Page 49 of Alpha Marked

Bianca stood. "There's a patio with a hot tub and pool. We should go swim."

River wasn't up for swimming, but a soak would be glorious. She nodded.

"I'll have to borrow a swimsuit," said Bianca.

"No need to borrow. Take one. I can't imagine a world where I'd need all five."

Bianca ran to the rack without being told twice, yanked a gold bikini off the hook, and looked at River expectantly.

"Go for it."

The thing would barely cover Bianca's curvy assets, and River couldn't wait to see Zeke's reaction.

Bianca squealed and tossed off her maxi dress.

River, too, went to the rack and thumbed through the suits. She settled on the least revealing one: a black halter one-piece with cut-out sides.

Several minutes later, she and Bianca emerged from the bedroom with towels slung over their shoulders and headed to the front room. The aromas of the men who had stayed all day permeated the spacious suite. She caught Ares' sultry scent, and that somehow disappointed her.

They emerged into the front room, and the men glanced over from a football game they'd been watching. Theo choked on his beer and spat it out on the floor before averting his eyes away. Lachlan's cheeks flushed and he too turned away, but it was Zeke's reaction River found most amusing. Bianca gave him a huge smile and ran to him, kissing him hard. Zeke kissed her back. Pulling her arms from around his neck, he wrapped the towel around her.

"Bianca! What are you doing?" he demanded.

Bianca's face fell. "River and I are going swimming."

Zeke glanced at River and then away. "You… you can't come out here dressed or not dressed, I should say."

Bianca frowned. "You don't like my suit?"

Zeke growled and looked over his shoulder at Theo and Lachlan who studied a painting on the wall with particular interest.

"I fricking love the suit but…"

"But what?"

"But you should not be out amongst other males wearing practically nothing," came a booming voice behind them.

River swung around to find Ares standing with Santiago and Drew in the doorway. Both of whom stared pointedly at their shoes.

Ares' heated gaze raked over River's body, and she wrapped her own towel around herself, though every ounce of her wanted him to look at her. To see her. To want her.

What? Where the hell had that come from?

Ares growled as his eyes stayed on River, and the four bodyguards, minus Zeke, walked straight out of the suite.

Ares didn't move. He didn't make another sound. He simply watched River, his eyes hungry. His impeccably tailored suit fit his frame meticulously. His dark waves had been slicked back, and his jaw sported a few days of stubble, which had been groomed to fit the hard angles of his face. She wondered if he did it or had someone else do it. He was the perfect mix of hot male model and bad boy biker.

Suddenly, she didn't want to soak in the hot tub with Bianca. She wanted to soak in the hot tub with Ares. To see those rippling, tanned muscles and feel his hands grab her once again.

Nope! Stop. Don't go there.

River's arousal grew so fast she wasn't sure if she'd been heading for the hot tub or if she'd already been in it.

"Did… your meetings go well?" she asked, trying to slice through the tension.

Ares nodded but still didn't speak.

"You two go out on the patio," said Zeke. "I'll order everyone some food. Then we can have dinner together." He pecked Bianca on the cheek and moved her toward the sliding doors.