Chapter 20 Astrid
ASTRID
“I’m sorry, girls, but class is canceled today,” Greta tells Freja and Erin when we arrive for their swimming class. “We’ve lost power to the building, and I’m waiting for the electrician to arrive. All classes are canceled until we get the issue resolved.”
“No problem, Greta,” I tell the instructor as Callan steers two very disappointed girls away. “I hope you get it fixed soon.”
“Tell your mom I’ll send an update text later.”
“Sure.” I wave before running to catch up with Callan and our sisters as they head toward the car.
“This sucks,” Erin says when I rejoin them.
“I really wanted to go swimming,” Freja says, pouting.
I tilt my head up, and there is barely a cloud in the sky. “Maybe we could go swimming at Whispering Lake,” I suggest.
“Yes!” Freja grips my arm, pinning me with puppy-dog eyes. “Please, please, can we go there, Azz?”
“I’ve never been to that lake,” Erin supplies, snuggling into Callan’s side. “I really want to go.”
“The water will be a lot colder than the pool,” I warn, “and if it doesn’t look clean after the recent rainfall, you won’t be able to get in.
” I tack that on as a precaution, but it should be fine as Vermont is generally known for having some of the cleanest lakes due to low levels of phosphorus.
I’ve never had an issue swimming at the lake before, but there have been occasions where volunteers have had to clean up some of the bigger lakes, usually after a big storm.
“I bet the water won’t be as cold as the Irish Sea,” Erin says. “I used to swim with Mum a lot when we lived in Kilcoole. It’ll be grand.”
“You okay with this plan?” I ask Callan, considering I maybe should’ve run it by him first.
“I’m game if you are.”
“The girls have their swimming stuff, and I have extra towels in my trunk as well as a few blankets. We could stop at the store and pick up some drinks and snacks?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Wow, this is amazing,” Erin says when we reach the small sandy beach on the southern end of the lake.
“And we have the whole place to ourselves.” Freja grins as she widens her arms.
Callan presses his mouth to my ear. “’Cause we’re the only nutters insane enough to swim here in late September.”
“You couldn’t pay me to get in there today.” It might be the warmest day we’ve had in weeks, but that doesn’t mean the water will be warm. “I’ll be supervising the girls from the shore.” I lay down the thick plaid blanket I grabbed from the trunk.
“We’ll see.” He smirks as he unfolds the second blanket, lining it up beside mine.
I help the girls get changed into their swimsuits, caps, and shoes before joining Callan on the blankets. The girls shriek and scream as they enter the water, and a shudder works its way through me. “You’re right, they are insane.”
He chuckles. “Or they’ve got the right idea. They’ll warm up once they swim around, and then it’ll be invigorating.”
“Maybe,” I concede, because swimming in the lake is one of my favorite things to do in the summer.
Can’t say I’ve ventured here when it’s colder, so I can’t discount his statement.
I hand Callan a bottle of water from the bag before popping the lid on my own.
“I just realized something the other day,” I say as I keep an eye on the girls.
They are splashing one another and giggling as they play in the water.
“That I’m incredibly sexy and amazingly talented?” His brows waggle as he stretches out his long jean-clad legs before bringing the bottle to his tempting lips.
“Incredibly arrogant is more like it,” I quip, sitting cross-legged beside him.
“A little arrogance never hurt anyone.”
“Only someone arrogant would say that.”
“Point taken, beautiful. What was this great big realization?”
“You’re from the same town as Collateral Damage, right?”
He groans. “Yeah. I wondered when someone would make the connection.”
“You don’t like their music or them?”
“It’s not that.” He picks up a pebble and flicks it between his fingers. “I think their music is cool, and while I don’t know them personally, they’re sound. The whole town is super proud of them.”
“Then why the face?”
“If girls at school discover I grew up near Dillon O’Donoghue and my nana knows their family, what do you think will happen?”
“Oh, I see your point.”
