Don’t ever let it be said that Ty Christianson doesn’t enjoy a challenge. “I’ll come and get you.”
“And I’ll run away.”
“From me? No, you won’t.”
“Try me.”
Her straight retort stamps on my confidence a little, because I suddenly remember that Lainey has run away from me before, and I’ve no doubt that she’ll do it again. I won’t be tempting her. No way. So, I rein in my ego and commence with Operation Conquer Lainey’s Fear—phase one. I get the feeling phase two—the phase that will hopefully have her realizing I’m nothing to be afraid of, either—will take a bit more time and effort. But I’m prepared to wait. And I’m prepared to be patient. “I’ll be here,” I assure her, finding my feet and rising from the water. I place my hand on my heart and give her reassuring eyes. “I will not let go of you, I swear.”
She doesn’t refuse this time, and instead just looks at me, as if trying to figure out if she believes me. I know she does, but she won’t let that mind of hers listen to what her heart is telling it. Again. But the small glimmer of hope pushes me on with my plan. I walk forward in the water until I reach the steps and climb out of the pool, water pouring from my naked body. This time, I definitely catch her admiring the sight for a few satisfying moments before she looks at me again. This is good. I’ve always been one for using my body as a weapon, but today my motives are entirely selfless. I want nothing out of this except the satisfaction of Lainey overcoming her fear.
Taking her hand, I pull her to her feet and reach around to unclasp her bra. She doesn’t try to stop me. Our eye contact never once wavers as I strip her down, and I see it there in her eyes, plain as day. She wants this with me. She wants to forget her past, because of me.
“You can do it, beautiful. With me, you can do it.” I start backing up, holding Lainey’s hand to bring her with me, and she follows my steps.
“Okay?” I ask, taking the first step down into the water.
She nods, a little jerky, her body suddenly stiff with tension.
“Keep your eyes here,” I order, pointing to my own with my spare hand and taking the next step. One more step on my part will have Lainey on the edge of the pool. I keep a close eye for any signs that I’m going too fast, but, honestly, I couldn’t go any slower. Then she halts, realizing she’s on the cusp of dipping a toe, her gaze starting to flicker, ready to look away from me to the water. “Me, Lainey,” I remind her, reaching to take her other hand. She’s shaking terribly now, the fear potent, but I can also see her desperation to let me help her.
“I can’t,” she murmurs, trying to pull back. “I can’t do it, Ty. It’s too much water. Please, don’t force me to do it.”
My fucking heart cracks, and I’m out of the pool with her in my arms in a beat. “Shh,” I soothe, feeling so bad for her. Water. It’s just water. I dive in most mornings and own it, but I’ve always been a strong swimmer. I feel at home in the water, so trying to comprehend such a fear is twisting my head a little, yet I have to appreciate it, since it’s clearly a fucking massive fear. The poor woman. And that wanker of an ex. My blood heats at the thought of him doing something so cruel to Lainey, and the whole drowning incident is only the half of it; I know it is. God help me when I find out the rest. If I find out the rest. Will I find out the rest? I shake my head, expelling it of the untimely questions running amok in my mind. My dad’s love of Mum will forever be etched into my mind, and especially his selflessness. And his instinct to keep her safe, whether safe from harm or safe from emotional hurt. His life revolved around Mum. He would never have been able to comprehend a thought of cruelty toward her from anyone, but especially not from himself. Yet this bastard destroyed Lainey’s heart and spirit. Beautiful, strong, self-sufficient Lainey. She deserves this time. She deserves this devotion. This . . . safety.
Pushing my face into hers, I force her to expose her mouth to me, and the moment she does, I take her lips gently and softly, humming when she deepens our kiss willingly. It’s like she’s looking for anything to distract her from the hole with thousands of gallons of water in it. Her arms hook over my shoulders, pulling me closer. And then she’s climbing up me, wrapping her legs around my waist, forcing me to breathe in some restraint when the center of her brushes my hardening cock. She’s really going to town on my mouth, moaning and plunging her tongue deeply. She’s lost, escaping from the situation she doesn’t want to be in and putting herself in a place where she does want to be. Me. Lost in me.
Call me underhanded, call me stupid, call me whatever you want to call me. I don’t care. I want to be the man who erases every lingering, nasty memory of her ex. But most of all, I want her to know that she can trust me.
I start walking back, slowly and carefully, my foot feeling for the first step. I take it, concentrating on maintaining her distraction, kissing her madly.
Like when he kisses you, nothing else exists.
Including fear.
I take another step, calculating in my mind at what point Lainey might feel the water and jump from my arms. Her ankles are linked around my waist. Two more steps and she’ll feel it. I tighten my hold of her and deepen our kiss, taking those two steps, feeling the water creeping up my thighs.
Lainey sucks in air, every part of her naked body still. So I hold on to her tighter, kiss her harder, more passionately, silently begging her to focus on that. She does, yet she remains tense in my arms, and I open my eyes to see hers are clenched shut as she ravishes my mouth. One more step has the water up to my belly button and submerging Lainey’s legs. I kiss on, watching her, taking the final step. Her hold around my shoulders constricts, probably applying more pressure per square inch than a fucking python. But I persevere, knowing her fear far outweighs my discomfort. And so does her bravery. Biting her lip, I let my feet fall from under me and let us sink that final little way until water covers our shoulders.
“Oh my God.” She releases my lips and looks around. “I’m in. Tyler, I’m in the water.” There’s happiness drenching her tone, but there’s also fear lacing it. I can’t let her think too much. I can’t let that fear drown out the elation she feels. “Oh my God.” Then there’s panic, and in delayed reaction, she starts squirming against me.
Taking my palms to her hips, I hold them tightly. “Lainey,” I say, getting my face in the field of her vision. She finds me, but then is soon darting panicked eyes around the water again. “Look at me,” I order, probably more abruptly than I should.
Her scared blues land on me. “But I’m in the water.”
“And I’ve got you,” I assure her, squeezing her hips. “There’s not a chance on this earth that I’ll let go of you.” More double meaning statements.
“Please don’t,” she says quickly, and I kiss her again. Make her forget again. Make everything except her, me, and this kiss disappear.
For the first time, she has ceded control. She wants me to hold her, stand by her, be with her.
Peace. It drifts down from nowhere and settles across my shoulders. Something very significant just happened to my heart.
And it was a fuckload more than a ping.