‘Mosquito repellent.’ I indicated the bottle I’d brought with me.
‘Sensitive skin?’ It was posed more as a question, and I burst out laughing.
‘Please! We both know that’s not true. If you have to sleep here, you have two choices. One is the floor, the other is mosquito repellent on a pool lounger.’
‘Well, I can’t take the lounger in case our friend comes back, and honestly, the floor might be risky too if he decides to come snooping later tonight. I’m sure you’ve noticed how easy it is to see into the villas.’ He pointed towards the small windows just below the roof – the same ones I’d used when I’d been looking for him.
I sighed. He was actually right. We couldn’t risk it. Who knew what the Blade was up to tonight. Probably surveilling Victor and Amber’s room. Or worse, surveilling us.
I scrutinised the bed. It was huge, but I doubted it would ever be big enough for me and Cam plus his rather overinflated ego. I turned back to him and shot him the most displeased look I could muster, making sure to add an exaggerated eye-roll for good measure.
‘But you’re sleeping in shorts and a shirt!’ My tone left no room for negotiation.
‘Wouldn’t assume anything else,’ he said, and started walking towards the door. ‘I don’t suppose you want to join me for a swim?’
‘That would be correct. I have footage to watch, and shockingly, a moonlit swim with you isn’t exactly on today’s wish list, especially when you’re wearing underwear that when dry already leaves little to the imagination and when wet . . . well, I don’t even want to think about it.’
‘Suit yourself, but I think you’re missing out . . . on both counts.’
‘God, Cam! I forgot how into yourself you are.’
He laughed as he left, and I’m not proud to admit it, but I did stare after him as he walked away . . . Those briefs really were tight.
I cleared my throat and picked up the camera to download the footage. And as soon as the images flashed to life, I knew I had him. Because there were Amber and Victor romping like teenagers. I putthe camera down. I would send this to Sharaz first thing in the morning, but right now I was utterly exhausted.
I dived into the water and then turned and looked back at the villa. It was lit up, and I could see her silhouette walking back and forth through the room.
I blinked, because a part of me still couldn’t believe this was actually real. That Lizzy was here. It felt like I’d been handed a second chance, gift-wrapped and laid out for me on the shiniest silver platter imaginable. There was no way I was going to let her go again this time. No matter how hard she fought it.
Because shewouldfight it. I smiled. Lizzy would fight anything. It was ingrained in her, infused into herDNA; it was always her first reaction. And while it was impressive – not to mention totally fucking hot too, and I’d admit to having instigated a few fights at college just to see her riled up – this time I needed her not to.
I wanted her to throw down her sword and take off that armour she always wore. Even if just for a moment. Because with her defences down, a moment would be all it would take for her to realise that we were perfect for each other, and that second chances didn’t come around every day.
CHAPTER 23
‘Left or right?’ Cam asked as we were getting ready for bed after he’d returned from his swim.Fucking hell!I could not believe the words ‘Cam’ and ‘bed’ even existed in the same thought.
‘Left.’
He smiled. ‘Ah, closest to the door. In case you need to make a quick escape in the middle of the night.’
‘Yup!’ I agreed, and walked off in the direction of the bathroom. I needed to brush my teeth; I had this terrible taste in my mouth, probably from Cam. But as I was brushing, I couldn’t help but notice that he’d locked eyes with me in the bathroom mirror.
‘What?’ I said, mouth full of foam.
‘I don’t have a toothbrush.’
‘Well, you’re not using mine.’
‘Why? Our tongues have been inside each other’s mouths.’
‘Cam! For fuck’s sake!’ I threw my arms in the air. ‘Firstly . . .’ The foam got in the way of the word, so I spat it into the sink. ‘Firstly, I do not ever want to speak about that night; and secondly, gross.’
‘Strange, I thought there was nothing in the world that could possibly gross out the great Lizzy Brown.’
‘I would rather crawl through a sewer – which, for the record, I’ve done multiple times – than share my toothbrush, or a tongue, with you.’
‘You have such a way with words, it’s surprising you didn’t become a writer.’
