Page 22 of Fear of Intimacy

“Yes?”

“I take it back.”

“Take what back?” His lips grazed the shell of my ear as he spoke. Obviously wanting me to say the words out loud.

“There are two things.” He whispered. When I hesitated, he started to swing me again.

“Fine, okay! You aren’t plain!”

“Nope, that doesn’t count.” More of my feet dipped into the water as he waded farther out.

“Okay, okay. Trevor, you are not plain and neither are Doritos!” He paused. “Is that better?”

“Hmm,” he hummed, his chest vibrating against my back. “It will do…for now.”

“Then please let me down.”

“If you insist.” Trevor loosened his hold, lowering me a bit so waves hit my knees. Yelling, I gripped him once more.

“Put me down on dry land, you idiot!” I shrieked, kicking at the water.

Laughing, Trevor turned us both around and walked out of the ocean. Each step toward dry land made me relax more and more in his hold.Stupid man threatening to drop me in theocean.As soon as he got us away from the water, I wiggled in his hold so he would release me.

As soon as my feet hit the sand, I let out a sigh. I loved the ocean, I did, but someone threatening to throw me in while it was dark? No, thank you. My mouth threatened to protest when Trevor’s arms dropped from my body.

I liked his arms around me, maybe a little too much, but being in them was fogging my head. I needed my thoughts clear whenever I was around Trevor because it was really easy to give in, and the thought of that scared me. Getting attached too quickly never turned out well.

“You are so dead.” I twisted around and glared at the man in front of me. I had to tilt my head back just to see at his face. Damn him and his height. Trevor had the balls to smile down at me like something was funny. “What?”

“You are as threatening as a squirrel,” he replied, his smile somehow getting wider.

“Am not!” Putting my hands on my hips, I narrowed my eyes.

“Uh-huh.”

Letting out a huff, I looked away. The way he was looking at me made my stomach flip and my cheeks to heat. His stupid smile was not helping.

Tasha no. Don’t even think about it.

A cool breeze picked up, blowing salty air right from the ocean. I shivered as goosebumps rose on my skin, my thin summer dress doing nothing to hold off the chill. Didn’t help that my legs were still wet from before.

“Here.” I looked back at Trevor to see him shedding the windbreaker he had on. In a gesture that somehow made my heart race even more, Trevor held it open for me.

“But—”

“You’re shivering,” Trevor cut me off. He gave me a look that told me not to argue with him. I didn’t have it in me todo so. Biting the inside of my cheek, I moved closer, sliding my arms into the sleeves and letting him pull it around my shoulders.

I was instantly enveloped in warmth and that familiar citrus yet spicy smell again. The same smell that was all Trevor. It took everything I had not to bring the sleeves up to my nose. Instead, I took small, deep breaths, basically inhaling his scent as if it was oxygen. Maybe I was crazy, or I was somehow still intoxicated.

“Thanks,” I murmured. “What about you?”

“I’ll be fine.” He waved me off. “Want to head back?” He tucked his hands in his pockets, the T-shirt he was now in stretching across his biceps and chest. Averting my eyes, I nodded.

Our little moment ended. Disappointment washed over me because I wanted to stay in our little bubble where reality didn’t seem to exist. Tonight, the walls came down just a little. It was like Trevor was softly, but firmly, hitting those walls and tearing them down brick by brick. I wasn’t entirely sure if I was okay with that or not.

We walked side by side back to the hotel, stopping to grab our shoes and phones we left by the bonfire on the way. A few people lingered on the beach, which wasn’t surprising since it was only eleven thirty. I hadn’t realized how long Trevor and I had been out. Time seemed to pause yet fly by when we were together.

As we walked, our fingers brushed against each other, each time making my breath still in my lungs.

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