Claimed by My Brother’s Best Friends

Chapter 10 Brotherly Instincts

The cold pool water swallowed us whole, splashing high into the warm morning air with a loud roar.

I sank down into the deep blue water, the sudden chill shocking my heated skin. Waves of water rushed over my face and into my nose, making me gasp. But before panic could take over, two powerful arms wrapped tightly around my waist under the surface. Lucas pulled my body flush against his hard, bare chest, kicking his strong legs to bring us back up.

We broke through the surface together, gasping for breath. The bright sunlight hit my eyes, and my wet hair was plastered across my face and shoulders. My thin sundress was completely soaked, clinging to every curve of my body like a second skin.

"Hold onto me," Lucas growled softly into my ear, his wet hands squeezing my waist tight under the water to keep me floating. His body was hot against mine despite the cool pool water.

Before I could clear the water from my eyes, a harsh, furious voice cut through the air like a knife.

"What is happening down there?!"

My heart dropped straight to the bottom of my stomach. I wiped the water from my eyes and looked up toward the patio stairs. My brother Nathan was standing at the top of the concrete steps, staring down at us with a dark, terrifying expression. His fists were clenched tight at his sides, his jaw locked in pure rage. His sharp eyes narrowed as he looked at the two of us standing together in the water.

Fear rushed through my veins, making me tremble in Lucas's arms. I tried to pull away from him, but Lucas held me firmly against his side, refusing to let me go.

"Nathan!" I gasped out, my voice trembling as I wiped my wet face. "I... it was an accident!"

"An accident?" Nathan demanded coldly, taking three slow, heavy steps down the stone stairs. His dark eyes locked onto Lucas's face. "I called your name, and two seconds later, my sister is in the pool with you without a shirt on. Explain this to me right now, Lucas."

Lucas let out a low, confident laugh, completely unbothered by Nathan's anger. He kept one broad arm wrapped possessively around my soaking waist under the water, pulling me even closer so his bare hip pressed against mine.

"She lost her balance and fell in, Nathan," Lucas answered quickly, a dark, arrogant smile spreading across his lips. "I was just saving your innocent little sister from drowning. You should be thanking me."

"Saving her?" Nathan sneered, stopping on the middle step. "It looks to me like you are holding onto her way too tightly."

"She is shaking, Nathan. She is cold," Lucas said smoothly, his deep voice calm and cool. But under the water, his big hand slid down from my waist to press firmly against the side of my wet hip. His long fingers squeezed my skin through the thin, wet fabric, sending a sudden wave of dangerous heat straight through my lower body.

My breath hitched in my throat. I looked up at Lucas in absolute shock, but he just stared up at my brother with complete confidence, his thumb rubbing slow, possessive circles against my wet skin under the surface.

"Let go of him, Isabelle," Nathan ordered, his voice dropping to a dangerous, low tone as he stepped down two more stairs. "Get out of the pool right now."

"I... I am trying," I stammered, my cheeks burning with intense embarrassment and hidden heat.

"Take my hand," Lucas whispered right against the side of my wet neck, his warm breath fanning across my cold skin. He shifted his body behind me, his hard, muscular chest pressing against my back as he guided me toward the shallow steps of the pool.

As we walked up the shallow steps together, the water receded from our bodies. My light dress was completely wet and see through, sticking tightly to my chest, waist, and legs. Lucas stepped out right behind me, his tall, muscular frame standing close enough that his bare chest brushed against my bare shoulder. He did not step away. Instead, he reached out and wrapped his large, warm hand around my arm, pretending to steady me while his fingers pressed firmly into my soft skin.

My heart was hammering against my ribs so hard I felt dizzy. The sheer danger of the situation, mixed with the feeling of Lucas's warm, wet body right behind mine, made my blood run hot.

Nathan walked down the remaining stairs with fast, heavy footsteps. He stopped right in front of us, his face red with anger. He looked at my wet, clinging clothes, then at Lucas's unbuttoned shorts and bare chest, and finally at Lucas's large hand wrapped tightly around my arm.

"Take your hand off my sister, Lucas," Nathan growled, stepping so close I could feel the rage radiating off him. "Right now."

Lucas looked Nathan straight in the eye. Slowly, with a wicked, teasing smirk, he let his hand slide down my wet arm, his fingers lightly brushing against my wrist before he finally let go.

"Whatever you say, boss," Lucas said in a low voice, but his blue eyes flashed with dark victory.

Nathan turned his harsh gaze straight onto me, his eyes narrowed with deep suspicion. "Go inside the house and change your clothes immediately, Isabelle," he commanded coldly. "And do not come back down until I tell you to."

"Yes, Nathan," I whispered, holding my arms across my wet chest as I turned to hurry toward the back doors.

As I walked past Nathan, I glanced up toward the second floor balcony. Standing near the dark glass doors were Luis and Sandro. Luis was leaning against the railing with a dark, knowing smirk on his face, while Sandro stood quietly in the shadows, his piercing gray eyes locked onto my soaking body with intense, dangerous desire.

All three of them were watching me like I belonged to them, and my brother was standing right in the middle of it all.

Nathan took a heavy step toward Lucas, locking his eyes on his best friend. "We need to talk," Nathan said, his voice dropping to a terrifying whisper. "In my office. Now."