Page 21 of Bound By Darkness

“You’re quiet,” he says, studying me.“Regretting something?”

I arch a brow, masking the way my pulse quickens.“I don’t do regrets.”

“Good.”He pushes up on one elbow, his gaze locked onto mine.For a moment, I feel like he’s about to say something else, something real, but then the corner of his mouth lifts.“Get dressed.”

I blink.“Excuse me?”

He throws the covers off and stands, stretching his arms lazily as he glances over his shoulder.“We’re going out.Get dressed.”

“Where exactly are we going?”

“You’ll see,” he says with maddening confidence as he disappears into the bathroom.

A half-hour later, I’m gripping Eamon’s waist as the jet ski slices through the water.He’s reckless, pushing the engine harder than necessary.Every bump sends my heart into my throat.

“This is your idea of a day out?”I shout over the roar, my voice a mix of laughter and protest.

He glances back at me, his grin smug.“You said you wanted fun, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t say death wish.”

He laughs, speeding up until I’m clutching him tighter, torn between terror and exhilaration.

By the time we stop at a secluded stretch of white sand, my legs are shaking as I climb off the jet ski.“You’re insane.”

“You love it,” he replies unapologetically.

I roll my eyes, but I can’t deny the truth.Being with Eamon makes me feel alive.

Grabbing a small bag strapped to the back of the jet ski, he nods toward the shore.“Come on.”

My curiosity is piqued as I watch him unroll a blanket and unpack what he brought—champagne, fruit, and cheese.Simple but thoughtful.

“You’ve got layers, Eamon,” I say, popping a strawberry into my mouth.“This almost looks romantic.”

He leans back, watching me with that unreadable intensity.“Maybe I do, and maybe it is.”I laugh softly, shaking my head, but his gaze lingers on me, serious now.“What happens when you leave?”he asks, his voice low but pointed.

The question catches me off guard, and I pause, the strawberry frozen halfway to my lips.“Excuse me?”

“You can’t stay here forever,” he says, his eyes locked on mine.“Eventually, you’ll have to go home.What’s waiting for you there?”

I force a smile, trying to play it off.“Why the sudden interest in my future?”

His fingers drum once against his thigh before stilling.“Because I want to know.”

The weight of his gaze presses against me, and I sigh, leaning back on my hands as I glance toward the horizon.“My father runs a business,” I say, choosing my words carefully.“He wants me to stay out of it.Says it’s not a place for me.”

He doesn’t move, but something shifts in his eyes, a glimmer of something darker.“And what do you want?”

“I want to work for him,” I admit.“Da underestimates me.Always has.I refuse to be someone who sits on the sidelines and lets other people make decisions for me the rest of my life.”

Eamon shifts, sitting up straighter as he studies me.“And you think this trip will change his mind?”

“When I get home, I’ll show him that I’m capable and can take care of myself.That I’m more than just his little girl,” I say, my voice firmer now.“He’ll have no choice but to take me seriously.”

There’s a pause, the weight of my words hanging between us.

“You’re stubborn,” he says finally, his tone almost amused.

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