Page 44 of Dying in Flames (Reborn 4)
“I was sort of hoping we could spend some time together before everyone else woke up. I missed you. I feel like we don’t get to spend enough time together,” I said softly.
“Of course, kitten.” His eyes warmed. “When they wake up, I’ll tell them about us getting married.”
Deal.
Moments later, both of us were sitting in the water, right on the ledge that dropped off into deeper water. I had asked him a bit more about the house and was surprised to learn just how much had been changed from the original structure. Especially since it didn’t appear that way at all. Everything here seemed like it had always belonged, creating just more of that relaxed, comfortable atmosphere.
“I think Marco has been purposefully preparing this place for you,” Sai admitted softly. “Since meeting you, he’s changed this place a lot, adding more security and turning the staff into pretty much all females. He would never say it, but I think this is one of his favorite places.”
“What about you?”
“I have a lot of favorite places,” he teased. “I love traveling, but this place is perfect, between being near the beach but still not feeling like you’re constantly on vacation. Plus, we have a yacht here.”
A yacht?My eyes went towards the coast, where I could see white ships moving through the Mediterranean.
“You guys have a boat?”
“More like a floating house, but yes.” He chuckled.
“I would love to see that,” I admitted. In fact, there were a lot of things here that I would absolutely love to see, and the idea of truly staying here began to take root as excitement hit me hard. I suddenly stood and looked over to where the edge of the pool seemed to disappear into the ocean.
“I want to go over there,” I told Sai as I looked down to find him looking at my butt. His eyes finally flickered up to me before he stepped into my space. I made a surprised noise at how hard he was against me, my center exploding with heat.
“Let’s go then.” He urged me forward.
I bit down on my lip. “I can’t. I can’t swim, Sai.”
Sai stared at me in confusion as if my words were actually shocking, making me blush. He exhaled roughly. “Okay, good to know. Shit, that could have been bad.”
“Why?”
“Because what if I tossed you in?” He winced, causing me to smile.
“You would have done that?” I teased.
“Possibly, if I thought you would find it fun,” he muttered in concern before he suddenly stepped off the ledge into the deeper water. He disappeared underneath the surface for a moment before coming back up, pushing his wet, dark curls from his face and offering me a smile.
“Come here, kitten.” Sai motioned me forward. I eyed the deep end as I moved towards him, my breathing going fast as my toes curled over the tiled edge of the drop-off.
Rationally, I knew I was safe. The edge of the pool was a few feet away, but the idea of stepping off into where I could no longer stand in the water was daunting. I made a sound of concern as I looked at Sai’s offered hand, then to his completely calm and relaxed expression, which actually did a lot to make me feel better.
Okay, I could do this.
And I did. I stepped right off the shelf of the pool… And immediately sank.
Panic hit me hard as I started to kick my feet, flailing my arms as I accidentally inhaled some water, causing everything to hurt at once…until Sai’s arms locked around my waist and he wrenched me from the deep.
I started coughing and clinging to him the minute I breached the surface, and my nails dug into his skin, probably leaving a mark. I felt like Bella when I had tried to give her a bath in the sink.
“Breathe, Maya,” Sai instructed calmly, smoothing his hands over my waist as I tucked my head against his neck. I had no idea how he was keeping us so easily afloat, but I was literally clinging to him for dear life.
“I don’t think I like water,” I whispered.
“Do you want to get out?” he asked immediately. “The edge is right over there.”
“No.” I swallowed, looking towards the edge of the pool and trying to pull myself together. “I really want to go to the edge.”
“Alright, hang tight, kitten.” Sai squeezed me tight as he pushed back and began to easily swim backwards through the water. He held me effortlessly, moving slowly towards the edge as I clung onto him, beginning to feel more excitement than nervousness.
