I stepped out in the bikini and every conversation around the pool died.

Alyssa dramatically lowered her sunglasses and whistled. "Holy hell."

Roman turned the second he saw me. And stared. Eyes dark, mouth parted,pupils blown wide. "Fuck me."

I walked past him and lowered myself into the infinity pool with slow,deliberate grace, every move choreographed for maximum effect.Every move catching Roman's attention.

When I surfaced, mny bikini clung to me like a scandal.

A collective silence hovered around the pool.

"Sav, that should be illegal in at least four states." Alyssa hollered.

Someone coughed. Someone else dropped their sunglasses.

Roman swam closer, jaw tight, voice low. "You planning to kill me in public?"

I smiled. "Why? Is it working?"

Roman swallowed hard.

He was already in the water. I disappeared beneath the surface,then rose again, each stroke pulling me toward him like gravity.

Our eyes locked. Tension snapped like a rubber band. Then,he moved.

He backed me against the wall of the pool. his hands anchoring my waist. "You're playing dangerous," he said, voice low. His breath fanning my neck.

"Just giving them a show." I breathed.

His fingers slid down to my thighs, lifted me effortlessly until my legs wrapped around his waist. I gasped, arms curling around his neck immediately.

Then he kissed me.

Not gentle. Not rehearsed. Just raw, claiming, unrestrained.

His mouth crushed against mine, tongue sweeping deep as if he needed to taste every piece of me. My hands tangled in his hair. I arched into him instinctively.

If he kissed me any harder, I'd forget we were pretending.

A moan slipped out of me.

Behind us, Chloe let out an audible scoff. "Are you serious right now?"

Roman didn't even turn.

And I know he felt it--the way my body responded, the way my nipples peaked against his chest, how his own body roared to attention beneath the water.

Chloe's voice came from the edge of the pool. Cold. Clipped.

"We1l, that was disgusting. Get a fucking room. There's a kid here."

She turned and stormed away, clearly pissed at having the spotlight

on someone else.

This reminded me of high school-when she'd slept with Declan,the guy I had a crush on, just because I made cheer captain and she didn't.

If things didn't go Chloe's way, she's making her own damn way.

Lizzie lifted her phone. grinning from ear to ear, "So fucking hot." She gushed. "I'm posting this everywhere!"

He broke the kiss, breathless and flushed, forehead pressed to hers. "I need a minute," he muttered, stepping back. "Or I'll embarrass myself in front of your whole damn family."

"Am I making you hot, Mr Blackwood?" My voice came out husky.

He shot me a warning look. "Don't push it, Sav."

He gently let me down, jaw tight, body tense, shot me one last glance-eyes conflicted, like he wasn't sure if he wanted to run or come back for more-before climbing out and heading toward the house, towel around his waist and frustration in his gait.

"I'm gonna need cold water and a therapist after that." He muttered,walking away.

That left me and Dean.

Dean swam lazily toward me, cocky grin in place.

"Well,well, well. That was quite a show."

I didn't respond. My pulse was still hammering, not from Dean-but from what just happened. From Roman. From the kiss I wasn't supposed to feel like I did.

I turned to him warily, heart still thundering in my chest. "Still a creep.I see."

He floated close, elbow on the pool edge, voice dropping. "You know,he's not the only one with eyes here. Savannah."

I scoffed.

Dean smirked. "And I don't walk away when things get heated."

"Yeah, I remember. You run."

My response seemed to excite him. He grinned like a Cheshire cat,eyes slowly gliding down my body and pausing at my breasts.

"I've missed you, Sav. Your fire. Your sharp replies." He licked his lips."Roman's one lucky bastard."

"Because I've got tits?"

His smirk dropped. "You're still mad at me for what happened years ago? Is that what this is all about?"

"Don't flatter yourself." I turned away.

"If you're still mad over what happened years ago, how come you're pushing forward with yourengagement?"

I paused,mid-stroke.

Dean's voice dipped. "Do I smell a little revenge game? Is that what this is?"

I laughed. loud and sharp. "You are one cocky bastard, aren't you?You think my world revolves around you?"

He lifted a brow, but I kept going.

"You think I'd pull an elaborate scheme to what? Getyou back? Make you suddenly realize you belong with me? You think you're that special?"

Dean straightened slightly. "I know I am. You chased me for years before we finally dated. And now, I'm supposed to believe that you'd just smile and raise a toast at my wedding to your sister? Come on,Sav,I know you better than that."

"Your dick's not made of gold, Dean. Get over yourself." I rolled my eyes.

He leaned in, eyes hungry."You kiss him like you're trying to forget someone. I just wonder if that someone's me."

The arrogant bastard.

He eagerly waited for my reaction, anything that could prove whatever narcissistic theory he had going on in his head.

I swam closer to him, his smirk deepening with every inch of distance I erased.

"Yeah." I whispered. "You're right. I actually came here with a plan."

Dean's eyes lit up, cocky, intrigued, completely buying into whatever fantasy he'd cooked up in his deluded head.

"I knew it," he breathed, voice thick with self-satisfaction.

I leaned in until our noses nearly touched, my breath brushing his skin. "You want to know the plan?"

His eyes darted towards a drop of water leisurely free-falling down the

valley of my breasts.

His finger skimmed the traveling liquid, lingering too long in between my breasts. He didn't break eye contact. He didn't even need to. The move said enough-he still thought he could touch me like he owned the past.

He nodded, smirk unwavering. "I'm all ears,sweetheart."

I smiled-sweet, sharp. dangerous.

"I came here to remind you of everything you lost. To make sure you never forget who you lost it to."

Dean's grin faltered.

I leaned closer, until he could feel the threat behind the sweetness.

"And if you push me again. Dean? I won't need a knife to ruin you. I'1l just let the truth do the cutting."

Then I turned and swam away.

Leaving him speechless.

And suddenly, not so smug.