🐞MTOABB🐞

"I'll wash the dishes," I say, standing up to collect the plates from the table.

"You don't have to do that, you're the guest," he tells me. By now Chloe and Cass had already moved to the lounge, leaving only him and I alone in the dining room area.

"I insist."

"Let me help." He takes the plates from my hands and disappears into the kitchen. I grab the remains on the table and follow him into the kitchen. I stopped on my trail, he had already soaked the plates in the sink and was leaning back glaring at me.

I place the glass jar on the counter and his eyes follow my movement.

"What do I do now?" I ask.

"Come right here." He beckons me with his index finger. I hesitate first, but still drag my feet towards him.

"You've been weird since the room incident," I tell him.

"I know, I was just caught off guard."

"I didn't mean to make it weird," I whisper and he wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to his chest.

"I know." He drops a wet kiss on my lips and suddenly lets go. Chloe clears her throat and makes her way to the fridge.

"I didn't see anything," she lies as she exits.

I place my head on his chest. "This is how I want to sleep tonight," he admits.

"We're waiting for you two so we can hit the pool together." Cass enters the room and Gomes drops his hands from my back. I move from his view and start washing the dishes. I washed and rinsed while he dried. We would be the perfect couple - living together, sleeping and waking up in the same bed - that was the dream.

He stayed downstairs while I rushed upstairs to change. I tried on the yellow swimsuit first - I turned to examine myself in the full mirror and spot Cass standing at the door. "He won't keep his hands off you in that, your nipples have already come out to play," she points out.

My cheeks and the tip of my ears display stains of pink as I blush at her comment. Maybe that is how I wanted it - I am who he should want and need.

"Should I change?" I ask unsure.

She nods. "Maybe wear the navy two piece." She points at the bikini on the bed. I had brought it along just in case, but had no intentions to wear it.

"You think so?" I ask unsure.

"Yes, you will be an extreme eye-candy wearing that." She leaves and I'm left nibbling at my nails with uncertainty. I finally undress and grab the bikini that Cass has chosen. I'm finally dressed when I hear a soft knock on the door.

"You can come in," I say. He opens the door and his eyes slowly roam my body. He makes no effort in leaving his current spot as he continues to scan my body - he was very unashamed in the way that he kept his focus on my bikini top. He finally captures my eyes and he smirks.

"You pierced your belly button," he moans in approval and I have the urge to cover myself. "I'm going to change now," he tells me and I nod.

He reaches over his head, grabs his shirt from the back and yanks it over his head in one swift movement. I make sense of what it is that he is doing and my eyes widen.

"I'm going to go." I point to the door.

"You don't have to." He smiles and I bolt for the door. He chuckles as I close the door behind me. I meet the girls outside by the pool. The sun was already setting and the backyard lights were on.

They both coo as I step into the pool and I cover my face, already feeling my cheeks turning pink.

"Are you two going to behave tonight?" Chloe asks.

"Can you stop asking me such questions," I say.

"That doesn't sound like a no," Cass says, turning to Chloe who nods in agreement.

He decides then to make an appearance in his black swim trunks and immediately butterflies enter my stomach.

Cass immediately gets out of the pool. "I'll get the alcohol."

"Don't stare for that long, you're drooling," Chloe snickers as she whispers in my ear.

I rolled my eyes, because we both knew I was not drooling. His bottom half disappears as he steps into the pool. He keeps his distance and I pout - but it was that little eye contact and the smile that followed that had me weak to my knees.

A minute later, Cass returns with two bottles of whiskey and hands it to Gomes before re-entering the cool water. I watch as he uncaps the one bottle and takes a huge gulp before stretching out his hand to Cass.

She wouldn't dare. She reaches for the bottle, drops her lips to the mouth of the bottle - the same mouth that Gomes stained with his lips - she takes a fair amount of the liquid and it feels like an eternity before she passes it to Chloe.

"I'll be right back," I say, not waiting for anyone to stop me - if they were even going to.

I make a left turn at the corner of the house and disappear from their view. I lean against the wall, listening to how jubilant their voices sounded. I sigh, already wanting to leave, because yes - I wanted to feel included, but yet I somewhat felt like an outcast. I stayed like this for a few more minutes, or maybe it was longer.

"And now?" Chloe giggles, already sounding drunk. She stands watch me with squinted eyes.

"Nothing, I just needed room to breathe," I lied, because that was the easy way out.

"Sure and I'm a unicorn..." She pulls at my arm. "...or a Pegasus." Her forehead creases as she stops to think. "I think I am a Pegasus," she slurs.

"How much have you drank?" I ask.

"We finished both bottles,," she squeals and I give her an unapproved glare. "I'm taking you inside," I tell her as I begin pulling her towards the door instead.

"Don't be a buzzkill," she says.

"I get that a lot."

"I'll take her," Cass says, making her way towards us. I nod in appreciation as I let go of Chloe's arm.

I return to the pool, finding Gomes doing a tumble turn as he edges to the wall of the pool. His eyes capture mine and he does it again - he lets his eyes trail down my body, and then his stare halts.

"You have a tattoo?" He asks, a little surprised. I nod, not sure if I can trust my voice right now.

He beckons me with his index finger and my feet follow the command. "I want to see it up close," he lets me know, still focusing his stare on where my tattoo is located.

A ladybug tattoo - I don't why I got it in the first place, maybe it was out of impulse.

"When did you get it?" He asks, trailing his hands up against my legs and stops mid-thighs.

"Last year," I admit to him.

He hums, focusing his full attention above my right butt cheek. He leans in and drops a kiss on the tattoo and at that moment, it was another form of heaven that he gave me. His hair is still wet, and it marks my skin but I don't complain. He kisses it again, this time longer and I quickly cross my legs.

He chuckles against my skin. "That easy, huh?" He asks and my cheeks blush in response - giving him the confirmation he wanted.