Foolish Thinking
Calista
I’ve never been to the pool before, and I’m both excited and nervous to be standing with Lucas just inside the pool house.
Our bodies glisten with the steam from the shower, the mint fragrance of his skin like a breath of fresh air. It cuts through the steam, and I can’t help myself from rubbing my palms against his. He keeps our fingers tightly together.
“You look like you want to go for a dip,” Lucas murmurs, kissing my cheek. It’s as if he can’t keep his lips away from me, brushing them to new parts of my skin every few seconds like he wants to kiss every inch of me. I’m nearly certain he already has.
“We don’t have swimsuits.” I glance at him in my periphery, gauging his reaction.
I know it’s not a real excuse, considering how secluded the pool is with its six-foot cinderblock wall covered in vines around it.
It’s intended to be private. Even the groundskeepers know they can only come into this location during a specific time.
“We don’t need swimsuits, Lis. It’ll be fun.” Lucas nudges me forward, getting me to walk with him toward the glass door.
“I can’t swim,” I admit, twisting my lips to the side. “The last time I was in water, I almost drowned, remember?” The moment the comment leaves my lips, it steals the light from Lucas’s eyes for a second. I wish I hadn’t brought up the yacht party.
“I won’t let you go. We can stay in the shallow end if you want. Or…there’s always the hot tub.” He lifts and drops his eyebrows, choosing not to focus on what I went through.
And I’m glad for it, because that’s the last thing I want on my mind.
“If you hate it, we can do something else. I just—you’re so sexy.
So beautiful. I’ll savor every second of this.
” Lucas slides his hand around my waist and pulls me closer until he lifts me off my feet once more, carrying me from the pool house and into the bright sun shining over the glittering crystal-clear pool water.
He kisses my neck a dozen times, and I giggle and laugh when he spins me around. Without warning, he jumps into the pool and cool water engulfs me, but I don’t go under.
My panic melts away when my brain realizes Lucas wasn’t lying. He’s not letting me go even though I know I could touch the bottom.
“See? I got you, Lis. Just relax. Enjoy it.” Lucas spins me around again, and I spot a figure sitting on a lounge chair under the canopy of a large tree.
My eyes adjust to the sunlight to finally recognize Jensen.
He lies with his arms over his head, intently watching us.
Flutters tickle my stomach, and I can’t stop myself from smiling.
I know he loves what he sees, because I catch the scent of his lust from here.
So does Lucas.
His arms tighten around me, and he spins around again, facing his brother. I swivel to get a better view. I don’t want to take my eyes off him. I imagine him pulling off his shirt, exposing his muscular body, and joining us.
I sure know how to fantasize.
“Nolan is looking for you. He said he thought you were with Lucas, and I knew that my baby brother would probably bring you here.” Jensen sits up and strolls toward the edge of the pool. “I’m glad I volunteered to come check. The view is spectacular.”
A smile stretches across my mouth, tightening my cheeks until they ache. “Mine could be better. Can’t you tell this is a no-clothes zone?”
Lucas chuckles in my ear, not saying anything as I dominate the conversation with Jensen.
It’s so nice that they’re not at each other’s throats.
Alphas in the city choose not to share. At least most of them.
They tend to keep their packs heavy with betas since they don’t like competition.
But they also don’t have the same kind of power as packs elsewhere.
Those packs are stronger because of how many alphas they have, and they know how to spread out power properly.
“I guess I could fix that. If you insist.” Jensen grabs the bottom of his T-shirt and slowly begins to tug it up, giving me a show of his abs.
“I do insist—”
The squeak of the gate opening stops Jensen from continuing, and Lucas groans in my ear. I don’t even have to see Nolan to know he’s found us.
“Jensen, you were supposed to get them, not join them. We have shit to do. The lieutenant is waiting. If we don’t act now, they’re going to think we don’t give a shit.” Nolan crosses his arms, flicking his gaze from Jensen to my naked body in Lucas’s arms.
He tightens his jaw but doesn’t look away.
“You’re telling me that you would’ve dragged them out? Don’t bullshit me. I can see you want to join the party as well, brother.” Jensen squares off, puffing out his chest a bit.
The alpha hormones are going to start raging with me right in the middle. And damn, do I want it right now. It’s been a while since the three of them have been with me in one place.
“No, but I would have reasoned with her to get her to come with me. This is why I’m the leader.
” Nolan turns his gaze to me, ignoring the fact that his comment pissed Jensen off.
“Cali, I got word from the police department, and they would like you to go down and make a statement. This will ensure that Pack Loomis is handled appropriately. This isn’t their first attempt at trying to override their alpha’s orders.
They think he’s too old to continue, and they want to take over. ”
I don’t respond, my mind whirling. I wanted to forget about them and move on. This will only drag things out. Why can’t the police just do their job without me? There were plenty of other witnesses. I’m sure the yacht even had cameras.
“We’ll all go together, Lis. Would that make things easier?
” Lucas touches my chin, getting me to look at him.
