#Chapter 15 – Water Playing

“Bed?!” I call out to the boys, surprised by their request. “It’s only…7 o’clock. You haven’t even had dinner!”

“Bed, bed!” the two boys shout, leaping to their feet and running around the pool. “Let’s go to bed!”

“Okay,” I say, shrugging. “Sorry Victor,” I say, turning to him. “Looks like the boys want to go home.”

“NO!” Ian shouts. “We can go to bed here! Dad has a BIG bed – we saw it upstairs! You said we could have a sleepover!”

“Yes, they should sleep here,” says Victor, eager to keep control.

“Bed! Bed! Bed!” The boys begin to chant, climbing on the ping pong table and hopping around.

“Boys, get down from there,” I say, anxious. I walk over and reach out my arms to lift them down.

“No!,” Ian shouts, an impish expression on his face. “You have to catch me first! And then we’ll go to BED!” Shrieking with laughter, he and Alvin leap from the table and fly by me, running around the pool.

“NO running!” Victor shouts, authoritative, expecting them to obey. The boys ignore him, laughing harder, jumping over lounge chairs and pushing floats into the pool.

“Boys!” I shout, using my best mom voice. It has no effect. I move towards the edge of the pool as they come around it, making a full circle. They’ll have to run right past me.

“Catch us! Catch us!” They shriek, dodging me and zipping by. I reach out as fast as I can, snatching at the tail of Ian’s shirt – missing – reaching for Alvin’s arm –

Suddenly, I feel my left leg go out from beneath me. I stumble sideways and gasp, seeing nothing but blue pool before me when – bam! I feel a strong arm around my waist, pulling me back and steadying me.

“Are you all right, Evelyn?” I gasp as Victor pulls me to him, holding me steady until I find my feet.

of my face and looking around for the boys, avoiding eye

say not,” Victor murmurs, finally taking back his

shout: “LET’S PLAY MARCO POLO!” and I spy a flash of him standing right behind

pool. I surface frantically, gasping for air, just in

Ian!” I shout, full of rage. I can’t believe they’ve

and “Polo!,” completely lost in the excitement of their game. I struggle to the side of the pool and support myself against

ten feet away, teeth fully bared, full Alpha asserting his authority over

paddle towards him until they each stand at his side, up

boys,” he growls, “will

boys mumble. I raise my

on the concrete where they stand silent and still. Then he pulls his sopping dress shirt off over his head, tossing

the sight of his shirtless body, realizing that he’s somehow gotten in better shape than he was five years ago, his supposed prime. His muscles

and I blink, realizing suddenly

say, slipping back into the pool and swimming over to the shallow end, where I pull off my pumps and climb

I say sternly, making my way over to all three. “That was unacceptable. You owe Victor and I

you two go wash

boys nod and begin to dash over to the shower. “Walk!” I shout after them, “and no nonsense.” They

as best I can, grimacing at my ruined silk dress. “They’re mischievous, but not usually this

a firm hand, like you said.

“You’re so…controlled, now. I have trouble thinking

of all people, could maybe think of a time when I was…impulsive.” At this, his eyes wander down my body and I look down at myself, realizing that my soaking dress

concentrate on drying my hair. Victor laughs behind me, not falling for

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