Page 142 of Chandelier Enthralled
I was aware of my own sharp breaths, panic morphing into something primal.
Then he rose up out of the water right in front of me, nostrils flaring, his expression intense.
“I’m sorry!” I shouted, vulnerable and naked and painfully exposed by my recklessness.
“Willa.”
“Don’t be angry,” I whispered.
He shook his headno.“You were very still.”
Oh, of course.
I’d been wrong, so terribly wrong, now that I realized what this looked like to him.
Greyson sucked in a long breath; I’d scared him to death.
My throat tightened, knowing what he must have thought, the distress I’d caused, the dread of his nightmare happening again.
I covered my mouth, mortified that I’d done that to him.
He raised his hand to explain. “You’re okay. It’s okay.”
Tears sprang from my eyes. “Greyson.”
“I thought you were upstairs.”
“Couldn’t sleep.”
He looked around, as though checking our environment. “It’s not safe.”
“But it is. All that is over now.”
“It’s not.” He swam backwards, giving me some distance. He was respecting my need for space.
He peeled off his soaking wet pajamas, throwing the top and pants onto the edge of the pool. His expression had changed to one of relief as he gripped the edge of the pool.
He glanced toward where my dress and underwear lay.
“I felt like taking them off,” I said.
His eyes lit up with a gentle amusement. “You scared me there.”
“I should have asked,” I said.
“I want you to feel welcome.” He ran his palms over his face to brush off some excess water.
We were both coming down from our adrenaline high, both of us still reeling from the last few seconds.
I’d brought chaos back into his life and felt terrible for it.
Entranced by him, my pulse quickened as though unsure if the danger was over. I braced myself when he waded back toward me.
“I’ll help you get out.”
“In a minute,” I said. “It’s cold.”
“You don’t have a towel.”
