Paxton's Promise by L.P. Dover Read Free Book Online

Paxton waited for me at the other end and when I got there he looked at me over his shoulder.
    “What do I get if I win?”
    My pulse quickened and my breaths came out in rapid pants. I was competitive by nature, but even I knew there was no way I could win against him. I should have thought this through better. “You can kiss me.”
    His eyebrows shot up. “And what do you get if you win?”
    I hesitated and settled on something non-committal. “Breakfast in bed.”
    He seemed a little put off by my request, but shook it off and nodded. “It’s a deal.”
    If I was truthful with myself, I wanted to lose. Licking my lips, I kept my gaze on the other side of the pool, the finish line.
    “All right. One . . . two . . . three . . . go .”
    As fast as I could, I pumped my arms and my legs until they burned. His pool was Olympic sized so it was about twice the length of a normal pool. I didn’t even look at his progress, I just kept going, breathing in gulps of air every few strokes.
    When I stopped hearing his arms and legs pounding against the water I knew it was done. He was already at the other end waiting on me. Gasping for air, I held onto the edge of the pool and leaned my forehead against it. I hated to lose.
    “You lost, sunshine.”
    “No shit,” I growled.
    “I need you to turn around.” His voice was right by my ear and I could feel the heat of his body behind me.
    Lifting my head, I huffed and turned around, my back to the pool wall. His arms closed me in. “I guess you’re going to want payment,” I whispered, looking down at his lips.
    Pressing his body to mine, he grabbed my thighs and lifted me up. I was straddling his waist, but now I had to hold onto him. Almost hesitantly, I wrapped my arms around his neck and tried desperately to breathe without him knowing how bad he affected me.
    “I did win fair and square,” he pointed out. A mischievous smirk splayed across his face.
    “A deal’s a deal. You, Mr. Emerson, get to kiss me.” I said, trying not to look too excited.
    His whole body scorched me with every single touch on my bare skin. His hands were tight under my ass, holding me in place. I was on fire and I wanted more. Between his legs, his cock was hard and pushed into me when he backed me into the wall. I throbbed and ached with the need to move against him, to feel him inside me. He hovered by my face, so close I could hear him breathing hard through his nose. Our gazes locked with half-lidded stares. And . . . that was it. He never brought his lips to mine.
    I was going to lose it. “What’s wrong? Don’t you want to kiss me?”
    He looked hurt and frankly, a little angry. Pulling back, he let me go and moved away from me. The ever growing distance between us growing with each second. “Nah. I told you I wouldn’t ask for anything you weren’t willing to give. I have to go,” he said, getting out of the pool. “There’s somewhere I need to be.” Once out, he quickly headed for the door.
    “Pax,” I called. He kept going. But I am willing to give it to you. I almost said it out loud, but it was too late. He’d already walked through the patio door.
    Slamming the door shut, I watched him disappear up the stairs. Shit. Had I hurt him in some way? Well, I wasn’t going to let him ignore me anymore. Whatever was so important that he had to leave me for, I was going to find out. It might be a little stalkerish, but I wasn’t going to sit by myself another night longer.

 
     
    I HAD NO clue how I was going to find out where Paxton was going until my saving grace came in the form of a phone call. My bedroom was just across from his and when I heard him talking, I edged toward the door and listened in.
    “Fuck yeah, I’m gonna be there. Everything’s all ready,” he said low. What was he talking about? I wish I knew who the other person was and what they were saying.
    “Okay, meet me at Delaney’s track in about an hour. I don’t know if I’m going to the club