Still nothing.
Gage rolled his eyes. “Come here,” he teased. “I’ve always wanted to do sexy stuff in a pool.”
Water shifted closer.
Arms slid around his waist from behind, but the touch didn’t have the perfect balance of strength and care that made him feel loved and possessed at the same time.
He knew it was wrong immediately.
It wasn’t Scar. The man in the pool wasn’t his.
There weren’t enough cords in the forearms or strength in the grip. The hands were too smooth, too eager, not calloused from years of shooting guns.
The scent that’d been masked by chlorine hit him next.
Adrian.
Gage shoved against the bare chest that was too hairy, the contact so unpleasant it made his skin crawl.
“What the heck are you doing, Adrian?” he snapped. “Have you lost your mind?”
Adrian didn’t answer. Instead, he locked his arms around him tighter, yanking Gage back into him.
They dipped under for a moment, water closing over him.
Gage fought free, but Adrian kept grabbing for him, dragging them down a second time.
Panic tried to spark, but he cut it off.
He kicked out, slamming his heel into Adrian’s stomach, and used the momentum to twist away. He surged forward, swimming fast toward the edge.
He hauled himself out of the pool and hurried to where he’d left his cane and phone.
His bare foot clipped something, and he went down hard on his right shoulder, knocking the breath out of him.
He felt around and realized he’d hit a chair that shouldn’t’ve been there.
Adrian had rearranged things purposefully.
Gage pushed up onto his palms and listened.
Adrian’s wet feet were slapping against the ceramic tiles a few feet away, moving in his direction.
“You got me fired,” he said. His voice sounded strange…unstable. “Why would you do that? I helped you. I taught you to live better. And you just go to him.”
Gage stood, walking slower with his hands outstretched, searching for the chair where he’d left his things.
The lounger was there, but his cane and phone were gone.
He was kicking himself for taking his watch off, if he hadn’t, he could’ve used the emergency alert.
He would never make that mistake again.
Adrian rushed up behind him and slammed into his back with enough force to make him stagger forward.
Gage used the energy instead of fighting it.
He rotated, caught Adrian’s arm, and spun him around. His hands found skin, shoulder, then wrist. He twisted, stole Adrian’s balance, and slammed him to the floor in one clean maneuver.
