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A few minutes later, the trees open up around a small pool tucked between the rocks. A narrow stretch of river spills into one end, clear and fast over the stones. Then it keeps moving out the other side before disappearing back through the trees. The water is so clear I can see straight to the bottom near the edge.

I look around the little pool again, taking in the rocks, the trees, and the water moving quietly through it. “This is a beautiful little spot.”

He gives me a wide grin, then reaches for the button on his jeans.

I blink. “What are you doing?”

“Swimming, Sunshine. What’s it look like?” He shoves his jeans down and steps out of them like this is the most obvious thing in the world.

I laugh. “I didn’t bring anything to swim in, and that water is probably freezing.”

He doesn’t answer. His grin only gets wider as he turns away from me and hooks his thumbs into the waistband of his briefs. He pulls them down, leaving me with a full view of his bare, toned ass as he kicks them aside. “Stop staring, Sunshine.”

His back is turned. He can’t even see me, but God help me, I am definitely staring. “You don’t know that’s what I’m doing,” I protest.

“Of course I do. My ass is un-stareable.”

Before I can tell him that’s not even a word, he takes a few running steps and dives into the water. I laugh as he disappears beneath the surface, shaking my head as I wait for him to come back up. A few seconds later, he breaks through the water and stands where it’s shallow enough to reach the bottom.

Well, fuck me.

Water runs down his chest as he drags both hands over his face and pushes his wet, shaggy hair back, his skin shining in the afternoon sun. My eyes follow every drop down his stomach to the sharp V at his hips, disappearing beneath the water along with the rest of him. My throat goes dry, and a rush of heat settles low in my stomach. Damn him.

“Come on in,” he calls. “Promise I don’t bite.”

I laugh. “Yes, you do.”

His mouth curves into that familiar grin. “And you like it.”

My core clenches at the thought of Chace’s mouth on me. His teeth scraping over my nipples, biting into the insides of my thighs. Every place he’s already learned will make me lose my damn mind.

Apparently, I stare a second too long, because his grin fades and he glances away.

“Sorry.” He drags a hand through his wet hair. “I won’t touch you. Just come in. It feels good.”

No. He’s got it all wrong, and I prove it by smiling as I pull my shirt over my head. Still holding his gaze, I reach behind me and unclasp my bra, letting it slip from my fingers. His eyes darken as I shimmy out of my shorts, then hook my fingers into my panties and push them down my legs. I step out of them and leave them there between my feet, never once looking away from him as I move towards the water.

The intensity of his stare sends nervous little flutters through me as I wade in. The cold hits the second my foot breaks the surface, making me suck in a breath. “Jesus Christ, Chace. This is freezing.”

“You’ll get used to it,” he says, never once taking his eyes off me.

“Easy for you to say. You’ve probably already lost all feeling from the waist down.”

His heated gaze trails deliberately down my body before meeting mine again, a crooked grin pulling at his mouth. “Trust me, Sunshine. I’m feeling plenty.”

I make my way in gradually, glaring at him as the water climbs over my calves and then my thighs. Chace starts toward me, and suddenly I’m not thinking about the cold anymore. My pulse kicks up with every step he takes, my attention dropping to the water between us as the distance slowly disappears.

Then a wall of freezing water smacks me square in the chest. “Son of a bitch! Chace!” He did not just do that!

His laugh echoes off the rocks as I wipe water from my face. Oh, he is so fucking dead.

I don’t even hesitate. I’m on him in an instant, both hands against his chest as I try to shove him backward into the water. He catches me around the waist before I can get any leverage and takes me down with him. The cold water hits me hard enough that it steals my breath away. For one second, there’s nothing but the freezing water and his arms locked around me.

I come up gasping, hair plastered across my face, but the cold somehow feels good now. Refreshing. Chace is still laughing when I wipe the water from my eyes, but he doesn’t let me go. His arms stay wrapped around my waist, holding me against him, and suddenly I’m far too aware of every inch of his body pressed to mine. The laughter fades from his face as he looks down at me, and for one brief second he looks so damn vulnerable that something inside my chest twists.

His hand comes up to cup my cheek. “Addie,” he says quietly, pulling me a little closer. He lifts me just enough that my legs wrap around his waist without me even thinking about it. My arms slide around his neck just as easily, like my body knows this is exactly where it belongs. He brushes a wet strand of hair away from my face, his eyes never leaving mine. “I’m sorry I wasn’t completely honest with you.”

With the way he’s looking at me right now, like my forgiveness is the only thing in the world he wants, I decide it’s enough. Maybe there’s still more he hasn’t told me. Maybe there are parts of Chace I don’t know yet. But standing here with his arms around me, looking at me like I hung the stars and moon myself, I realize I don’t need every secret he holds. Maybe I can just let him give them to me when he’s ready. “I know,” I whisper. Then I lean in and kiss him.