Deep Blue by Jules Barnard

shakes his head. He’s only a few feet from me now. “You need to be punished for that toss. It was pitiful.”
    My jaw drops, but instead of fearing the overgrown male stalking me, I’m turned on, and too curious to see what’s he’s going to do to care that it might not be right. I shutter my expression. “You are mean, you know that? Umff —”
    Jaeger has picked me up and thrown me over his shoulder.
    “ Hey! What are you doing?” I quickly adjust my blue bikini top to keep my boobs contained.
    “Dunking you. That’s your punishment.”
    I scream like a little girl. “Stop! The lake’s freaking cold! Please don’t.” But I’m giggling, and he’s hot beneath my bare belly, and his arm is wrapped around the back of my thighs, making my skin tingle. My ass is bent in an unflattering position over his shoulder, flat and wide, and I don’t even care because I’m laughing so hard. “Jaeger, I’m serious. I hate the cold.”
    “You grew up here—you can’t hate the cold.” The sand disappears below us, replaced by clear blue water.
    Shit, he’s deep enough now that my toes graze the freezing surface. “I do—I do—please stop,” I say, but I’m smiling and I can hear it in my voice, so he must too.
    He glides me down the front of his chest, my breasts pushing up between us. We’re eye level, my legs submerged in ice-cold water to my knees, but I’m hot as hell. He’s warm, and we’re warm, and my breath hitches.
    The corners of his mouth turn up. “What will you do to get out of your punishment?”
    My gaze flickers from his forest-green eyes, downturned slightly at the edges, to his full lips. I want to kiss him. If I were single, I’d lean in and gently kiss the corner of his mouth, teasingly.
    I glance back to his sensual eyes. They’re darker and his smile has slipped, his chest rising and falling quicker.
    I swallow. Shit. I have to stop this. “Please don’t put me in the water.”
    He must read something on my face, because his brows pull together. He stares for a long moment, then bends over. For a split second, I think he’s going to dunk me, but instead, he curls his arm beneath my knees and cradles me to his chest.
    His mouth curves and he leans down and dips my feet in the water. I gasp, but he doesn’t drop me, he carries me to shore.
    Jaeger sets me on the sand. “You’re safe. For now.”
    I don’t know what just happened, but I think he sensed my hesitation and backed off. I’m glad of that, but at the same time, I’m not. I should tell him I have a boyfriend, but he hasn’t asked, or made an overt pass that would force the conversation. To say something now would be presumptuous.
    We walk silently to our friends. Gen’s folding her towel. I look past her and find the barbecue pits occupied.
    Jaeger’s quiet. He’s got to know I’m attracted to him, but I can’t tell if his flirting is merely a wingman maneuver to keep me occupied while Mason talks to Gen, or if he’s seriously interested.
    Mason looks over. “Cali, I was just telling Gen about the party we’re having next weekend. You guys should come.”
    Gen glances up while putting away her things and smiles. It’s not a tight smile, flagging me to come up with some excuse. It’s friendly and warm. Happy.
    This could be a good opportunity for her and Mason to get to know each other. “Sure. I’d love to go,” I say.
    Gen grabs her beach bag and swings it over her shoulder. We say good-bye to the guys and make our way to the barbecue pits.
    Halfway there, I glance back. Jaeger and Mason are jogging down the beach, passing the pretty brunette Jaeger was flirting with earlier. She’s off to the side, smiling his way.
    I don’t know why I care. It’s like some sick torture I’m putting myself through. I shouldn’t be attracted to him, but I am—and I can’t help feeling jealous over another girl who’s able to flirt freely with him.
     
    A handful of Nessa’s friends at the barbecue are from the