AN OFFER SHE CAN'T REFUSE

Heat

"This is a nice pool," I said as we rounded the corner and I glimpsed a beautiful scene. There was even a small waterfall cascading into the pool.

"We throw a lot of parties so the pool is nice to have if you need something to do .. besides fucking or fighting. "

I rolled my eyes, "Is that the extent of your hobbies, Xander?"

He smiled at me, "You gonna play that violin for me soon?"

I shrugged, "Is that after hours?"

Xander headed to the cabana and grabbed some towels, setting them on a nearby chair.

"I just want to hear you play, " He said to me, reaching for my hand. I jerked it away and he chuckled.

"I'm just escorting you into the pool, Sabrina... "

I glared at him momentarily and looked at the stairs leading into the pool.

"Why?"

I didn't hesitate this time when he took my hand. I saw him tense up as he did so and a low murmur came from his chest.

"Don't take this the wrong way, please," I said as we stepped into the warm waters, "Oh my goodness it feels amazing."

"Yeah, Hudson helped design it actually.. the layout and waterfall, the slide ... "

It took me a moment to realize we were still holding hands.

"So... " I gently pulled away and tiptoed through the shallow end, "Are you in school?"

"Yeah, mechanics," He told me, dropping deeper into the water, "I love fixing cars–and racing them."

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, I'm aware of how you like to drive."

He narrowed his eyes at me and grinned, "You wanna get to know how I like to do other things?"

I splashed him with water and swam away.

"You have two hands, Xander, keep the rhythm."

We swam for some time, occasionally stopping to talk about future plans and how long his folks would be gone.

"I'm sorry you were kicked out," He told me, "And about your folks."

"Yeah, thanks.. "

"No, I'm serious. I'm an asshole, but that doesn't mean I like what Gilda and Jerome did."

"They've been adamant on me leaving since I got here... "

He winced, his face contorting to a pained look like he was actually sad for me.

"Tina's like the only person who was nice to me this whole time," I said, bobbing up and down as the water waved around us, "I'll be happy to get out of Solitude forever. "

"Forever?"

I nodded, "I won't be looking back."

He dove underwater for what seemed an eternity, almost too long.

I dunked my head under and saw him swimming towards the deep end and then back up to me. He was fast and I wasn't quick enough.

Before I knew it, his hands were around my waist and he was pulling me above water.

"What the hell was that?" I heard a loud scream or whistle in the distance.

Xander, still holding me as I looked around frantically, was flush with my wet body.

I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist as the sound came again.

"What is that?"

Xander didn't take his eyes off me.