Saibo-creator/bookcorpus_deduplicated · Datasets at Hugging Face

text stringlengths 1 461k
it took a herculean effort for annie not to roll her eyes .
after what seemed like hours , she glanced in zack 's direction .
she and rick had somehow parted from the others-probably because every step he took toward her , she took one back-and they now stood out of ear shot .
but zack did n't notice her pleading looks .
he was deep in conversation with a woman annie recognized .
melanie , the watermelon br**sts from the bar .
she bit her lip and tried not to look their way again , but her curiosity nearly killed her .
`` say , '' rick said , trapping her against the buffet , `` how about we go outside .
it 's cooler . ''
his mouth was very close to her ear .
he stank of soda pop and wacky tobacky .
if zack was too interested in melanie and her watermelons to care who annie spoke to then she might as well continue with the flirting .
not that she 'd done much-rick needed no encouragement .
he took her by the hand and led her through the lounge to the large double doors that led to a courtyard and pool beyond .
as they passed zack and melanie , zack caught annie 's arm .
he asked , voice rumbling somewhere in the depths of his chest .
he seemed annoyed , but that could have been annie 's hopeful imagination playing tricks since he was wearing his expressionless expression .
he let go of her and turned back to melanie who 'd been appraising annie with raised brows and a sneer on her bee-stung lips .
annie gave her a wink as if to say i know something you do n't , but she was n't sure if she got the message across .
she probably just looked like she had something in her eye .
outside , the air was warm and the smell of rain lingered deliciously close .
burning torches lit up the pool and the surrounding tropical plants gave the garden a manufactured resort atmosphere .
most guests had ventured outside into the warm night .
annie recognized many of them from tv shows or rock videos .
some of these people should be her clients .
probably she should know their names .
her father would have .
he 'd have made it his job to know their likes and dislikes , where they lived , what they did in their spare time and the name of their pet ferret .
`` so , annie , '' said rick , leaning close , `` you should come see my band play . ''
her initial reaction was to lean back , but remembering her original agenda , she touched him on the sleeve .
`` sure , '' she murmured in what she hoped was a seductive voice .
he placed a hand on her shoulder and leaned close to her ear .
`` afterwards , we can go somewhere quiet , '' he whispered .
`` be alone . ''
maybe she should lay off the flirting before things got out of hand .
a tinkle of laughter floated on the breeze .
she glanced up and saw zack with his arm around a giggling melanie .
he was hugging her to his chest , her br**sts squished against him , and they were laughing at something .
probably annie .
just then , zack 's face half turned towards her , and she thought she saw a flicker of turmoil in his eyes .
but maybe she just imagined it since he was too far away for her to see his eyes and she really , really wanted him to be jealous .
but then he was laughing again , caressing melanie 's bare arm .
a sick sensation squelched annie 's stomach and the desire to throw up was overwhelming .
maybe it was just the champagne .
`` hey , '' rick said .
oh , yeah , sure . ''
she lay a hand on his chest .
`` um , rick ? ''
he placed a hand on either side of annie 's face and leaned close , taking his time .
the sick feeling in her stomach took her mind off what she was about to do .
just as well , because she had a sneaking suspicion that if she thought too much about it , she 'd back out .
instead , the hands on her face were ripped away and so was rick .
`` get out of here , '' growled a voice that made annie 's heart gallop .
she opened her eyes to see zack standing toe to toe with rick .
he was taller , bigger and more physically imposing so she did n't really blame rick for scampering away without a second glance .
she demanded in a hushed whisper , not wanting to draw attention .
zack rounded on her .
his fists clenched and unclenched at his sides and she would n't have been surprised to see steam coming out of his ears .
his expression was no longer unreadable .
he was downright furious .
`` i should ask you that question . ''
he took a step toward her and she took one back , just like she had in the lounge with rick .
`` i was practicing .
like you taught me . ''
zack felt like he was having a heart attack .
the pounding in his chest had been painful when he saw that jerk touch annie , but now it was unbearable .
he put his palm against his heart in an attempt to still it , but was unsuccessful .
he knew nothing would make the pain go away , not until the image of annie with another man had disappeared .
no , not annie with another man , annie enjoying herself with another man .
but he could only blame himself , and that made the pain worse .
not only had he encouraged her to flirt , he 'd made it clear he was n't interested in her .
he could n't blame her at all .
the annie he 'd just witnessed in action was a product of his creation .
he wanted the old annie back .
the soft , sweet annie with the biting attitude and sparkling eyes .
`` annie ... '' he did n't even recognize the sound of his own voice .
it came out strangled and filled with an emotion he never knew he possessed .
`` annie , do n't do this . ''
he took another step toward her and she took one back .
`` do n't do what , zack ? ''
her eyes spat sparks at him and her lips , usually so inviting , formed a grim line .
`` do n't flirt with anyone ?
do n't watch you flirting with other women ? ''
`` i was n't flirting- '' `` no ?
her br**sts were all over you . ''
`` i did n't notice- '' `` did n't notice !
and now you have the gall to get angry with me for doing exactly what you wanted-flirting .
well , let me tell you , i 'm tired of your contrary attitude .
you want everything and nothing .
you want to sleep with me but you do n't want the emotion that goes along with it .
then you tell me i ca n't spread my wings a little and flirt with other men . ''
she threw up her hands and took another step back when he moved closer .
`` i thought this was what you wanted me to be .
everything i am tonight , everything i 've done , is because of you .
you showed me how to be this flirtatious , popular woman .
now you want me to stop . ''
`` you 're exactly the man i thought you were when we met , zack dimarco , an arrogant- '' annie , teetering on the edge of the pool , flailed her arms around like a windmill .
she 'd taken one step too many .
zack grabbed her around the waist but over-balanced and fell forward , forcing her into the pool ahead of him .
they fell into the water with a resounding splash .

it took a herculean effort for annie not to roll her eyes .

after what seemed like hours , she glanced in zack 's direction .

she and rick had somehow parted from the others-probably because every step he took toward her , she took one back-and they now stood out of ear shot .

but zack did n't notice her pleading looks .

he was deep in conversation with a woman annie recognized .

melanie , the watermelon br**sts from the bar .

she bit her lip and tried not to look their way again , but her curiosity nearly killed her .

