Page 115 of The Darkest Hour

“Oh. I doubt that, wildcat.”

I headed forward and my bare feet began to sink slightly into the soft, cool mud.

Next, I stepped into the river.

The water was cool and refreshing against my skin.

Havoc slipped his gaze down to my nipples, and I waded toward him.

The water rose up to my thighs as I moved deeper. The current was gentle but steady.

When I finally got a few feet closer to him, he reached out his arms and pulled me to him until our bodies were molded against each other.

“Thank you,” I murmured and looked up at him.

He brought his hand up to cup my cheek, and then he brushed his thumb lightly over my skin. “You’re welcome, Onyx.”

For a moment, we just stood there, the water rippling around us.

There was a tranquil silence, save for the hushed murmuring of the river and the distant call of some unidentified creature deep within the forest.

The sun peered through the thick layers of leaves overhead, creating a scene straight out of a fairy tale.

He moved his fingers from my cheek, tracing down to my neck and then lower, over my shoulder, and down my arm until he captured my hand within his own and brought it up to his chest.

“Tell me something. . .Onyx.”

Our intertwined fingers rested against his chest. His heartbeat thundered under my hand.

“What do you want to know?”

“Is your real name Onyx?”

I smirked. “Is your real name Havoc.”

“It is Cross.”

“I like Havoc.”

“I like it too.” He leaned his head to the side. “And your name?”

It had been so long since I’d even said the name . I swallowed and whispered it, “Shay.”

“Hmmm. I like Onyx more.”

“Me too. . .Havoc.”

He chuckled. “You say my name like it is a dirty word.”

“After last night, it is a very dirty word.”

His expression grew deadly, and a dark growl left him. “Careful, Shay better known as Onyx. I am barely keeping my perverted beast at bay.”

I licked my lips. “I don’t want to be careful when it comes to you.”

With a wicked smile, he leaned down and kissed me, devouring any last bit of control I might have had on the situation.

His kiss was a heady potion of hot lust and mind-blowing affection that had me spiraling, adrift in the swirling currents of emotion.

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