Page 26 of North

“I—” My words caught in my throat as he reached for the button of his jeans. My eyes darted away, but not before I caught the hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. “You could’ve warned me.”

“And miss the look on your face?” His chuckle was low, rumbling, as he shoved his jeans down his hips and stepped out of them, leaving him in nothing but a pair of black boxers. “Come on, Quinn. It’s not like you’ve never seen me naked before.”

“That’s not the point,” I muttered, my cheeks burning as I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Relax,” he said, his tone softening just enough to make my stomach twist. He stepped onto the dock, his bare feet making no sound against the worn wood, and glanced over his shoulder at me. “No one’s forcing you in. You can just watch if you want.”

“Watch you?” The words slipped out before I could stop them, my voice sharp with embarrassment.

“Don’t act like such a prude.” His smirk deepened, his heated stare flicking over me. “You already are.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but the words died on my lips as he turned and dove into the water, his body slicing through the surface with barely a splash. The lake swallowed him whole, the ripples spreading out in lazy circles, and for a moment, I was left standing there, staring at the empty space where he’d disappeared.

When he resurfaced, his hair slicked back and droplets of water clinging to his skin, he looked like something out of a dream—or maybe a nightmare, depending on how you looked at it. His gaze found mine instantly, his eyes gleaming in the dim light as he treaded water a few feet from the dock.

“Well?” he called, his voice echoing across the stillness. “You coming in, rabbit?”

I hesitated, my feet rooted to the spot. The thought of following him into the water, of being that close to him, sent my nerves into overdrive. “I don’t have a swimsuit on.”

He raised an eyebrow, his smirk returning. “So? Neither do I.”

“That’s not the same,” I snapped, crossing my arms tighter over my chest.

“Scared?” His voice was teasing, but there was something sharper beneath it, something that made my skin prickle.

“No,” I said quickly, too quickly, and his smirk widened.

“Then prove it.” He leaned back, floating lazily on the water’s surface, his arms stretched out like he had all the time in the world.

I wanted to wipe the smug look off his face, to tell him to go to hell, but the challenge in his eyes pulled me forward. I took off my shoes and hesitated at the edge of the dock, the cool breeze brushing against my skin. The thought of stripping down to my underwear in front of him made my stomach twist, but the alternative—backing down, letting him win—felt worse.

With a deep breath, I reached for the hem of my shirt, pulled it over my head, and dropped it onto the dock. My jeans followed, the cool evening raising goosebumps on my skin as I stepped to the edge.

North watched me the whole time, his focus steady, unyielding, as I hesitated.

“See?” he said, his voice softer now, almost coaxing. “Not so hard.”

I glared at him, my cheeks burning, and stepped off the edge before I could second-guess myself. The water was cold, shocking against my skin as I surfaced with a gasp, pushing my hair out of my face.

“Happy now?” I snapped, my teeth chattering slightly.

He swam closer, his movements smooth and deliberate, and I forced myself to hold my ground, even as my pulse raced. “Getting there,” he said, his smirk softening into something that looked almost like a smile. “You’re a little tense, rabbit.”

“Maybe because someone dragged me out here,” I shot back, but my voice lacked the bite I wanted it to have.

“Relax,” he murmured, his hand brushing against mine under the water. The touch was fleeting, but it sent a shiver through me that had nothing to do with the cold. “You’ll like it. I promise.”

I wanted to argue, to push him away, but the warmth of his hand against mine melted some of the tension in my chest. The lake was quiet around us, the water lapping gently against my skin, and for a moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the world.

“I hate you,” I muttered, my voice trembling.

His lips curved into a small, knowing smile, and he leaned in just enough that I could feel his breath against my skin. “No, you don’t.”

He was right. I didn’t.

I hated that too.

Chapter 9

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