Page 48 of Below the Barrel

“I highly doubt every man out there is capable of that,” I say, avoiding the question.

He pauses, the humour slowly fading from his face. “Why me, Mal?”

I stare into his eyes, feeling him twitching inside of me distractingly, a lump forming in my throat as I catch the vulnerability in his gaze. “Because…because I still love you, Koa,” I say, my voice shaking, “and I don’t know how to stop being afraid of all the what-ifs that come with you, but maybe this is a start.”

He looks at me like I’m the most incredible thing he’s ever seen, and it makes my heart skip a beat. His lips curl into that half-smile, and I feel my knees weaken, grateful that he’s holding me up right now.

“I lov?—”

“Don’t,” I say quickly, interrupting him. “Don’t say it. Please. With how things ended, I’m going to need more than just words to believe that, Koa.”

He nods, understanding, before his gaze intensifies, like he’s taking in every part of me, devouring me with his eyes. There’s something about it. Dark and hungry. Like I’m the only thing that matters at this moment. It’s more than just desire. It’s like he’s in awe, as if he can’t believe I’m here in front of him, completely exposed.

“Don’t worry, princess,” he finally says as he starts to move again, pulling out almost completely before slamming into me as deep as he can. “I promise, when I say those words again, you won’t doubt me.”

His eyes meet mine and I see that quiet look of determination in them that makes it hard to breathe. He pounds into me, tipping us over the edge at the same time as the water splashes around us, and I know I’ve never wanted anyone like this before.

SEVENTEEN

KOA | RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

I wakeup to something warm and soft pressed against me, the steady rise and fall of her breathing against my chest. For a second, I almost don’t believe it’s real. I blink my eyes open, adjusting to the dim light, and there she is—Maliah, naked and tangled in the sheets beside me. Her body draped across mine like she belongs here.

Because she does belong here.

Last night plays back in my head like a dream I don’t want to wake up from. The way she looked—her skin glowing in the moonlight, the fireworks lighting up the sky, the water splashing around us in the pool while we fucked. The way she felt. I can still feel her soft gasps, the way her body trembled and tightened around me when she came. It was…breathtaking. More than that, it was everything.

She’s everything.

I gently brush a strand of hair from her face, careful not to wake her. Watching her now, so peaceful, it hits me like a punch to the chest—she’s the one. I’ve always known it deep down, but after last night, it’s like everything snapped into focus. I’ve been an idiot, letting her slip away, letting her think I didn’t want her. But now…now I’m so close to getting her back. It feels withinreach, like one more step and we could be together again, for real.

I shift slightly, trying to grab my phone from the nightstand without waking her. It’s early, barely dawn, but I can’t stop thinking about her. About us. I open my phone and start searching for things we can do in Rio today. We were given a free day from the tour to explore, and I want to make it perfect for her. I want to show her that I’m not just playing games—that when I say I want her, I mean all of her.

I scroll through a few places—Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, some beaches—and start planning it all out. A full day for just the two of us. No distractions, no cameras, just…us.

Maliah stirs beside me, and I look down just as her eyes flutter open. For a moment, she looks at me, sleepy and a little confused, and then jumps back, pulling the sheet up to cover her naked body. I can’t help but smirk at the sight.

“Really?” I say, raising an eyebrow. “There’s no point in covering yourself up. I saw it all last night.”

Her cheeks flush bright pink, and she glares at me like she’s trying to be mad, but I can see the smile she’s trying to hide. That’s the thing about her—no matter how much she tries to act tough, I can always tell when she’s flustered.

“Shut up,” she mutters, clutching the sheet tighter.

I chuckle, leaning back against the pillows, my eyes tracing the curve of her shoulder, her back. “I’m serious, Mal. You don’t need to hide from me.”

She glances at me, then looks away quickly, still holding the sheet to her chest like a shield. I reach out and take her hand, gently tugging the fabric down just a bit, enough to see her skin. She doesn’t stop me.

“Last night,” I start, my voice low, “was perfect.”

She bites her lip, looking like she’s not sure what to say, but I don’t push her. Not yet. I’ll wait. I’ll give her time. But inmy head, one thing is clear—there’s no going back now. I’m not letting her slip through my fingers again.

I reach out again and gently push her back onto the bed. Her eyes widen slightly, and I can see the conflict there—she wants to push me away, but I can tell she’s torn.

“Koa…” she starts, her voice soft but edged with protest, “I need to shower.”

I shake my head and spread her thighs apart, my hands gliding down her legs as I settle between them. Her breath hitches as I look her dead in the eyes, my voice low and steady. “The shower can wait. I’m feeling hungry.”

She opens her mouth to argue, but I don’t give her a chance. I lower my head, and the second my mouth touches her soft pussy, her body arches off the bed. I feel her hands press against my shoulders, half-heartedly trying to push me away, but it doesn’t last. Her fingers tangle in my hair instead, and the only sounds left are her breathy moans filling the quiet room.

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