Chapter 13

Jasmine

Carina drags me up the staircase and into a bedroom. She only lets go of my hand when she goes through another door and comes back out of it holding a variety of bathing suits.

“I don’t think I am comfortable swimming, Carina.”

She frowns at me.

“Why not? Being a mum is hard. Have some you time. Mum and dad are brilliant with kids. Trust me, Bella won’t even be thinking about you right now. She will probably be riding one of the sheep by now.”

There really is no delicate way of saying this. I have barely been eating, never mind thinking of grooming myself.

I sit down on her bed.

“I’m not exactly trimmed, if you know what I mean.”

She chuckles and pulls me off the bed.

“Jump in for a quick shower. The bathroom cabinet has everything. I need to take you to my salon the next time you come over. We only live ten minutes away from here. Lucas wanted to move into the countryside for Connor.”

She pushes me towards the bathroom.

“Towels are in there too. I am going to grab some more bathing suits for you to choose from.”

“But…”

“Nope. Bella is fine. I don’t get any girl time, so you’re going to be doing me a favour too.”

I sigh and make my way to the bathroom. She is like a Rottweiler. Albeit cute one. I wonder if this is what it would have been like to have had a sister.

We make our way down towards the pool. She insisted she didn’t have any full bathing suits, only bikinis. She gave me a coverup which helps. I freeze as we get to the pool. Christian is lying on the lounger wearing navy swim shorts. His chest is gleaming in the sunlight. My eyes travel down his sculpted chest to his abdomen. He certainly doesn’t look like someone who sits on his ass all day in an office.

“See something you like?” Carina whispers in my ear.

I guiltily look at her before swiftly shaking my head in denial. My face burns with the embarrassment of being caught ogling her brother. I automatically feel for my ring, but when I look at my hand, it isn’t there.

“I left my ring in the bathroom. I need to get it.”

“No. It will still be there when you go up to shower.” She said as she pulls me towards the sun loungers.

Lucas gets up and wraps his arm around Carina before dragging her over to the lounger he was sitting on.

Christian lifts his sunglasses up over his head.

“We thought you girls had got lost.”

“Just having some girl talk.” Carina said, saving me from answering. Thank god.

“Do you need some sunscreen? I am more than happy to put it on for you.” He waggles his eyebrows at me.

“No, thanks. I don’t burn. Just worry about your own pasty skin.”

Carter groans.

“I should have brought some company. I’m like the third wheel between the lot of you.”

“Oh. No. It isn’t like that.” I blurted out. I don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea.

Christian stares at me for a moment.

“It’s exactly like that, Carter.” He said to his brother, but his eyes narrow on me.

I clench my fists into tight balls and glare at him.

His face lights up suddenly. He sits up in his seat. Before I know what his intentions are, he grabs my legs and throws me over his shoulder before diving into the water.

I let out a screech as we hit the water. I try to wiggle out of his grip, but he holds me tighter and swats my ass.

“Asshole, let me go.”

He chuckles before he slides me down his body. I grip his shoulders in case he plans to drown me.

I’m taking him with me.

“You looked as if you needed to cool down.”

His arm comes around my waist, locking me against his hard body.

“You have ruined Carina’s top.”

“It’s only water. Why don’t you take it off? Or are you too chicken too?”

I know he is goading me, but I can’t help but react to the chicken comment. My anger only grows when I look at him to see his smug expression.

I trail my finger down between us until his jaw drops open. His grip around me loosens. I rub my hand over his pec. I might have forgotten what I was about to do. He feels so hard against my hand. His chest feels rough with the dark hair on it. I pinch his nipple as hard as I can until he lets a cry before letting me go and furiously rubs his chest.

“That was fucking evil.” He glares at me while he uses the palm of his hand to rub his nipple.

“You going to tell mum the mean girl was bulling you?”

I glance up to see Carter grinning at me while raising his drink up.

Carina is sitting on Lucas’s lap giving me a thumbs up as she laughs.

“I’m not a chicken.” I said.