Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 90498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90498 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“Do you like cooking and baking?” he asks, his gaze drifting over my face with a peaceful expression. It makes me feel safe.
“Very much.” My smile grows. “I like everything Nisa Hanim and Elya Hanim teach me.”
He stares at me for a moment, then murmurs, “It must be overwhelming for you.”
Wiggling my toes in the water, I tilt my head. “What?”
“Experiencing everything all at once.”
It is, but I’m slowly learning to deal with it. Glancing down at the water, I wiggle my toes again, loving the feel of the water.
“You should swim,” Gabriel mentions.
“I can’t.” I shrug, then admit, “But one day, I’d like to learn.”
“Do you have a bathing suit?”
I shake my head, then my eyes widen as Gabriel starts to unbutton his dress shirt. He pulls the fabric off his shoulders and sets it down on the paving.
Holy crap.
I stare at his muscled chest, my mouth going dry from the sight.
My lips part as he removes a gun from behind his back, dropping it next to his shirt. I watch as the muscles in his arms, shoulders, and back move when he slips into the water.
My abdomen tightens so much, I quickly press a hand to it. My heart keeps skipping beats.
“Get in,” Gabriel orders.
“What?” I gasp, still in shock from seeing his bare chest.
“Get in the water, Lara.” His tone leaves no room for argument, the command sending a wave of tingles through me.
Unable to deny him, I scoot a little closer. My hands grip the paving around the pool, and then a shriek leaves me as Gabriel grabs hold of my waist. I’m tugged forward and slam into his body, water splashing around us.
Gasping from the cold, my hands find his shoulders, and I hold on for dear life.
“It will get warmer,” he says as he moves us away from the side.
Feeling awkward, I try not to hold onto him so tightly, but then he says, “Take a deep breath.”
After I’ve inhaled deeply, he pulls me down beneath the water. It’s only for a couple of seconds before our heads break through the surface again. Not thinking, I wrap my arms around his neck as I suck in a deep breath of air. The warmth from his body seeps into mine, making my stomach do a series of flip-flops.
When his hand brushes up and down my back, I realize I’m practically plastered against him. I quickly pull my arms back and let my hands drift through the warming water.
My eyes focus on his attractive face, the drops spiraling over his skin. With my heart scampering off at a crazy pace, I stare at Gabriel, who looks more handsome than ever.
He has one arm tightly wrapped around my lower back, and without much effort, he moves us through the water.
“How does it feel?” His voice is low and deep, the timbre vibrating through my body.
Incredible.
“Good.” I try to focus on the water caressing my skin, then my lips curve up. “I feel weightless.”
He brushes his hand through his hair, making him look hotter. I quickly glance away, staring at all the garden lights.
You need to calm down before he notices how attracted you are to him.
His voice is softer when he asks, “Do you trust me?”
Slowly, I bring my gaze back to his. I’m not holding onto him. He could let go of me any second, and I would drown. But I know he won’t do that.
I still fear him because he has the power to end this beautiful life he’s given me. But I also feel safe with him because he has never hurt me.
I know it’s only been a month and a half since I came to live here, and a lot can change at any moment, but my survival instinct tells me Gabriel meant it when he said he wouldn’t hurt me.
“Yes.”
Emotion wells in my chest at the realization. I trust these people who’ve become like family to me.
I’m really safe with them.
Lowering my eyes, I’m met with the sight of Gabriel’s broad shoulders and some of his muscled chest. There’s a crazy fluttering in my heart, all my insides tightening as a wave of attraction hits again.
I’ve never experienced these emotions. They leave me feeling inexperienced and confused.
“What are you thinking?” he asks, the low tone of his voice making everything feel intimate, as if he’s pulling me under a magical spell.
My voice is soft as I admit, “I feel stupid.”
“Look at me,” he demands, and my eyes dart up to meet his. There’s a serious expression on his face. “Why do you feel stupid?”
Because I’m feeling all these things for you, and they’re overwhelming. I don’t want to do anything that will risk my staying here, and I don’t know what to do.
Not willing to admit the truth, I answer, “Everything is new, and I don’t know how to process it all.”