Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 142764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“I know where you sleep,” she mutters under her breath.
“Are you threatening me?” Seb taunts.
Jesus, these two are like fire and gasoline.
Bel swims around me in a circle and lets out a relaxed sigh. "The water is so warm. Nothing else could make this night better unless maybe those two stopped their bickering."
"It’s called foreplay, and that’s why we do this in the summer. I don't want to freeze my balls off by doing it during recruiting season in the fall and winter. I’m an asshole, but even I have things I won’t do."
She leans in and licks a drop of water off my cheek. "We should come out here again, but next time alone.”
Lee splashes us both. "I’m warning you now that if you two start fucking, I'm going to sit here and watch. I have zero shame."
“I wouldn’t expect anything less, but if you look at Bel, I’ll have to remove your eyes from their sockets. The only one who gets to see her naked is me.”
“Whatever…” He grins.
There’s a shout, followed by a splash signifying that at least one of the new guys has enough balls to jump. Once the first one goes, it doesn’t take long for the remainder to follow. I count each splash in my head while I tread water.
Finally, all eight make it down, and Aries follows with a singsong bellow and launches far out off the cliff. We all shift out of the way so he doesn't land on us. Fucker.
Bel clutches onto my shoulders, using me to hold herself up and out of the water. "Have you ever checked behind the waterfall?"
I shake my head. "Check for what?"
She shrugs, the water sloshing. My gaze strays down to her T-shirt that has molded against her shoulders and chest. "I don't know. Treasure, fairies, witches. Who knows what could be back there."
The look of excitement and mischief in her gaze is intoxicating. I love seeing her like this, the happiness radiating out of her.
I snort. "If anything is back there, it's probably rocks."
She swims away from me, going in the absolute wrong direction. I wait a second, then snag her ankle and drag her back, letting my hand slide up her bare leg to the hem of her shorts. She yelps, and I clutch her core in my hand.
"Oh sorry, I slipped."
“Sure you did.” She giggles.
I release her and snag her glasses out of my robe pocket, then slide them onto her face gently. Water droplets spot the lenses but she swipes them off.
Then, with another grin, she swims off in the direction of the waterfall, leaving me to follow. Catching a glimpse of her creamy inner thigh, I can't help it. I give chase, swimming after her. There’s a rocky ledge ahead, and I warn her.
"Be careful. It's not as deep right there, and the rocks make it super slippery.”
“Okay, Dad.” She snorts. “Why’re you so worried?”
Like a disobedient brat, she barely listens to my warning and climbs up onto the small outcrop of rocks, her feet slipping while she tries to gain footing. My heart thunders in my chest. Fuck, she’s going to give me high blood pressure with her damn antics. She puts her hand through the rush of the falls. Water cascades over her arm in a fan as she places it through the wall of water.
With a grin, she ducks under the spray and disappears.
“Bel! I swear to god. You need to wait for me.” I growl. There might be a fucking bear or something in there. I don't know.
I scramble up the rocks and chase her. The small chamber beyond the falls is cool, and the hush of the steaming water echoes all around us. It's empty, but there is enough space to lay flat on your back. Puddles pool around the floor, and I crawl over to her and take the spot beside her.
"Do that again, and I’m going to spank your ass.”
She doesn’t appear fazed by my response, and that’s fine. Once we get home, I’ll teach her a lesson about patience and safety.
“Joke’s on you. I like your spankings.” She sticks her tongue out at me, and I'm tempted to bite it.
“No treasure, huh?”
She shakes her head, grinning. "No fairies or witches either. But that's okay. This is cool enough."
I pull her in to rest her head against the crook of my shoulder. "Come here, let me keep you warm."
She settles against my chest with a heavy sigh. "This is magic."
Light flickers beyond the curtain of the falls where Aries is no doubt setting up more lanterns now that everyone has jumped. We brought beer, food, and music as well. Not a soul will hear us this far out. It’s a celebration after all. The recruits are officially members. I lean over and kiss Bel gently, tasting the river water on her lips. I’ll never get over the fact that she is mine. That we’re free, that I’m free.