“It’s why I avoid mentioning exactly where I’m from. I don’t wanna be hassled for autographs or pestered to share their address—things I would never do.”
“I get it, and I won’t say anything to anyone. I was just curious if you knew the band.”
“They live in L.A. most of the time, so they are usually only in town a couple of times a year. Dillon has sons close in age to me, and they came to watch a few of our football games when I was younger and playing for the local team. Seeing Dillon and Jamie on the sidelines was a real thrill for us back then, but they were cool, seemed just like normal guys.”
“You’ll be the next famous person to come from Kilcoole.”
“I don’t know about that,” he says, tossing the pebble away.
“You must have thought about it though. The fame that comes with playing professionally.”
“Not really. I don’t care about stuff like that. I just want to play football, and if it happens for me, I’ll figure the rest out then.”
“I saw that movie about Vivien, Reeve, and Dillon. It showed the seedier side of being a celebrity. I’m not sure I’d ever want that kind of spotlight on me.”
“I watched it too, and they had a lot to deal with for sure.”
“Cal!” Erin calls out. “You’ve got to come in. We’re having so much fun!”
“Yeah, you too, Azz. Come on.”
“I don’t have my bathing suit,” I call out.
“Swim in your bra and knickers,” Callan says, and I look around, my mouth falling open when I discover him bare-chested with his fingers resting on the waistband of his jeans.
“What are you doing?” I blurt.
“Going swimming.” He drops his jeans, standing before me in just his boxers, and I forget how to breathe, how to speak.
Broad shoulders lead to toned pecs, a six-pack, and tapered hips.
His body is a work of art, a showpiece of the hours he spends in the gym and on the soccer field.
“Keep looking at me like that, and we’re gonna have problems.” His deep gravelly voice curves around my body like a sensual caress, and desire tightens in my lower belly.
When Callan adjusts himself in his boxers, I finally look away.
“Maybe a little warning next time,” I rasp, sitting on my hands so he doesn’t see how badly I’m trembling.
“Where’s the fun in that?” He smirks, sitting back down to remove his socks.
He has no idea how much he’s torturing me right now.
“Your turn,” he adds, and I shake my head.
“Hell no. I’m not getting in there.”
“Come on, beautiful.” His fingers trace the shape of my face. “Come swim with me.”
“You just want to see me in my bra and underwear.”
“Guilty as charged.” He tips my chin up until our eyes meet. “Come on, Astrid. Just let go and have fun.”
This is crazy, but when he’s touching me and looking at me, like he is right now, I am not immune to his powers. “If I catch hypothermia, I’m blaming you.”
“I’ll keep you warm.”
Shivers ripple all over my skin at his words and the heated promise in his eyes.
“Get undressed. I won’t look,” he adds, slipping his sneakers back on and standing with his back to me.
Did I mention he has a great ass? It’s staring me in the face, and I’m frozen as I slowly drag my gaze from his shoulders, over his ripped back, to his chiseled ass, muscular thighs, and toned calves. Damn, the rear view is every bit as enticing as the front view.
“Stop staring and strip, Astrid.” Humor laces his words, and my cheeks are fire-engine red, something that is a regular habit around this guy.
“Stop squeezing your ass cheeks and flexing your muscles,” I retort, and he cracks up laughing.
I whip off my sweater and shirt before removing my socks and sneakers, and shimmying out of my jeans, grateful I wore a matching white bra and panties today.
They are nothing special, but the push-up bra makes my B-cup boobs look bigger, so I’m counting that as a win.
I silently thank whatever instinct made me bring the extra towels and my swim shoes from the trunk.
“I’m ready,” I announce after I put my shoes on and stand.
Callan stretches out his arm, and I take his hand, interlocking our fingers.
He turns, as if in slow motion, and I watch the expression on his face change from forced indifference to blatant lust as he rakes his gaze all over me, lingering on my chest before traveling down.
