“What is it, then?”
“A bikini,” I correct him.
“Not made of much.”
I glance down to see my nipples poking against the thin white fabric. Maybe he can see more than I realized.
I return my gaze to his. “I know.”
He reaches out and drifts his thumb against the very nipple I was just looking at. “Water too cold?”
“It’s perfect.”
He shifts closer, the water swirling around us. I scoot backward, until I’m against the wall of the pool, my back pressed to the slick tile, my feet firmly touching the bottom. Perry is standing in front of me, above me, water running down his bare chest, little paths snaking across his skin.
I want to lick the water. Lap at his skin with my tongue. Hear him hiss in a breath.
Without a word he rests his hand on my hip, his fingertips slipping just beneath the string of my bikini bottoms. Despite the cool water, I can feel the heat of his touch, branding my skin. Making my breaths come faster.
I’m trembling.
My eyes fall shut when he shifts even closer, his body pressed to mine, his heat seeping into me. He drifts his fingers down the front of my chest, in between my breasts, so lightly I could almost believe he’s not touching me at all.
“I should hate you,” he murmurs, his casually cruel words lashing at my heart.
“Why?” I croak, hating how sad I sound.
I don’t want him to hate me—and I don’t want to hate him either. We’re stuck together. We should be allies, not enemies.
Here we go again with the mixed messages.
“I still don’t trust you. Your ex showing up at our reception? That was fucked up.” He slips his fingers into the front of my bikini top, sliding them up and down along my breast. “Winston believes you had something to do with him being there.”
I open my eyes. “I already told you I didn’t ask Seamus to come to our re—”
Perry clamps his hand over my mouth, silencing me. “Don’t say his name.”
I stare up at him, fear making my heart pound faster.
“I never want to hear you say his fucking name again, do you hear me?” When I nod, he slowly removes his hand. “My brother has launched a full investigation into that asshole.”
“How do you know?”
“I spoke to him earlier on the phone.” He glares at me. “You think I was just going to ignore what happened at our wedding? I’m not about to get played.”
Plotting my demise without my knowledge during our honeymoon. How wonderful.
“I’m not trying to play you.” Whatever that means. “And I don’t understand the need to investigate…him.”
What am I saying? I know Seamus didn’t show up out of the blue just to say hi. He wants to cause trouble.
But why?
Perry blows out an aggravated breath. “Because he’s related to the Morellis.” His fingers find my nipple and he pulls and tugs, making me hiss in pain, yet he doesn’t let up. “Morellis like to fuck with Constantines.”
“I have nothing to do with this.”
“You have everything to do with this.” He grips my hip tightly, his voice fierce. “Don’t act all innocent with me, Charlotte. Like you don’t know how the real world works. You’re not some sheltered little girl who was kept under lock and key all your life. You ran away to Paris and fucked your professor. There’s nothing innocent about that.”