“They must have just hatched.” He kisses me one last time and then frees his hand from between my legs and fixes my suit before rolling away.
Zeke makes a pained sound, and I tear my gaze away from the butterflies just in time to see him adjusting his erection inside his swimming trunks. Guilt and desire mix together, creating a swirling vortex of need until I can’t stop the words from tumbling out. “I can help with that.”
Zeke stiffens and then he sits up like he’s already regretting what we’ve done.
But he’s not pulling away, and I realize belatedly that he’s not remorseful. He’s terrified. And he doesn’t want me to see.It raises more questions than it answers, but there’s no time for that like now.
“That’s okay,” I say in an easy tone as I sit up. “I’ve got better things to do anyway. Like reading about sex instead of having sex.”
Zeke turns his head, and I can see the terror fading in the wake of his amusement. “And how are you enjoying the titillating romance of Damien and Willow?”
Surprise flows through me. “You’ve read it?”
“Once or twice.”
“And?” I press when he doesn’t say more.
“Honestly, I didn’t care for the hero.”
“What?” I squeal. I can’t control my snort and giggle as I move to sit closer to him. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah. I didnotlike that guy. Instead of just telling the girl he supposedly likes how he feels, he kept being a dick to her. I spent the entire book wishing he’d just walk into traffic and leave that poor girl alone.”
“It’s a good thing he didn’t, because that would be tragic. Damien is bae.”
“Wait, you mean you liked him?” Zeke raises his brows, and I feel my cheeks warm.
“I mean, yeah, kind of. I guess I empathized with him? I don’t know. Even when he was being an unreasonable asshole, I still wanted to hug him. Actually, I thought—”No, that would be crazy to admit.
“What?” Zeke urges while tipping his head closer to mine.
I inhale deeply, and Zeke licks his lips as if he can still taste me. I can definitely still taste him. “I thought he reminded me a little of you.”
Zeke jerks his head back and chokes out, “What?”
All I can do is shrug when words fail me. I can’t believe I just admitted to thinking about him while reading a romance novel.Silently, I pray he finds it as awkward as I do and changes the subject, but no such luck.
I’ve already looked away like a coward, staring as Thorin and Khalil take turns diving from the outcropping of rocks near the falls and into the water. Khalil is currently doing his best to drown Thorin after he beat him at whatever competition they’re having now.
“Am I a dick to you?” Zeke practically whispers.
I continue staring at the beautiful, sparkling water below that reminds me of Zeke’s green eyes. “Sometimes, yeah.”
“And you don’t…hate me?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“Why?” he challenges gently. “Because you feel sorry for me?”
I turn my head to face him and meet his stare dead-on. “Because I know what it’s like to be betrayed and how hard it is to trust again after. Because I know what it’s like to be used and abused by someone you share blood with. Because I know what it’s like to love deeply and have it all fall apart. I don’t feel sorry for you, Zeke. I just feel you.”
“You’ve been in love before? With the bodyguard?”
I snort. “No. Not with Tyler.” I smile like I’m sharing a naughty secret. “It’s a recent development, but already it feels like I’ve gone ten rounds in the ring.”
“You’re still upset,” he says like it only just occurred to him.
“Of course I am. You can’t seem to decide if you want me or hate me, and I haven’t forgotten you all lied to me about Tyler. Well, notyou,” I correct with a grumble. “The other you.”Seth.
