A shiver courses down my spine at the gruffness in his voice.
It’s silent for a long minute, then a loud splash echoes around us seconds before we’re both drenched. Griffin whirls around and rushes toward the culprit—his sister. As he nears the middle of the creek, she surges at him and pushes him under, her melodic laughter reverberating through the open air.
When he comes back up, he lifts her and tosses her several feet away. Ruby squeals at the sudden movement.
Griffin’s attention lands on me. “Are you just gonna stand there, or are you going to defend my honor?”
I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m kind of fond of dry land.”
“You’re already wet,” he says, oblivious to how true that statement is. “Get in here, Angel.”
My eyes dart to Ruby, her arched brow raised in silent challenge.
I give her a subtle wink, then rush at him. Griffin doesn’t have a second to react as I shove my hands forward and douse him again.
He grabs me around the waist. “You little traitor.”
“Us girls have to stick together,” I say.
I’m soaked from head to toe, my long hair sticking to my shoulders and back. He tickles my ribs, and I shove at his hard chest, struggling to escape. He doesn’t let up, so I spit a mouthful of water at him.
He lets me go, wiping his eyes. “I’m gonna get you for that.”
Adrenaline pumping, I swim toward the waterfall for refuge, diving beneath the surface to emerge on the other side. I climb onto the rocks and peer through the liquid veil, my chest heaving as I catch my breath. My heartbeat thrums in myears, the sound mingling with the constant rushing of the water.
Time seems infinite here, like a thread with no ending or beginning. I could get lost in the simplicity of it all, in the laughter and unfettered joy. I haven’t felt this free since… Vegas.
Griffin was present at both scenes, I realize, but it’s hard to trust him after what happened five years ago. As foolish as it seems, in hindsight, those two days meant something to me, and when I didn’t hear from him again, it hurt more than I thought possible.
Griffin materializes in front of me like a fantasy come true, his dark eyes shadowed in our hidden corner of the world. He takes a step closer, and I press my palm against his chest.
“I swear to god if you pull me under, I’ll fucking kill you.”
“No, you won’t.”
“Try me.”
“I’ve already had you.” He lowers his voice an octave and leans in the barest amount, his beard brushing against my cheek. “I’ve sampled every goddamn inch of you, Angel, and I’m addicted.”
I draw in a shuddering breath as my wet clothes stick to my body. “We should get back out there. They’ll think we ditched them.”
His fingertips trace a water droplet down my arm. “They’re gone. It’s just you and me.”
I peer through the cascading water, confirming the worst. “What the fuck. So much for girls’ night.”
“What’s wrong? Worried you’ll give in to temptation?”
I huff out an indignant breath. “I’m only tempted to push you back in the water.”
The words echo in the dark alcove, taunting me with the lie.
He slides his fingers beneath my sopping wet hair andmoves it away from my forehead. The air crackles with something heady and unspoken, all hints of playfulness gone. “Tell me you don’t want me and I’ll go.” His breath ghosts over the side of my face, and my breathing picks up. “But I know you feel it too… this magnetic pull drawing us together.”
That infinite thread winds around us until I no longer know where he ends and I begin. “I can’t do this,” I whisper.
I don’t want to get swept up in his tide again and lose what little sanity I have left. I couldn’t bear it if he walked away again, taking whatever’s left of me in the process.
“Give me your eyes, Angel.”
