“Follow me.” Rhys holds his hand out and I happily take it. He leads me up a hiking trail deep into a canopy of trees.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” His tone clearly reflecting a smile I can’t see.
* * *
The path opens to a small cliffside. The lake below is clear, and the sun shines brightly off the water. I drop Rhys’ hand and take small steps toward the edge.
I suck in a sharp breath at the sheer beauty surrounding us.
“How did you know this place was here?” I keep my voice low, not wanting to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere.
He steps beside me, admiring the view of the lake and clear blue sky. “Declan and I stumbled on the trail when we were teenagers. We used to cliff jump.”
I damn near decapitate myself from how fast I whip my head in his direction. “Is that what we’re doing?”
Excitement courses through my veins.
I need this after the emotional turmoil I experienced yesterday and over the past few days.
He winks and sends that deliciously seductive smile my way. “Bet your sweet ass we are.”
“YES!” I throw a fist in the air. Rhys had said to wear a swimsuit, so I hurry to strip my clothes.
“You got a little drool on your lip,” I tease when he hungrily takes in the black little number I’m wearing.
I’m no better when he reaches behind his head and tugs off his shirt. His muscles flex with the motion and I squeeze my thighs together.
“Now who is the one drooling?” He tosses his shirt at my face.
Laughing, I catch it and set it next to my things.
“Jump with me?”
I stand by Rhys’ side at the cliff’s edge and take his hand. He gives mine a small squeeze. “Ready when you are.” I smile so wide; I worry my cheeks might explode.
Then, together, we jump.
There are not enough words in all the languages to describe the feeling of knowing her love is mine. Even if she didn’t say the words. I felt it.
I felt it down to the marrow of my bones. Sheloves me.
This entire morning has felt like a turning point for us.
Sarah and I are wrapped in each other as we tread the water in lazy, relaxed circles. Her aquamarine eyes are unbelievably bright. The warmth and joy reflected in them sends my heart soaring to unbelievable heights.
I’m already dreading when I need to leave to work for Declan. We’ve been hunting those who managed to slip throughour fingers when we raided Vladimir’s – the Bratva Pakhan – mansion but it’s proving to be annoyingly more difficult than we anticipated.
If you know the right people, which these people do, then you can disappear or pay off whoever you need to in order to ensure your secrets remain secrets.
“Thank you,” Sarah whispers, brushing a wet strand of hair from my forehead.
“What for?”
Her eyes scan the scenery that surrounds us. “For this. I really needed this.”
“Of course,mo réalta.”