I hope my padded bra is disguising my hard nipples because I don’t fancy trying to explain that to Freja later.
My little sister misses nothing, and her new fascination with boys has led to tons of inquiring questions lately.
“Fan.” Callan drags his lip through his teeth. “Did I really say this was a good idea?”
“Changing your mind, Irish?”
He shakes his head before leaning into my ear. “You’re beautiful.”
My heart swells to bursting point, and I have to resist the desire to squeeze my thighs together as my core pulses with powerful need because our sisters are watching from the water.
That thought is all it takes to douse the flames of my desire. This isn’t the time or place. Gripping Callan’s hand, I tug him forward, smirking as he stumbles. “You just cursed in Swedish. I’m proud of you.”
“You’re rubbing off on me, Astrid. In more ways than one.”
“Hurry up, slowpokes!” Erin calls out.
Callan grins. “She is sounding more American by the day.” He tightens his hold on my hand. “Let’s make a run for it. It’s the only way to do this.”
“Okay, one, two—”
“Three.” Callan scoops me up into his arms without warning and charges toward the water.
“What are you doing?” I scream as he crashes into the lake, spraying cold water everywhere.
“Making sure you don’t chicken out.” He wades into the water as our sisters scream and giggle.
“Put me down,” I blurt on autopilot, realizing the error of my ways just as Callan says, “If you say so,” and he tosses me up. I hover in the air for a few seconds before plummeting into the water, my scream dying when I hit the lake.
As I plunge into the water, my body goes into shock at the rapid drop in temp, and I’m shaking as icy water pokes me all over like tiny needles penetrating my skin.
Pushing with my legs, I burst through the surface with a loud gasp, covered in long strands of hair clinging to my face like tentacles.
I swat at the messy strands, shoving them out of my eyes and off my face as I look around for my fake boyfriend.
Freja and Erin laugh uncontrollably as they swim nearby. “You should’ve seen it, Azz. You were like a human cannonball!”
The girls continue giggling as I narrow my eyes in Callan’s direction. “You’re so dead, Hunt.”
“I’m terrified,” he drawls, and I vow to wipe that smug expression off his face.
Diving under the water, I swim deep, circling Callan’s legs as they move around while he looks for me.
Creeping up from underneath him, I tug sharply on his left leg, yanking him beneath the surface.
When I resurface, the girls are laughing hysterically and shouting encouragements when Callan’s head reappears.
I push him back down with my hands and wrap my legs around his chest, trying to hold him in place.
But he’s way heavier and stronger, and it takes little effort on his part to gain the upper hand.
His large palms grip my waist, and I’m pulled back under, all tangled up with him.
His grin is evident even underwater as he winds my legs around his waist and flattens one hand on my lower back before he propels us upward and we erupt from the water, gasping, shaking, and laughing.
“You’re an ass.” I knot my hands around his neck as my legs instinctively tighten around his waist.
“Bet you’re not feeling the cold now though.”
I’m not, but it’s not for the reason he thinks.
Awareness of how we’re pressed up against one another boils the blood flowing in my veins.
His hand is lying dangerously close to my ass, and from this angle, he has a perfect view of my breasts.
My chest heaves as I watch him staring at my boobs, his pupils darkening as that familiar charge ignites the air between us.
He thickens underneath my ass, and my hips roll of their own volition.
His chin jerks up, eyes flaring with heat as his hand slips lower, squeezing my butt cheeks.
Callan’s dark gaze latches onto my mouth, and I press my chest flush against his, silently willing him to close the gap and kiss me. We’ve had enough of these moments these past few weeks for me to know he wants to kiss me as much as I want him to.
Right now, it feels like I’ll die if I don’t get to taste his lips.
“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”
Our little sisters are the most effective cockblockers in the world, as their playful chant drags me back to the moment.
Callan, too, because he instantly unfurls my legs from around his waist and separates our bodies.
“Time to go, girls,” he says. “It’s too cold to stay in the water for much longer. ”