Page 39 of Anywhere

“Are you really going to make me say it?”

Rhys shook his head, confusion written on his face as he stood straight and lifted the sword to continue his workout.

“You and Mari, okay? There, I said it. I guessed how she felt yesterday, and she admitted it. Plus, I’ve seen the way you look at her. I’m not blind. I know there are feelings there.”

Rhys nodded.

“Aye, dat be da truth. We spoke last night about us. Did she tell ya dat?”

My muscles flexed. “No.”

“We did. I offered ta leave wit her,” he said like they’d been talking about the weather and not becoming defectors.

My mouth fell open. “You what?” The jealousy was brimming, but so was something else. Anger, sure…Fear, maybe? Concern over what it would mean if he chose to do that, definitely.

“Aye. Rook, ya be thinkin’ dat I was mopin’ around here, waitin’ for ya to waltz in and announce yer here. Now I know ya dinnie wanna come at all. Ya still woulda been travelin’ da world and fuckin’ whoever ya wanted if yer father hadn’t forced ya ta come. Am I wrong?”

I ground my teeth together, my jaw cracking. “Yes, that’s right,” I finally said.

“Den what makes ya tink I didn’t have me own plans dat din’t include ya? We are both havin’ ta give up somethin’ we love to find our own ground, but Mari is not da issue. She told me no. She told me she likes ya and tinks we’re good tagetha. I tink she mighta been drinkin’.” Rhys smirked, and I couldn’t stop myself from mirroring him.

“All right, fair. I have been pretty arrogant. I’m kind of used to people falling at my feet.”

Rhys barked out a laugh. “Ya dinnie say.”

I smiled. Every emotion possible soared in my body as those eyes, which felt as intimate as his touch, searched my face.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Come closer. Me wants ta show ya something,” he gestured for me to step up beside him.

Taking the final steps closer felt like walking across coals as the temperature continued to rise. If I didn’t fuck Rhys soon, I was going to lose my mind. My heart thumped hard behind my ribs while blood soared through my veins. By some miracle, I didn’t pass out.

Rhys turned to look out to the mouth of the cove, and as I turned too, our shoulders brushed. The connection licked up my body as my power began to rise like it had at the pub. I clenched my fists together. My knuckles cracked as I fought the wild urge to ride his body to the ground.

“Whadda ya see?”

Rhys pointed at the water, and my confusion helped clear some of the out-of-control desire. Leaning over, I mimicked his position and looked down at the dark water. I couldn’t see anything but our reflection. Rhys turned his head and looked at me, and even through the rippling water, I could feel his stare. Every part of my body pulled tight as I beat back the need to touch him and finish what we started last night.

“I don’t see anything,” I answered through gritted teeth.

“Aye. See, that right there is the problem,” he said. “Look again.”

Once more, I stared at the water slowly lapping its way towards the dock. Once again, all I saw was us.

“You see ‘im.” Rhys pointed to my reflection. “Dat right there is fuckin’ Rook Adair.”

I looked at Rhys, and my world narrowed. Thin tendrils of smoke floated around his shifting silver eyes. It was the only thing that belied that he felt the power building between us. His features softened before he spoke again.

“Ya may ‘ave met ‘im. He be a go-for-what-he-wants, rockstar type.” He leaned in close, and the energy coursing between us made me shudder. My cock strained behind the track pants. “If yer really wantin’ dis and all it means den ya ‘ave no need ta be jealous,” he said, his breath hot against my ear.

“You sure about that?” I asked as I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“Aye. If yer serious about stayin’ and makin’ us work, den so am I. Whadda say ya wanna start over?”

“No more running?”

Rhys chuckled as he passed behind me, his shoulder brushing my back. My mouth ran dry as I watched Rhys slide his sword back into the sheath at his hip as he walked away. I wanted to say something, but logic and wit had jumped off the dock and were paddling around in the dark water looking for a life preserver.