XLIV
Hazel Winters
B efore I even open my eyes, I can tell something has changed. It’s just a feeling floating around the room that has me immediately alert. I climb out of bed and stuff my feet into my cosy, lilac slippers before heading downstairs to find the guys.
My first warning was the fact they weren’t still with me when I woke up.
I locate them sitting in the living room, grave looks on each of their faces. I try to hover by the doorway but Atlas beckons me inside as soon as he spots me.
“Morning, Spitfire,” Dawson smiles at me, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Hey,” I greet him softly. Theo pulls me into his lap and wraps his arms around me, resting his chin on the top of my head whilst Andros moves my feet to rest on his thighs. I wriggle against Theo as I get comfortable, making him groan as I brush against his growing, suit-covered dick.
“We need to discuss something, Principessa,” Atlas commands my attention, his voice sombre. I frown at him and Theo tightens his arms around me in comfort. I open my mouth to say something but am interrupted by the door opening.
“Andieeeeeee!” Alessia’s excited voice filters into the room as she runs in and jumps on her brother. I manage to move my legs in time, but he still winces as she lands on him.
“Careful, Alessia,” Ginevra scolds her daughter as she joins us. She smiles at my position on Theo’s lap before sliding into a seat next to Atlas.
Alessia slides off Andros and grabs my hand, forcing Theo to release me. She drags me out of the room and I hear Atlas call out to me but I brush it off. Although it’s killing me not knowing what they want to discuss, Alessia is too cute to ignore.
She finds the sandpit, which is nestled deep in the gardens from the villa. She dives down onto it, her knees immediately becoming covered in sand. I giggle as she grabs a handful and throws it up in the air.
She beckons me to come sit next to her and we play with buckets of sand for around thirty minutes before Ginevra calls for them to leave. I say goodbye to them both, before turning to Andros and Dawson.
“Where’s Atlas?” I ask with a frown.
“They’ve gone out,” Dawson answers vaguely. My frown deepens.
“Are you going to tell me what you wanted to say earlier?”
“Not without Atlas,” Andros mutters. I clench my fists at my sides, anger mingling with anxiety within my body.
“Fine,” I say through gritted teeth and push past them, heading up to my room. I change into a black bikini and brush the rest of the sand off my body before going downstairs again.
Heading outside, I walk past the kitchen and ignore both Dawson and Andros's longing stares as they watch me.
“Hazel,” Andros calls out to me but I whip my head around to look at them with a fake smile.
“It’s all good.”
I grab a towel and spread it on a sunbed, quickly covering myself in suncream before lying down.
After about ten minutes of trying to read my book, I give up and slam it shut. Realistically, I'm too restless about being kept in the dark by my men to concentrate on fiction right now.
I stand up and dive into the pool, letting the cold water soothe my tanning skin. The chlorine burns my eyes, reminding me to keep them shut as I swim the length of the pool.
Spinning myself around at the end of the pool, I start to swim to the other side. I manage about one and a half laps before my body is yanked out of the water, facing me with a panicked looking Dawson.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" He rages at me, his eyes burning into mine.
These men, honestly.
Did Atlas not tell them I can hold my breath for a long time?
"Fucking swimming, what does it look like?" I retort, feeling anger bubble up in my veins.
"You are going to drown if you swim like that."
"Try me," I smirk, pulling myself out of his grip but it tightens, pulling me back to face him. I look up at him, ignoring the way his soaked brown hair drips water onto his chiselled abs.
"Is Atlas coming home?" I ask.
"No," he grits his teeth. I feel his anger radiating off him and fight the urge to squeeze my legs together.
God, he looks hot when he's angry.
"Are you going to tell me what's going on?" I poke his chest, making him tighten his jaw.
"I can't."
"Then I don't want to speak to you," I glare up at him, yanking my arm out of his grasp. He lets me go and I swim under water again, continuing with my challenge to see how long I last.
He doesn't disturb me and I don't dare look into the kitchen as I already know I would be met with disapproving glares.
After swimming three laps underwater, I climb out of the pool. I try to hide the fact I am gasping for air, already feeling burning eyes on me.
