Page 58 of Below the Barrel

“Shut your mouth,” I growl, keeping my voice low but firm. “If you eventhinkabout ruining her reputation, I’ll make sure you’re behind bars for sexual assault.” I meet his gaze, my expression hard. “Don’t forget what you did. It’ll only take one call.”

Charles blinks, and for a second, I see the doubt flash in his eyes. The smirk falters just enough for me to know I’ve got him. He straightens up, revving his engine a little, like he’s trying to regain control of the situation.

“Yeah, right,” he mutters, trying to act tough, but there’s no real confidence behind it. His eyes flick to Maliah again, but he quickly looks away when I lean forward slightly, my hands gripping the jet ski handles tighter.

“You think I’m lying?” I say, voice calm but threatening. “Go ahead. Blink in her direction one more time, and I’ll make the call. You know what you did, you really think I won’t follow through?”

His smirk fades completely now. He knows he’s cornered, that what I’m saying isn’t bullshit. He gives a half-hearted scoff, more out of trying to save face than anything else.

“Whatever,” he grumbles, revving his jet ski harder now, clearly uncomfortable. He starts backing out of the cave, shooting me a final glare over his shoulder. “You two have fun while it lasts.”

The moment he’s gone, the tension in the air seems to lift, but I’m still seething, watching the last ripples of his wake as he disappears out of sight. I take a deep breath and turn back to Maliah, who’s hastily adjusting her bikini, her expression shaken but composed.

I reach out, brushing my thumb gently along her arm. “You okay?” I ask softly.

She nods, her lips pressing together in a tight line. “I’m fine.”

She’s quiet, too quiet, and I hate it. “Princess,” I say gently, wrapping my arms around her waist, pulling her closer to try and give her some sense of comfort. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

She doesn’t answer me right away, but I feel her shift a little, her body tense under my touch. After a long pause, she finally speaks, “What if he’s right?”

Her voice is quiet, almost lost under the echo of the water lapping against the cave walls.

“Right about what?” I ask, pressing a kiss to the back of her neck.

“About us,” she admits, her voice shaky. “About…this. He said ‘have fun while it lasts.’ What if it doesn’t last, again, Koa? What if we’re pretending this is more than it is?”

I feel a flicker of frustration, not at her, but at myself. This doubt she has is my fault, for destroying the trust she had for me years ago. I tighten my grip around her, pulling her even closer to me.

“Don’t let him get in your head like that.”

She leans back into me, but I can tell the doubt is still there, gnawing at her. Torturing her. “But we’ve never said what this is between us, Koa. And maybe it’s not anything. Maybe he’s right and this…whatever we’re doing…won’t last.”

I can’t help the low growl of frustration that escapes me. She’s questioning us because of him, because of me, and it’spissing me off. But I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself before I answer.

“It’s not just anything,” I say firmly, my lips brushing her ear. “This is real. I don’t care about what Charles thinks or anyone else for that matter. All I know is I want you, you have me, and I’m not going anywhere.”

She’s silent for a moment, and I feel her tense again, her hands gripping the handlebars tighter. “But how do you know? We’ve been through so much already, and…what if it’s not enough?”

Her voice cracks a little, and it makes my chest tighten. I press my forehead against her shoulder, taking a deep breath. “Because I know what I feel for you, Mal. I know this is more than just a fling. I don’t care about labels or what people think. I’m not going anywhere. You’ve got to trust me.”

She shifts slightly, turning her head just enough to glance back at me. “But what if?—”

“No what-ifs,” I cut her off, my voice more certain this time. “I’m here. I’m not leaving. Not again.”

She’s quiet for a few more seconds, her gaze dropping to her hands. I can see the internal battle playing out in her mind, the doubt that Charles planted. But slowly, I feel her body start to relax against mine. Her hands loosen their grip on the jet ski, and she lets out a shaky breath.

“I just don’t want to lose you again,” she whispers.

“You won't,” I promise, my arms wrapped around her tighter. “I’m right here, Mal. We’re not letting some French asshole like Charles decide what we have. We’re good.”

She’s still for a beat longer before she gives a small nod, her back finally softening against me, her trust starting to seep back in. “Okay,” she says quietly.

I breathe a little easier, relieved to feel her tension fading. I kiss the top of her head and nudge her gently. “Are you ready to get out of here?”

She hesitates for a moment but then nods, turning the engine back on. “Yeah…let’s get out of here.”

As we pull out of the cave and back into the open ocean, I feel her settle into me, her body relaxed against mine. It feels different now—like maybe, just maybe, she’s starting to trust this, to trust us again.

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