HOLD ME TIGHT

HOLD ME TIGHT
LIORA’S POV
Startled, I turned back to find Azrael and Joel behind me. Where the hell did they come from? And how long have they been standing there?
Joel was the one who whistled while Azrael’s gaze never left my body. Intense and raging, the man’s eyes honed in. They were dressed in vibrant shorts, with Joel wearing a singlet while Azrael’s firm chest was full on display.
Everywhere felt suddenly hot, and it wasn’t because of the sun.
I picked the shirt from the ground, about to wear it. Azrael was in front of me in seconds. He grabbed the shirt and ripped it out of my hand, then discarded it.
Joel chuckled, then jumped into the pool just like Mara. Birds of the same feathers, no wonder they were always at each other’s throats. They began trying to drown each other.
“Don’t.” Azrael’s voice came out throaty.
I didn’t know what to do other than stare into his eyes. “It’s barely covering anything,” I mumbled.
“If it were up to me. It wouldn’t cover anything at all.” He said gruffly. He pulled me into his arms and snuggled into my neck, his breath caused the hair on my body to stand erect.
“Are you guys going to stand there mentally fucking each other or come into the water?!” Joel yelled from the pool while Mara smacked him on the head.
“Your cheeks are a different shade,” Azrael whispered while I pushed him away from me.
He chuckled while I hid my face in embarrassment.
“Are you coming?” he asked.
“I can’t swim,” I mumbled.
“Better. Just another thing I get to teach you.” He held my hand, leading me into the pool.
Why do I feel his words had a sexual meaning?
When my body touched the cool water, I felt myself sinking into the water. But Azrael’s hand held me close to him. The surrounding ripples, coming mostly from Joel and Mara.
“What am I supposed to do now?” I asked. I had zero experience in swimming, and I doubted I could get the hang of it.
“Hold me tight.” He told me and placed my arms around his biceps. I gripped the muscle so hard that it turned pink and my fingernails were engraved onto his skin.
“Aren’t you supposed to be teaching me? If I hold you, how am I supposed to learn?”
“I planned to, but I figured your staying this close would feel much better,” Azrael smirked, tucking my wet hair behind my ear.
“Traitor,” I smacked his arms off me as I tried stepping back, but nearly slipped into the water.
My hands flung to Azrael’s neck as I held onto him. There was a glint in his eyes. I was so scared I’d fall into the water and never see the light of day again.
“I don’t think taking your hands off me would be wise” Azrael’s hands tightened around my waist, drawing me closer than I was. His breath was on my face while my hands curled around his neck. His wet hair dripped onto his shoulders. How could he look so good without effort?
He brought me a little closer, and I unconsciously pressed my boobs against his firm chest. A slight grunt escaped his lips, but I tried my best to ignore it.
“If I didn’t know you any better, I’d think you’re trying to seduce me,” Azrael said, one of his hands moving to my butt cheek while the other grazed my back.
I jolted, turning to see if anyone else was seeing what he was just doing, but Mara and Joel were too busy cursing each other out to notice what Azrael’s treacherous bands
“I’m not trying to do that,” I mumbled, turning my face away from his.
“Then where did you pull this from?” He asked as his voice dropped an octave, his gaze directed to my bikini.
“This is all Mara’s doing.” I hissed.
“Then I think Mara should come visit you more.” He grinned, biting my earlobes, I felt something rush underneath. Not the pool water but my own bodily fluid.
My legs buckled, but unfortunately, that only made my lower part come in contact with his.
“I would suggest you refrain from such acts.” He groaned. “We wouldn’t want our friends to witness something passionate, right?”
His words rushed into my head, and my thoughts ran back to another time other than the present. That night Azrael had called me a slutty nun. Warm saliva accumulated in my throat as I tried to gulp it down.
Azrael’s hands went higher, so close to the place where I had tied the bikini. This man is mad! I smacked the back of his head. “You picked up so many bad habits from that prison.”
“Who said I was imprisoned?” He asked with a dubious look in his eye.
I stared at Azrael, confused. “That’s what Ralph’s men said. That you surrendered yourself? Joel even said so too.”
“That’s what Ralph thinks. I wasn’t jailed. The imprisonment thing had been a cover. I was just kept at a secret black site, away from public knowledge.” Azrael chuckled nervously while I glared at him.
“So you mean y’all lied to me!”
“Ish. No, did I ever tell you such? You heard it from Raphael and Joel, not me. He ensured the place felt like a prison. Besides, if I had gone to the real prison, there would have been a mafia uproar and this city would have been in chaos. Your lovely Ikonde might not have been spared.” Azrael grinned.
“You should have just stayed there.” I pinched his hands but Azrael brought me closer, smacking my ass beneath the water.
“I’ve missed you a lot, Flower.” His words sounded so rich that I wanted to melt into them.
Should I? Do I really give in to this big bad wolf? I didn’t feel like running away anymore. Maybe my dreams would make more sense with this beautiful man in them. Everything always seemed right whenever he was with me, so why not?