Sitting back on the sunbed, I dry myself, before deciding to really piss them off.
I slowly undo my bikini top, letting my tits spring free from the material.
Sue me for wanting an even tan.
I grab the bottle of suncream and begin dripping it out of the bottle and onto my breasts, rubbing it in slowly and carefully.
I check to see if my plan has worked and surely enough Andros and Dawson are standing in the kitchen window, jaws tight and fists clenched as they watch me.
I fight the urge to smile, turning my attention to the rest of my body.
Once I am lathered up again, I lay back on the bed and close my eyes, letting myself fall asleep under the hot sun.
The peacefulness of my subconscious doesn't last long when I am suddenly shaken awake by an angry looking Theo.
"What are you doing, Hazel?" He scowls down at me, earning himself a scowl back.
"Answering another Italian man's stupid question, what about you?" I raise my eyebrow at him sarcastically.
"Sit up," he demands, making me shuffle to be more comfortable lying down.
"I'm serious, Hazel. Sit the fuck up," he orders again but I ignore him, putting my earphones in my ear.
I hear him mumble something before standing up and storming away, leaving me to sunbathe my tits.
Oh shit.
I look down at them to see my skin becoming inflamed and angry red. The burning pain suddenly starts, making me hiss.
Fuck this.
I keep my earphones in as I walk inside, grabbing a bottle of after sun from the kitchen island. I pause for a second when I see Atlas talking on his phone in Italian as he sits on the sofa, one hand on the back of it.
Finally, I can get some answers.
Strolling to the armchair opposite the sofa, I slump down in it, catching his eye contact. I smirk at him as he continues speaking. His eyes drop to my tits and I watch as his eyes widen slightly before returning to his natural, cold state.
Game time.
Popping off the lid, I pour some after sun in my hand, rubbing it in slowly. I bite my lip as the initial burn turns into a soothing comfort on my angry skin. He keeps his eyes pinned on me as I continue to work it into my skin, making sure each part is covered.
After a while of listening to the other person on the phone, he dismisses them and hangs up, immediately glaring at me.
"This wouldn't have happened if you kept your bikini top on," he chastises me, his voice still thick with his Italian accent.
"Bite me," I glare back.
"Andros, go get her a t-shirt to wear," Atlas commands him without taking his eyes off me.
"Fuck that. These are sore. I'm not putting anything on them," I raise my eyebrow, deliberately wanting to challenge him.
"Hazel," he growls, his voice turning low.
I put the lid back on the moisturiser and place it on the table before sitting back in my chair, tits fully on show.
Dawson comes to sit on the sofa, looking anxiously between Atlas and I. I roll my eyes, looking at my nails in boredom.
I really need to get my nails done again.
Theo follows, sitting on the other side of Atlas. He leans back against the back of the sofa, amusement on his face at my behaviour.
We sit in silence as we wait for Andros who soon returns with a t-shirt. I take it from him, putting it behind my head as a pillow. He shakes his head and goes to sit on the sofa.
Atlas stares at me, livid as I defy his orders.
I'm definitely not the type of girl to be bossed around.
"Speak," I beckon with my hand, making him grit his teeth.
"Fucking hell, Hazel," Theo scoffs, knowing I'm playing with fire.
I purse my lips, not seeming affected by the four intimidating, built men sitting in front of me.
"You don't need to know," Atlas dismisses me, pulling his phone out of his pocket.
"You had something to tell me and now you’re saying I don’t need to know?" I ask, tilting my head to the side as I narrow my eyes.
"We're dealing with it," he answers in a bored manner, typing nonchalantly on his phone.
"That's not good enough for me. You wanted to tell me something so spill it," I shrug my shoulders. He looks up at me, narrowing his eyes at me.
The rest of the room disappears as I stare into his eyes, waiting for his answer. I watch as he ponders whether to tell me before placing his phone on the table and standing up.
He clears his throat before stalking over to me, pausing at full height as I sit in front of him.
His covered crotch lines up with my face and I fight the urge to lick my lips at the thought of angry sex right now.
"You gotta go," he stares down at me, emotionless.
Those three words split my heart apart.