Your top is gone. Completely gone.
And to make matters worse, this pool is a lot deeper than you realized. You thought you’d be able to touch the bottom—not that you should have tried to dive into a pool that shallow, but you never did have swim lessons as a child, and don’t really know what you’re doing.
You cough again, simultaneously trying to keep your head above water while also trying not to look panicked as you frantically cover yourself. Trying not to draw any extra attention to your, uh,situation.
And…there’s your top, sinking down, down, down a few feet away.
23
A Wardrobe Malfunction with the Hot Guy
You
You cover yourself with your hands as best you can, kicking with your legs to stay afloat, but you’ve never been very good at treading water.
You’re sinking.
And so is your bikini top as it floats down toward the deep, further and further out of reach.
Panicked, you turn and look to Ziros for help, but—he’s not there! He was standing over by the table just a moment ago, and now he’s gone. No! Just when you thought your luck couldn’t get any worse!
This is so embarrassing.
You could scream for help, but then you’d just be calling attention to your, uh,situation. And you can’t use your arms to paddle without revealing yourself.
You’re trapped!
You cough, chin sinking under the water. Maybe you can covertly signal Corrine for help. But before you can spot her through your panic, the water rises up over your mouth and you find yourself coughing. It’s too late.
“Help!” you try to call, but you’re already underwater. Is this how you die?
What a way to go.
And just when you’d won an awesome prize, too.
Just as your lungs start to burn, strong arms circle your bare waist, lifting you easily back to the surface.
And a low voice growls in your ear, “Are youtryingto make me jealous?”
It’s Ziros.
He pulls his shirt over your head before scooping you back against the heat of his hard chest.
One moment you’re in the pool.
The next you’re in the hall leading to the stairwell, the penthouse front door swinging shut behind you as Ziros carries you away.
You can only imagine the look of shock on Corrine’s face as you disappeared.
Poor Corrine.
Looks like your time at this party might be suddenly very over.
But…it’s hard to betoodisappointed.
Not when Ziros carries you into the stairwell, pressing your back against the cold wall as you wrap your legs around his waist, staring up into his steel blue eyes. There’s something fierce about his gaze, something hungry.
Leaning in, he growls in your ear, “Push me away, human. Tell me to stop. Tell me to stop,or I won’t.”