He knows that I’m more likely to listen to him, considering I’m still running on the high of our pleasure.
It’s in my nature to look to him in this moment, even if we aren’t bonded and his brothers are right here too.
“Nothing will make this easier. Why can’t we just move on?
” My words come out hoarse as tears threaten to splash my cheeks.
But I won’t cry. My body won’t betray me right now.
I’m stronger than that. Just because I’m an omega doesn’t mean I’m not capable of taking care of myself or that I wouldn’t want to.
“This is bigger than us, omega. We cannot show weakness. I know it doesn’t seem like a huge deal to you, but if we let them get away with what they did, it will open us up to other attacks on our power.
We already have the law against us. We need to be careful…
Unless you’re going to finally agree to my offer.
Look how happy you are right now. I mean, before I had to come and ruin it. This could be our lives.”
“Nolan, stop,” Lucas says, his arms tensing, his muscles cording with his reaction. “This isn’t the right time.”
“What do you mean? Of course it’s the fucking right time.
We need to get the contract signed. Just because your ass doesn’t care about Dad’s legacy doesn’t mean that we should just roll over.
” Nolan turns his sharp gaze to me. “Calista, please. Just get dressed. It’s obvious that we can’t have this conversation with my brother here.
He’s going to be protective. I don’t have it in me to fight right now. ”
Whoa. He doesn’t have the will to fight, and honestly, I don’t have it in me to argue either. We have all made our thoughts clear, but now Lucas will be firmly on my side because of the truth. The truth I just don’t feel like sharing right now, not with everything looming over us.
“Okay,” I say quietly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put you in this situation. After we get everything taken care of, I’ll be ready to talk. I’ll be ready to explain.” Because he’s right. I can’t wait any longer. I have to make a choice.
And this life right now doesn’t seem so bad.
I can do this. I can fucking do this. I have done a lot of things in my life, but this one might be the worst. I’ve never really grasped what reality outside of the Omega Resort was like until I was taken away from it.
It makes me confused. I’m flaky in my thoughts, and I can’t stand being so wishy-washy.
There is one thing I’m certain of. I don’t want to be here.
“Do you want Lucas or me to go with you? Jensen has to make his own statement. They don’t want the two of you making one together, because they need you to speak for yourself and it’ll be too easy for you to let Jensen take over the conversation.” Nolan stands with me in front of the car.
“You should do it, brother. I don’t think I can handle things as appropriately.” Lucas clenches his fingers into a fist. He might have been sterilized, but it doesn’t change the fact that he can still go full-blown alpha apart from a few things like rutting.
I don’t argue. I’m glad that I didn’t have to make a choice, because I would prefer the four of us to go together. At least they’ll respect Nolan because he is our pack leader, even if the estate isn’t completely in our power.
“Are you good with that, Calista?” Nolan asks. His use of my full name doesn’t go unnoticed. I can tell he’s nervous. I’m nervous, too. I really hate being here. At least I’m not alone. I’m so used to it that having the Kismet brothers by my side makes things a little less torturous.
“I’d prefer all of us to be together, but I understand. I know you’ll take care of me.” I suck in my bottom lip between my teeth, hiding my frown the best I can. Nolan surprises me by pulling me to him and engulfing me in a hug I had no idea I needed.
I inhale a breath of his delectable apple scent, wishing I could bottle it up to help my nerves at any time. At least burying my nose against his throat will do for now, his potent scent gland touching my skin.
“This will be fast. You can just make a quick statement, and then we’ll leave.
They have video evidence. They just want to hear the situation from your viewpoint.
” Nolan rubs his big hand against my back, and I linger in his arms. I bet he would carry me inside if I asked him to, but maintaining my independence is important to me. Especially now.
“Let’s get this over with.” I try to pull away from Nolan, but his arms tighten even more.
His sudden change in demeanor catches me off guard, and I twist to look behind me, feeling as if I’m now being watched.
“Fucking bastards. They’re not supposed to be out. I had confirmation from Pack Loomis that they would not be bailed out of this mess.” Nolan steps backward, pulling me with him.
It takes a moment for his words to register in my mind. I know they’re not for me, though. Both Jensen and Lucas move closer, practically caging me in with their bodies.
“I’ll reach out to Pack Loomis right now.
Just get Cali inside. It looks like they have a driver.
” Lucas touches my chin, getting me to look at him.
His hazel eyes attempt to capture mine, but my gaze refuses.
My instincts don’t want me to let my guard down.
“Ignore them the best you can. They want your attention. They want to mess with you. Don’t let them. ”
I blow out a breath. “It might be too late,” I whisper.
Nolan slides his arm around my back, pulling me closer to his side while Jensen flanks my other side. “You’re stronger than that. I’ve seen how feisty you can be. Just know that you’re above them. They just want what they can’t have. Got it?”
I only respond with a nod.
I don’t feel strong right now.
I feel as if I was a fool for ever thinking I could be independent.
I’ve never been more ashamed in my life.