered her gently onto the soft grass, my hands trembling as I brushed a strand of honey-gold hair from her face. Her skin waspale, almost translucent, making all her bruises stand out and the purple circles under her eyes seem darker than ever. Brumous trotted over and whined softly, pressing his cold nose against her hand, eyes wide with worry.
