The foolish grin Benji had on his cheeks made my blood run cold. There was something in his eyes I didn’t like. Had he been watching me this entire time? I quickly pushed off the wall and swam away from the pool’s edge. Anything to get away from this man. The sight of him made everything in my body run cold, despite the fact that I knew I was sweating from head to toe. I forced myself to tread water, even though my muscles screamed for rest.
I decided to swim to the other side of the pool.
“Oh, no you don’t.”
I heard him get up and race around the pool. As my hands touched down onto the concrete, I saw his shadow rounding the corner. I drew in a deep breath and pushed off again. Maybe I could wear him out and find an opening. I swam back across, but he kept up with me. Back and forth. Back and forth.
How in the world could I possibly feel cornered in a pool?
“I just want to talk!”
His voice echoed off the walls of the pool, rattling my ears.
“Get away from me, you freak!”
He chuckled. “That’s rich, you calling me the freak, Bambi.”
“Ah!”
I let out a frustrated cry and dove underneath the water. I used my feet to splash him, hopefully distracting him long enough to get to the shallow end of the pool. If I could get my legs underneath me, I knew I was faster than him. So even though my lungs screamed for mercy, I moved as fast as I could. I opened my eyes under water, feeling them burn as my goggles slipped off my face. I pushed the water behind me with my cupped hands, hoping and praying I had beat him.
But when I came out of the water, I felt a tight grip around my wrist.
“Let me go!”
Benji laughed. “No wonder you’ve piqued Max’s curiosity.”
He tugged me over to the steps as I tried to pull away from him.
“I said let me go. Now.”
He snickered. “You’re a feisty little thing. Sexy in a swimsuit. Those toned little legs of yours. Your tits are bigger than your shirts show, too. Lucky man, my cousin.”
“Help! Someone help me!”
“Aww, does Bambi need her father?”
I finally wrenched away. “Get the hell away from me. Now.”
“Oh, and she curses! Does that make you feel bad, Bambi? Did Max teach you one of those words, Daddy’s girl?”
I turned around to dive back into the pool, but I felt an arm wrap around me and hot breath on the nape of my neck. Benji. He had me. Panic rushed through my veins. I dug my nails into his forearm as I tried to jam backward with my elbow. But he was protected by the leather of his jacket. And the punch I delivered with my elbow didn’t seem to do anything but tickle him.
“Benji, put me down!” I shrieked.
He lifted me out of the pool. “And easy to toss around! Oh, Max is really going to like that.”
My legs flailed. “Stop it! Please! Someone help me!”
“Oh, quit your shouting. I just want to talk to the girl who’s got my cousin’s dick all twisted up in knots.”
“We aren’t sleeping together.”
His lips pressed against my ear. “Oh, but you will, Bambi. You will spread those legs for him. All girls do eventually. And do you know who swoops in for another round once he’s done?”
I grimaced. “I would rather die.”
He chuckled. “Until I show you what heaven really feels like, huh?”