Chapter Twenty Five

R achel stood frozen at the entrance of the pool. Ruger wrapped his arms around her from behind and held her against his chest until she got used to the sight in front of her.

He could've given her a warning. But, he was afraid she'd turn down the invite to go swimming if he told her that Havlin—the brotherhood—had nothing to hide.

"Maybe I'll wait at the clubhouse until you're done." She turned in his arms, hiding from what was going on. "You can enjoy your swim."

He slipped his finger underneath the strap of her swimsuit. "Daisy gave you something to wear."

She belly-bumped him. "You're naked."

He grunted.

"Every biker here is naked." She raised her brows. "Some of the women are naked. Do you not know how that makes me feel?"

"You've seen dick before." He looked over her shoulder. "The other women don't mind. Besides, it's dark. Nobody is looking."

"If I take the suit off, will you look at me?"

He scoffed. "You're my woman. I can look."

She exhaled slowly. "You've never called me that before."

"You're with me, right?"

She nodded.

"Listen." He kissed her forehead. "If you don't want to swim, we'll leave. It's not a do-or-die situation, Rach."

"I know that." She pressed her hands to his stomach. "It's just..."

"What?"

"Where am I supposed to look when we go to the pool?" she whispered.

He chuckled, kissing her again. She'd eventually lose her shyness. Someone naked shouldn't cause her stress. They were going swimming. It wasn't going to be an orgy. At least, not for her. He would never share her.

What was his, he kept.

Daisy walked into the locker room and smiled. "Better jump in. Time is ticking."

Bane entered the locker room naked and grabbed his wife, putting her over his shoulder. Ruger moved out of the doorway. Seeing Rachel watch the other couple, he took that opportunity to get her out into the pool.

"Ready?"

She nodded, following him to the edge of the water. He jumped in, dunking his head, and came up, looking for her.

Rachel lowered herself to the side of the pool and put her feet in the water. "It's warm."

"The city heats it, even in the summer." He walked over, hooked her under the armpits, and put her in the water.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. "How deep is it?"

"Over your head." He paused. "Why? Can't you swim?"

"I can swim." She let go of him and dog-paddled. "A little. Near the wall."

He leaned back, floating on the water. "Just hold on to me."

He kept her at the side of the pool, not wanting to go deeper and scare her. She kicked her feet while he kept her afloat.

"Now that we're in the water, I can almost forget how warm it got today."

He straightened, bringing her to the front of him. "Weather changes tomorrow. It's going to drop twenty degrees."

"Mm." She stared at his chest. "That'll be nice."

His cock twinged to life. If she kept looking at him that way, he would prove himself a liar and have her in the pool with everyone watching.

Dio pulled himself out of the pool and walked naked to the deeper end. Rachel's gaze followed him. Amusement hit him, and he squeezed her ass under the water.

She guiltily glanced at him. "Well, what am I supposed to do? He's parading around."

"You'll get used to them." He kissed her neck. "As long as you know you're going home with me, and I'm the only one who can touch you."

"You can touch me anytime you want." She kissed him.

He took the offer and slipped his hand between her legs. She jumped, tightening her hold on him.

"Not now." She squirmed. "Later. At the cottage."

"Let's get out of here."

She looked behind her. "I haven't went swimming yet."

She was young, and it was obvious that she had few opportunities to go swimming. He could give her time.

He let go of her.

She slapped furiously at the water. Her head barely stayed above the surface. She dog paddled in one spot. He stood, watching her fight to float.

Her nose went underwater. Ruger grabbed her waist and brought her up.

"I can swim." She coughed.

"Looked like you were drowning." He carried her through the water until he stood at the five-foot mark. "Swim your heart out."

She doggy paddled back and forth and around him. He ducked his head and came up, knowing he'd have to wait to have her until they got home. Now that she could touch the bottom of the pool, her confidence grew.

Dio swam over to him. "Are you guys going to the beach afterward for the fireworks?"

"We're going to head home in a few minutes." He ran his hand over his face, getting the water out of his eyes. "You?"

Dio was a good guy. Unlike many others who feared him because of his reputation and felony record, Dio never let that stop him. He always went out of his way to talk, and he enjoyed riding beside him.

"I'm going to meet up with Maverick and Brooke. They went over early to get a good spot on the sand." Dio pulled himself out of the pool. "Catch you tomorrow."

He tagged Rachel's ankle and grabbed her before she went underwater. She instantly let him support her.

"Is Dio related to Maverick or Brooke?" asked Rachel.

He shrugged. "Not that I know of."

"Hm."

"Why?"

Rachel wound her arms around his neck. "He seems protective of Skye like he could be her uncle."

"Havlin members are tight. It's a brotherhood." He swung her into the water.

At one time, he and Jagger were closer than blood brothers. Now, because of Katrina, they were family. Each member of Havlin joined the club for their own reasons, most needed to surround themselves with family they chose.

Rachel ran her hands up his chest. "How often do you come to the pool?"

He dunked and shook his head, forgetting that his hair was gone. "Often enough."

"So, we can come again?" She floated.

He chuckled. "Are you swimming naked next time?"

"No." She put her feet down and stood. "But I'll admit that nobody is looking at us."

She was too occupied with swimming to notice. But he'd bet his Harley that if she decided to swim naked, every male here would check her out. She was beautifully mysterious. It was impossible not to watch her—whatever she was doing.

He never stood a chance. From the second he laid eyes on her, chained to the pipe in the basement, bloody and beaten, he could barely make out her features, and despite the abuse she'd endured, she hadn't given up.

"Ruger?"

His heart raced. He could've lost her several times over the time they were held captive. If anything had gone wrong, Los Li would've killed them both.

She touched him. "Are you okay?"

He hooked her neck and brought her to him, kissing her mouth. She'd never know how much she meant to him. He wouldn't put that on her.

She was taking on enough by being his woman.