Page 175 of Enthrall Ecstasy
“My jealousy got the better of me.”
“Seriously?”
He stared down at me. “I’ve become obsessed with you.”
“I like you being obsessed.”
A lingering silence fell between us, broken only by the sound of cresting waves.
“I’m a complicated man.”
“Why is that?”
“Stuff happened and I can’t get over it.”
“What happened?”
He swallowed hard and stared up at the ceiling. “You don’t want that in your head. It’s bad enough that it’s in mine.”
I studied his face, wondering if he could ever go there with me. “I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
Not after how perfect everything had felt.
If I could somehow learn his secrets, I’d be able to reach him.
He shook his head as though coming out of a trance.
Seeing him hurting and unable to work through his pain made my heart ache.
“Hey.” I brought his focus back on me. “We’re here, in this wonderful place. Together.”
He smiled.
“You’re a good man,” I said softly. “Never forget that.”
The smile vanished. “I’m the worst kind of man.”
“You really think that about yourself?”
“No one comes back the same.” He gave a shrug. “It’s just how it is.”
“Can nothing be done?” Could no one help this man?
“Let’s take a walk on the beach,” he said. “Clear our heads.”
“I like that idea.”
He pushed himself up and offered me his hand. “We should get dressed first, of course. We don’t want to scare the neighbors.”
I fell against him, giggling, and hugged him tight.
Rue swapped a bright smile with me and then leaped onto her board, both of us riding the wave in toward the shore.
This…thiswas living. I’d forgotten what it felt like to have fun.
I inhaled sharply through the rush of adrenaline, feeling truly alive inside, using every muscle in my body to stay on my board.
Glancing to my right, I saw Rue shredding the wave with ease, taking a snapshot in my mind.
