“I’m not hiding,” I tell him, uncomfortable with the sudden change in him. He grips my chin when I try to pull away, forcing me to stay here, in the moment, with him.
“It’s okay to want me. You already know I want you.”
My stomach flutters at his words, but this is wrong. So very wrong. “It’s inappropriate,” I tell him, forcing as much steel into my voice as possible. This time, when I push away from him, he lets me go. Floating in the water, one hand still holding onto the dock, we face each other.
“Because our parents are married? That doesn’t make it wrong,” Levi reasons. “We’re not related, Vista. There’s nothing incestuous about us being together.”
While I understand his stance on the topic, and I tend to agree with him, I know how cruel the world can be. He can’t blame me for not wanting to make myself the object of public ridicule. “That’s not how the world sees it.”
“Screw the world. They don’t rule our lives.”
I feel the grooves of the wood bite into my waterlogged fingers as my grip tightens. “Maybe it’s not the world that I’m worried about.”
“Then what is it, our parents?”
I shake my head, looking away. He doesn’t get it, and I don’t want to get into this with him. Not now, maybe not ever. Four years. That’s how long it took to put everything behind me. I don’t want to dig it up now.
“We should get working on some moves before it gets late.”
“It’s not even lunchtime yet. Answer the question.” Levi’s narrowed blue gaze is demanding, full of expectations.
“They have a lot to do with it, yes,” I answer curtly. Placing my other hand back on the dock, I tell him, “Hold on to the wood like this, then kick your legs out behind you, like you’re swimming.”
“Vista.” He sighs, like he’s disappointed. Mirroring my position, he hangs his head low enough that his face nearly dips into the water. It’s a look of defeat and I almost think he’s going to follow my directions and let me off the hook, but I forgot that Levi Black is accustomed to getting his way.
Releasing the dock, he moves toward me through the water, his big body crowding mine. Focusing on the gray, splintered wood beneath my fingers, a ripple of awareness moves through me as Levi positions himself behind me. His heat warms the water at my back as he closes the distance and places his hands on either side of mine, framing my body with his.
“I’ve spent the past four years trying not to think about you,” he says, his voice low and husky in my ear. Closing my eyes, I listen to his soft voice, powerless to argue when he’s this close, his body touching mine. “You’re a siren, calling to me in my dreams. No matter what I do, I can’t escape you.”
It’s not the chill in the water that makes me shiver this time. “It’s the same for me,” I confess. I don’t want it to be true, but I’ve been trying to outrun this for what feels like forever.
“Then stop running,” he rasps, almost as if he’s read my mind. His lips skim the shell of my ear and he takes the lobe between his teeth, giving it a playful tug. “Turn around, princess, and we’ll both stop denying what we’ve wanted for too long. Let me kiss you.”
Yes. I’m tired of running. Every cell in my body screams to turn around and fall into his arms, but I know that I can’t give in. There is nothing to suggest to me that Levi is any different than I remember. If anything, he’s worse—he has to be—and I’m not trying to get hurt again.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t.” Dropping beneath the surface, I slip free of his cage and come up beside him. Brushing water from my eyes, I open them to see Levi watching me. I can’t read his expression, but whatever it is, he’s definitely not happy.
“Tell me you don’t want me,” he commands, a muscle in his jaw clenching.
“Levi—”
“Just tell me!”
“Why?” I shout back. What’s the point, when we both know it would be a lie?
“Because I want to hear it from your mouth. If you can tell me you don’t want me like I want you, then I’ll leave you alone. Tell. Me.”
The wind kicks up, skating across the water and creating ripples over its calm surface. Pollen and leaves spiral in the air overhead, tumbling to the ground and into the water, mimicking how out of control I feel inside. Levi has to know that nothing between us would ever work. Even if our parents weren’t married, we’re too different. Our worlds are miles apart. But I can see how determined he is. He won’t let this go until he gets the answer he wants.
“Fine,” I relent. Looking him dead in the eyes, I say, “I don’t want you.”
The muscle in his jaw pulses as he regards me with a perfect quiet that is unnerving. I’m thinking I should swim back to shore, dry off. There’s no saving this day. I’m about to do just that, when Levi’s gruff voice stops me cold.
“Liar.”
My brows pull down in confusion. “Excuse me?”
Moving his arms, Levi cuts through the water effortlessly, bringing himself to a stop only when our fronts touch and our legs bump into each other as we work to stay afloat.
“I said you’re a liar, Vista.”
I don’t know what to say, because he’s right, and I’ve never been any good at lying. “What does it even matter? We’re not getting together!”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s—”
“Inappropriate?” he finishes for me.
“Yes!”
“Wrong?”
“Yes,” I bite out as he presses even closer, annoyed with myself and how my body betrays me. Every time Levi gets too close, it’s as if every nerve ending in my body comes to life.
“Dirty?”
Yes. The answer is automatic, but this time, I don’t say it out loud. I keep the humiliating truth to myself. He’s baiting me again. The problem is that it’s working. Except, I’m not angry. I’m...turned on.
My gaze drops to his mouth. I love his lips. They’re equally thick, firm, and kissable. I know because I’ve had them on me, and I yearn to feel their power again. The way Levi says my name, the way he invades my space and calls me his princess, makes me feel weak. I don’t want to be that girl. The one who falls for a guy’s quick lines and filthy mouth, but I am that girl because Levi is that guy... and I’m falling for him. All. Over. Again.
“Just leave me alone, Levi.” Throwing my arms out, I backstroke away from him, only to find myself stuck in place, going nowhere fast.
Levi’s arm is tight around my waist, and he has this wicked look in his eyes. I can’t tell if he’s angry or turned on. A secret part of me hopes it’s the latter.
“I know you blame me for what happened,” Levi says, startling me. “And you have every right to, but I want you to remember that we were both kids then and we didn’t always make the best decisions. Or in my case, any decisions,” he says with a sad, self-deprecating smile.
It’s that smile that threatens to undo me and a thread of panic weaves its way through my bloodstream. Placing both hands against his chest, I attempt to shove him away, but he holds fast. “Take me home, Levi. I don’t want to be here anymore.”
“You can go on hating me,” Levi continues, his arms cinching around my waist so tight, I can’t struggle without hurting myself. “But wouldn’t it be better if we sorted this out right now?”
“No. I can honestly tell you that it wouldn’t be better, Levi. Now let me the hell go!” Wriggling an arm free, I raise it up so I can slap him, but Levi’s hand shoots out, stopping me with a firm grasp around my wrist. When he speaks next, his voice is hard and angry.
“That night has stuck with me for four years, Vista, and I know it has you, too. Don’t you dare try to deny it.” His teeth snap together and the cold fury in his eyes is enough to still my complaint. “I’ve been thinking about how to fix this ever since you walked back into my life, and do you know what solution I came up with?”