Hoping to avoid getting soaked by the relentless splashing on the shore, I climb the steps to the dock instead.
As much as I want to remove my slippers and stockings like everyone else, I keep both on. Instead, I dip my hands into the water and press them to my damp brow and the back of my neck beneath my braid.
When Ronan sees me, he leaves Ivee treading water to swim over to the dock. He draws himself up and out of the lake, landing in a wet heap beside me. His soaked trousers stick to his thighs, and droplets cling to the patch of golden hair on his chest.
Everett had no hair on his chest, only a thin, dark trail from his belly button to the top of his?—
“Like what you see?” Ronan teases with a waggle of his brows and a pat of his stomach.
Not particularly. “The lake is quite lovely.”
He scoots a little closer, the water from his trousers spreading on the planks, soaking into my skirts. “I meant me.”
“Please, don’t start.” Let him fish for compliments from Ivee.
His face falls into a frown, and he kicks his feet in the water, sending ripples toward the other swimmers. Nia has her arms wrapped around Nolan’s neck, both laughing hysterically, their heads thrown back with abandon.
What I wouldn’t give to find a love like theirs.
Ronan nudges his shoulder against mine, leaving my lace sleeve wet and drooping. “You really should get in. After the initial shock, the water is quite refreshing.”
“I’m not one for bathing in public.”
“Ah, go on. I promise not to peek.” The prince’s smile grows, and he grabs my hand from my lap, giving it a tug.
“I don’t like swimming.” When I was little, I used to love going to the lake with my parents and Theo, but now…
He leaps to his feet, his tight grip giving me no choice but to stand as well. “Come on, Kerris. Let down your hair and do something fun for once.”
“I’m having plenty of fun.” At least I was before he came over.
“Nonsense. You must be roasting in all those layers. Please?”
“No.” When I try to pull free of his grip, his fingers tighten. “Ronan, I want to return to the picnic. Let me go.”
He catches my other hand, tugging me closer to the dock’s edge.
“I said I don’t want to swim.” How difficult is that to understand? I told him no and I meant it, but when I try to twist out of his grip, he only clutches tighter.
“Come on. Live a little.” He dips me over the water. I let out a piercing squeal, begging him to take me back to shore. I might be short, but I am by no means light, and if he lets go, I’ll be soaked with no clothes to change into and?—
His grip slips.
“Shit! Kerris!”
I’m holding nothing but air. Ronan swipes for my dress, and a terrible ripping sound rings in my ears as I tumble into the lake.
The icy water steals my breath, and my heavy skirts tangle around my legs, making it nearly impossible to kick my way to the surface. A pair of arms wraps around my waist, hauling me upwards until my head bursts through the water. The rest of the people on the dock clamber to see what all the commotion is about.
Ronan swims me to shore, but the moment my feet are beneath me, I shove him off, not caring who is watching. One of my slippers has been lost to the depths, and my body vibrates with so much rage, I cannot even feel the cold as I shove my soaked hair off my brow with a shaking hand.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to?—”
“Didn’t mean to what? Ignore my repeated requests to be left out of the water?”
He gawks at me, his hands splayed at his sides. “All you had to do was tell me that you don’t know how to swim.”
Idoknow how to swim, but I don’t bother explaining that because the excuse serves my purposes, and this infuriating man doesn’t deserve the truth. “I shouldn’t have had to tell you anything. I said I didn’t want to get in the water, andyou.Didn’t.Listen. I hope you listen to me now, Ronan Reve, because I am only saying this once: I do not wish to see you ever again.” I turn on my heel and stomp for our blanket.