Page 38 of The Dark Before Light

I open my eyes. He’s staring blankly toward the jacuzzi. Muscles locked. Jaw tense. Brow furrowed. A burst of worry has me straightening and moving toward him.

“Kieran?” My teeth chatter over his name. “Are you okay?”

He startles. “Yeah, sorry. I’ll be back.”

He hauls ass out of the pool and up the steps, taking them two at a time, then disappears into the house without a backward glance.

I wait. And wait some more.

The cold sinks through my skin and penetrates my bones. With it comes the bitter realization that I may have really fucked up. Destroyed all the progress we’ve made.

I shouldn’t have jumped in the pool.

Anxiety propels me toward the steps with a plan to make a run for the jacuzzi. I’ll warm up for a minute, then grab my clothes and flee for my car. I’ll call Leo tomorrow and he’ll help me find a way to fix this.

I’m halfway out of the water when a man—not tall or graceful enough—leaves the house and heads down the steps, something voluminous and pale in his arms. I sag onto the first step as he approaches.

“Hi, Sven.”

My voice is raw with disappointment and resignation, but I can’t bring myself to care.

“Doctor,” he rumbles.

Eyes averted, he stops a few feet away and holds open a luxurious towel robe. I walk up the steps and slip my arms inside the sleeves, turning to wrap it around myself. A small, pitiful sound leaves me. The robe is out-of-the-dryer hot and feels so incredible my eyes fill with tears.

“Thank you,” I croak. “What time is it?”

“Close to two.”

No wonder a hot robe is making me cry. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in days, and all I had for dinner was a packet of almonds on the drive over here. Add to that mix my actions and defeats tonight, I feel like I could sob for an hour and sleep for the next ten.

“Kier wanted me to tell you he didn’t forget you. He was running the dryer.” Sven makes a noise in his throat that could be laughter or annoyance. “He’s in the shower now.”

I barely hear him. “I’ll get my clothes. Can you show me where I can change, then let me out of the gate?”

“I’ll grab your things. Go up to the house and get warm. Then we can talk about how you’re in no shape to drive.”

He walks toward the jacuzzi.

No fight left in me, I do as he says.

Chapter 12

Kieran

Hot shower spray beats on my back, more punishing than pleasurable—same as the grip I’ve got on my cock. My forehead thuds against the tile wall, water misting from my mouth as I gasp and tug in quick, graceless jerks. Against the darkness of my eyelids, I see her on her knees, soft golden eyes looking up at me with surrender. Messy hair and flushed cheeks. That fucking mouth swallowing me down. My balls tighten and I chase my release, then groan in misery as it dances away.

“Talia,” I whisper.

The fantasy shifts. She crawls up my body wearing a wet black tank top and a tiny thong. Unsmiling. Her hair in that goddamn bun. I can’t move—don’t want to—as she settles with her knees on either side of my head and pulls the scrap of black away from her pussy.

“Eat me out, Kieran,” she demands before smothering my face with heaven.

I detonate with a hoarse shout, my hand cramping, ropes of cum hitting the glass, my legs, a bottle of shampoo. My knees almost go out and I lurch sideways, my shoulder smacking into marble. The pain makes me laugh, a crazed sound that echoes in the bathroom.

There’s a stitch in my side that makes every breath hurt. Everything fucking hurts, all the time. I’ve grown so used to pain and guilt, I can’t handle that I’ve started feeling something different. Something like dawn after four years of twilight.

Because of her.

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