Realizing what he's trying to do, I pull away just in time, making him laugh, his voice raspy. I'm blinking fast, my breath sounding strangled. What is going on here?
"You don't wanna play?" he asks me, and his tongue darts out of his mouth, giving his bottom lip a lick.
I would very much like to play, I realize, then shake my head to get the thought out. Bad boys are okay in theory, but this guy is foul. But I can't resist replying, deciding a little teasing might be fun after all.
"Oh, I wanna play," I say in a purr, stepping over to him. "Think you can take me?"
He smirks, and one of his hands sneaks up my arm, closing in around my neck. That is not a place he should be touching right now, but for some reason, I can't bring myself to stop him.
I'm breathing hard already. His fingertips are rough from being in the water, but they leave goosebumps in their wake as they stroke over my skin.
"Do you have a name, darlin'?" he asks roughly.
"Why do you ask?" I murmur against his ear, enjoying his scent more than I should. It's just like a day at the beach – salty, mixed with suntan lotion and so, so hot. Pure summer.
"Oh, no reason," he replies with a slow smile, his fingers tightening around my neck. I should feel scared – his grip is strong and unrelenting. But for some reason, this conversation with a stranger is turning me on way more than it should.
"Just want to know whose tits I'm about to see," he says. I give him a confused look just as his fingers pull deftly on the strings of my bikini top.
"Fuck!" I yell just as he moves away and my bikini drops down from my neck. I feel the strings on my belly and before I can react, I realize his eyes are already glued to my chest, his gaze a mix of lust and arrogance.
My hands fly up to my exposed chest a second too late and an avalanche of curse words roll off my tongue.
The douchebag moves away, laughing his head off. "Nice to meet you, too," he shouts after me as I run away from the beach, leaving my towel forgotten on the hot sand.
I can't believe that happened – who does that? It's pure evil and I'm so angry I wish I'd stayed long enough to scratch the guy's eyes out. But the embarrassment was just too much to handle, and I had to get away, knowing tears would be stinging my eyes if I didn't.
As soon as I'm closer to the house, my mind swimming with ideas on how I should avenge my dignity, I hear voices.
I make sure to re-tie my bikini so I'm not too exposed, rushing inside and grabbing a kitchen towel when I'm inside the house. I cover myself up as well as I can, then storm inside the living room, where the voices are coming from.
"Daddy!" I call at the top of my voice, walking into the room and hoping my feet leave sandy prints on the perfect floors. "Daddy, I'm here!"
"And charming as ever," he remarks, coming around the corner with a wide smile plastered on his face. He's already got his arms out, and I run into his hug, gripping him close.
I haven't seen my dad in months, and as angry as I am, I have to admit it feels good to be back in his arms. Before my parents divorced, I'd always been a daddy's girl. It hurts to know this is no longer the case.
"Missed you, little one," he teases me as I step away from his embrace. His eyes scan my face, and I guess he can see the distress as he furrows his brow. "Something wrong?"
"Only everything!" I exclaim with a dramatic sigh. As soon as I realize it's just Dad and me, I drop the kitchen towel on the floor, kicking at it with my sandy feet. When I see the mess I've made, I feel better, deciding it's just the start of my rebellion against stepmother dearest.
"You should tidy up," Dad says with a kind smile. "Don't just leave stuff on the floor, honey."
I look at him with surprise, not appreciating the scolding. "I'm sure Step-momma will take care of that," I give a nasty reply, immediately regretting my words as I see the hurt register on Dad's face.
"Sure, and I guess you'll be cooking your own dinner, then?" a sweet voice interrupts, and I turn around to see a woman standing in the doorway.
She's petite, with perfect coiffed blonde hair and blue eyes. She's pretty, that's for sure, but I decide on the spot I don't like her. She's trying to change everything, and I don't like her thinking she can take Mom's space. I don't much appreciate her attitude, either.