Chapter 221: Pool party XI

Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Pool party XI

By the time Damian and Vivienne reached their assigned section, the first match was already underway.

Damian stopped at the edge of the pool and watched the four pairs moving around the marked area.

He knew the game.

Shoulder Wars had been played at Saint Albion for years. He had watched it often enough to know exactly how it worked.

There was nothing particularly complicated about it.

One person carried the other.

The rider tried to knock the opposing riders into the water.

Simple.

And, if he was being honest, Damian had rather liked the idea from the moment the host had announced it.

Especially after realizing who his partner could be.

He glanced toward Vivienne.

She was standing beside him, watching the match with obvious interest.

A small smile played at the corner of her lips.

Damian knew exactly what he was thinking.

He wanted her on his shoulders.

There.

He had admitted it to himself.

He had spent the entire afternoon making his interest increasingly obvious. He had deliberately placed himself beside her. He had cut into the tug-of-war line simply to take Fred’s position behind her. He had caught her when she slipped and, rather than worrying about the lost game, had stood there holding her in front of everyone.

If anyone still wondered whether he was pursuing Vivienne Beaumont...

They probably wouldn’t after today.

And yet, watching the first pair in the pool, Damian found himself becoming increasingly aware of one small detail he hadn’t properly considered.

The position.

The girl was sitting securely on the boy’s shoulders, her legs resting on either side of his head while he held her calves to keep her balanced.

Damian stared for a moment.

Then looked away.

Right.

That.

He had known, obviously.

He wasn’t some innocent child who had never seen the game before.

But knowing how the game worked was one thing.

Actually having Vivienne in that position was another.

He glanced at her again.

She caught him looking.

Her lips curved.

"Something interesting?"

Damian blinked.

"No."

"Really?"

"Really."

Vivienne looked back toward the pool.

"Hm."

That was all.

But the tiny sound somehow made Damian more suspicious than a dozen questions would have.

She knew.

Or perhaps she didn’t.

With Vivienne, it was becoming increasingly difficult to tell.

She watched another pair move through the water.

Then she looked up at him again.

"You’ll have to be careful."

"Of course."

"I wouldn’t want you to drop me."

"I won’t."

The answer came more firmly than he intended.

Vivienne smiled.

"I know."

Something about the way she said it made his chest tighten.

She didn’t seem worried at all.

If anything, she looked rather pleased.

The first match ended.

The crowd erupted as the winning pair celebrated, and the participants climbed from the pool.

The referee called for the next group.

Their group.

Damian drew a slow breath.

Then stepped into the water.

The cool water reached his waist almost immediately.

Thank the gods.

At least now he wouldn’t have to worry quite so much about what his body was doing.

He turned toward Vivienne.

She was still standing at the pool’s edge.

"Ready?"

Damian nodded.

"Come on."

Vivienne stepped into the water.

She approached him carefully, and Damian reached out to steady her.

Then she began climbing into position.

For one brief moment, Damian forgot how to breathe.

Her weight settled onto his shoulders.

Her legs rested on either side of his head.

His hands came up automatically to support her.

He stared straight ahead.

This was considerably different from imagining it.

Vivienne felt him go still beneath her.

She adjusted herself slightly, trying to find the most comfortable position.

Damian’s hands shifted with her.

"Is this all right?"

"Yes."

She looked down.

Their eyes met.

For a second, neither said anything.

Vivienne noticed the faint warmth coloring the tips of his ears.

She nearly smiled.

Instead, she tilted her head thoughtfully.

"You’re very warm."

Damian swallowed.

"Am I?"

"Mhm."

She smiled innocently.

"Perhaps it’s the sun."

He knew perfectly well it wasn’t.

"Perhaps."

Vivienne looked around the pool.

"Although everyone else seems fine."

Damian gave her a look.

She immediately looked away, pretending to be fascinated by the other contestants.

A smile tugged at her lips.

She was enjoying this far too much.

There was something wonderfully entertaining about seeing Damian, who had spent the entire afternoon acting so confidently, suddenly become just a little less certain of himself.

She shifted slightly to settle more comfortably.

Damian’s hands immediately adjusted at her legs.

"Careful."

"I am."

"I don’t want you falling."

Vivienne smiled down at him.

"Then I suppose I’ll just have to trust you."

He looked up at her.

She was smiling.

Not coyly.

Not seriously.

Just warmly, as though she had said the most obvious thing in the world.

"I won’t let you."

"Good."

The referee raised his hand.

The other three pairs moved into position.

The crowd grew louder.

Damian planted his feet firmly in the water.

Vivienne rested her hands lightly against his head for balance.

He could feel every small movement she made.

Every time she shifted, he had to adjust with her.

It was distracting.

Far more distracting than he had anticipated.

But beneath the embarrassment was something else.

Satisfaction.

She trusted him.

She had willingly climbed onto him.

And everyone around them could see it.

Damian couldn’t help smiling.

The whistle sounded.

He moved forward.

Vivienne shifted with him.

For the first few steps, they were slightly awkward.

Then they found their rhythm.

Damian carried her farther into the marked area.

One of the opposing pairs moved toward them.

Vivienne glanced down.

"Damian."

"Hm?"

"I think they’re coming this way."

"I see them."

"What should we do?"

He almost laughed.

"You tell me."

Vivienne considered this very seriously.

Then pointed.

"That way."

Damian immediately shifted.

The other pair missed them.

Vivienne laughed.

"That worked."

"I told you."

"You did."

She looked down at him again.

A strand of her hair slipped forward over her shoulder.

"You’re very good at this."

Damian’s ears warmed again.

"Thank you."

Vivienne smiled.

"I think I’m beginning to like being up here."

Damian nearly missed a step.

He recovered quickly.

"You do?"

"Mhm."

She settled herself a little more comfortably.

"It’s a nice view."

Damian stared straight ahead.

He had absolutely no idea what she meant by that.

Probably the pool.

Obviously.

The pool.

He was beginning to suspect that Vivienne Beaumont was going to be the death of him.

And judging by the quiet laughter above him...

She was having the time of her life.