Page 21 of You Kissed Me First

I roll my eyes at him, but Dominic doesn’t move away.

“I need to blow up my jacket,” I whisper.

“I have something you can blow,” Dominic jokes back.

“Ha-ha. Now put your life jacket on. I’m going to need you to float next to me. God knows your ego will sink you to the bottom.”

“You wound me, baby.”

He does as I ask though, putting on his jacket while I try to figure out how to blow mine up.

He leans in close to my face after a moment. I startle, looking into his eyes.

Then he puts his mouth on the tube over my breast and blows. After three strong exhales, my life jacket is inflated, but I don’t focus on that.

I focus on the way his eyes never left mine.

Why is it that everything with this man went from a fight to a fucking turn-on?

“Okay. When you are ready, put on your goggles and head toward the back of the boat.”

I don’t know where my head is, but I missed the whole safety speech. I look over at Dominic with worried eyes.

“I’ve got you. Trust me.”

I nod, letting him lead me toward the back of the boat.

“I’m going to jump in here. Do you want to jump in or use the ladder?”

I glance back to the ladder where a lot of the women are going. I don’t know if I can make it down the ladder without freezing. As it is, I’m having a hard time not looking out over the ocean. Instead, I’m focusing on my feet.

When did I put flippers on?

I must be really out of it.

“I’ll jump.” My voice is shaky, but I don’t have a choice.

If I don’t jump, I won’t get in.

Like a Band-Aid, right?

“Okay. I’ll get in first. I’ve got you.” Then he grips my chin, pulling my face to his.

He gives me a quick peck, and then he’s gone. Within seconds, his mask is over his face as he jumps into the water.

I gasp, waiting for him to surface, which he does quickly. I notice his life jacket doesn’t even look inflated.

“Okay, babe. Put your goggles on. Then put the snorkel in your mouth. Then jump while holding the goggles to your face. I’ll be right here.”

I take a couple of deep breaths before doing what he said. As soon as my feet leave the boat, I want to scream, but I don’t.

Instead, I feel the rush of water around me. I’m about to panic, but then I feel him. He pulls me to him quickly.

“Are you okay?”

I can’t see his eyes clearly through my goggles, but I can tell he has his off.

“I’m okay.” I say the words, but I’m shivering and not from the cold. I’m afraid.

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