“Ash is team Sinner!” Sinner called.
He shocked her to the core then—with his grin.
Not a twitch of his lips that was almost a smile. Not a small smile. A full-blown sinful grin.
In quick steps, he crossed to the pool and leapt in. His splash sent a wave over everyone in the pool and hit her too. She’d barely blinked away the drops in her eyes before he surged out of the water like a marine animal.
He wrapped his fingers around her wrist and dragged her in with him.
He caught her in his arms and took her under the surface with him. She came up for air, laughing and sputtering.
Angelo’s arms flexed around her once, and he gave her a look that promised more play of the steamy variety later. When he bobbed away from her to get into volleyball formation, she admired the carved muscles of his back.
The game wound up, and around them sounded shouts and splashes and shameless cheating. Ellory floated to the back line where she knew from terrible gym classes that the balls rarely landed.
Elin drifted to the back with her. Her eyes gleamed with amusement. “Is this where all the unathletic dorks hide?”
“You know it.”
“Then this is where I belong.”
They shared a laugh. The longer Ellory watched the game, the more she realized the team was ruthless in everything they did. Con spiked the ball right at Angelo over the net stretchedacross the pool, and Angelo leaped up, arm extended to slam it back over.
A little thrill ran through her at the sight of his athleticism. And to think she once thought he probably had body odor.
“Ash doesn’t usually participate. He’s a great player,” Elin said.
Ellory blinked at her.
“We never see him smile much either. But…I’m pretty sure I know why he’s smiling so often now.” She gave Ellory a pointed look.
Her heart fluttered, too quick. She wanted to be the reason that smile appeared more often.
After two games, Con called it, saying it was late and they should all get some shut-eye.
When they all climbed out of the pool, Ellory was still looking around for a towel when one settled over her shoulders. She didn’t need to turn to know Angelo had placed it there.
His dark eyes glinted with wicked amusement. “You didn’t play very much.”
She gathered the towel between her breasts, heat spreading through her despite the cool air. “I guess that means I don’t get a participation award.”
She closed the distance between them, his body heat spilling over her skin like a quiet promise.
Tipping her head back, she dived deep into his eyes. “I say you do.”
ELEVEN
Ash was wound tight enough to snap.
His bedroom door barely clicked shut before he captured Ellory’s mouth. Her sweet lips were warm while her body, still damp from the pool, was cool against his.
Every brush of her mouth against his built pressure beneath his skin, the slick glide of tongues making his pulse thunder. His body answered—hips rocking, chest rising hard. A low sound escaped him when she rubbed against him in return.
This wasn’t something that ended tonight.
Even if reality crashed and burned around them, and she left the base tomorrow, there were ways to bridge the distance. Ways to keep seeing each other. Ways to make this—whatever this was—last longer than a stolen bunch of hours.
He dragged his mouth from hers abruptly, breath ragged. One look at the desire on her beautiful face had him groaning. And Christ, she was wearing his T-shirt.
