Page 43 of Unleashed

His words hung in the air as I glanced around, feeling the weight of his desire in the spacious room. The back wall was a stunning combination of cedar and glass, leading out to a large terrace. Below, the patio and pool glistened, the water sparkling in the afternoon sun. I pointed outside, eager for a distraction.

"I want to swim."

He blinked, momentarily surprised. "I thought you'd want to go to the beach."

"The pool’s fine," I replied, already moving toward the windows. "I’m not in the mood for sand."

His smile was easy, but I sensed his disappointment. "But you will go one of these days, right?"

"Sure. What's the point of being here otherwise?"

"Of course." He squeezed my hand briefly before stepping away. "Let me grab the bags."

As he disappeared downstairs, I took the moment to explore. I peeked into the oversized walk-in closet, barely filled. An island in the center matched the granite in the bathroom. I moved on, admiring the luxurious glass shower with its three-head setup. The vanity was pristine, with two glass sinks set in white granite and a freestanding tub large enough for a small gathering.

"Ready to change?" Slade’s voice broke my thoughts as he leaned in from the doorway.

"This place is magnificent," I said, still in awe.

"Wait until you see the outside at night."

I glanced at him, curious. "Why?"

"I have lights that illuminate the plants, and the pool changes colors," he explained, a boyish excitement lighting up his face.

"That sounds nice. I do like swimming at night."

"There’s a full moon tonight. Would you like to walk on the beach after?"

I hesitated, unsure of how I’d feel later. "Let’s see."

His gaze softened as he studied me. "We’ll probably have it to ourselves. Most people come just for the weekend."

"It’s Friday, though."

"And it’ll take them hours to get here with traffic."

I shrugged, feeling the tension rise between us. "I guess."

Slade’s eyes darkened, his tone gentle but firm. "Morgan, you can say no."

My temper flared, the pressure building too quickly. "I know that!" I snapped, tearing at my suitcase zipper with more force than necessary.

Slade said nothing, giving me space as he opened his own bag and pulled out a pair of yellow swim trunks. I avoided his gaze, rummaging for the silver bikini I’d packed. As I ducked into the bathroom to change, a wave of modesty hit me—a ridiculous feeling given how much he’d already seen.

When I emerged, Slade stood, his eyes roaming over me with appreciation. "I’m sorry," he murmured. "I didn’t mean to upset you."

I busied myself with folding clothes, avoiding his gaze. "I know. It’s fine."

He stepped closer, his voice soft. "You look sexy in that suit."

"Thank you," I muttered, though the compliment didn’t sit right. I couldn’t shake the unease building inside me, the uncertainty gnawing at my gut. Had I made a mistake coming here?

As I wrestled with my thoughts, Slade led me out to the downstairs patio. The sun had warmed the light pavers beneath my feet, and I watched as he pulled out two white mesh loungers from a wicker deck box. A sleek outdoor kitchen caught my eye, complete with a grill, fridge, and wine glasses hanging from a rack.

Slade stretched out on one of the loungers, glancing at me. "Still want to swim?"

I hesitated, standing at the edge of the pool.

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