AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That I’d find a way to get you to willingly jump into the sea.”
Fury poured through my veins; I scrambled to my feet. “If this was a sick prank to—”
“No, no, it wasn’t.” She pushed to standing, wobbling a little but far stronger than I expected after almost drowning. “I would be dead right now if you hadn’t come for me.” She stood dripping wet with her hands clasped in front of her, meek and contrite. Something poked through her fingers, but she kept it hidden from sight. “I overestimated myself. When the net wrapped around my legs, I panicked. I forgot how to control my heartbeat and my breathing. I just...I got scared.”
The echoes of her fear lingered in her voice.
I’d spent the past two years living with this wonderful girl. Swimming with her, eating with her, helping her with her vegetable garden, listening to her moan about school and life.
I might have complicated feelings when it came to Nerida Taylor.
She might be four years my junior and absolutely forbidden.
But...she was my friend.
Regardless that my heart might stray over the line sometimes, following Anna and Jack’s rules wasn’t a hardship. I could touch this girl with nothing more than platonic affection. I could laugh at her, play with her, and feel so lucky that I’d been given a second chance at having a sister.
But right then...in that moment...
With her slowly coming back to life and blinking up at me with all the years she still had in front of her, years that I’d saved and given back to her, I couldn’t stop myself.
Stepping into her, I hugged her close.
Her slim arms wrapped around my bare waist.
And we stood there.
Just breathing.
Thanking.
Touching.
“I’m glad you’re still alive, Nerida Taylor,” I whispered into her hair before pulling away and dropping my arms.
She rubbed at her goosebumps, her hand still cupping something I couldn’t see. She gave me the gentlest smile. “I’m glad you’re still alive, Aslan Avci.”
The way she said my name always sent a secret thrill through me.
And she made it a thousand times worse by adding, “I never imagined our first kiss would be like that but...I’m glad we got it over with.”
I froze. “First kiss?”
She giggled. “You did have your tongue in my mouth.”
“I did not have my tongue in your mouth. I was feeding you air, you ungrateful sea urchin. I was trying to keep you alive.”
“With your tongue.”
“With my mouth.”
“Ah, so you do agree you kissed me. Our lips were plastered together. That’s a kiss, I hate to tell you.” Fire glittered in her ocean-blue stare, and my mixed feelings of horror and despair hovered on a knife’s edge.
I wanted to spank her.
I wanted to stalk away.
But...as she winked at me with as much finesse as a kitten trying to seduce a tiger, I snickered. Every sharp and tangled emotion she dragged out of me transformed into the only thing it could.
