Perfectly Toxic (Sterling Shore 9)

My smile tries to skitter across my face, but I fight to restrain it. Yeah, it feels good he chose me over the guys, but I’m an idiot like that these days.

“So how does it feel?” Allie asks me when I get lost in thought.

“How does what feel? Being with Ethan?” I ask, trying to play off the fact I’m drowning in knee-deep water.

In case you’re wondering, that means I’m drowning instead of standing up and taking a breath the way I should.

“No,” she says, smirking. “I mean, how does it feel to have that fabled magic pussy you once spoke of?”

Maverick strangles on air nearby, and stumbles, and I watch with fascinated horror as he trips over his own feet and splashes into the pool. Laughter pours out of everyone around, including Allie and me, as he surges to the top, choking and spitting out water while glaring in our direction.

Serves him right, con

sidering the demon cat he forced on me.

“Damn you,” he gripes, but then a grin splits his face as he swims closer. “What’s a magic pussy?”

Allie blushes fiercely as I try and fail not to laugh, and she turns to me with wide eyes. “I said that too loud, didn’t I?” she hisses.

“I’m waiting,” Maverick drawls.

“Fuck off,” Ethan tells him, rejoining us as his arms wrap around my waist and he draws me to him, pressing his lips to mine as though he’s reminding Maverick who I’m with.

Not that it needs stating, because Maverick and I are just friends. However, I let him make the statement because I love kissing him.

“I was just asking a question,” Maverick defends, mocking indignation.

“I don’t like you so close to my girl, considering you have the same taste in women,” Ethan says jokingly, but there’s still a warning edge to his voice.

He kisses me again, this time letting things get out of control, and I forget there’s a yard full of people as I melt against him.

When whistles and mocking laughter taunt us, Ethan breaks the kiss and flips everyone off. It feels so perfect that something is bound to go wrong.

“Besides,” Ethan says to Maverick while grinning mischievously at me, “she left me with a gnarly rash, so I don’t think you want to chance that.”

My eyes widen as Maverick bursts out laughing, falling back into the pool he must have just climbed out of, and everyone else starts doubling over as well, as the laughter turns against me.

I glare at Ethan, who simply smirks and winks at me.

“You’re such an asshole,” I grumble, rolling my eyes and hating the fact I’m unable to stop myself from smiling.

He waggles his eyebrows, his grin growing. “But you still love me.”

The second the words leave his mouth, I see the regret on his face as he pales. My breath freezes in my lungs, and my body turns to stone. Awkward silence fills the ever-growing void between us, and it feels like there’s suddenly a presence between us, pushing us apart.

Swallowing hard, he clears his throat and starts rubbing the back of his neck.

“I’m gonna… go grab a drink. You want one?” he asks.

I simply shake my head, unable to form words, and he darts toward the house like he can’t get away fast enough. Allie is regarding me when I turn to face her, and her eyes almost look sad.

“I guess some things never change,” she sighs.

“What does that mean?” I croak, grimacing at how weak my voice suddenly sounds.

“Stop holding back, Bella. It’s a lot more fun to just let go.”

She gives me a soft smile before walking toward Wren, and I watch with teeming envy as he pulls her to him, grinning like she’s the most precious thing in the world. I wish I could just let go, but that’s too freaking dangerous to do when Ethan was twice as freaked out as I was by his slip of the tongue.