AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Too windy?” he asked.
I shrugged. “It’s nice.”
He glanced up, his eyes turning a molten silver. The wind slowed to a light breeze, just enough to keep us cool but not blow my hair everywhere.
“Show off.”
He smirked. “I would hate for it to mess up your hair.”
I tried to give him a mock glare but ended up smiling. He rubbed his eyes and yawned.
“Tired?”
He nodded. “I didn’t mean to be gone so long. I was just… busy.”
I didn’t press. I had no right to even question him or what he had to do. He was cleaning up my mess again. I had caused him enough trouble.
“It’s not my business, and besides, I wasn’t very nice back there. I’m sorry.”
“Your reactions, as quick and harsh as they are, come from a place that wishes to protect you. You hurt, so you hurt others. It’s a defense mechanism. I should have told you where I had planned to take you. So, I am sorry as well.”
I leaned into him, bumping against his shoulder. “Look at us, making progress.”
He smiled and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close to his side.
“Do you want to get in?” I nodded toward the ocean. “With me?”
Surprise etched his features, but he only nodded. “Of course, but I didn’t bring anything with us. I assumed we would just watch the waves today, if even that.”
“Why not have fun while we're here?”
“Okay.” He smiled. “What does one wear on Onuna to swim?”
“Do you remember when you rescued Gabby the first time?” I swallowed the lump in my throat at saying her name out loud.
He nodded and waited.
“Stuff like what they were wearing at the resort.”
“Oh,” he said, stepping away and snapping his fingers. “Like this?”
I tossed my head back and laughed, the sound mixing with the song of the waves. Samkiel looked absolutely ridiculous with the overgrown hat, a stripe of sunscreen down the bridge of his nose, an inflatable animal around his waist, and yellow swim trunks.
He smiled widely at me as I got my amusement under control. “What did I do wrong?”
“That is not what I had in mind,” I said, waving my hand in his general direction before bursting into giggles again.
Samkiel stared at me as if memorizing my smile, and I knew he’d done it for this exact reaction.
“Let me.” I took the hat off. I shook my head and pointed at the inflatable animal around his waist. He discarded it with another snap of his fingers. I dipped my hands into the water before pushing onto my tiptoes to wipe the sunscreen from his nose.
“Okay, that is better.” I smiled and took a step back. The yellow swimming trunks could stay because they fit him like a glove. I bit my lower lip, admiring his beauty. Every line and muscle looked sculpted by the gods. He didn’t look real.
“You are what they imagine when they sculpt gods on Onuna.”
“Is that so?”
He knew it, but I indulged him regardless. “It is.”
