I quickly shove his hand away. “You’re imagining things.”
His stare turns incredulous. He makes it obvious I’m not that convincing.
“I could always read you. Still can.”
I shake my head. Anger surges hot and saving. “I’m not the same girl you left behind.”
“You’re right; you’re not. But I’d like to know the person you are now.”
I scoff. “No thanks.”
He had so long to get to know me then. To show his face. Instead, he chose now.
There was a time when I would have given him all of myself. But that was before. Before he left. Before silence carved me open. Before I bled alone.
I immediately stand from my seat, walking away from everyone. From him. Anywhere is better than under his exposing gaze.
He’s way too close.
Seeing no physical person around, I walk over to the terrace and try to take deep breaths. I pace back and forth. My mind spirals in multiple directions.
I need to get off this island. But I’m stuck here—and I can’t afford to spend six figures just to get away from a man.
Shit.
“Lyla.”
I whirl to find him walking toward me. I groan.
“Just go away.”
He shakes his head. “We both know that’s not what you want.”
“You don’t know what I want. Not anymore.”
He immediately closes the distance between us, and his eyes darken. His stature towers over me possessively. His voice is low and rough. “I lost you once, little one. I’m going to win you back.”
I cross my arms. Anything to get some distance. “And whose fault is that?”
His mouth flattens. “Entirely my own. I admit that.”
Tense silence stretches between us. I hear muffled sounds of laughter erupting near the bar. Sounds of water splashing. The world keeps moving.
“You can’t just pop back into my life and expect to pick up where we left off.”
“That’s not my intention. Too much has happened.”
“Yes, it has.” I stand my ground.
He lowers his gaze to my hand, taking it into his again.
I stiffen. I should pull back, but his grasp is warm, inviting.
When his gaze meets mine again, his lips are so close to mine. The heat of his body radiates over me. The pull I’ve been trying to ignore grows into an uncontrollable need.
My nipples tighten beneath the thin fabric of my swimsuit top. My breath goes shallow.
Damn him, damn my body.
