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“Because I’m a puny human. No, that makes sense.” I scoot forward toward the river.
“What are you doing?”
“Going swimming.”
“Wait for Paulina—”
“I’m not waiting for shit, Rafferty. Not anymore.” The water is cool against my feet, cool and refreshing, so I dip in farther, lowering myself down into the water. Then, with my arms anchoring me to the bank. I close my eyes.
“You could slip off and end up downstream, woman,” Rafferty growls.
“Then get in with me, or shut the hell up.”
I’m fairly certain he’s chosen the latter until water splashes. I open my eyes to see him standing at least a foot away from me, ready to catch me should I fall. So I let go.
Water surrounds me as Rafferty hollers a curse. His hands go to my waist, though, hauling me back up and to the edge of the river.
Laughter bubbles up within me, all while he glares in my direction. “Are you trying to bloody drown?” he demands, water dripping from his hair.
“I knew you’d catch me.”
He glares back at me, but just as I thought, the black ring doesn’t expand. My thoughts drift back to what the women said to me around the fire. Maybe it’s Rafferty who’s causing this reaction. Maybe, if he’d just let go—even a little—he’d feel some form of happiness without the darkness plaguing. Maybe, just maybe, his struggle is self-inflicted—at least to a point.
“You always catch me.”
Our gazes hold, and Rafferty’s eyes drop to my lips. I run my tongue over my lower one and he lets out a groan. “Fuck me, woman.”
“In a heartbeat.” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them, but given his shocked expression, I don’t bother letting any embarrassment sink in.
His grip tightens on my waist. “You’ve no idea what you’re asking for.”
“I think I do,” I reply. “And if you don’t want to be with me? Fine. But don’t make that decision for both of us based on some ridiculous notion that you know what’s best for me and my future.”
“You torment me,” he growls.
“Or maybe you’re tormenting yourself.” I reach out and stroke a finger over his face. Rafferty leans into my touch. “You deserve to be happy, too, you know. You’re not nearly as damned as you want to believe.”
Rafferty closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. But as I worry he might pull back, he steps into me, his body pressing against mine in the cool water. He drops his forehead to mine, and we stand in total silence while I stroke his face and he grips my hips.
Heart hammering in my chest, I take a risk and lift my face. His breath warms my lips as I wait for him to close the distance. If he wants to take this step, I need it to be his choice even if I am doing what I can on my end to push him toward it. “Stop overthinking,” I whisper. “Please.”
“Bloody hell.” Rafferty’s lips finally claim mine. My hands go to his hair as his tighten on my waist. His tongue traces the seam of my lips, and I open on a moan. The taste of him, the feel of his hands on my body, pushes all other thoughts from my mind.
My body comes to life in his hands, my insecurities vanishing because Rafferty makes me feel like I am all that matters. Lust pools in my belly, warmth spreading through my body like an inferno.
He pulls back, breathing a ragged match for mine, and stares into my eyes. The gold of his irises shines brightly despite the ring around the edge of them. A ring that—to my dismay—has grown substantially.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him. “So sorry I pushed.”
Rafferty leans in and rests his forehead against mine. “I crave you, Ember. And I meant what I said. If you ask me to, I will give everything up for you. I will take the risk because it means I’ll have you.”
