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Chapter 22/The Victor’s Prize

Chapter 22: 22/The Victor’s Prize

Chapter 22

Stephanie’s Point of View

I was suddenly submerged underwater, the coldness invading my senses and catching my breath. I never expected him to dare throw me in such a childish way. I gathered myself and surfaced, coughing and wiping the water from my face.

As soon as my eyes landed on him, I raised my hand and landed a resounding slap across his face that stunned him.

"Damn you, Alex! How could you do that?" I screamed, trying to maintain my balance amidst the waves.

He smiled broadly, as if my slap were nothing more than a caress, and said with an irritating coolness, "You asked me to put you down."

"I said put me down, not throw me like that!" I snapped, brushing my wet hair away from my eyes.

He fixed his gaze on mine and said calmly, "You slapped me, Steph? Really?"

"Because you deserved it!"

He didn’t back down; instead, he moved closer until I felt the heat of his body despite the cold sea. He slowly and boldly reached out, sliding his finger under the strap of my bikini top, pressing against my wet skin. "And you... what do you deserve, Steph?" he asked in a low tone that made my heart tremble.

I pushed his hand away quickly, trying to regain my composure. "Stop it, Alex!"

He stepped back slightly, the smile still etched on his lips, as if he were planning something. "I’ll see if you can beat me... see that point over there? I’ll race you to it."

I raised an eyebrow in defiance and said confidently, "I’m a fast swimmer!"

"We’ll see about that... come on, I’ll let you start first."

I didn’t wait a second; I dove into the water and began swimming with all my might, pulling away from him, confident of my victory. I had always excelled at swimming, and with the head start he gave me, victory was guaranteed. I felt the water glide over my body as I skillfully cut through the waves.

As I neared the designated point and was about to touch the imaginary finish line, I saw him streak past me like an arrow. He overtook me easily and arrived a good distance ahead of me.

I caught up to him, panting violently, exhaustion taking its toll. I grabbed his strong arm to steady myself and keep from sinking. "Damn it... that’s impossible!" I gasped, my breath hitching.

He looked at me with pride and said, "Darling, I won... admit your defeat."

"No... you cheated!" I pouted, trying to catch my breath.

"Cheated? How, when I let you start before me?"

I exhaled in frustration and surrendered to the fact. "Fine... you’re the winner."

He moved closer, encircling my waist with his hand underwater, pulling me to him until our chests were pressed together. "Now, I want my prize," he said, his eyes gleaming with a cunning that made me realize I had fallen into his trap once again.

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Alexander’s Point of View

She was pressed completely against me, her wet body colliding with my chest with every wave, her panting breath brushing against my face. She asked in a tone that tried to regain her strength, "Alex... what prize?"

"Just like we used to do in the past," I said, my eyes piercing hers.

She averted her gaze quickly, as if the truth burned her. "I don’t remember."

"Do I have to remind you?" I asked with a soft threat in my voice.

"Fine... I remember, but that was in the past," she replied with a stubbornness that only increased my resolve.

"I beat you, Steph, so I want my prize," I said stonily.

She looked at me in shock. "You are definitely crazy!"

Suddenly, she slipped from my arms underwater and swam toward the shore with all her might. I watched her flee, not realizing that her escape only increased my desire for her, igniting the hunter’s instinct within me.

I followed her slowly, but I didn’t try to catch her in the water; I let her reach dry land undisturbed.

Damn! I stood in place for a few seconds, taking in the scene: her wet body dripping with water, and how the black bikini highlighted her pale skin, looking unbearably sexy.

All of it caused my dick to become painfully erect. Her ass was no longer that of the young girl I once knew; it had become more prominent and dangerously inviting. Even her breasts had changed significantly since the past, becoming fuller and more womanly.

I stepped out of the water and walked toward her with confident strides. She had put on her kimono to cover her body, but her eyes betrayed her; she was looking at me with "the old Steph" look that look she used to reserve for me alone when we were together.

"You didn’t have these tattoos," she said, scanning my body.

"No... do you like them?"

She grew flustered and avoided my eyes. "What’s it to me? They’re your tattoos; what matters is that you like them."

"There’s another tattoo you haven’t seen yet," I said, taking a step closer until I was directly in front of her.

"Where?"

"In a hidden place for now," I answered meaningfully.

She became completely tense, and her gaze involuntarily slid toward my lower abdomen.

She understood quickly where that hidden place was, but she couldn’t pull her eyes away; she stared for a long moment at that obvious bulge. I looked where she was looking and saw my erect dick showing clearly under the wet fabric of my underwear.

"You’re the reason," I said in a husky voice.

"What?" she asked, startled, as if waking from a trance.

"You’re the one who made it stand up like this," I said, fixing my eyes on hers, challenging her to deny her effect on me.

I watched her in silence as she quickly averted her face, trying to flee from my gaze and from the truth that stood out so clearly beneath my wet clothes. Her confusion fed my ego; it made me realize just how much influence I still held over her despite all those years.

"What kind of talk is this?" she asked, trying to make her voice firm, but the tremor in her tone betrayed her.

"Should I lie?" I said with cold steadiness, taking another step toward her until I was nearly touching her.

She exhaled in frustration, still avoiding my eyes. "This is not appropriate at all!"

I smiled mockingly, feeling a sudden urge to shatter the wall of coldness she was trying to build between us. I lowered my voice to a dangerous hiss and whispered, "Haven’t you missed it?"

"Missed who?" she asked with feigned bewilderment, finally lifting her eyes to mine.

In that moment, I didn’t hesitate. With blatant, possessive insolence, I pointed toward my erect dick, which was nearly straining against the fabric of my underwear, and said, my eyes piercing hers with raw audacity: "Him."