Chapter 24

twenty-four

KITANIA

That same fluttery warm feeling filled my chest as I gazed up at Giovanni, and I realized how hard and fast I was falling for him. For all of them .

I sucked in a deep breath, trying to ground myself, but all that did was draw their delicious scents deeper into my lungs. I practically moaned at how good the combination was. All I could think about was having that rugged blend on my skin. The desire to rub myself on them—to steal some of their signatures and mark them with my own—was so strong, I nearly lunged at Gio and climbed him like a tree.

I blushed— hard —at the visual that flitted through my mind, and I cleared my throat, searching desperately for a way to get myself under control.

“So, um, is that a yes?” I rambled, but even I heard the tightness in my voice, the higher pitch.

Gio inhaled deeply, probably smelling my perfume billowing into the air. Everything about him seemed to react—his body drawing closer, his eyes darkening. “Of course, I’ll be on your team,” he promised.

“This isn’t fair.” Marco loudly whispered the complaint to Tommas. “With Gio on her side, we’re the ones outnumbered. I think we need D.”

“No,” Dimitri hollered succinctly from his place at the grill, acting like he wasn’t paying us any mind when he obviously was. “You might’ve coaxed KitKat to get in the water with you, but it’s too fuckin’ cold for a pool party.”

KitKat? God, that was cute.

D looked at us like we’d lost our minds. “I honestly don’t understand how Tommy convinced all of you it was normal to be in there in the middle of autumn.”

“Spoilsport,” Tommy sang. “For the millionth time, the pool is heated, and what fun is living if you don’t do some crazy shit now and again?”

I laughed, though goosebumps covered every inch of skin that wasn’t submerged.

I squealed as Tommas sent another wave crashing over me; the water sloshing against my face. Laughing, I retaliated, using both hands to create a decent splash, but it was followed up by a massive torrent that drenched him from head to toe when Gio stepped in on my behalf. His powerful arms hurled sheets of water in all directions, and I giggled with glee.

“Think that’s funny, do you? Oh, it’s on now!” Marco declared, abandoning his float to join the fray. He dove beneath the surface, only to emerge right in front of me, shaking his wet blond hair like a dog and sending droplets flying everywhere.

I shrieked and tried to swim away, but he caught me around the waist, lifting me up and tossing me as though I weighed nothing. I landed in the water with a splash, coming up sputtering and laughing. Every time the cool air hit my damp skin, my body would shiver, but the warmth of the pool and the excitement of the moment kept me from feeling cold.

“Let’s have a race!” Tommas suggested, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “First one to the other end and back wins.”

“Stakes?” Marco asked.

Tommy grinned like he wasn’t trouble incarnate. “Winner gets a kiss from our Omega.”

Despite the chill, my cheeks heated.

Marco focused all his attention on me as the guys went silent. “What’d’ya say, Angel?”

Their eyes were all fixed on me with varying degrees of intensity—even Dimitri, who wasn’t swimming with us. My heart fluttered with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Did I want to kiss them all? There was no question. It was an undeniable yes. Under the guise of the game, I found it easier to nod.

“Okay.”

Tommas whooped and swooped in, grabbing me around my waist and lifting me out of the water. “That just gives me extra incentive to kick their asses,” he teased, twirling me.

I threw my head back and laughed. As silence settled over the rooftop once again, I lowered my gaze to take them all in.

It was on the tip of my tongue to ask ‘what’ when Marco’s lips hitched to the side. “Fuck, Angel. You’re beautiful all the time, but you’re stunning when you laugh.” There was a rasp in his voice, and he swallowed, the apple of his throat bobbing as he did.

I held onto Tommas’ biceps as he slowly lowered me, keeping me anchored against his wet body so I felt every hard inch of him on the way down. Surprising me, he leaned in and kissed the tip of my nose, his thumbs stroking over the light scars on my stomach as if they didn’t bother him. “I’m making it my mission to make you laugh your ass off every day.”

I smiled shyly, warmth blooming in my chest at their words. These men made me feel things I’d never experienced before—valued, cherished, desired. It was intoxicating and terrifying all at once.

“Alright, enough mushy shit,” Marco declared, breaking the silence before it turned awkward. “I’ve got a race to win.” He shot me a wink, and I smiled.

I swam up to the starting line with them.

“So, what do I get if I win?”

There was zero chance of that happening. I couldn’t possibly keep up with their powerful strokes, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t try.

Tommas cocked his head. “You’re gonna race with us?”

“It sounds fun.”

“What prize do you want, Angel?”

I bit my lip, thinking through my options. “I’ve never had a massage before. That might be nice.”

“Fuck me.” Tommy scrubbed a hand down his face, all hints of mischief gone. “Now I don’t know if I wanna win or not.”

Marco grinned, not hiding the heat that warmed his eyes. “You’re on,” Marco agreed, moving into position.

“You’ve got this, sweetness,” Gio murmured encouragingly.

“You’re not competing?”

“Nah. Wouldn’t be fair. I’d smoke all of you,” he teased. “Besides,” his tone dropped lower, just for me, “it’s time for me to share.” Gio kissed the top of my head before climbing out, ready to play referee.

I took my place beside the others. Dimitri, still manning the grill, counted down for us, and we all leapt into motion.

Water rushed past my ears as I propelled myself forward, my arms cutting through the pool in smooth arcs. Marco and Tommas quickly pulled ahead, their powerful strokes eating up the distance. But I was surprised to find myself only a few paces behind.

