Tempting (Inked Hearts 1)

"No, I have one."

"Where?"

"In my pocket."

"In the pocket of your incredibly tight skinny jeans?" Now, I have a perfectly valid explanation for staring at his crotch.

"Yeah, right here." He pats his front right pocket. "You know, my eyes are up here, Violet."

"I'm not sure about that. I might have to investigate."

"You're going to make me think you're using me for my body."

I throw him an uh-huh look. "I should change." Before I do something that will get both of us arrested.

"Try not to spend the entire time thinking about me naked."

"That's a lost cause." I smile like I'm joking.

But from the way he smiles back, it's clear he knows I'm not.

Ethan tells me nothing about where we're going. If it was anyone else, I'd be a nervous wreck. But I don't feel a single hint of negative energy.

I really do trust him.

Fuck, this is dangerous.

His hand brushes mine as we walk. It's about twenty minutes of trekking through a residential neighborhood until we stop in front of a several-story apartment complex.

Ethan points to the pool on the roof of the building. It's as secluded as a pool gets.

"You have access to this how?" I ask.

He smiles. "I'm capable of criminal activities besides public indecency."

"Really?"

"Yeah." He pulls something from his front pocket—a key. "Plus, a friend of mine owns the building. It's empty. They're demolishing it in a few weeks to put up fancy condos."

"Oh."

"You want to back out?"

I shake my head. This might technically be trespassing, but it doesn't sound like there's much risk of getting in trouble.

Ethan opens the door to the lobby, slides his arm around my waist, and whisks me inside. He looks at his arm for a second. "Sorry, habit."

But he doesn't move his arm. And I don't ask him to move it.

I don't want him to move it.

He leads me up the stairs and through the roof door. It's a cool day and the wind is blowing. But that does nothing to convince me swimming at an abandoned pool is a bad idea.

The pool is huge for an apartment complex and its water is a bright aqua.

I want in that water.

Ethan drags his fingertips over my lower back. I'm not sure what it means, but I like the way it feels.