I clear my throat. It was one thing for Tommy to ask about gardening; it’s another for him to keep touching me like this.
“Um, Tommy—” I suck in a breath when a large hand curls around Tommy’s collar, shoving him hard enough to make him stumble backward.
Joshua’s familiar heat warms my back, sending a tingle down my spine.
Tommy trips over himself, trying to get his balance. He takes a large step back. “Hey ... Hunt. I was just—”
“Yeah. I know.” Joshua’s rough voice ghosts down my neck. His hand lands on the side of my waist, and my pulse skips at the fiery warmth seeping through the back of my thin dress and singeing my skin. His touch is featherlight, but that only heightens the effortless strength of his grip. “Thought I was clear the last time we spoke.”
“Easy, man. You were clear.” Tommy’s gaze shoots to the pool, where Kimmie and a girl I recognize from school have gone completely quiet. “Didn’t think you’d mind if we were just chatting.”
“Just chatting?” Despite how controlled his voice is, Joshua’s fingers tremble against me. “Is that why you kept putting your hands on her even after she clearly backed away?”
“Look, it was all in good fun, all right? I thought you were gone, so ...” As soon as Tommy’s words are out, my eyes narrow, a feeling I’m not used to wrapping around my chest. Something between irritation and anger.
“You thought he was out, so ... what, exactly?” I ask, raising my eyebrows. “What difference would that make?”
Tommy chuckles nervously, seeming to realize his mistake. Red patches appear on his neck, and he scratches them.
Finally, I glance over my shoulder and up. Goose bumps trail down my bare arms at the dark look in Joshua’s eyes. His jaw is hard, a vein in his neck twitching. Knuckles coiled into fists, he moves toward a wide-eyed Tommy.
I collect myself in time to place a hand on his forearm, then swallow back a gasp. Bruises cover his skin, right by my fingers. A sinking feeling crashes to the pit of my stomach. Another fight? I should have known when he didn’t come see me last night.
Joshua pauses at my touch, tensing. But his deadly eyes are still locked on Tommy.
“Tommy, listen ...” I say slowly. “We can talk and hang out, but only ever as friends. You get that, right?”
Tommy rubs his shoulder, looking away. “Sure, you two are hanging out. Whatever. I get it.”
A quiet snarl works through Joshua, but I keep my hand on his arm before he can take another step.
“No, Tommy, we’re not just hanging out. I’m with him. As in, I’m his girlfriend, and I’m not interested in anyone else. That’s not going to change.” I’m looking at Tommy when I say the words, but part of me knows they’re meant for Joshua. Whatever’s going on with him, the charged possessiveness radiating off his body tells me he needs to hear this right now.
I know I’m right when his heavy gaze connects with mine for the first time. It softens slightly as he inspects my face, his brow furrowing like he’s still processing my words; willing himself to believe them.
“Whatever,” Tommy mumbles. “Won’t happen again.”
As far as I’m concerned, it’s only me and Joshua now. Somewhere between the last time we were alone together and this moment, something happened. Something significant enough to mess with his confidence in us, and I hate not being able to smooth the hard lines of his expression.
I step closer, running my hand down the corded muscle in his tense arm and slipping my fingers between his. I lift to the balls of my feet, so my mouth reaches his ear.
“I’m yours, Joshua. It doesn’t matter what anyone else says or does. You know that, don’t you?”
His eyes search mine for a long moment. My heart flutters against my rib cage as invisible waves of energy pulse between us, loud and explosive despite our silence. Thick with thousands of crackling emotions. Just when I open my mouth to ask what’s going on, his Adam’s apple moves slowly up and down his throat. Then his hand squeezes mine, and he leads me toward the guesthouse.
I glance over my shoulder in time to see Kimmie and the other girl wrapping towels around themselves before following Tommy into the main house. Their voices travel, high-pitched and curious. I guess they’re talking about what just unfolded, but I don’t have long to wonder because as soon as the door closes behind us, I’m sucked into a Joshua-consumed whirlwind.
Suddenly, my back’s against the door, his hands braced above me. Dark grey eyes bore into mine, brimming with control yet still manic around the edges. My breath comes out in short bursts.
He inches closer, craning his neck. When his lips softly brush mine, a warm chill chases down my spine. He doesn’t kiss me though. One hand slips from the wall above my head, skimming my neck and traveling down my waist. I’m thrown off when he dips into the front pocket of my loose dress and pulls out my phone.
Confusion seeps into my hazy mind.
“Wh-what are you doing?” I ask, not sure how I can be so out of breath when he’s hardly touched me.
He flips it open, quickly figuring out the old-school buttons and punching keys.
“I couldn’t find you.” He says it quietly, brow furrowed in concentration, but his voice is gruff.
