“Keep telling yourself that,” I say, my voice having lost all power. “I’m going to go.”
Before she can say anything else, I turn around and walk away.
This time, she doesn’t call me back.
Staring straight ahead, I exit her villa onto an empty beach, my eyes finding the temporarily repaired breakwater.
I make my way towards the jetty, alone. My eyes track the horizon and I want nothing more than to strip off my clothes, and dive into its crystal blue depths, Where I can swim until my muscles are screaming for me to stop.
I pick up my pace until I’m jogging, realising I’ve left my shoes at Kat’s villa.
Hitting the jetty at pace, I slow only to allow the carts and other guests to pass.
“Good run?” One of the men in the neighbouring villas asks as I pass.
I nod, pausing at my door to retrieve my keycard.
I push the door open, engaging all my willpower to refrain from slamming it shut behind me.
Damn her. I thought we’d finally got somewhere.
Stripping off, I grab my swimming shorts and pull them on, before heading straight for the steps leading down to the water.
I lower myself into the calm sea, the tiny fish darting away from the steps as I descend.
Making my way across the reef, I drop off the edge, diving into the dark, colder water. As I surface, I suck in a breath as the chill cools some of the burning need to return to her villa and demand she give us a chance.
I’m a fool. It’s not like she didn’t warn me.
I push forward, my arms driving through the slightly stronger waves now that I’m clear of the reef, the saltwater washing away the scent of Kat that clings to me like a second skin.
CHAPTER 35
KAT
Iwatch Jax walk away, a knot forming in my stomach. Actually, it has been there since I woke up early this morning. I lay for what seemed like forever, watching Jax sleep.
I even reached out to sweep the lock of hair from his forehead, but stopped myself.
My chest tightens as I force more air into my lungs.
This is the right thing to do.
I slide open the door and step into the cool air of the villa, the hum of the air conditioning the only other sound.
I pull out my suitcase and throw it onto the rumpled sheets.
The room smells of us.
Of Jax’s spicy cologne, my perfume, our shared desire.
I sink onto the bed and drop my head into my hands.
What the hell was I thinking?
I sit up.
I wasn’t, that’s the problem.
