We're all outside, congregated on my patio that surrounds the massive infinity pool I have. It's designed to look as though it's pouring into the ocean from a certain angle. The beautiful beach is just a stairway away.
The hot tub is loaded down with people, though I don't know how they're tolerating it. It's already muggy out here as it is. I'd rather be in the pool, but I'll wait to rip my shirt off when Rain gets here. I want her to take it all in—make her realize what she missed out on. I don't look like a teen anymore.
Kode is now sipping his beer, laughing with Dale and Fiona—his fiancée. I've barely paid attention to the conversation around the table. I do know that Kode and Dale are very obviously ignoring Tria, which is slowly grating on my nerves.
"So, do you want to?" Fiona asks, tugging at my elbow.
I turn to meet her gaze, feeling like an ass for having no clue what she means.
"Um, I'm free on Friday for dinner if you are," Tria says, doing what she can to help me out, but I'm still lost.
Dinner? Friday?
"As far as I know, I'm free," I murmur noncommittally. Dale roll his eyes as if he's not happy about something. What did I just do wrong?
"Great!" Fiona squeals while clapping her hands. "I'll have Dale's chef whip something up. I'd love to spend a little more time with Tria. She's so much easier to be around than some people I won't mention."
Shit. She's talking about—
"You'd better not be talking about Rain," Kode growls, leaning up on his elbows to glare at Fiona.
Dale huffs and runs his hand through his hair. This looks like an ongoing dispute that I've been left out of. I know Fiona doesn't like Rain, but I didn't realize she was so vocal about it. None of their girlfriends ever like Rain because they struggle to believe she's just friends with all of them.
"She's drunk, Kode. Leave it be," Dale grumbles.
Kode says something pretty foul under his breath, though I only catch bits and pieces about her being a ball-busting hag and something about... camel toe? It earns a hefty gasp from Fiona, so I can only imagine it was crude. She should know better than to stir up Kode.
Dale covers his grin with his hand and looks away when Fiona finds herself lost for words. Kode flips her off before moving away from the table and heading toward the beach to cool off. Something I always make him do. At least he's saving me the trouble.
"Damn. I thought that was going to be worse," Tria whispers, seeming relieved that Kode's anger is concentrated on someone other than her.
"Not at my house. He always behaves somewhat here."
She nods as I stand up, and Fiona starts in on her about staying away from Kode—not that Tria has a problem with that advice. She apparently has no idea that Tria is trying to make amends with Rain, though. I can't believe Dale puts up with Fiona trashing Rain, considering how protective he is. Hell, I was ready to say something, and Rain burned me.
The line at my outside bar is ridiculous, so I head in to grab myself a beer from the fridge. I'm stopped when I hear the shrill squeals coming from out front.
Through the window, I see Maverick and Corbin wrestling with a very feisty Rain. Did they kidnap her to get her here? She looks dressed to fucking kill, so surely she knew she was going out. It's not like they nabbed her out of bed.
Her short, sexy, form-fitting plum dress is too hot on her. Shit. She wasn't supposed to be this sexy. She never wore anything the least bit revealing. One dress, one time. That was it. And that was on her last day here. How am I supposed to think straight when she has on a strapless dress and high heels meant for seduction?
Maverick scoops her up and tosses her over his shoulder, making her dress rise up enough to barely show the bottom curve of her ass. Fuck my life.
Now I know she's most likely wearing a thong or nothing at all. Images flash back of the night I had her, my hands on that same ass, and just like that, I'm hard as a rock. Yep. I'm a damn teenager again. And it's hell.
***
RAIN
"I'm going to kick your ass," I gripe while ineffectively pounding Maverick's back, wishing he'd put me down instead of keeping me strung over his shoulder. Caveman. "This isn't a club! This is Dane's house, isn't it? Damn you! I don't want to be here!"
I should have known better when they showed up and demanded I get sexy. Lying assholes. They told me Britt’s party was canceled and they wanted to take me out. But this is Dane’s house. It has to be.
Maverick and Corbin are ignoring my little meltdown, finding amusement instead of the terror I'm trying to strike them with.
Maverick just laughs while slapping my ass, offering me the realization that my dress has ridden up. "You bastard!"
He laughs harder, and so does my other traitorous friend, Corbin.