AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That wouldn’t be a compliment now, would it, Dianna?”
“Absolutely not.” I smiled widely.
My heart thudded loudly, and I wondered if he could hear it. The sun caressed his tanned skin, and my eyes followed. My hand flexed at the memory of the feel of him, the taste of him. I took a shuddering breath. Samkiel was beautiful. Who didn’t know that? It was mentioned in literally every fucking book he was named in. Even in the ones where he was covered in armor or the entrails of whatever beast he’d slain.
Silver scars striped his skin, testimonies to his strength and ability. I knew the stories behind some of them and longed to learn about those I didn’t. The Goddess Nismera had given him the one across his neck. His broad, powerful shoulders had withstood many battles, a multitude of scars crisscrossing them to prove it. Claw marks slashed across his perfect chest, and smaller ones shined between his abs. My gaze slipped to the twin, long diagonal lines of his oblique muscles that disappeared beneath the waistband of his swimming trunks and the sprinkle of hair beneath his belly button. My mouth watered, and my face flushed, imagining tracing every scar, every hard line, with my tongue.
I cleared my throat and said, “Okay, my turn. I want yellow like yours.”
Whether he noticed the heat of my gaze or not, he didn't respond to it, only my request. “Coming right up.”
With another snap of his fingers, a yellow two-piece suit replaced my clothes. It fit perfectly, covering everything it needed to but leaving a lot of skin showing. I put my hands on my hips and gave him a mock glare.
“So, apparently, you noticed what other women were wearing.”
His smile was downright devilish as his gaze slid over me in pure male appreciation.
“No, I just know what you like.”
“Liar,” I teased and nodded at the waves. “I’ll race you.”
“Race?” He cocked his head and waved toward the ocean. “The water is right there.”
I grinned at him and took three large steps before diving in. I heard him hit the water right behind me. The world above disappeared as I swam deeper and opened my eyes. The reefs were prettier than anything I had ever seen, but I saw no fish. My lungs burned, and I reversed direction, kicking hard to break the surface. I inhaled deeply, enjoying the feel of the sun on my face.
“You cheated,” he said as I wiped the water from my face, the waves lapping at us.
“Who said I’d play fair?” I said with a big grin. He laughed and splashed water against my face.
We stayed like that for a while, a playful, bickering mess with no more harsh words or vile tempers. I even convinced Samkiel to toss me into the air a few times. He threw me so high that I was able to spin or curl before diving back into the water. It was a distraction and a good one. I hadn’t been swimming in so long that I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed it.
Clouds rolled in as the sun sank closer to the horizon. I floated on my back, staring at the overcast sky and the clouds curling around the mountains beyond the shore. I heard the ripples near me as Samkiel swam closer. “It’s so pretty here.”
“It is. Rashearim was indescribable. This is only a fraction.”
I shifted in the water, kicking to keep myself up and tipping my head to clear the water from my ears. Samkiel was looking at a waterfall cascading down the steep mountain in the distance. Muscles flexed easily across his arms and shoulders as he treaded water. His hair was slicked back from his face, gleaming in the sunlight. He was a work of art and way too perfect to be true. To find someone as beautiful on the outside as he was on the inside was indescribable.
“I didn’t think anyone would notice.”
“What?” he asked, turning toward me.
“Gabby was gone. I wanted Kaden dead, and I didn’t care. I had hoped if I fought him, even if I won, he would take me with him. It never occurred to me that anyone would notice I was gone.”
Pain and anger flashed in his eyes, and he swam toward me. I didn’t back away or avoid his gaze, even as my eyes burned. He stopped in front of me, brushing his thumb against the curve of my cheek. “I would have,” he whispered. “I would have.”
I nodded, tears blurring my vision. Something in me broke. It hurt, but it felt clean as if it needed to break, and now it had a chance of healing. Samkiel had been right. It helped to see this. Being here forced me to face my fears and memories. But none of that was what broke me, shattering my composure.
Samkiel’s arms went around me, and he pulled me in close, his powerful body easily keeping us afloat. Like he always did. My body rocked as I sobbed. I wrapped my arms and legs around him, burying my face against his neck. He had said it before, but I truly heard it this time. He had proven it, time and time again, and hearing him say it today was my true undoing.
No matter how mean I was, how cruel, vile, and hateful, Samkiel saw me, and he cared.
Sixty-Three
Dianna
We swam until my limbs hurt and the sun touched the water. Samkiel took us up to the cliffs overlooking the ocean. I twisted my hair, ringing out as much water as I could as we sat watching the sunset.
“When do you have to be back?” I asked, nearly holding my breath, not wanting this to end.
