Page 64 of Rescuing Mia

But I ignore it, caught up in the heat of the moment and the way his erection thickens against me. I know where this will lead if I let it, but dear god, I want it so badly.

My hands ache to explore his chiseled frame, to feel his mouth devour every inch of my body. Every indecent thought floods my mind as his lips claim mine with a fiery passion.

His lips trail down my neck, his breath hot against my skin. My hands bury themselves in his hair as I lose myself in the sensation, but then a gasp escapes me, and I pull away from him, my whole body trembling with desire and fear.

“What’s wrong?” His dark eyes bore into me, full of lust and confusion.

“I’m sorry. I just… I can’t do this. It’s wrong of me to lead you on.” I shake my head and try to extricate myself from his embrace.

“What do you mean you can’t do this?” Understanding dawns in his eyes, and he nods, taking a deep breath to calm himself.

“It’s not you. It’s me.” I run a hand through my hair, frustration and longing warring within me. “I care about you. More than I thought possible, but there are things about my past, about who I am, that you don’t know. I don’t think it’s fair to lead you on. There is no future between us.”

“Keep your secrets, Mia. In my previous line of work, I know how deadly such things can be, but if you think for one second that means there’s no future between us, then I’m sorry to say, but you’re wrong.”

Rigel releases me and treads water, letting the distance build between us. “When you’re ready to talk, I’m here to listen. No judgment, no pressure. Just love and support. Your secrets are yours, and I would never try to take them from you. I don’t think that means we can’t be together.”

“But…” Tears prick at my eyes,

“No buts, Mia. I’m not going anywhere, and it seems as if you could use someone in your corner. I am that man, and I’ll prove it.”

“I just… I need some time to process everything.”

Rigel nods, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes, but he quickly masks it with understanding. “Of course. Take all the time you need.”

Slowly, reluctantly, I pull away from his embrace. The water feels colder without his warmth surrounding me, but I need to put some distance between us, both physically and emotionally.

We swim back to the stern of the boat in silence, the only sound the gentle lapping of the waves against our bodies. Rigel stays close by my side, his presence a comforting reassurance even in the midst of my inner turmoil.

As we reach the dive platform, Rigel helps me up, his strong hands steady on my waist. For a moment, we stand there, face to face, the tension between us palpable.

His hands linger on my waist, his touch sending shivers down my spine. His eyes lock with mine, intense and unwavering.

“Mia,” he says, his voice low and rough with emotion. “I understand you think you need time, and I respect that, but I want you to know that this—what’s growing between us—it’s not something you can run from. And you need to know, I’m not willing to let go of it easily.”

“Rigel, I…” I swallow hard, my heart racing at the determination in his words.

He presses a finger to my lips, silencing me. “You don’t have to say anything now. Take the time you need to sort through things. But know this. I want you, and I’m not going to give up on what we could have together.”

His hand moves to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing lightly over my skin. “When you’re ready, I’ll be here. Waiting. Because you’re worth waiting for.” With that, he leans in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to my forehead. “Good night, Mia,” he whispers, his breath warm against my skin.

“Good night,” I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

He pulls back, his eyes searching mine for a long moment before he finally steps away, giving me the space I need to breathe.

I watch him walk away, my heart aching with longing and confusion. Part of me wants to run after him, to throw myself into his arms and let him chase away all my fears and doubts.

But I can’t.

Not yet.

Not until I’ve faced the demons of my past and found a way to break free of the secrets that bind me. With a heavy sigh, I turn and return to my cabin. Rigel’s words echo in my mind with every step.

He wants me. He’s waiting for me.

And I want him too.

As I lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts drift back to the day’s events. The snorkeling, the slide, the kiss… It all feels like a dream, a brief respite from the harsh reality of my situation.

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