"How are you feeling," he whispered in my ear.

I sighed, "Content."

"Me, as well. It's so peaceful and relaxing here," I could hear the smile in his voice.

"It gets boring really quick though," I sighed as I pulled back to look at him.

He smirked, "Hold my shoulders, Kitten."

I was nervous for what he wanted, there was a glint of mischief in his eye and I didn't know how to take it.

I did as told, "Now, Daddy cares about you and only wants you happy and content, but if the little Kitten says she's bored then we'll have to fix that, won't we?"

I arched an eyebrow, expecting the worst, but then I felt him push my thighs up and before I could react, I was thrown into the air and splashed into the water.

When I came up, I gasped and immediately went on the offense, "Preston!"

"Yes, love?"

He was at the other side of the pool, smirk still plastered in his stupid face.

"I'm gonna get you," I smirked back and began making my way to him.

He didn't even flinch, just the smirk on his face, and a gleam in his eye. The top half of his body was out of the water and he was leaning against the wall with his elbows hooked over the lip of the pool.

'He's so sexy. And those muscles...'

God, don't I know...

"You're not the least bit afraid," I asked as I stalked towards him.

I wasn't exactly for sure what my next move would be... Maybe getting his perfectly sculpted hair wet?

"Of you, Kitten?" He laughed out loud just as Jackson and my parents walked out.

"What's going on you two," My dad asked behind Preston and I smiled sweetly.

"Oh, nothing much. Just murder," I looked back down at Preston who was beaming in an 'oh yeah?' kind of way.

"Okay, just don't get blood in the pool, Pumpkin," he walked towards the grill and fired it up.

I curled my forefinger towards myself, beckoning Preston forward.

He shook his head and stayed put. How would I dunk him in the shallow water?

"Please," I asked sweetly, still beckoning.

"Not a chance, Kitten."

My mom was watching and grinning at the whole exchange. Jackson looked like he would throw up.

Serves him right for even wanting to come over. Serves him right for even staying.

"Okay, truce. Give me a hug, please?"

"You don't live to see 32 being gullible around four siblings. I see right through you, sweetheart."

"Fine," I pouted and turned around, crossing my arms.

With my back to him, I sniffled and raised my shoulders a few times for good measure, but I was smiling because no man could resist when I—

"—Hey, are you crying? I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

He spun me around and I pounced. I put all of my weight into jumping on him and pushing him under the water.

When we came up I was laughing and he was too, but the shock on his face was priceless.

"You must not know her very well. That's her signature move," Jackson stated from a lawn chair.

"It really is," I beamed up at Preston.

He pushed his fingers through his wet hair, leaned down, and then placed a sweet kiss to my lips.

And I froze.

This was our first kiss and he decided to make it now?

"What was that for," I asked as I smiled up at him.

"Just for being so stunning, so calculating, knowing what you had, and using it to your advantage. You are a worthy opponent, but that's the last time I fall for it so get a better strategy," he pulled me closer and kissed me again and I was almost lost.

I forgot where we were as I moved my lips against his. The kiss was sweet and slow and perfect like him and—

"—We have an audience," he whispered and I blushed as I looked to see my mother and Jackson watching us, one with an expression of endearment, the other with an expression of horror.

I laughed and just as I had let my guard down, Preston grabbed my waist, lifted me up, and threw me into the water again!

"I'm going to kill you," I yelled when I came back up.

"Do your worst," I heard him yell back from out of the pool.

I rubbed the water from my eyes and saw that he was, indeed, out of the pool and on the edge of the grass with a smirk.

Oh, he wanted to play, did he?

"I ran track all throughout high school. If this is a game of catch, you'll lose, old man," I climbed out of the pool and calmly walked towards him.

"Old man? I'm wounded, Kitten," he put a hand over his heart, "But my work out regimen is more extensive than any 'high school track' work out was."

I laughed and turned to the side, "Do you see these calves? They can and will kill a man," I smirked and did a few shadow boxing moves before looking back at him.

"Let's have a race. I'll even give you a head start," I blew him a kiss and he smirked before taking off down our 180-foot yard.

"She's gonna smoke him," I heard Jackson whisper and that made me smirk.

I counted to three before I took off after him.

Preston was definitely fast, I'll give him that. Watching his ass and legs flex as he ran was an amazing sight to see, but I was picturing the look on his face when I got to and eventually passed him.

I was quickly gaining on him and if I reached out I could grab his shorts, but I wanted to pass him and show him that even though I was shorter and easy to throw, I was still faster than him.

The fence was only a few yards away now and we were both running at full speed, with me passing him easily.

I was breathing heavy but the high that I felt was enough to make me feel giddy. I felt more carefree and alive than I had been in the past few weeks and I was going to ride it as far as it went.

I touched the fence and turned around, not even slowing. I passed Preston and he slowed down to a halt but I wasn't finished.

I ran all the way back up to the pool and jumped in with a squeal of delight.

When I came up, I was breathing heavily, but I started laughing and felt amazing. I hadn't ran that hard since high school and my lungs felt on fire.

"God, that was amazing," I breathed as I climbed back out of the pool.

The look on Preston's face wasn't what I expected.

It was... admiration, respect, and wonderment.