Page 9 of Isla

I laugh. "Thanks to the hours I spend at the gym every day."

"Gym, huh?"

"Yeah, you don't look like you'd be familiar...they usually have weights you lift to build muscle," I say, somehow managing to keep a straight face.

He rolls his eyes at me. "There's a gym near here? I searched online yesterday but couldn't find anything close."

"It's a private gym only open to our community, so it's not listed. You and your brothers are welcome to work out anytime."

"If you'll tell me where it is, I'll check it out this morning," he says, dipping down so he's at eye level with me. "How much is it?"

"It's free. I'll take you there if you'd like. I'm going anyway."

"What do you mean free?"

"My brother, brothers-in-law, and I opened it years ago. We've expanded it over time to accommodate everyone. It’s a way to give back to the community that has done so much for us."

He dunks his head under, blowing water from his lips as he comes back up. His eyelashes clump together, highlighting the depths of his ocean-blue eyes. "I have to admit that I'm envious of your way of life here. Time moves slower than it does in the States. Everyone is so incredibly kind. Back home, it seems like everyone is too busy struggling to survive to care about their neighbors."

"That can't be a healthy way to live." I can't imagine my life without the community that has supported me since I was a baby.

“It’s not,” he says, his teeth chattering.

“Fuck, you must be freezing!” My gaze hangs on his purple-tinged lips for a second too long. I pull my hair over my shoulders and stand. It plasters to my skin, shielding my breasts. Henry stays low in the water, his eyes hooded. “You ready to go?” I ask him, my heart pounding in my chest.

“I’ll stay in if it means I get to spend more time with you.”

I laugh, ignoring the butterflies fluttering in my stomach. “You'll freeze to death.”

“It would be worth it, Isla.” He pushes his hair out of his face, droplets cascading over his nose and cheeks. “I always wondered how sailors could be lured to their deaths by a siren's call. I understand it now.” He pushes up, water lapping at the V of his abdominal muscles. Heat pools in my belly. He takes a step toward me and reaches out, running the back of his fingers over my cheek. His thumb sweeps down over my chin, catching on my bottom lip, pulling slightly. My knees buckle, and he catches me easily, one arm behind my back, drawing me onto my tiptoes, my nipples pebbling against his chest. I barely breathe, not sure if I want to break the spell or if I want to climb him like a motherfucking tree. He holds my gaze for a fewmore seconds before shaking his head like he's trying to wake up from a dream. His whole body trembles as he releases me, whether from desire or cold, I’ll probably never know. He raises one eyebrow and then turns his back, waiting for me to leave the water and get dressed.

I try, but I can’t get my feet to move anywhere but closer to him. I suck in a ragged breath, and he looks over his shoulder at me, his gaze dropping to my lips before bouncing back up. “Isla, I need you to go get dressed. This tension is testing my limits. You're supposed to hate me, remember?”

"You're really fucking hard to hate." My heart pounds in my chest as I press my hand to his shoulder, muscles rippling under my touch. Turning him toward me, I sweep my fingers over his throat, watching in fascination as his Adam's apple bobs. I run my hand over the ridge of his pecs, biting my lip when he jerks as I pass over his nipple.

“Isla,” he growls, catching my hand in his before I can continue my exploration. A full-body shiver goes through him, and I notice he’s clenching his jaw so his teeth don’t chatter.

“God, I’m sorry. You’re freezing. Come on.” I pull his hand and walk toward the beach. “I won’t look if you don’t look.”

“What if I want to look?” he asks, keeping his eyes on my face as we step out of the water.

I laugh. “Do you wantmeto look atyouright now? You were just in freezing cold water.”

He grimaces. “Good point. Don’t you dare look at me.” He runs toward his clothes, leaving me laughing in the arctic wind.

As much as I want to, I don’t look until he gives the okay. I really shouldn’t have encouraged him to swim. He only had his shorts and T-shirt, which are now stuck to his wet skin. He looks colder than he did before we got out of the water.

“Come on,” I call, jogging toward the path. I make sure he’s following me, worried about the blue tinge to his skin. When we get to the cottage, I grab his hand and lead him inside. “You’re not getting out of my sight until I’m sure you’re not going to die of hypothermia.”

“I’m fine,” he scuffs, a violent shiver wracking his body.

God, he looks big in here. His head almost hits the ceiling. I blow out a breath, trying to focus. I motion for him to follow me into the bathroom, cranking the shower handle and turning toward him. He dwarfs me in the tiny space, making me feel small. Delicate. Feminine. I drag my gaze up along the column of his throat, taking in the strong lines of his jaw, the dimple in his chin. We stare at each other, steam billowing between us, making it seem like a dream.

I turn to leave, but he grabs my hand and pulls me toward him. I stop myself from careening into him with a hand on his chest. “I will not have you dying of hypothermia because of a morning skinny dip. Get in the shower, Henry.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he whispers, his voice husky. Sexy. Sensual. I slam the bathroom door as I leave and head straight back outside, desperately needing the cold air to blow away the needy bitch that had taken over my body.

I almost trip over Dylan’s feet as I rush out the door. “E-Everything okay?” He stammers, looking into the cottage like something will burst through the doorway and attack us.

---