Page 29 of Protected By Artemis

“You want to tell me what’s going on?” he asked, his voice a soft rumble.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replied, not looking at him.

“That’s not the truth,” he said.

“What?” she turned to look at him.

“I have my own bullshit meter,” he said with a smirk.

“My power is not a bullshit meter,” she said, glaring at him as she started to swim toward him. She felt a flicker of annoyance, a welcome sensation amidst the confusion. This, she could understand.

They stared at each other, a war of wills between them. She started to walk toward him. “How is it you walking through the pool is sexy?” he muttered. It seemed like he didn’t realize he’d said it out loud.

She stepped out of the pool, the warm air brushing against her damp skin as she reached for a towel. She quickly wrapped it around herself, dabbing at her hair and shoulders, then began drying off as she moved toward the villa.

He followed closely behind, and even though she couldn’t see him, she couldfeelhim. His eyes roamed over her, tracing the curve of her back, down her legs, and then back up again.Her pulse quickened with every step she took, a warm, tingling sensation spreading through her at the weight of his gaze.

“Talk,” he demanded.

She sighed and faced him. “I didn’t want to be a cock block, so I thought it would be good to leave you two alone.”

“What are you…?” He looked genuinely confused. “You’re talking about Pauline? She’s a friend.”

She could feel through her power that he was telling the truth. It reassured her, but she couldn’t help wondering why it did. He was still looking at her, trying to figure her out.

She draped the towel over her shoulders, trying to focus on drying off, but her mind kept drifting to him. The air between them was thick with anticipation, and she felt a rush of excitement deep in her belly. She glanced back at him, catching the look in his eyes—intense, hungry.

Excitement flared within her. Maybe he was feeling the same as she was—just as confused, attracted, and turned on. “Do you still want to know?” she asked.

“What?” he said, clearly caught off guard.

“You said you wanted to know what’s going on.” By then, she was right in front of him. His eyes roamed her form before locking back onto hers.

“You’ve been a gentleman,” she said, stepping closer until her body brushed against his. “But I don’t want you to be one.”

Her hand reached out, touching his shoulder. She felt him stiffen at the contact before he relaxed, his eyes darkening with desire. She could see the struggle in his gaze, the same internal battle she was fighting.

“Artemis,” he murmured, his voice husky.

She leaned in, her breath mingling with his. “I’m tired of just practicing, Cade.”

He closed his eyes, and she held her breath. But then his hands moved to her waist, pulling her closer. “Me too,” he whispered.

Cade leaned toward her, and her heart hammered in her chest as his lips barely brushed hers. The touch was so light, so fleeting, but it set her entire being ablaze. The kiss, despite its softness, was consuming—like a wave that pulled her under, drowning her in sensation.

He pulled back a fraction, and she opened her eyes, her gaze locking with his. His expression was conflicted, torn between desire and restraint. “We shouldn’t.”

“That’s what I thought too,” she whispered, her fingers clutching at him as if letting go would mean losing him forever. “But you feel it, too, don’t you?”

He closed his eyes for a moment, pressing his forehead against hers. Tension radiated from him, like he was fighting a battle within himself. “Yes,” he finally admitted, his voice barely audible, but the word sent a shiver through her. She felt the truth in it, the rawness of his confession.

But even as he said it, she could feel him holding back, as if admitting it would unravel him completely.

“I’m not ready to have sex yet,” she said, but she couldn’t help the teasing smile that tugged at her lips. “But we can do other things.” She let her fingers trail down his chest, feeling the tension beneath his skin. “Would that change your mind?” she asked, her words a gentle dare.

He hesitated, and Artemis could see the conflict in his eyes. The way he battled with himself, how he was torn between what he wanted and what he thought was right. She didn’t wait for him to decide. Instead, she tightened her grip around him and flashed them to the bedroom, the massive bed looming behind them.

“Kiss me,” she demanded, her voice steady but laced with urgency. She needed him to give in, just for a moment, just to see if he felt what she did.

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