Page 78 of Forgive You

I don’t want to do this, but I say nothing when we’re ambling over the dry and warm sand until it changes to moist and cold.

“When do you start freaking out?” I hear him, I do.

Replying is a challenge, though, especially when my toes hit the water and my heart threatens to break through my spine and back to the safe, warm, fluffy sand a couple of yards back.

“Jules?”

Oh, right, he asked me something. What was it? When do I start freaking out? Well, now comes to mind, but I guess that’s not what he means.

“Mid waist.” My eyes shut when the chilly water engulfs my ankles, igniting a ripple of goosebumps to move up my body.

“Okay.” Jason comes to stand behind me, his arms snaking around my belly before he pulls me deeper against his chest.

My heart vibrates like a roaring engine, the warmth of his body against mine feeling feverish and calming at the same time.

He held me close when I had a panic attack on the yacht. He had me straddling his lap when I had another one at the studio. Both times I loved his body close to mine. His touch connecting with my skin. The way his heartbeat was close to mine drowning out my panic attack.

But this time, it’s different.

It’s more intimate.

This time, I’m hyper aware of our lack of clothes and how it still feels like too many barriers between us.

I rest my weight against his, then take a deep breath to calm my senses. Fuck, am I really doing this?

A warm breath strokes the skin below my ear in a steady pace before he guides us forward.Fuck, I guess I am.

With each exhale, we take a step deeper, and I fixate on the comforting heat on my neck from his mouth close to my skin until the water reaches above my knee, and I forget to breathe.

A soft breeze feathers over my cheeks. My hands clamp to his, squeezing tightly.

“Keep breathing. I won’t let you go.”

Do you trust me?His question repeats in my head, and I do. I know he will do nothing to fuel my fear. I know he will never make me feel alone.

“Are you with me?” he whispers in my ear, and I hum in agreement. “Good. Now turn around.”

I do as he says, meeting his heartbreaker blue eyes. They are glinting with compassion and…pride? I don’t know what it is, but just staring into the dark depths of his gaze makes me forget where I am.

His hand slowly moves from the small of my back to finding the curve of my ass, before he dips even lower and lifts me in the air, my legs wrapped around his waist.

Holding on to his neck, I shut my eyes again, my forehead pressed against his. This is killing me. With my feet in the air, I have no control and it’s freaking me out as much as I want him to take control for me.

“Are you with me?”

I nod.

“Keep breathing.” This time, he walks with bigger strides toward the endless ocean at my back, and it doesn’t take long before the water hits my thighs.

“Jason.” I tense up more than I already am.

“Hey, baby. Look at me.” I obey his command. “I will never let you go. I’m cute when I’m jealous, huh?”

What?

It takes me a second to read between the lines of his crooked grin, recalling my comment at the beach, then let one slip of my own.

“A little bit.”

---