Her throat worked. “You apparently can.”
Damn. I stepped closer to her, my eyes searching hers. “You were really worried, weren’t you?”
“No shit! What part of ‘I thought you drowned’ don’t you understand?” A tremble rocked her.
Hell, she was really upset. Honestly, if I’d drowned, I figured she’d do a little dance on my grave. In her bikini. Shit. Screw the bikini. “Kat, I came up. You must not have seen me. I went right back down.”
Taking a step back, she shook her head, and I could see in her steely eyes she didn’t believe me. Holy hell, here I was worrying about Dee doing something to expose us, and it was me who did the bonehead thing. Let it go, Kat. Let it go. I took a deep breath, thinking maybe if I pissed her off, she would forget what happened in her anger. Better than the other option. “Does this happen often?” I asked.
Her gaze snapped back to mine. “Does what?”
“Imagining things.” I gestured at the lake. “Or do you have a horrible issue with telling time?”
“I wasn’t imagining anything! And I know how to tell time, you jerk.”
“Then I don’t know what to tell you.” I stepped forward, crowding her. “I’m not the one imagining that I was underwater for ten minutes when it was like two minutes tops. You know, maybe I’ll buy you a watch the next time I’m in town, when I have my keys back.”
She stiffened as she stared up at me and anger clouded over the suspicion in her eyes. “Well, make sure you tell Dee we had a wonderful time so that you can get your stupid keys back. Then we won’t need a replay of today.”
I smiled at her. “That’s on you, Kitten. I’m sure she’ll call you later and ask.”
“You’ll have your keys. I’m ready—” She turned, and it happened so fast. Her foot slipped over the wet rock. Thrown off balance, her arms flailed.
I didn’t stop to think.
Snapping forward, I reached out and caught her hand just as her feet left the rock. I pulled her forward, and then we were chest to chest. Her skin was warm and dry, mine wet. I clenched down on my jaw as sensation powered through every one of my cells. There was no denying the bolt of lust that shot through me.
Hell, she was so soft in all the right places.
“Careful there, Kitten,” I murmured. “Dee would be pissed at me if you end up cracking your head open and drowning.”
Kat slowly lifted her head, and her gray eyes met mine. Her lips parted, but she didn’t speak, and I was A-OK with that. Words were freaking pointless at this moment, because our bodies were pressed together.
Electricity coursed through my skin, and I had no idea if she felt it, and if she did, if she thought it was just her imagination, but I swallowed a low groan as a light breeze washed over our skin. Her chest rose against mine, and I needed to either let her go or…or what?
There was no other option.
I dropped my arm from her waist, letting my hand slip off her lower back just to freaking torture myself. The skin was soft and smooth, and the near-painful pressure building in me was worth it. “I think it’s time we head back.”
Officially the smartest decision I had made since first seeing her.
Pathetic.
Kat nodded, and we didn’t speak as we made our way back to land, dried off, and dressed, and that was probably a damn good thing, because I was in one hell of a mood for a multitude of reasons.
The walk back was silent and stiff, and when we crested the driveway, my mood went from shit to punch someone when I saw the car in the driveway. Dammit all to hell in a hand basket. Kat glanced up at me, her expression curious.
“Kat, I—”
My front door swung open, banging off the side of my house, and Matthew strolled out like he had every right. He came down the porch steps, not even looking in Kat’s direction. “What’s going on here?” he demanded.
Man, I cared for Matthew like a brother, but he had no business being in my house like that. I folded my arms. “Absolutely nothing. Since my sister is not home, I’m curious as to why you’re in my house?”
“I let myself in,” he replied. “I didn’t realize that would be a problem.”
“It is now, Matthew.”
Kat shifted uncomfortably beside me, drawing Matthew’s attention. His lip curled up as he shook his head. “Of all people, I’d think you’d know better, Daemon.”
Tension poured into the air around us. “Matthew, if you value the ability to walk, I wouldn’t go there.”
“I think I should go.” Kat moved to the side.
For some reason I’ll never understand, I stepped in front of Kat, blocking her from Matthew’s glare. “I’m thinking Matthew should go unless he has another purpose other than sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong.”