Page 69 of PS: I Hate You
“You dick bag!” I screech, loud enough to wake the rest of the bungalow guests. “I’m going to kill you!”
“I’m terrified,” he says in a flat tone, even as he continues to grin.
My soggy cardigan will only hold me back, so I shrug out of it, leaving the sad material drifting in the pool behind me like the leavings of a shipwreck. Then I lunge forward, not sure what my plan is other than revenge.
Dom chuckles and moves to dodge my assault. My fingers slip off the tight, warm skin of his hip.
“Gotta be faster than that,” he taunts.
I growl and fake pounce. He believes my bluff, pushing off to the side. That’s when I go for him. I manage to hook an arm around his neck and wrap my legs around his waist. Once I’ve fully octopused myself around his body, I latch my fingers on to Dom’s nipple, pinching just hard enough for him to understand my threat. Panting, I lock his eyes with mine.
“Beg for forgiveness or prepare to fly home tomorrow with a bruised nipple.”
Only when I pause for his response do I realize the position I’ve placed myself in. Soaking wet and plastered to Dom’s hard body. My core, covered only by a soaked set of cotton sleep shorts, hovers inches from his package.
And a tank top that used to be white is now so see-through, Dom could sketch a portrait of my areolas.
“I—”
Whatever apology he was about to say comes too late. I attack out of self-preservation, pinching and twisting hard.
I expect a high-pitched yelp or a ripe curse.
Instead, Dom lets out a deep groan.
We stare at each other, eyes wide.
Looks like Dominic Perry just discovered a new kink.
How inconvenient.
I release my hold and shove away from him, water swirling around us as I retreat. Dom lifts a hand to rub his pec, and it takes everything in me not to watch the movement. Instead, I paddle until I find my water-logged cardigan, and drag it behind me as I swim toward the stairs in the shallow end. It feels like half the pool clings to my clothes when I climb into the cool night air. If I’d known I was going for a swim, I would’ve brought a towel.
“Maddie.” Dom’s voice dares me to leave without acknowledging him. Gritting my teeth, I turn to face the man I’ve decided to be friends with. For my brother’s sake.
He stares up at me, hand still on his chest, obviously unsure what to say next.
And damn me, I take pity on him. Because there’s something about seeing Dom step away from his must-be-responsible-at-all-times demeanor in an effort to be playful that softens my defenses. That has me wanting to let him know it’s okay to joke and be silly and not be serious about every decision you make.
“You better hope I don’t dump my drink on your crotch tomorrow,” I warn, scrunching my face into a terrifying scowl. “Would make for a hell of an uncomfortable flight. And the perfect revenge.”
His smile unfurls slowly, all the more beautiful for the reluctance.
“Sorry I got you wet,” he taunts.
If only he knew.
Chapter
Twenty
“We apologize for the delay as we wait for your plane to arrive.”
A few people around me groan, but I merely sigh at the unfortunate but inevitable shit storm that is air travel. Hopefully, I can still catch my connecting flight once we make it to Dallas. Originally, I had a good three hours to meander my way through the Dallas airport to my gate. We’ll see how much of that remains. This travel hiccup convinces me I was right to insist on combining the next two states into one trip, driving between them. It’s the logical decision.
When we were comparing our schedules and researching the weather for the four remaining destinations, Dom and I realized the best time to meet again would be the spring. Next year.
Half a year without any new words from my brother. The only way I could stomach the wait was the idea of getting a double dose.