Lost in Magic (Night Shadows Book 4) Read Online Free Page A

crowded.”
    The gentle sound of her light laughter drifted to him and she reached for the belt around her waist. “True. But you just want to see me in my swimsuit, don’t you?”
    It was hard not to stare at her body in anticipation after a comment like that. He managed to only briefly glance down before looking back into her eyes and gesturing at his shorts. “You’ve seen mine.”
    “Fair enough,” she said, her own gaze dropping down his body. He swore he felt it like a physical caress.
    Then her robe fell away as she set it down over her beach towel, revealing a dark green suit. As he’d suspected, it was more like a bikini with connecting strips. The top wrapped around her neck like a halter and a thin piece of material trailed down from between her breasts, connecting to the bottoms which were slung low on her hips. Damn.
    “Ladies first,” she said as she started toward the far end of the pool.
    Once she was past him Mick let his gaze drop to her tight ass. The suit clung to her cheeks, emphasizing her roundness, and her hips swung with each step. Most of her back was bare save for the tie behind her neck and a thin strap around her back below her bosom. Her hair was loose and sweeping along the skin just above the strap, teasing him. He wanted to run his fingers through it and brush them down her spine. He wanted to taste her lips and feel that body up against his.
    He needed to get in that damned pool.
    Mick trailed behind Allison until they reached the diving board. She threw him a wink over her shoulder and climbed the short ladder. He watched from the side as she made her way down the plank and rolled her shoulders back. She swept her arms out and around, bringing them forward, and pushed off with both feet. Her body arched shamelessly in the air before splashing down into the pool below. And then it was his turn.
    Not being all that poised of a diver, Mick opted to go for the cannonball instead.
    Ali was laughing at him when he popped back up.
    Mick frowned dramatically at her laughter, took a breath, and ducked under the water. He was pretty sure he heard her startled shriek when he caught her calves and tugged her down. She was still grinning when they popped back up and she splashed him square in the face.
    “That’s for dunking me,” she said.
    “I don’t remember dunking you,” Mick said. “That was more like an underwater tackle. But I could dunk you if you’d like.” He made to reach for her and laughed when she immediately back-peddled.
    “You’ll have to catch me first!” Then she was under the water, swimming away like a pro. For a moment he could only watch, admiring the way she moved under the water. And maybe for a heartbeat he wished he’d been born a water witch, but he banished the thought and gave chase instead. Just because he could manipulate the earth didn’t mean he didn’t know how to swim.
    ****
    Warner watched from across the pool while the woman who’d caught his eye flirted with another man. He’d spotted them on their way to the diving board earlier and he’d been watching them ever since. He’d barely looked away. They hadn’t noticed. Allison hadn’t once turned in his direction, her attention seemingly occupied with the man beside her.
    So that’s who she turned me down for.
    He didn’t understand it. The man was broader than him, sure, but in Warner’s mind that was a detraction. The man Allison was currently laughing for had too much muscle and no style. It was obvious the guy was only interested in her body. And she wasn’t helping, flaunting it around in that mockery of a one-piece. Allison was wasting her time on that guy. Guys like him were only good for one-offs. If they could get it up at all.
    I’ll just have to get her attention.
    They were temporarily neighbors. It couldn’t be that hard to get her alone. He’d just have to try a little harder if he wanted her to forget about her current infatuation.

Chapter Four
     
    After a day