Page 83 of Hidden

Before

18 Years Old

“Luke!” I squealed, almost breathless with laughter—and a healthy dose of fear. Clinging to his neck, I writhed against him, but his grip was far too strong. “Luke, do not do this. I will literally beg you!”

“Ma’am, I am a trained professional. Please remain calm.”

“You are a trained moron!” I giggled. “Stop walking and put me down!”

But he didn’t stop. He gave my ass a slap and continued striding along the rocky path, his mouth set in a determined line.

My arms were wrapped around his neck, and he was carrying me bridal style, having swung me up into his arms a minute earlier when I said I wasn’t going in the water.

“Luke!” I repeated. “Luke, please… just… just think about this for a second!” I giggled, almost panting at him.

“I did think. And I’ve come to the conclusion we could both do with cooling down.”

Okay, so this wasn’t just happening because I said I didn’t want to go in the water. It may also be a punishment since we were on the brink of a petty argument over something I could barely even recall.

“I’m calm!”

“Good. I could do with some more cooling, though,” he replied, doing his best to keep his face straight, but a smile twitched at his lips.

“I will love you forever if you turn around and take us back to the beach.”

Yeah, I wasn’t above blackmail.

“I’ve already decided I’m keeping you forever. Take a deep breath.”

My heart lurched then. I had been so busy arguing, I hadn’t seen how close we were to the edge of the cliff. Adrenaline coursed through me, followed by a burst of apprehension.

“No, no, no,” I yelped, my breathing frantic.

Luke took off into a run, and before I had the chance to process, the ground slipped away beneath us, and we were free-falling through the air.

He cradled me close to his body, the wind whipping against my skin. At the last second, I took a deep breath, only for it to come flying from my lungs as the freezing water hit me, pulling me under.

Two large hands wrapped around the small of my waist and hoisted me up, and a warm, smiling, dripping wet face greeted me.

“I can’t believe you did that!” I breathed, pushing the water out of my eyes and slicking my hair back.

“You’re welcome for rescuing you. But my services come with a price.” He grinned wickedly at me. I shuffled closer, bobbing on the water's surface, and wrapped my arms around his neck.

“How’s this for payment?” I breathed a split second before covering his lips with my own.

“I was really hoping for the cash,” he murmured against my lips. “I think forty quid should do it.”

Splashing him with water, I pulled my mouth off his and swam backwards away from him, keeping one wary eye on his movements at all times.

“I’m not paying you for a rescue I wouldn’t have needed if you hadn’t put me in that position.”

He gasped out loud. “Are you accusing me of manipulating my status as lifeguard? That I manufactured a damsel in distress just to make myself look good? Words hurt, Gabriella. You’re a liar of the highest order.”

“Cry me a river, asshole,” I called back, and then took off swimming as he levelled me with a menacing look and dived under the water.

I felt him brush against my legs and then pop up in front of me.

“You know I am an enforcer for the Devils, Gabriella. And an enforcer always collects payment,” he warned me, grabbing my waist again and hauling me up against him. I held my breath, anticipating his kiss, but he simply picked me up once more and threw me like a bomb back into the water.