“Aye, Taigi! You’re on the wrong side.” Jeremy clapped for him to come over to him.
But Taigi lay down, rolling over for me to scratch his stomach.
“He’s been in the city for too long, it’s messed with his head,” Masoa replied. With one whistle, Taigi was back on his feet and running to his side. “I’ll see you boys later. I’ll let Gwen know you left.”
“See you later, Masoa.” They headed off on their own and nodded back toward me with smirks on their faces.
Roy shook his head and added, “Good luck.”
The silence was potent as they disappeared, leaving us both at the edge of the water.
“How long have you been seeing my daughter?” he asked, crouched down, flicking a rock into the water. His eyes were so clear the water seemed to reflect in them, and in turn, the sky as well.
“Not very long. We were sort of friends for a time before that.”
“Sort of friends. And that means?”
“We fought and teased each other constantly, though I believe I started it by calling her a con artist.”
He stood. “You called my daughter a con artist?”
“Yes, I did, right after I found out how much money my mother bought her painting for. I believe she called me Dr. Asshole in return. Sometimes, I swear she’s still thinking it in her mind.” I smirked.
“Aren’t you supposed to be making me like you with your gentleman routine and whatnot?”
“Oh I am, just discreetly. Besides, it’s only the first day, you still have to get a few rounds in, sir. Then, and only then, when you’re ready to like me, you will.” I put my hands into my pockets, staring upward again. I felt like I could look up at the stars forever.
“That story about your father, was it real?”
That was the only thing that angered me, and I turned to him seriously. “If you remember anything about me, sir, please remember this: never will I ever lie on my father’s name, nor use my family for my own advantage. There are some lines you just don’t cross. Family is mine.”
“Is everything okay?” Guinevere came out holding a tray of iced tea.
“Everything is fine,” Masoa said.
I nodded, thanking her for the glass.
“Well, Dad, it’s been a long day. I’ll show Eli his room.”
“The one in the basement.” His eyes narrowed.
“Of course,” she replied, all but pulling my arm as her mother came outside.
“Goodnight,” I said to her mother as Guinevere led me back into the house.
“Congrats, you made it through round one.”
She led me down the hall. I noticed the floors creaked loudly when we walked. “So this is why he wanted me in the basement?” I wondered if he had somehow made the floorboards creak like that just for this reason.
She flicked on the lights, exposing one wall covered in books adjacent to a giant mirror hanging above a dresser, all over a carpeted white floor. My bag was already beside it, by the door to what I guessed was the bathroom. “Are all of those yours—”
She cut me off, kissing me. Her hands snaked around my neck, and mine behind her. I bit her bottom lip and she opened for me, moaning against my mouth when I cupped her ass. I felt myself harden when her breasts pushed up against me.
“Sorry,” she whispered when we broke apart. “I’ve wanted to do that for a while now.”
“Don’t ever apologize for kissing me like that,” I replied, my hands in her back pockets. We didn't say anything, just stared at each other, her fingers playing with the collar of my shirt.
“I should go before I get you in trouble,” she said, though her eyes drifted to my lips.
“You should.” But I didn’t want her to.
“Goodnight, Eli.”
“Goodnight, Guinevere.”
Neither of us moved.
“You have to let go of me, Eli.”
Releasing her but not moving, I waited for her to leave.
She still didn’t.
“You’re not moving.”
“I was honestly hoping you would hold on longer. Goodnight,” she said, walking past me.
I grabbed her arm, pulling her back to me, kissing her hard. Hands on the backs of her thighs, I lifted her up and her legs wrapped around me, her fingers gripping my hair.
God, she has no idea how good she tastes.
“Gwen?” Her mother called from the top of the stairs.
Sighing, we broke away and I let her down. She moved to the stairs, trying to fix her clothes. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I’ll be here,” I replied as she went up, the stairs squeaking with each step. “And Guinevere?”
“Yeah?”
“Next time, I won’t let you go,” I said.
“Good. I like the way you hold me.” She winked.
When she was gone, I stripped, heading straight to the shower.
Jesus, she sets my blood on fire.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Terror and Dead Shot
Guinevere
“Sorry you missed out on a good run this morning?” I asked Eli as we walked up the trail in the woods behind my house.