“I’m sure they did, but it’s different because it’s us and not them, and that is exactly what they will say to us.”
“I’m ready to go for a swim,” Tarren said and put her beer on the deck. “And done talking about whether our dads will catch us.” She took off her tank and shorts. Now in nothing but a bikini she stretched her arms wide high above her head and grinned over at them.
“Damn, Tarren, when did you get so curvy?” Lucas said. He was staring at her in a totally lewd manner, and brought his can to his mouth to take a long drink.
“I’m not a little kid anymore, Lucas. I mean, look at you and the other guys.”
Lucas glanced down at himself.
They were all pretty muscular from playing high school sports, but it wasn’t just about them all being athletic, but because of their genes, too. “Yeah, but I think you got that way overnight,” Lucas said through a grin.
All of the guys liked girls, and in school they were known for their indiscretions with them. The Grizzly MC had a reputation for being trouble and that people should stay away from them, and that trickled down to the kids of the MC as well. But no one screwed with a Grizzly kid, and not just because they had bikers for dads. They were a force to be reckoned with in themselves, and were not afraid to get into fights to prove their point—and Nico and Lucas were the worst of them all.
Alexis looked over at Tarren, who was watching Lucas speak to Nico. The other girl had a thing for Lucas for sure. That much was clear by the way she stared at him when she thought no one was looking.
“Come on, I’m ready to get in.” Odin took off his shirt and tossed it aside He went to the edge of the deck, right between her and Nico, and dove right in.
The squeal that came from Tarren had Alexis and Nico looking at her and seeing Lucas pick her up right before he tossed her in the lake, too. And then he cannonballed right in the water, which had it spraying all over her and Nico. It was cold despite the heat outside, but everyone started laughing. Nico grabbed his beer and finished it off before he stood and chucked off his shirt. All she could do was stare at the hard, defined, and lean muscles that graced his chest. He certainly was a piece of work.
He turned and glanced down at her. “Well, come on, Alexis.” He grinned. “Let’s get you wet.”
Oh God, did he know how dirty that sounded? Judging by the way he winked and how his grin widened, she knew he had said that on purpose. He held his hand out, and she took it. Once she was standing he still hadn’t let go of her, and in fact pulled her in so close that their breath mingled together once more. The other guys in the water weren’t paying them any attention as they laughed and splashed each other, but she and Nico were out in the open like this, and that had a little thrill moving through her.
“I could kiss you again, Alexis.” He lowered his gaze to her mouth. “I want to really damn badly.”
Her heart started pounding again like a freight train was moving through it. “Someone would really see then, Nico.”
“I don’t care anymore, Alexis.” He tightened his hold on her hand. “I have tried to act like we are just friends.” He shrugged. “But I haven’t been trying that hard, because honestly I don’t care if I get slack for wanting a girl that is off-limits.” They were both breathing fast and hard now, and he leaned in another inch. “I know you’re not blind to the fact that I stare at you.”
She shook her head.
“But your dad watches you like a damn hawk, and the way he looks at me…” Nico grinned, but it was one of those sexy ones that only had the corner of his mouth lifting.
“He watches you?” She looked at his mouth. She had been too focused on Nico to realize that her dad stared at him, probably giving him the “Back the fuck off” look.
“Yeah, that look.”
She had said that last part out loud, and that had them both laughing. They had been through a lot together, and if not for him, she would have felt so lost even when family always surrounded her. Maybe it was because she tried to push away her feelings for Nico that she felt like this little part was missing from her. Did she believe in soul mates, even at her young age? Yes, she did, and the longer she stared into Nico’s eyes, that more that cemented the fact that sometimes people were just born to be together.
“Get a damn room,” Lucas yelled and splashed water on them.
Alexis turned and looked at him. The sun caused a swatch of golden color to slash across the water, and made it look like there were a million little diamonds on it.
“Just ignore him. There only needs to be you and me, Alexis,” Nico said.