Chapter 19
THEO
It’s official, Sienna is trying to kill me. The murder weapon? The blue-striped string bikini hugging her hips and the curves of her perky breasts.
“Oh fuck,” Alex says on a breath from my right.
“I will fucking kill you,” I say to him through clenched teeth, not able to take my eyes off Sienna.
“Wasn’t talking ’bout your girl, bro. Relax,” he whispers back.
I can only assume he was talking about Beth, given she is the textbook definition of his type, but I can’t be bothered to look anywhere other than Sienna’s direction as she slowly descends the steps of the back porch.
She’s moving in real time, but my mind must be playing tricks on me because I swear she’s moving in slow motion.
When she reaches the bottom of the steps, the warm summer breeze blows her way.
It picks her curly dark hair off her shoulders, bringing my attention from her body to her face.
Something is almost flirtatious about her sly smile that makes me wonder if she chose this bikini specifically because it’s my favorite color.
Erasing the thought from my mind, I remind myself that we are only friends.
Friends don’t get irritated when other friends receive job offers.
The thought floats through my mind against my will.
It’s true, I wasn’t exactly ecstatic when Sienna told me she received the job offer earlier.
We’re only a week into our vacation, and I can’t reasonably ask her to stay another week if she has a new job to prep for.
Even if it does lessen my chances of getting a job myself.
Staring at her as she walks toward me, I get an idea. I’d hate for our agreement to be the only reason she stays if she accepts the job offer. If I can convince her how much fun we can have on this trip, maybe she’ll decide to stay longer. Not because she feels obligated, but because she wants to.
My idea excites me as I let my eyes trail down her slender, toned frame.
The dark and light blue stripes of her bikini perfectly complement the light brown of her skin.
She’s covered in gold accents from her earrings and the layered necklaces, down to the thin anklet she wears.
The way her jewelry and soft, glowing skin hit the sunlight, I feel like a lost pirate at sea hearing a siren’s call.
I know that answering the call is only going to end in my demise, but I’m doing it anyway.
Shamelessly, as she gets closer, I take full advantage of her proximity and continue to blanket her body with my eyes.
My eyes roam the expanse of her thin neck, wondering what she would taste like if I trailed my tongue from her collarbone to her ear.
My eyes scan even farther down to her breasts, perky from afar, and even bigger up close.
Her nipples are noticeably hard under the thin fabric covering them despite the warm weather outside.
Her bikini top has me resisting the urge to reach out my hand to cup one breast and pinch her nipple through the fabric until she begs me to rip it off her.
I keep my hands clasped in front of me, hoping to hide the growing erection in my swim trunks.
Thank God I had the foresight to wear underwear underneath them today, anticipating this.
The guys and I took a more modest approach by wearing our tie-dyed shirts to avoid making the women uncomfortable.
I guess the women had a different idea, but I’m certainly not complaining.
I’m not the only one with wandering eyes as I notice Sienna’s gaze is locked on the small sliver of skin showing just above my swim trunks.
She still has the original shirt I tie-dyed, leaving me with her smaller one that fits like a crop top.
I’ve never been happier to have free access to my brother’s gym than I am today.
“You guys ready to get your asses kicked?” Beth says, pulling my attention from Sienna. Though my eyes are still glued to her, only slightly turning my head toward Beth to acknowledge she’s spoken.
Sienna and Beth burst out laughing, and I realize that neither Alex nor I has said a word, and I’m sure it’s been longer than what would be socially acceptable for a response.
Beth links her arm in Sienna’s, and they head toward the center of the water balloon field, surveying how many water balloons we’ve set up.
Spoiler, it’s a shit ton. When they walk away, I can’t help but watch Sienna’s hips move with each step.
Perky tits and ass must mean she’s either an angel or was sent by the devil to destroy me.
I don’t think I have a mind to care about which one it is right now if it means getting my hands and lips on that soft, glowy, tanned skin of hers.
“You’re so fucked.” I turn to Alex, who looks at me with one of those smug grins he loves so much.
I look from the women to my brother, and plaster on my own smug grin. “Bet you I’m not the only one who’s fucked.” His nostrils flare in response, and he walks away. I’d put money on the fact that he’s going to be extra Alex today, just to show off for Beth.
I gather myself before joining the others in the middle of the yard, mentally preparing for being around Sienna in this temptation-filled state today.
“Nice of you to join us, Theo,” Roman says. I throw a middle finger his way in response. I’ve taken up a spot next to Sienna, and as the breeze blows again, her strawberry summer scent wafts my way. I curse myself for taking such a deep inhale.
What is this woman doing to me?
“The only rule we have is anything above the neck is off-limits,” Leo explains, pointedly looking at me.
I roll my eyes. “That was one time when I was twelve. Give me a break.”
Beth starts a conversation with Leo and Roman about the strategy for their team.
As they’re talking, Sienna leans into my side, whispering, “I’m surprised to see you wearing the shirt.
But I must admit, brown is a good color for you.
” Looking up at me, she smiles, and I swear I heard a hint of an innuendo in her tone.
Unable to help myself, I lean in to whisper in her ear, “And blue is a perfect color on you, Angel. But I must admit, that bikini would look better on the floor.” I end my sentence by squeezing her hip lightly, allowing my thumb to travel beneath the string on her bikini bottoms. Her chest begins to rise and fall at a rapid pace from my touch.
My erection threatens to spring to life again at the sight.
The high-pitched ring of a whistle yanks Sienna and me from our bubble, and the air around me chills from our lack of proximity as she pulls away.
“Fuck, I always forget he has that,” Alex says, startled.
“Let’s play! Get ready to lose, fuckers,” Leo booms as he and Roman rush to their side of the yard. Alex and I follow, grabbing our bins and running to our side of the yard, tucking behind our barricade.
Dropping our bins, I realize Sienna isn’t with us.
One look back, and I see she’s frozen in the middle of the yard, along with Beth.
Muscle memory kicked in for the rest of us, but I realize now that we forgot to explain the initial rush to the two of them.
Although they did have the right mind to grab a water balloon each.
I laugh as they stand in the middle of the field, as if they are in an old western duel.
They stare each other down, but neither one of them has thrown the first balloon.
“Go get your girl. I’ll cover you,” Alex says.
I do my best to ignore the warmth spreading in my chest at the thought of Sienna being “my girl” as I run to the center of the yard. Sweeping Sienna off her feet, literally, I throw her over my shoulder. She squeals, and I laugh as I feel the break of a water balloon on my back.
Turning around to face Beth, now balloon-less, I say, “You might want to run. I wouldn’t want you left out in the open when Alex has perfect aim.
” Her eyes go wide for a second, and she books it to her side of the yard when a balloon breaks at her feet.
Leo and Roman are already laughing behind their barricade when she joins them.
Setting Sienna down, we crouch behind our barricade, and she playfully slaps Alex and me on the arm.
“What’s that for?” I ask as Alex and I continue to laugh.
“You guys didn’t tell me you were just going to take off!”
“I’m very sorry.” I gently place my hand on the side of her neck, cupping her jaw. “I’ll be sure to remind you of that next time.” I wink at her before handing her another water balloon.
I’m not thinking when I say the words, but I don’t regret them. I haven’t laughed this hard in a while, and it’s nice to see my brothers having so much fun with Sienna and Beth around. Warmth overcomes me at the thought of Sienna joining us next summer.
It’s just the heat. You couldn’t possibly have real feelings for this woman.
As I say the words in my head, I watch Sienna enthusiastically listen to Alex as he explains the strategy we use every year to beat the other team, and I know I’m nothing but a liar.