Page 49 of Fit for Love

“Do you think the water will reach here?”Kendall pants as we burst into my cabin.

“I doubt it.”But just in case, I locate the stairwell to the attic.“If anything, we go up there,” I tell her.

“And what if?—”

“I’m a great swimmer,” I say as reassuringly as I can.“I’ll get us to that boat.Even without the keys, the thing floats, so we should be okay.”Hopefully.

She looks me over.“You’re dripping.”

“So are you.”I gesture at her backpack.“Do you have anything you can change into?Or do you want to borrow something of mine?”Even if that something are the only dry items I have left.

She takes her backpack off her shoulders.“I’ve got pajamas.”

“Good.I’ll turn around and go change in that corner while you change here.”I grab my stuff and do just that, then loudly ask if she’s decent.

“Yeah.You can turn back.”

When I do, she’s wearing a black silk slip that reveals enough of her milky flesh for me to get hard instantly despite the apocalypse raging outside.

Her feet are bare, with a neat taupe-colored nail polish that looks to have been painted two seconds ago, and she’s wearing two silvery toe rings and a golden anklet.Said jewelry aside, hers are the prettiest feet I’ve ever seen, and I’ve never been into feet—until this moment, that is.I want to suck on her?—

She shivers, making me feel like an insensitive asshole.

“Are you cold?”I ask gently, coming toward her.This being Florida, the inside of the non-air-conditioned cabin feels pretty balmy, but I have more of my skin covered—especially in the leg area.

“Yes.No.I don’t know.”She walks over to the wooden bed and sits on the edge.“Can you… hold me?”

“Of course.”Even if that means my balls become bluer than a Smurf’s.

Moving softly so I don’t spook her further, I sit and gently wrap my arm around her trembling shoulders.

“We’re going to be okay,” I whisper.

A violent thunderclap chooses that very moment to crack angrily in the distance.

Kendall jerks in response.“How can you know that?”

I pull her closer.“Nothing is going to happen to you.”I won’t let it.

“I guess.But… just in case… can we take a break?”

I face her, forehead furrowing.“What do you mean?”

Her hazel eyes gleam in the candlelight.“Can we not hate each other?Just for a few minutes.”She dampens her soft lips.“If we’re going to die?—”

“We’re not.”

“But if,” she insists.“I don’t want?—”

“I don’t hate you,” I say truthfully.“I might’ve been disappointed when you ghosted me, but?—”

She puts a finger to my lips.“That.Let’s take a break from all that… in case…”

I feather-kiss that finger.“There’s no ‘in case,’ fashionista.I promise you.”

“Not arguing is part of the proposed break,” she mutters.“Please.”

“Okay.”

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