He stops before the front door, turning to me fully, his eyes glinting in the sunlight.
“What?” I snap, though it’s missing heat.
A grin slides onto his face, and the hands banging within my chest freeze. My heart and I are paralyzed by that simple action, which is honestly annoying.
“You know I forgive you, right?” he asks.
I sniff. “I don’t think you’ve ever said the words, but yes.”
He takes a step toward me, slips two fingers into my mouth, and jerks me into him, effectively arresting the oxygen in my lungs right along with my heart.
“I forgive you,bella. And now I’m going to need you to forgive yourself. Can you do that for me, baby?”
I melt. Just that easily.
Unable to speak, I nod, relaxing my shoulders while he releases me.
“Good, now let’s go take a hot shower with actual water pressure, and then we’re ordering takeout from wherever you want.”
Unexpectedly, a sob nearly bursts from my throat. It’s so simple—a shower and takeout—but it feels like he’s leading me into paradise.
Enzo’s hands dive into my hair, lathering the shampoo into the strands while massaging my scalp.
I’ve missed water pressure. After spending all day at the police station, I thought I’d never get to relax. But now, my bones are liquefying, and I’m on the verge of swirling down the drain with the water.
“If I died right here and now,” I start, the last word bleeding into a groan. “I’d actually be upset. You should be proud of yourself. You made me want to live.”
I didn’t mean for that to be so heavy, but Enzo shoulders it easily.
“Seems we’re even then,” he says, his deep voice as smooth as silk.
“If you’re up for it, I’d like to show you my lab tomorrow,” he continues, grabbing my biceps to pull me back into the spray of water, careful to keep my casted wrist out of it. I tilt my chin up as he rinses out the soap.
“I’d love to,” I murmur, groaning again from the feel of his hands in my hair.
“I don’t think you ever told me why you love sharks so much.”
He releases me, grabs a loofah, and squirts a dollop of body wash onto it. Methodically, he washes every inch of my skin while he speaks.
“I suppose at first it was because I wanted to be like one. They are some of the fiercest creatures in the ocean—at least that we know of. And growing up, I always felt helpless. Like someone else was in the driver’s seat, and I had no control over where I was going. They embodied power and freedom. It was everything I strived for.
“As I grew older, it evolved from fascination to near obsession. I can’t explain what exactly it is, but they’ve always just made me happy. The ocean makes me happy.”
I bite my lip, turning to him and grabbing the loofah from him. With my good hand, I awkwardly rub it across his chest, uncoordinated with this side.
“Do you ever get worried that they’ll hurt you?”
His stare is smoldering as he watches me, and though his dick isn’t fully hard, he’s not entirely soft, either. But there’s an unspoken agreement to just enjoy each other’s company tonight. We haven’t truly gotten a chance to yet.
“I always get into the water with the understanding that I’m no longer on the top of the food chain. I respect them, and most times, they respect me. But it’d be stupid to think they’re not fully capable of ending my life.”
There’s a twinge in my chest, and I recognize it as anxiety. I would never even think to ask Enzo to stop swimming with them, but I can’t deny that him never coming home one day doesn’t terrify the shit out of me.
“Well, you better get in the water with the understanding that you have someone to come home to also,” I tell him shyly, keeping my eyes focused on my task and avoiding his probing stare.
“Look at me,” he murmurs softly, grabbing my wrist. “Don’t run.”
I bite my lip and peek up at him. There are some growing pains when you’ve never been in love before. I’ve lived my life selfishly for the past six years and have run from everything that posed a threat to my survival. It’s almost poetic that getting trapped with someone was the catalyst to my redemption.