This Fearless Girl (St. Clary's University #2) - E. M. Moore Page 0,14
as I hover near the edge of the pool.
He stops swimming once he hits the shallow end. He’s shirtless, of course, his muscled torso on full display as he wades through the water to get to me.
“What are you doing?” I gulp.
“We need to talk, and you haven’t let me get in a word, so you’re going to listen to me now.”
I start to move, escaping toward the stairs, but he cuts me off. Any attempt to get away from him now would just look petty and childish. Not that I’m above that, but he is right about one thing—we need to have this out. I can’t work with him if I don’t trust him. The least I owe myself is to hear what he has to say.
I quirk my brow at him. “Well?”
“I didn’t tell my dad where we were. And before you ask, no, I don’t know why he acted like I had. The truth is, I hadn’t talked to my dad since he pulled that publicity stunt with the media and he told everyone the Jacobses were working with you. That’s probably why he resorted to tracking my phone. He won’t be able to do that again. We all got new phones, and I had a tech friend of mine install antispyware on them, so we’ll know if anyone tries to hack in.” He swallows and moves closer. “I’m true to my word, Dakota. I didn’t give us up. I would never do that. You said you didn’t want my dad involved and I agreed. Once I say something, I follow through.”
After we stare at each other for a little while, all I can say is okay. Everything he said adds up, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg that’s wedged between us. I shot his father, after all. “I want to know more about these Dragons and Cole and who the hell those men were with your father.”
Stone nods slowly. “We’ll talk about all that. I’m not trying to keep it from you, but that’s a discussion to have with everyone. Now that you’re back, we need to plan what we’re going to do.”
“That sounds reasonable.” I bite out the words because I hate to admit he’s right. Then again, Stone Jacobs is practical above everything else.
The air sits heavy around us. A single drop of water slides off my shoulder down the length of my arm. It catches Stone’s attention, and he watches it until it finally ends its course in the pool. He licks his lips, those gray-blue eyes more piercing than ever. “You shot my father.”
“I had to.”
He heaves in a breath. He’s not denying what I’m saying, but I can tell he also doesn’t know what to think.
“Listen, I’m not going to apologize, so if that’s what you’re looking for, don’t hold your breath. He brought those sadistic...fucks to us. He pulled them into our lives, and if one of them decided to turn on him, that’s not my fault. I saved us.”
Stone darts forward, cupping my cheek and pulling me to him, bringing me in for a kiss that’s so shocking I don’t move for a moment. He presses against me, his lips begging me to reciprocate. To open for him. To give what he’s giving. I part my lips, and he groans as he thrusts his tongue inside, claiming mine. It’s just as earth-shattering as our first kiss was. My hands move around his back, digging into his skin at the base of his spine. For a moment, I’m wrapped up in him, living off the feelings he’s dragging out of me until I come to my senses and remember there’s so much more that hasn’t been said. He’s skipping past the middle, messy bits, claiming his prize at the end when I’m not even sure I want to be claimed by him.
“Don’t,” I say, pulling away from him and pressing my hand against his bare chest. “Stop.”
Sporadic breaths escape his chest. “Stop what?” He tucks my wet hair behind my ear. “Stop turning you on?” He edges me closer to the pool wall, pinning me against it. “Stop treating you as more than a stepsister?” It might be the buoyancy of the water, but I keep getting dragged against him, lifted straight into his erection in a very unfamilial-like movement. I clamp my jaw shut as he grips my hips, whispering into my ear, “Stop making you want me?”