Second Chance

Thirteen: Realization

Thirteen: Realization

Ciara inhaled deeply and jumped. Air hit her face as she fell through the air. Boy was she scared. She’d never tried diving before, but her pride refused to let her lose to Jared’s cocky assumptions. She shut her eyes tightly. Perhaps she shouldn’t have eaten that much earlier…

Moments later, she heard a splash. Her body was immersed in water, and she relished in the soothing cold liquid. She slowly opened her eyes. It stung slightly, but at least it allowed her vision. She’d carelessly left her goggle at home.

Her hand shot out, and she swam upwards. She broke the surface and sucked in a sharp breath. Ciara blinked rapidly to clear her foggy vision. That wasn’t so bad. It was actually satisfying. She turned to Jared. Her eyes raked his body, and she quickly tore them away as he glanced up at her. What? How was a girl supposed to resist a guy with a body like it was carved out of a marble? She quickly masked her expression behind a smirk.

“I win the bet.”

Jared rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”

“Don’t underestimate my guts, darling.”

Jared chuckled softly. His leaned forward and rested his hand on the tiles on either side of her shoulder. Ciara’s heart started beating furiously. She was desperately trying to keep her expression neutral. No doubt, she must have looked pretty funny.

She could see the water droplets dripping softly down the side of his face. Closer and closer, he leaned. He was near enough that she could see the darker flecks of brown in his hazel eyes. There was nowhere she could run. In fact, if she tried to move a single muscle, her chest would brush across his. She forgot how to breathe.

With his gaze fixed intensely on hers, one of his arms snaked around her waist and pressed her against him. His warm breath tickled the side of her neck. Subconsciously, she arched her neck to give him better access. She mentally thanked any deities she could think of for the absence of a third person.

“I lost,” he whispered right next to her ear. “Dinner is on me.”

“Uh huh.”

She didn’t trust her voice enough to say anything more. Her hand slipped between the two. His abs felt rock hard beneath her touch. Jared lifted her chin and crashed his lips against hers.

Ciara’s body was lit on fire. At first, she was slightly surprised by his zeal. She threw it to the back of her mind, and she returned his kiss with just as much passion.

He pulled back, resting his forehead against hers. Ciara reached up to cup his cheek. She could see the conflict in his eyes, and concern flooded her.

“Is anything wrong?”

He blinked, and whatever emotion Ciara had caught in his eyes was gone.

“No, dear, I just missed you.”

Ciara laughed at his attempt at a pout. It looked ridiculous on him, ridiculously attractive for a guy that it wasn’t fair.

“Should we go? We’ve been in the pool for a good two hours.”

The reply was practically a growl. “No, I like it here.”

Ciara’s lips curved upwards. It wasn’t like she could go anywhere with his arms wrapped around her. Truth be told, she quite liked the position she was in. No, ‘quite liked’ was an understatement.

Her gaze lowered. He was staring so intensely at her that her stomach fluttered like she had a ton of butterflies living within her. His lips pressed gently against her skin just beneath her ear.

“I really like you.”

Her heart missed a beat. She tried to speak several times, but she couldn’t find her voice. It took her a moment to realize that the vibration was Jared trying not to laugh. A deep blush colored her cheek, and she twisted her head to a side.

“What’s so funny?”

“You.”

Ciara slapped him playfully on his arm. “I’m taking that as a compliment.”

“No, that wasn’t what I -”

“Oh? How nice of you!”

“Actually, I meant -”

“Thank you!”

Ciara laughed. His eyes narrowed, and the laughter stopped instantly. She didn’t like that look.

“What are you planning?” She watched him carefully, her eyes training on his like a deer on its predator.

“Nothing.” He grinned. “Just have an intense urge to tickle someone.”

Ciara’s jaw dropped in horror. She tried futilely to escape his hold.

Oh no, you don’t!

A sharp yelp left her mouth, and she trashed around in his hold. Her mind reeled for all sorts of possible options of murdering Jared. Her eyes watered with laughter.

“I’m going to kill you!”

“Go ahead.”

“Jared!”

“Ciara!”

“Oh, you jerk!”

“I’m taking that as a compliment.”

“That wasn’t -”

“You totally meant it as a compliment.”

She gasped for breath. Thank god that they were at a shallower part of the pool. She would have drowned otherwise. She growled. He’d just used her line against her! He was going to pay for that! She’d make sure of that!

“You’re so dead, Jared.”

“Yeah? What can you do?”

“Oh, you make me so angry!”

He laughed. He had the nerve to laugh. He should cower in fear because she just threatened him!

“You’re so very dead, Jared.”

He opened his mouth as if to say something and stopped. Ciara groaned.

“Just spit it out, Jared. I’m sick of your stopping whenever you want to say something.”

“It’s not important.” He sighed and caressed her cheek.

“Sure,” she drawled, letting sarcasm drip into her voice.

Her next words were forgotten as he claimed her lips in his. The frown, betraying her will, turned into a smile. She cursed in her mind and wondered just how screwed she was. She inwardly scoffed.

Of course he doesn’t have any power over me! I’m sure of that! Yeah, I’m… I’m definitely sure of that!

“I d-didn’t know you can cook.”

Jared flashed a dazzling smile at her and leaned back against the wall. He raised his eyebrow and rested his elbow on a chair. Ciara continued to gawk at him. She lowered her gaze.

Sitting in the center of a small round table was a single ablaze candle. Its flame flickered every so often, casting shadows on the wall. Various dishes lay around the candle. Ciara was at a loss for words. She didn’t expect him to cook when he’d told her to wait for him in the living room.

She lifted her head, feeling the now natural feeling of butterflies in her stomach. She gulped and realized something. As much as she was denying, as much as she did not want to admit, she was falling for him. Hard.