Verum (The Nocte Trilogy 2)

He shakes his head. “Not really. Come on.”

For a reason I can’t explain, I willingly follow him, regardless of my hesitancy, and the way my cautious side is throwing up red flags left and right.

Dare stops on the edge of the pond, and unbuttons his pants.

I freeze in place as his trousers pool around his feet and he steps out of them. His muscles form V-shaped ribbons that disappear into his underwear. I know where they lead. I look away, my cheeks flushed.

He immediately strips off his shirt, tosses it onto the bank, then stands in front of me in black boxer-briefs.

My heart ricochets against my ribcage and I can’t help but stare.

His abs form individual striations, ripped and strong. His biceps bulge and then blend into the leanness of his arm, and I have the sudden urge to trace all of it with my fingers, like I have a hundred times before, so I ball my hands into fists.

“What are you doing?” I struggle with words, but finally manage.

“Swimming.”

He turns and heads into the water without flinching from its cold temperature. I suck in a breath because he’s got that freaking tattoo on his back, spanning across his shoulder-blades. Black words that read: LIVE FREE.

I’m a goner. A freaking goner.

“There’s a pool at Whitley,” I call out to him. “And I think it’s heated.”

Dare laughs and dives under the water, coming right back up, shaking droplets out of his hair.

“It’s not as fun.”

“Why is this fun?” I have to ask. Because the water is cold, there’s bugs, there’s mud.

Dare stares at me drolly. “Because we’re trespassing. This isn’t our property.”

This surprises me and gives me pause.

“The owners don’t know you’re here?”

“Nope,” Dare answers, unconcerned, back-pedaling away from me, without taking his eyes off my face. “Does that scare you, my little rule-follower?”

His little rule-follower.

“Again, I ask you,” my voice wavers a bit. “Why are you suddenly being so nice?”

He shrugs, his shoulder bare and glinting in the light. “Because you’re mine, Calla. You just need to remember it. Now come swimming.”

“I don’t have a suit.”

“You don’t need one.”

I counter and he parries.

My whole life, I’ve been a rule-follower. I’ve done what is expected, I’ve taken care of my brother. Maybe… just maybe….

Before I can change my mind, I’m pulling my shirt over my head and shoving my pants down. Without looking at Dare, and with my face exploding into tomato red flame, I follow him into the water in my bra and panties.

It’s cold enough to take my breath away, or that might just be my exhilaration at breaking the rules. I can’t be sure.

“Have you come here before?” I suck in a breath around chattering teeth as I paddle in Dare’s direction.

He nods. “Plenty of times.” I don’t want to ask who else he’s brought with him.