Kings of Quarantine (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #1) - Caroline Peckham ,Susanne Valenti Page 0,36

cabin was up on stilts and it was at least six feet to the water - which hadn’t seemed that high until now.

Please don’t hurt like a bitch.

I dove into the lake and the freezing water immediately stole my breath away. I kicked my way to the surface and as my head breached it, applause and shouts filled my ears. I glanced back up to the deck where Saint, Blake and Kyan stood shoulder to shoulder, staring down at me with shadowed features. Saint lifted his arm to check his watch and that was all the encouragement I needed as I started swimming toward the flag.

It wasn’t the swim I found difficult, in fact swimming was one of my favourite exercises in the world. But the cold was gnawing, blinding. It made my body ache and ache until my limbs started to go numb.

I set my sights on the flag as the noise behind me became a din and the glow of the flashlight was left far, far behind. The thickening darkness made it almost impossible to see the flag ahead, but every now and then I’d catch sight of it, protruding toward the sky which was ever so faintly brighter than the surrounding water. The stars were out in full force too, but there was no guiding moon to help me out. The heavens reflected so starkly in the water around me that it looked like I was wading through a galaxy, the glossy waves rippling out around me eternally.

My hand finally hit the lump of rock which housed the flag and whistles and cheers sounded in response back at the cabin. I circled the earthy mass, clinging to its edge as I stole a few precious moments to catch my breath. Ice was wrapping around my bones and my lungs were labouring against the heavy air that pushed in and out of them. Even the adrenaline in my veins couldn’t counter the pain.

I clenched my jaw as I gazed back at the cabin, resilience tearing through my body. Then I started toward it, moving faster than before, despite the fact that I could hardly feel each turn of my arms and kick of my legs. I willed myself to move with nothing but my mind and hoped for the best as my muscles fought to listen.

I finally swam into the ring of light cast by Saint’s flashlight and smiled up at them through chattering teeth, waiting for my moment of approval.

“You’re in!” Blake called excitedly and I threw my head back and whooped to the sky, causing the rest of the party to join in with me.

I headed for the shore to the right of the cabin and by the time I reached it, Blake was waiting there with Mila, Danny, Pearl and Gerald, all of them looking at me with huge grins on their faces. Blake had a huge white towel in his hands and he wrapped it around me the second I waded onto the shore. Sharp stones dug into my toes and I hissed as I made my way over them, but a second later Blake whipped me off my feet and crushed me against his chest.

I glanced up at him in surprise and I instinctively reached out, pushing my fingers into his hair. “Thank you, golden boy.”

He chuckled and I smirked as we reached the top of the shore and he carried me inside. He kicked his way through a door and I found myself in an incredible bathroom with a walk in shower. The walls were wooden, but the floor was a russet and cream marble which must have been worth a fortune. He placed me down and I spotted my clothes and purse beside a large basin.

Mila raised an eyebrow at Blake. “Off you go, Bowman, the girl needs to get dressed and sort her makeup out.” She popped open her purse and I threw a glance at the oval mirror, eyeing the mascara that had smeared all down my cheeks with a laugh.

“I kinda like her like this,” he growled, his expression making my toes curl up against the cool floor.

Adrenaline was buzzing in my veins and part of me wanted Mila to leave so I could lure Blake into the shower with me and continue chasing this high.

Mila wafted him toward the door and he stared at me the whole time he backed up until he shut it sharply behind him.

“Holy shit, girl, that was epic!” Mila cried the second