I took a deep breath and dove beneath the surface as I swam for the far side with her clinging onto my back like a limpet the whole way.
I reached the edge of the pool and grabbed her thighs as I prised them off of me and she laughed as she fought to hold on.
I managed to get a good grip on one of her legs and yanked hard enough to twist her around my body, trapping her between my chest and the tiled wall of the pool.
“Are you gonna beg, princess?” I teased her as I used my position to pin her back against the wall with my hips.
“I don’t beg. And I’d normally just go for the balls, but I’m afraid you’d give me detention.”
Her words were meant as a joke but at the mention of detention, I fell still.
“That’s what teachers do to students who misbehave,” I agreed in a dark tone.
She caught me in the trap of her endless blue eyes for the longest moment as I felt her skin pressing against mine in so many places that it was overwhelming.
Her ankles were crossed behind my back as she used me to hold herself up and the moment dragged between us as she slowly tightened her thigh muscles. The movement made her crotch graze against mine and every piece of me stiffened, as in every, single piece.
Her eyes widened and I released her suddenly, dropping her so that she dunked beneath the water and climbing out of the pool before she could surface again.
I strode away from her as she called for me to come back, asking if I was okay and I snorted a laugh to myself.
Just fucking peachy, princess, I just need to go and sink this boner you gave me before I give you the wrong fucking impression about me. Or maybe jerk off so that my dick doesn’t get any more of these ideas tonight. If I can just tire the fucker out then he might not be so damn primed to fire around you.
“Monroe?” she called again and I waved her off with a promise to be back with the supplies the guards were delivering.
I had no idea if they’d have dropped them off yet, but I’d just wait by the door until they appeared if not. And by then, one way or another, I’d be looking at Tatum Rivers as a student and nothing more.
***
I woke to the heavy scent of chlorine scratching at my nose and an ache in my back which reminded me of exactly where I was. Where we were.
I pushed myself upright and ran a hand over my face to banish the sleep from my flesh as I yawned. This whole thing was either some kind of hopeless nightmare or a joke designed to punish me.
Tatum was still sleeping on the other side of the crash mat we’d dragged in to lay beside the pool, giving us something soft enough to sleep on while using the warmth and humidity of the pool room to keep us warm without blankets. She was wearing the red dress again, presumably without underwear as hers were drying in the sauna, but I wasn’t thinking about that. Her breathing was deep as her brow pinched. There were shadows hanging over her now which hadn’t been there when she’d first arrived in this place. But if I had anything to do with it, those shadows would recede again soon.
I pushed myself to my feet, adjusting the waistband of my sweatpants as I headed in search of a bathroom so I could take a piss.
The corridors of Cypress Gym were hauntingly quiet, their walls aching for the sound of students’ voices to bounce off of them. I’d always liked being inside the school buildings when they were like this. Absent of the crowds they’d been designed to hold and pregnant with the expectation of what was to come.
Once I’d relieved myself, I moved to stand before the mirror in the men’s locker room, washing my hands as I studied my reflection. A long time ago, my mouth hadn’t sat in such a hard line, that frown hadn’t been buried into my brow almost permanently, my dark blue eyes hadn’t been haunted with the memories of everything I’d lost. But it was kinda hard to remember that kid these days. Thinking about him felt like thinking about someone else. His memories were always hazy with sunshine and the echoes of laughter. But I wasn’t sure I even knew how to laugh like that now. I hardly remembered how to smile and when I did, it wasn’t that joy filled expression I’d used to use.
I was cold and hard and untouchable now. All because Saint Memphis’s family had decided that mine had no value. His father had taken everything from me because he’d been afraid for his reputation, and I sure as fuck wasn’t going to let him and his friends do something similar to that girl out there.
I glanced at my dirty blonde hair and sighed as I tried to make it lay flat for a few moments. I usually used product to slick it back but without any, I just had to tuck it behind my ears. I quickly gave up on it and sighed as I realised I’d be pushing it out of my eyes all day whatever I did.
The box of supplies that had been left out for us last night wasn’t actually all that well stocked. It had food and bottled water, but that was it. No blankets or spare clothes or damn toothpaste. I guessed they’d had to work in a rush, but it was still frustrating knowing that my apartment was a short walk away and it held everything I could want and more for this situation.
I blew out a breath and shoved my hand into my pocket, pulling out a pack of gum and pushing a stick between my teeth.
My phone buzzed as I placed the gum back in my pocket beside it and I drew it out to see who was looking for me.
My eyebrows rose as I spotted the list of eight missed calls and three messages from Kyan Roscoe and I quickly opened the messages to see what he wanted.
Kyan:
I need to ask you a favour
Kyan:
We can pay you for it.
Kyan:
This is urgent, asshole, call me back.
I considered that for a moment as I walked back into the pool room, pushing my tongue into my cheek as I tried to keep my temper in check. I could easily guess why they were calling. It seemed that the photos Tatum had sent them last night after she’d switched her phone back on to prove where she was hadn’t been enough to ease their concerns about their pet escaping their clutches.
My gaze swept over the messages again as I walked back to the crash mat where we’d slept and when I looked up, my heart leapt as I realised I’d walked in on Tatum getting changed.
Her back was to me and she’d already put her yoga pants on thankfully, but she’d taken her dress off and her bare skin caught my eye and refused to let me look away for a moment that stretched far too long.
“Sorry,” I said, clearing my throat as I forced myself to turn my back on her and she gasped at the sound of my voice.
“No, it’s my fault, I should have gone to the locker rooms, it’s just so cold outside this room,” she replied quickly and I could hear her pulling her clothes on as she cursed beneath her breath.
A smirk captured my lips and wouldn’t let go. By the time she told me to turn back to face her again I found myself caught on the verge of laughter.
“What?” she asked, tipping her head so that her long hair snaked over her shoulder and tickled her side. She was wearing that push up sports bra again, dressing in the same outfit she’d worn for our kickboxing session. She’d had the good idea to give them a wash and hang them in the sauna to dry so she had two outfits to alternate between for our lockdown. It was just my luck that both of her options made her look insanely tempting. I just couldn’t decide whether that luck was good or bad.