Page 48 of Day Shift

She shivered, resting her palms on my chest.

Lust pulsed through me, raw and undeniable, but the nagging concern of not taking advantage of her held me back. I was teetering on the edge of control. Every nerve in my body screamed to take her right then and there, but I couldn’t let myself cross that line—one she might later regret. Not with her amnesia, not with her unknown past hanging over us.

It was my duty to protect her.

I didn’t want to be the guy who couldn’t control what the fuck he did with his mouth, as Atticus had put it. She needed more time to heal, more time for her memories to return.

With a sigh, I let my hands slide down her sides, feeling the curve of her waist and the swell of her hips beneath the water. My desire for her was overwhelming, the tension between us electric. I needed to make sure this was what she truly wanted—to make sure she was in a good place mentally.

I allowed my body to sink under the water until my feet were planted on the bottom. Then, in a single fluid movement, I pulled back and pushed off with a powerful kick. I swam to the other edge of the pool, needing a moment to collect myself.

When I surfaced, I folded my arms on the pool deck and rested my chin on my clasped hands, staring out at the night.

The silence between us stretched, thick with tension. We were locked in a silent standoff. She wanted me—that much was clear—and dammit, I wanted her too. It was a battle of wills, of restraint and desire, and for now, I had to be the one to stand my ground.

“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, trying to shake off the urge that kept gnawing at me. I had to focus and take deep cleansing breaths just not to get a hard-on. Palming a handful of water, I splashed it over my face. The coolness of it did little to quell the heat coursing through me though.

I thought about how wrong it would be to fuck this woman, how taking advantage of her when she was in this state would be making a move I couldn’t take back. She was vulnerable, even if she didn’t show it. Even if she tried to act tough, there was a fragility to her situation that I had to respect. I had to remember who she was right now—a woman without her past, without her memories.

I was leaning against the edge of the pool, lost in thought, when I heard the faint sound of water being disturbed. Angel was gliding through the pool, her strokes smooth and nearly silent. Then the rhythmic sound halted, causing me to glance around.

Out of nowhere, she yanked my swim shorts down to my ankles.

I jerked, completely shocked. Angel, of all people, had the guts to pull a stunt like that. When she came up for air, she was treading water in the middle of the pool. She locked her eyes onto mine and gave me a smug grin.

Reaching down, I retrieved my shorts and threw them out of the pool, watching them land on the patio with a wet slap. When I turned back, her eyes widened, and her brows shot up. But then that smug grin of hers reappeared, and she rolled her eyes—taunting me, provoking me.

“I have no shame, Angel,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest and staring back at her. “And you shouldn’t tempt the devil.”

She laughed. “Maybe I like living dangerously.”

“You’re playing with fire,” I warned, swimming toward her, the water parting smoothly around me. “What’s your endgame?”

She shrugged, her lips curving into a sly smile. “No endgame. Just living in the moment.”

I reached her in a few powerful strokes, stopping just inches from her. Sparks of tension flew between us. “You’re pushing me to my limits,” I said, reaching out to brush a wet strand of hair from her face. “But don’t think I won’t push back.”

Her breath hitched, her eyelashes heavy with desire. “Then push back, Conan.”

Clenching my teeth, I fought the urge to lose myself in her. I couldn’t let things go too far, not with her in this state. But damn, she made it hard.

I slid my hands around her waist, pulling her close until our bodies were pressed together in the water. “You’re driving me insane,” I murmured against her ear. Reflexively, my hands traced the curves of her ass. “But I can’t do this.”

She looked up at me, her eyes wide. “Why? What’s holding you back?”

“You deserve better than a quick fuck in a pool,” I said, reluctantly releasing her. “You deserve everything I can’t give you.”

Her expression softened. “Conan, I want you. Here—now. Let’s stop complicating things.”

The words struck a chord, but I shook my head and started to turn. Without warning, she leaped onto me, wrapping her arms and legs around me. Unable to think straight, I pulled her toward me once more, our bodies colliding in the water, our lips meeting in a heated kiss. Fuck, did she taste good. Her hard nipples, only covered by the thin fabric of her swimsuit, pressed against my chest, and all I wanted to do was take one between my teeth.

But I had to push her away while I still had a shred of control. With all the strength I could muster, I lifted her and flung her backward. There was a loud splash behind me as I turned toward the stairs.

The water’s surface rippled from her fall, lapping against the edge of the pool. Her hands smacked against the surface as she broke through, coughing and sputtering. I winced at the sound of her struggle.

“What the hell is your problem, Conan?!” she shouted angrily, her voice garbled by the water. I paused, my steps faltering.

I spun around to face her. The pool lights highlighted her wet, furious face as she dipped under and then resurfaced with her hair slicked back. Her eyes blazed with frustration, demanding that I explain myself.

---