`` say , '' rick said , trapping her against the buffet , `` how about we go outside .

it 's cooler . ''

his mouth was very close to her ear .

he stank of soda pop and wacky tobacky .

if zack was too interested in melanie and her watermelons to care who annie spoke to then she might as well continue with the flirting .

not that she 'd done much-rick needed no encouragement .

he took her by the hand and led her through the lounge to the large double doors that led to a courtyard and pool beyond .

as they passed zack and melanie , zack caught annie 's arm .

he asked , voice rumbling somewhere in the depths of his chest .

he seemed annoyed , but that could have been annie 's hopeful imagination playing tricks since he was wearing his expressionless expression .

he let go of her and turned back to melanie who 'd been appraising annie with raised brows and a sneer on her bee-stung lips .

annie gave her a wink as if to say i know something you do n't , but she was n't sure if she got the message across .

she probably just looked like she had something in her eye .

outside , the air was warm and the smell of rain lingered deliciously close .

burning torches lit up the pool and the surrounding tropical plants gave the garden a manufactured resort atmosphere .

most guests had ventured outside into the warm night .

annie recognized many of them from tv shows or rock videos .

some of these people should be her clients .

probably she should know their names .

her father would have .

he 'd have made it his job to know their likes and dislikes , where they lived , what they did in their spare time and the name of their pet ferret .

`` so , annie , '' said rick , leaning close , `` you should come see my band play . ''

her initial reaction was to lean back , but remembering her original agenda , she touched him on the sleeve .

`` sure , '' she murmured in what she hoped was a seductive voice .

he placed a hand on her shoulder and leaned close to her ear .

`` afterwards , we can go somewhere quiet , '' he whispered .

`` be alone . ''

maybe she should lay off the flirting before things got out of hand .

a tinkle of laughter floated on the breeze .

she glanced up and saw zack with his arm around a giggling melanie .

he was hugging her to his chest , her br**sts squished against him , and they were laughing at something .

probably annie .

just then , zack 's face half turned towards her , and she thought she saw a flicker of turmoil in his eyes .

but maybe she just imagined it since he was too far away for her to see his eyes and she really , really wanted him to be jealous .

but then he was laughing again , caressing melanie 's bare arm .

a sick sensation squelched annie 's stomach and the desire to throw up was overwhelming .

maybe it was just the champagne .

`` hey , '' rick said .

oh , yeah , sure . ''

she lay a hand on his chest .

`` um , rick ? ''

he placed a hand on either side of annie 's face and leaned close , taking his time .

the sick feeling in her stomach took her mind off what she was about to do .

just as well , because she had a sneaking suspicion that if she thought too much about it , she 'd back out .

instead , the hands on her face were ripped away and so was rick .

`` get out of here , '' growled a voice that made annie 's heart gallop .

she opened her eyes to see zack standing toe to toe with rick .

he was taller , bigger and more physically imposing so she did n't really blame rick for scampering away without a second glance .

she demanded in a hushed whisper , not wanting to draw attention .

zack rounded on her .

his fists clenched and unclenched at his sides and she would n't have been surprised to see steam coming out of his ears .

his expression was no longer unreadable .

he was downright furious .

`` i should ask you that question . ''

he took a step toward her and she took one back , just like she had in the lounge with rick .

`` i was practicing .

like you taught me . ''

zack felt like he was having a heart attack .

the pounding in his chest had been painful when he saw that jerk touch annie , but now it was unbearable .

he put his palm against his heart in an attempt to still it , but was unsuccessful .

he knew nothing would make the pain go away , not until the image of annie with another man had disappeared .

no , not annie with another man , annie enjoying herself with another man .

but he could only blame himself , and that made the pain worse .

not only had he encouraged her to flirt , he 'd made it clear he was n't interested in her .

he could n't blame her at all .

the annie he 'd just witnessed in action was a product of his creation .

he wanted the old annie back .

the soft , sweet annie with the biting attitude and sparkling eyes .

`` annie ... '' he did n't even recognize the sound of his own voice .

it came out strangled and filled with an emotion he never knew he possessed .

`` annie , do n't do this . ''

he took another step toward her and she took one back .

`` do n't do what , zack ? ''

her eyes spat sparks at him and her lips , usually so inviting , formed a grim line .

`` do n't flirt with anyone ?

do n't watch you flirting with other women ? ''

`` i was n't flirting- '' `` no ?

her br**sts were all over you . ''

`` i did n't notice- '' `` did n't notice !

and now you have the gall to get angry with me for doing exactly what you wanted-flirting .

well , let me tell you , i 'm tired of your contrary attitude .

you want everything and nothing .

you want to sleep with me but you do n't want the emotion that goes along with it .

then you tell me i ca n't spread my wings a little and flirt with other men . ''

she threw up her hands and took another step back when he moved closer .

`` i thought this was what you wanted me to be .

everything i am tonight , everything i 've done , is because of you .

you showed me how to be this flirtatious , popular woman .

now you want me to stop . ''

`` you 're exactly the man i thought you were when we met , zack dimarco , an arrogant- '' annie , teetering on the edge of the pool , flailed her arms around like a windmill .

she 'd taken one step too many .

zack grabbed her around the waist but over-balanced and fell forward , forcing her into the pool ahead of him .

they fell into the water with a resounding splash .