I reached the far side just after the others, twisting to push off for the return lap. My lungs burned as I surfaced, gulping air before plunging back under. I crossed the pool, and with a final burst of energy, I stretched out my hand to touch the wall.

“Not bad, Butterfly,” Tommas grinned, already lounging against the side, all his rippling, wet muscles on display.

I licked my lips unconsciously, wondering what it would be like to lap the droplets from his skin.

“You’ve got some speed in those little legs.”

I stuck my tongue out at him, still catching my breath. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Best two out of three?” Marco suggested with a competitive glint in his eye.

“Why the hell would I agree to that? I won.” Tommy waggled his eyebrows at me, and I snorted a laugh.

“Did you, though? I was a millisecond behind you, man.” Marco successfully riled his younger brother.

“The fuck?” Tommas was already lining himself up against the wall. “If you wanna be a masochist, fine by me. I’ll kick your ass a second time.”

We raced again and again, pushing ourselves harder with each lap. By the fourth one, my muscles were trembling with exertion, but I felt exhilarated. It had been so long since I’d allowed myself to play and have fun without constantly looking over my shoulder.

As the last race finished, I clung to the edge of the pool, panting heavily. My limbs were jello, but a giddy smile spread across my face. Marco touched the wall just a fraction of a second before his brother, throwing his arms up in victory.

“Yes!” he crowed, splashing water in his excitement. “That’s three out of four, baby! I am the undisputed champion!”

Tommas groaned good-naturedly. “Alright, alright. No need to rub it in.”

I giggled, still short-winded. “Congratulations, Marco. You earned it.”

His eyes locked onto mine, a predatory gleam igniting in their blue depths. “Oh, I intend to claim my prize, Angel.”

My breath caught in my throat as he swam towards me with smooth, powerful strokes. His muscled body cut through the water effortlessly, closing the distance between us in seconds. Before I could react, he’d banded an arm around my waist and pulled me flush.

“Hold on tight,” he murmured, his lips brushing my ear.

I instinctively clung to his neck, my legs hooking around his hips. He hummed approvingly as he swam us to the side of the pool. My back met the cool, tiled wall where the water disappeared over the edge, giving way to the sprawling city that stretched out in all directions. I tensed at being so close to the ledge of the building.

“Don’t worry, Angel. I’ve got you,” Marco promised.

I tried to relax, falling into the magic of being so high up. This place was otherworldly. It felt like we were suspended in our own private bubble, untouched by the world above or below.

Marco’s eyes locked onto mine, darkening with desire. One hand cupped the back of my head, fingers tangling in my wet hair. The other arm tightened around my waist, pulling me closer. I could feel every hard inch of his body, the heat of his skin contrasting with the cool water lapping at us.

“You sure about this, Angel?” he murmured, giving me one last chance to change my mind.

But I didn’t need an out.

I nodded, unable to form words as anticipation coiled low in my belly. Marco gave me a victorious smile before he closed the distance.

The first brush of his mouth against mine was gentle, almost reverent. But that tenderness quickly yielded to hunger as he deepened the kiss. His tongue swept across the seam of my lips, demanding entrance, and I parted for him with a soft gasp. He took full advantage, exploring every inch with passionate intensity.

My hands slid up his neck to tangle in his wet hair, pulling him closer as I lost myself in the sensations. Marco groaned, the vibration rumbled through his chest and into mine. His teeth nipped at my bottom lip before soothing the sting with his tongue.

I melted against him, overwhelmed by his scent and his passion. My body felt electrified, every nerve ending sparking to life. His hand slid down my back, fingers tracing the edge of my bikini, before gripping my thighs and hitching them higher around his waist. The new angle brought us closer together, and I gasped at the feel of his hardness directly against my core.

When we broke apart, his lips trailed along my jaw until he reached my ear. “You taste even sweeter than I imagined, Angel,” he murmured hoarsely.

A shiver ran through me that had nothing to do with the weather. I tugged gently on his hair, urging his mouth back to mine. He obliged with a low growl, giving me another searing kiss.

The world faded away until all that existed between us was heat , pleasure, and the pounding of my heart. I lost all sense of time, absorbed in the intoxicating slide of Marco’s lips against my own, the possessive grip of his hands on my body, and the sensual dance of his tongue making me mindless with desire.

A throat clearing nearby finally broke through the haze.

I reluctantly pulled away, my cheeks flushing as I remembered we weren’t alone. Dimitri stood at the edge of the pool, his dark eyes intense as they raked over us.

“As much as I hate to interrupt,” he rumbled with a hint of remorse, “dinner’s ready. You should all get out and dry off before you catch a cold.”

Marco pressed one last quick kiss to my lips before releasing me. “To be continued, Angel,” he whispered with a wink.

My legs felt wobbly as I climbed out of the pool, goosebumps immediately erupting across my skin. My teeth chattered, and my nipples were so hard they hurt. Gio was there in an instant, wrapping a large, fluffy towel around my shoulders.

“You okay, sweetness?” he murmured, rubbing my arms through the terrycloth to warm me up.

I nodded, still a bit dazed from Marco’s kiss. “Y-Yeah, I’m good.”

Tommas bounced over, shaking water from his hair like an excited puppy. “That was hot as fuck, Butterfly! I can’t wait until it’s my turn.” Winking at me, he sauntered off, flashing all kinds of golden skin as he pushed his swim shorts low on his hips as though he were about to get naked right there on the rooftop.

Marco pulled me to him and gave me a quick parting kiss that was far too short before jogging off to rub his victory in his younger brother’s face.

My fingers went to my tingling lips. I gaped after them, pretty sure these men were going to be the end of me.