Masked Sins (Ravaged Castle, #4)

by Amanda Richardson

I continue standing against the opposite wall and watch as he moves fluidly through the water, attempting to catch my breath. He must swim a lot. He’s not even out of breath when he stops right in front of me and pops up from the water, wiping his face and flicking his hair to the side. “You know, it’s rude to stare.” My chest burns with embarrassment. My skin is still tingling from where he touched me a minute ago. “I was just admiring your cardiovascular health. You’re not even out of breath. How many laps do you do every day?” He smirks and moves closer again so he’s only a few inches away, but this time I’m more prepared. We’re standing in the shallow end, so the water only comes up to my waist. I don’t let my eyes wander down to his chest as he gets closer, but I can see how the water collects and drips off his perfectly hewn pectoral muscles. “A lot,” he says, his voice husky. “There are certain … extracurricular activities that require peak cardiovascular health,” he adds, his lips pulling into a lopsided smile. I’m panting from the heat. That’s all. It’s over a hundred degrees out, and despite the pool being cold, I’m sweating and not breathing from the heat. “That’s good. Your girlfriend must be pleased,” I retort, instantly regretting it when a large smile breaks out on his face. “Oh, she is.” I clench my jaw and cross my arms, trying to think of something to say to change the subject and not imagine what it would be like to sleep with Orion.