Evaline:
When River announced a "bath together," I had nearly choked on air. My imagination had run wild in a thousand dangerous directions... none of them remotely safe for my heart.
But the mont we entered the hidden wing of the mansion and I saw the sight in front of , relief washed over .
It wasn’t a bathtub.
It was an indoor heated pool.
I stood at the entrance, eyes widening as I took it all in. The space looked nothing like the rest of the polished mansion. Instead, it was designed like so secret cave, with stone walls softened by thick ivy crawling up and across them.
The faint, golden light from lanterns was casting warm shadows, and thin ribbons of steam were curling lazily above the surface of the pool. The water itself was crystal clear, inviting, as if whispering a promise of comfort.
I exhaled slowly, feeling grateful. My heart hadn’t stopped hamring since dinner, but at least this wasn’t what I had pictured.
River walked beside , his usual composed aura settling over the space as though he owned not just the pool but the entire world around it, which he obviously did. Without a word, he guided toward a smaller side area.
"Changing rooms," he said simply. He opened a door for , and inside, I found neat stacks of clothing - both n’s and won’s. My brow furrowed.
There were clothes for too.
As if he had prepared it in advance.
River, anwhile, picked up his own set of swim shorts and strode toward the opposite side of the changing space, vanishing with effortless confidence.
The mont the door clicked shut behind him, I let out a long, shaky breath. Finally, I was alone.
My gaze took in the options available for and I imdiately realized all of them were bikinis in different styles and colors. I hesitated, staring at them as though they might bite . I had never in my life worn sothing like that in front of soone else, much less in front of River.
But refusing wasn’t an option.
After a long mont of debate, I picked a dark green two-piece bikini - the color rich and deep, not too loud. To give myself so sense of modesty, I grabbed a white cotton t-shirt too.
Inside the cubicle, I pulled the curtain closed and started changing.
It fit perfectly, almost like it had been made for . The top pushed my breasts up just enough that they looked fuller than usual, and the deep color contrasted beautifully with my pale skin. I caught my reflection in the full-length mirror and froze.
Was that... really ?
Healthy. That was the word that ca to mind.
I no longer looked gaunt. No longer fragile from malnourishnt and neglect. My body had begun filling out, soft curves returning where there had once only been sharp edges. And then, of course, my eyes fell on the small swell of my stomach. My baby bump.
I lifted a hand and caressed it gently.
I swallowed and quickly tugged the white t-shirt over my head. It ended just at the tops of my thighs, long enough to hide the most revealing parts.
I took another breath. Deep. Steady.
I could do this.
When I stepped out of the changing room, the warmth of the pool area hit again. And so did the sight of River.
He was already in the water, chest-deep, sleek lines of muscle glistening faintly under the soft lights. He wore only a pair of black swim shorts, his body all sharp planes and perfect symtry. Broad shoulders, sculpted chest, arms that looked like they could crush steel... and yet he moved through the water with lazy grace, like so predator conserving his strength.
My feet refused to move.
Draven and Oscar both had perfect bodies too, but sothing about River’s presence made it impossible to look away. He wasn’t just attractive. He was magnetic. Dangerous in a way that wasn’t about his muscles but the absolute control he radiated even when doing nothing.
I finally forced my legs to move, making my way toward the pool stairs. The water lapped at my ankles, warm and soothing, easing away the last of my hesitation. I stepped in further, the water enveloping inch by inch until I was waist-deep.
And then he moved.
Effortless. Silent.
He swam across the pool with long, powerful strokes, cutting through the water like it was nothing. My throat tightened as he closed the distance between us.
I froze in my place.
The water rippled, brushing against my skin as he reached my side. Close. Too close.
"Comfortable?" His voice was low, husky, almost swallowed by the steam-filled air.
"I-I guess," I stamred, cursing my own voice for sounding so breathless.
His eyes flicked downward, lingering for the briefest second on the t-shirt that had beco wet and see-through. When his gaze lifted back to mine, there was the faintest glint in his eyes... a spark of sothing unreadable but potent.
I swallowed hard.
"Good," he said simply. And then, without warning, his hand brushed the edge of my arm as he moved the water around.
It was nothing. A light touch. Innocent enough. But my body reacted as though he had set on fire. My heart thudded against my ribs, my breath caught in my throat, and the warmth of the water suddenly felt scalding.
"Co," he said, moving back slightly into the deeper part of the pool. His hand, however, lingered just a second too long on my arm before he released .
I followed, though my legs felt shaky under the water.
When I reached him, he was watching ... quiet, unreadable, but with a focus that made feel completely exposed.
The steam curled lazily between us, blurring the edges of his perfect body, but it didn’t soften the intensity of his gaze.
I hated how easy it was for him to unravel with just his presence.
And yet, when he reached out again, fingertips grazing mine beneath the water as though guiding forward, I didn’t pull away.
I couldn’t pull away.
Reviews
All reviews (0)