Page 65 of Beyond The Break

Eliana trembles against me so I bend down and pick her up bridal style as she buries her face in my neck, her cold nose pressed against my skin as I walk us towards the dock. I’m careful with where I step, afraid that the whole thing will fall apart.

We make it onto the boat safely with Koa, Maliah and Zale following closely behind. I walk us up to the bridge, pressing the button that raises the anchor from the ocean floor.

“Are you okay?” I ask Eliana as I carefully place her on the cushioned bench before I start up the boat and steer us away from the cove and towards the direction of The Shredder House.

“I’m okay,” she says through chattering teeth.

I let out a deep sigh. “Let’s get you showered and changed into something dry. You'll get sick if you stay in those clothes.”

I call Koa over to take over the steering and help her up as we make our way to the lower deck where the master bedroom and ensuite bathroom are located. As I help her out of her wet clothes, I notice my hands shaking. I pause, holding them up and staring as they tremble. I must be coming down from an adrenaline rush after everything that happened tonight.

I almost lost her, and the thought alone makes my throat feel like it’s sealing shut. As I usher her naked and cold bodyinto the shower, she reaches back and grips onto the fabric of my soaked shirt.

“Please don’t leave me,” she whispers.

I don’t hesitate as I strip down to nothing and climb into the small shower with her, holding her cold, naked body against mine as the warm water beats down on us both.

NINETEEN

ELIANA

The waterfrom the boat’s showerhead pours down on us, chasing away the cold that had settled on my skin from the freezing ocean water. Griffin stands behind me, naked, but it doesn’t feel sexual right now. His presence is comforting as I lean into him, feeling his warmth on my back. This is the first time I've been fully naked in front of anyone.

He moves my wet hair to one side and lowers his mouth to my exposed neck, leaving a trail of light kisses from just under my ear down to my shoulder. He wraps his arms around me, holding me close like he never wants to let go.

“Why do bad things happen when I go to parties?”

“Please don’t think that’s true,” he whispers, “today it was a random accident.”

When I don’t reply, he reaches past me and grabs a bottle of shampoo, squeezing it out into his hand. He places the bottle back and gently begins massaging it into my hair, a small moan escaping from my mouth because of his soothing touch. He rinses it out before applying conditioner next.

“Thank you for jumping in after me,” I whisper.

“You’re welcome.”

“Why did you?” I turn around to face him, wanting to see his face when he answers.

“Because you called out for me.” His eyes roam my face before he pecks my forehead and rinses the conditioner out.

“So, all I have to do is call out for you and you’ll be there, just like that?”

“Just like that, no hesitation,” he confirms, running his hand through my hair, his eyes softening as he looks at me.

My breath catches as my throat tightens with emotion. The reply I had is trapped in my throat, so I throw myself at him instead. He doesn’t hesitate to take control, pushing my back against the tiled wall while his mouth consumes me. I gasp from the coolness of it, and he reaches up to adjust the showerhead so that it beats down on the wall, heating up the tile behind me.

“What a gentleman,” I mumble against his lips.

He nips at my bottom lip before he kisses the goofy smile from my face.

I wrap my legs around his waist as he lifts me up against him and I pour every emotion I feel into the kiss.

Desire.

Desperation.

Appreciation.

I wrap my arms around the back of his neck and tug him closer. Everything about Griffin feels right, like we were meant to find each other. I wasn't sure how I would know if I met the right person to lose my virginity to, but in this moment, I've never felt more certain that he is that person for me.

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