through my skin. I was made for the water. My dad had taught me and Maverick to swim in the pool at Harlequin House. And we’d been surfing almost as long as we’d been walking. Our competitive natures had pushed us both to be the best at everything we did together. We’d thrived on that. But I guessed he thrived on revenge and blood nowadays. Asshole.
I surfaced, turning back to the boat and my throat thickened as I found Rogue pulling her pyjama top off with her back to me, the little lilac bikini bottoms framing her ass. She tied the top into place and grabbed the snorkel and mask before diving off of the boat.
I put my mask on and swam toward her, catching her hand as she put hers on too. “You wanna see if that octopus still lives at the bottom of the reef over there?” I pointed to where we’d found it once.
“You mean Inky? He’s gotta be dead,” she said. “How long can they live?”
“Let’s find out.” I swam away from her across the water over the reef that lined the rocky wall which arced around the cove.
I took a breath and dove deep, swimming down past the colourful coral, a swarm of silver fish racing beneath me. I reached the bottom, catching hold of a rocky outcrop from the reef to steady myself and Rogue gripped my arm to hold herself down too. We peered into the dark hole in the reef wall and I squinted to catch sight of our old friend. Bubbles slipped from my mouth as we waited, but nothing appeared.
We soon ran out of breath and swam back to the surface. I let the snorkel fall from my mouth as I sucked in a lungful of air and Rogue did the same, a smile spreading across her face.
“Stick your arm in next time,” she dared and I laughed.
“Fine, but if I get dragged into that hole, you better come after me, hummingbird,” I teased.
“Seems like an easy way to solve all of my problems if an octopus eats your domineering ass,” she reasoned.
“I see how it is.” I splashed her and she gasped then splashed me back. I grabbed her by the waist, yanking her against my hip and tickling her sides.
“No, Fox!” she yelled and she wrapped her legs around my hips.
I brushed my nose against hers then threw her away from me so she splashed back into the water with a scream. I laughed, diving underwater and powering towards the bottom again. I sensed Rogue following, ready to watch me die by octopus, but there wasn’t a creature on earth who’d walk away from Fox Harlequin alive if it tried it.
I made it to the bottom, catching hold of the rocks and pulling myself forward. I reached toward the hole and Rogue gripped my leg, squeezing. I glanced back, finding her shaking her head and I rolled my eyes, stuffing my arm into the hole. Rogue pulled herself along my body until she was holding onto my shoulders, her colourful hair flowing around me as she hugged my back like she was preparing to pull me away from a killer crustacean. Or whatever the fuck octopuses were. All I knew for certain was that they weren’t squids.
My fingers brushed the back of the hole, but instead of just letting her know there was no creatures currently lurking in it, I gripped the rock and jerked myself forward, pretending I was being hauled into the hole. Rogue wrapped her legs around my waist, yanking my shoulders furiously as she tried to pull me back and a stream of bubbles left me as I laughed, releasing the rock and swimming for the surface with a little limpet on my back.
My head breached the water and Rogue gripped me tighter, her thighs locking around my waist and her arms clamping around my shoulders.
“Did it get you?” she gasped and I roared a laugh.
“Psych. It was empty.”
“You motherfucker,” she hissed, but her body vibrated as she laughed.
“I’ve officially proved you care about me,” I said smugly and she took my ear between her teeth, tugging firmly.
“There’s another sea monster here who’ll end you, Badger,” she growled and the cool press of a blade kissed my throat.
A low noise of desire left me and I reached up to grip her hand around the hilt.
“Stealing from me now, are we hummingbird?” I growled.
“Maybe I didn’t want the octopus to have the joy of killing