That was what I did.
“No reasoning?” he asked.
“None at all.”
“I hear a hint of a temper.”
“Maybe I’m just annoyed that I can’t think of a quick comeback to defend myself. I like Jean-Pierre. I enjoy my time with him. And from the first time I saw him, I’ve been intrigued. In the end, I would’ve fucked him for free or for money. That’s the best answer I can give you, Rafael.”
He grinned. “Maybe you don’t have to defend yourself. I like to fuck with people. Come on. Let’s swim.”
“I don’t feel like swimming anymore.” I still held the glass in front of me. If all else failed, I’d use it as some sort of weapon. Rafael put me on edge.
I didn’t like that he stared at me as if I was under some test, and if I failed his test, he’d hurt me.
He quirked his eyebrows. “300k?”
“No.”
Rafael stood there. Silent and forbidding, watching me the whole time.
“You know what?” Rafael tilted his head to the side. “Let’s make it a clear half a million.”
“I’m not for sale. I’m not interested. There’s no amount of money. I’m sorry.”
“Too bad. I’ll forgive you, if you turn around,” Rafael whispered. “I want to touch your tattoo.”
“Don’t touch me, and have a nice evening, Rafael.” I edged away, taking one step at a time and never putting my back to him. Thankfully, I didn’t have to worry anymore as I stepped back into a hard, muscular frame.
Jean-Pierre’s voice sounded from behind. “You’re scaring her, Rafael. Stop it.”
Holy shit. Does anybody make noise when they walk around here?
I glanced over my shoulder. Jean-Pierre’s lips tightened as he walked around me, stalked forward, and stopped in front of Rafael. “What are you doing?”
Rafael shrugged, and went back to the table. “She passed the test.”
“She didn’t need one.”
Rafael held his hands out to his sides. “So, what are you saying? No threesomes allowed?”
Jean-Pierre glared at him. “If you were anybody else. . .”
“I know what would’ve happened, if I was anybody else.” Rafael gestured to me. “But, does she know?”
My whole body stiffened. I wasn’t sure if I should leave or stay. Jean-Pierre looked like he was close to throwing Rafael off the roof.
“I told you not to do this,” Jean-Pierre said in a quiet, angry voice.
“I didn’t listen.”
I couldn’t see Jean-Pierre’s face anymore, but Rafael took several steps back and raised his hands. “Fine. It’s not like I touched her.”
“You asked to touch her.”
“I knew you were near. You’re loud as hell. Of course I wasn’t going to touch her.”
“I thought you liked your hands.”
“I do, and on that note, I’m leaving.” Rafael picked up a plate of the caramel bananas. “You two are boring.”
Rafael left.
Jean-Pierre turned to me. A scowl covered his face.
Okay. He’s pissed with me too?
I stood near the doorway, still gripping my glass of water and towel.
“I saw the note.” He prowled my way. “Swimming with Rafael is not a message I want to see when I return to you.”
I swallowed. “Okay.”
“You don’t know this, but I’m a bit possessive.” He stopped right in front of me. “I don’t share your time, your body, your playing, or your kisses. I don’t share them with anybody. Nothing.”
I tried to brighten the mood. “So…no threesomes allowed?”
“Not if you want the other person alive. I won’t share you.”
There was such finality in the statement that I almost added, “You mean for these days we have left? Not for my whole life, right?”
Regardless, the edge in his voice sounded like there would be no end to his possession.
Wow. Now I’m in trouble? I didn’t do anything.
I walked around him and back to the table full of Rafael’s treats. “Sorry. He saw me…walking around…and asked me to come. I thought I should.”
“Why?”
“Because. . .he’s your boss. I guess.” I set the glass and towel on the table. “I wasn’t sure how I should behave.”
He ran his fingers through his hair and came back to me. That scowl never left. “First, I have no boss. That’s the first thing that I want you to always remember. Two, you don’t go anywhere or do anything, especially when it comes to my people, unless you want to. Three,” he stood right back in front of me.
I gulped down fear.
“Three, I don’t share.”
I held my stance and stared back at him with confidence. “Okay. I’ll remember those three things.”
And just as quickly, Jean-Pierre was all over me, pushing through any barrier of freedom that I thought I’d had. He kissed me and ran his fingers through my hair.
And then I forgot why I was nervous and terrified.
He yanked at the top of my bathing suit and tore it away. The fabric fell down and exposed my breasts. He grunted. He was so close. So intoxicating. His warmth and protection wrapped around me. And I didn’t want to share him either. He felt so damn good.