My hands burned where I held her. I was grateful she let me touch her at all. But it wasn’t enough. I wanted more.
Lowering my head, I tore past her anger and searched for the emotion from the polo match.
I needed to see I hadn’t destroyed what I’d witnessed that day. Slowly, it appeared—floating to the surface of her eyes, blazing true.
She still cared for me.
After all that I’d done.
Fuck, I’m a monster.
Guilt crushed my chest, spinning rapidly with body-melting desire.
“Kiss me, Nila,” I whispered. “Let me bring you back to life.”
The water waked as she jolted. Her hands landed on my chest, tensing to push me away.
I shuddered as her fingertips scrunched my shirt.
Then, instead of pushing me, she pulled me.
Her hand slinked up around my neck, tugging my mouth to hers.
I sucked in a breath.
And she obeyed.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Nila
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EVERY INCH OF me hurt.
My lungs were battered and bruised; my throat raw and raspy. My head pounded and throbbed. Every time I breathed, it seemed as if my ribcage had one purpose in life: to stab my heart to death.
I was alive...and paying the price.
Drowning wasn’t fun.
Being drowned multiple times, even less so.
I never wanted to go near water again.
Yet you’re in a pool with Jethro.
You’re in a poolkissingJethro.
My mind hurt trying to understand how he’d destroyed me in water, yet healed me in the same substance.
Cruel then comforting.
Murderous then reviving.
Two sides to everything—not evil or good or even aware of its perception. Just a single entity being used in different ways.
Water could be an enemy, but also a lover.
