“What are you waiting for?” a smooth, deep voice drifts from somewhere in the shadows. I’m so busted and in nothing but a towel. Fuck.
Chapter 23
Maya
My heart skids to a halt and my breath leaves my body. The sound of his voice sends shock waves straight to my groin. It doesn’t matter how pissed off he makes me, there’s always a part of me that comes alive when he’s around. Traitorous cunt.
Nick is sitting slack in the chair with a glass of bourbon. He’s still wearing the black suit pants and white shirt he had on in the club, but the shirt is now unbuttoned showing off his ripped abs. He looks simply edible.
I didn’t check the covered sitting area on the other side of the jacuzzi because it was dark and it never occurred to me that someone would be sitting in there. I look up, letting my eyes adjust to the light.
If he’s here, it must be Ethan in the room with Sasha. That explains why he never checked on me tonight. I shouldn’t be relieved that it’s not Nick in there with her, but I am.
However, that relief is short-lived and it sinks in that I’m faced with a whole new problem. I’m completely underdressed, and he’s never just let me walk away.
“I thought you said you didn’t have a bathing suit?” he taunts.
“I don’t.” Panic slips into my veins. I wrap my arms around myself, ensuring my towel isn’t going anywhere.
“Let me guess, you’re not wearing panties underthateither, are you?” His stare heats my insides up—the same stare he gave me in the club when I told him I wasn’t wearing any panties.
“No.” I gulp. “I didn’t know anyone was awake, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you.” Part of me wants to go back to bed, the rest of me is glued to this spot.
“You don’t bother me, cupcake. Quite the contrary actually. What bothers me is how I can’t get the girl I dredged out of the river out of my head.” He swirls the amber liquid in his glass.
“What?” He can’t get me out of his head? I can’t tell if he means that in a good way or bad way. I hope it’s not bad.
“You heard me. Don’t make me repeat myself.” He takes a sip of his bourbon. “Would you like to have a drink with me in the hot tub?”
“I don’t know. I think I might just go to bed.” If I get in the hot tub with him, I know I’ll end up being exposed in more ways than one.
He always seems to pull my emotions from me. Emotions that I’ve fought for years to suppress. He makes me face myself even more than my therapist does and I’m not sure I’m prepared to do that naked.
“I promise to be a good boy and keep my hands to myself.” He holds his hands up in surrender.
“Can I have a margarita? I liked those.” I succumb to my fate. I might as well have something to knock the edge off.
“You can. I’ll go inside and get out of this suit and grab our drinks, and you can get in the water without prying eyes.” He reaches over and hits a button, turning the bubbles on. “Deal?”
“Deal.” Iwatch him as he goes inside, shuts the door, and closes the shades. He was telling the truth, he isn’t watching me.
Stepping in the tub, I take a seat on the side to adjust to the temp. Nick will be out soon, so unless I want him to see me naked, I better just get in. The bubbles rolling through the tub distort any exposed flesh.
When Nick comes back outside, he’s carrying a pitcher, two glasses, and a small basket. Um, ok, what is this? His towel is wrapped around his waist instead of casually thrown over his arm or shoulder like I’d expect.
“I brought some refreshments.” He hands me a glass of ice with a salted rim. I’m going to need an ice bucket if he’s naked under there.
“Thanks. Where’s your swimsuit?” It’s tied so low, it would be below the line of a swimsuit if he were wearing one.
“Swimsuits are optional, remember?” I swallow hard at his grin. I thought he was only talking about that when it pertained to women. “Unless you want to see me naked, I suggest you turn around, but I can assure you, it won’t bother me to take this towel off with you watching.” His tan, ripped muscles seem to shine under the low deck lighting.
Heat rises to my face that has nothing to do the hot tub. I turn around to give him some privacy, but since the curtains are closed, the light causes his reflection to appear in the glass.Oh god. Being naked with a man who looks like him can’t be real.
Except for it is. I inhale a shaky breath.
“Do you want to talk about what happened in the club?”
Andthe shoe drops. I wasn’t hoping he wouldn’t bring that up right now. “Not really.” I turn around to face him in the tub.
