Page 35 of Follow Me Down

“I do not.”

“And here I thought snakes were your biggest concern.” He shakes his head. “I had no idea you were freaking out over some crazy three headed fish that likes to eat people.”

“Are you making fun of me right now?” I shove at his shoulder.

“Can you blame me?”

“Whatever,” I grumble when I can’t think of anything clever to say.

“That’s what I thought.” Titus shifts, dropping back into the water moments later.

“Where are you going?” I ask as he pushes away from the dock and begins to swim further into the pond.

“I’m going to discover what creepy creepers are lurking below the water,” he says in a ghostly voice.

“You’re such a jerk.” I push to a stand, completely forgetting about my lack of clothes until it’s already too late.

I watch Titus’ gaze lock in on me and I swear my skin heats to a million degrees.

I’m learning there are two very different sides to Titus. There’s the easy going, almost playful side, that up until today I had yet to really see. And then there’s the dark, serious side where his intimidation factor is through the roof and the slightest look in my direction makes me feel like I’m walking on a tight rope two hundred feet in the air without a safety net below me.

“Why don’t you get into the water and call me that,” he challenges.

It takes me a second to realize he’s referring to my previous statement.

“No need for both of us to get eaten today,” I fire back, having to raise my voice slightly to accommodate for how far out he’s swam.

I hear his laughter dance across the water, the sound washing over me like a warm breeze.

I turn, grabbing my dress before flipping it over to the other side in hopes of drying it faster. With the hot sun blaring down onto the dock, and given the thin fabric of the dress, I can’t imagine it will take much longer to dry.

Sliding back down onto the dock, I watch Titus as he swims laps around the pond. It doesn’t take much to see that he’s a strong swimmer. I imagine him as a child, swimming in the lavish underground pool that he probably had growing up. I wonder if he was forced to take lessons or if he was naturally drawn to the water.

When he disappears under the water, I’m too lost in thought to notice right away. But once I do, I quickly stand and back away from the edge. He may have gotten me once, but he will not get me again.

I scour the surface of the water, watching for signs of his approach, continuing to move backward as I do, convinced that he’s going to pop up at any second.

When my back collides with something solid, I jump and scream, turning to find Titus standing behind me.

“Titus!” I scold, placing my hand flat against my chest, pretty certain I’m about to go into cardiac arrest. “How the hell did you get up here?”

My eyes dip to his broad chest as water droplets slide down his sculpted abdomen and disappear against his black boxers. I swallow hard, my thoughts taking a drastic turn.

“There’s a ladder right there.” He points to the right, snapping me out of my haze. I follow his line of sight, spotting the top part of a rickety, handmade ladder attached to the side of the dock feet from where the land meets the water.

“God, you about scared me to death.” I shove at him, tempted to push his ass right back into the water.

He catches me by the forearm before I can even make contact, tightening his grip as he steps toward me. When his free hand swipes a chunk of wet hair over my shoulder, his fingers brushing the crook of my neck, a full body shiver runs through me.

I look up, meeting Titus’ stormy gray gaze and I swear it feels like the world around me slows and I’m suddenly hyperaware of everything. The sound of the water gently lapping around the dock. The sing song of birds as they chirp freely in the trees. The feel of the warm summer breeze on my bare back. The small specks of blue that pepper his eyes. The rapid beat of my heart as it pounds against my ribs.

I instinctively lean in, desperate to feel his lips on mine. And in this moment, I’m positive he wants it too. That is, until he steps back so quickly I nearly lose my footing and stumble forward.

“We should probably head back.” The words are out of his mouth before I have a chance to process what the hell just happened.

“Um, okay.” I try to mask my mortification of his rejection, though given the way he’s looking at me right now, I think it’s safe to say I’m not doing a very good job.

“You’re beautiful, Fallon. Fuck, you’re more than beautiful.” He runs a hand through his wet hair and blows out a heavy breath.

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