I dropped down onto the grass, crossing my legs as I watched him walk closer to the lake's edge, his focus shifting to the shimmering surface of the water.
"This water," he crouched down to dip his hand into the lake. "Where is it coming from?" His fingers swirled in the water playfully, a smile ghosting across his face.
"There's a waterfall upstream," I leaned back on my hands. "Some of its water flows down here. It's one of my favourite places."
He hummed softly in response. Watching him reminded me of Cecilia when she used to do things like this, marvelling at nature like it was the first time she'd ever seen it.
I shivered slightly as a breeze picked up, but my gaze never left Ginevra. What's so fascinating about freezing cold water? I thought. Before I could say anything else—
SPLASH!
"GINEVRA!" I shouted, bolting upright. His clothes were neatly discarded on the shore, and he'd leapt into the lake, sending a wave of icy water straight in my direction. Droplets hit my face and arms, the cold biting enough to make me gasp.
Ginevra surfaced, shaking his hair like a wet dog, and grinned at me mischievously. "What?" he asked, feigning innocence.
"Are you insane? That water's freezing!" I yelled, half-laughing despite my annoyance.
"Come join me," Ginevra called out as he swam effortlessly in the moonlit water.
"Hell no," I replied, folding my arms for emphasis. "Get out of there, the water is cold."
He smirked, cupping water in his hand before flinging it toward me. The icy droplets splashed across my face, making me yelp.
"What was that for?" I snapped, wiping at my cheeks.
"It's refreshing," he said, laughing lightly. "I can feel my whole body relax. You don't know what you're missing."
I shook my head, refusing to indulge him. Instead, I stayed rooted where I was, arms crossed as I watched him glide effortlessly through the lake. His movements were smooth and unhurried, almost meditative. I couldn't deny the serene beauty of the scene—moonlight reflecting off the rippling water, his pale skin shimmering like porcelain.
Eventually, he swam back to shore, water cascading down his body as he emerged. My face heated instantly when I realized he wasn't wearing a shred of clothing.
"God, get dressed!" I turned my back to him quickly, a hand shielding my eyes. "Why did you take everything off?"
"Because I need to go back home in dry clothes," he said matter-of-factly, as if stripping completely was the only logical choice. His tone was nonchalant, but I could feel his amusement at my embarrassment.
I risked a glance over my shoulder, regretting it instantly when I caught his knowing smirk. "This was worth it," he said, running a hand through his wet hair. "But can I get that kiss now?"
Before I could answer, he lunged toward me. His weight knocked me off balance, and I found myself flat on my back with Ginevra towering over me. He pinned both my hands above my head, his damp body pressed against mine.
"A big guy like you, in a position like this," he teased, a devilish grin spreading across his face. He shifted, swinging a leg over me to straddle my hips. His playful dominance was intoxicating, sending a rush of heat through me despite the cool night air.
"I like this position," I said with a smirk, meeting his gaze confidently. His expression faltered for a split second, a flicker of surprise crossing his features before he chuckled deeply.
"You're full of surprises," Ginevra leaned forward, but instead of kissing me, his teeth gently nipped at my lower lip. A soft, unintentional moan escaped my lips, surprising even me. The sensation was strangely electrifying, a spark that lit a fire deep within me.
"Mmh," he hummed against my skin. "I wonder where else I can bite to make that sound louder. Maybe here." His warm tongue glided along my jaw, leaving a heated trail before he nipped at my ear. A shiver coursed through my body, setting my nerves alight.
"Or maybe..." His words trailed off as he leaned closer, but I didn't wait for him to finish. Grabbing his face, I pulled him toward me, silencing him with a kiss. It was soft but filled with a hunger I couldn't suppress any longer.
"Enough teasing," I murmured between kisses, my breath uneven.
"I wasn't teasing," he whispered back, his lips brushing against mine with every word.
Our voices faded into the stillness of the night as he kissed me again, deeper this time. His lips moved against mine with a grace that left me breathless, each touch like a firestorm of desire. I felt the world around us disappear—the rustle of leaves, the faint chirping of crickets—all drowned out by the taste of him, the warmth of him.
Was this what romance novels meant by melting away? I didn't know, but the sensation was overwhelming, any more and I believed I would get addicted.
Reluctantly, he broke the kiss, his forehead resting against mine. He stayed perched above me.
"Let's go back," his was voice rough and filled with restraint as he spoke. "Before I ravish you."
His fingers began to slowly trail down my chest, brushing over my clothes. My breath hitched when his hand hovered dangerously close to where I desperately wanted him to touch.
"Come on," I groaned, arching slightly toward him, but he stopped just short of giving me what I craved.
I had been waiting for him to touch me there, even if just for a fleeting second. But Ginevra shifted, climbing off me and pulling me up with him in one fluid motion. As he dusted himself off, my gaze betrayed me, landing briefly on his pants. My face heated instantly.
I shouldn't have looked away when he was getting dressed. Angels, have mercy!
Ginevra caught me. "I won't mind if you want to take a picture," he teased, his tone laced with mischief.
I rolled my eyes, trying to play it cool, though shame still prickled at the edges of my composure. Caught red-handed, Blake. Nice.
The short walk back to the cabin passed mostly in silence. When we arrived, a sense of unease washed over me. Something wasn't right. My stomach tightened as my eyes fell on the back door—wide open.
"You locked the back door when we left, right?" Ginevra studied the door.
I nodded, my instincts sharpening as I scanned the area around us. My ears strained to pick up even the faintest sound, something was... off.
Ginevra's hand found mine and his grip tightened protectively as his sharp gaze swept over the scene. "Stay close," he murmured.
I took a breath and whispered, "Can you check the front? If someone's inside, they might try to slip out."
He hesitated, his eyes narrowing slightly as he debated whether to leave me alone or not, but eventually, he nodded. With a final glance, he moved swiftly toward the front of the cabin.
I stepped cautiously through the back door, every nerve in my body on edge as I scanned the dimly lit interior. The silence felt oppressive, the shadows almost too still. Ginevra and I met in the living room, his arrival startling me slightly, though I tried not to show it.
I cleared my throat. "Did you find anything?"
Ginevra shook his head. "It's clear both doors were broken into."
I took a deep breath, inhaling sharply. There it was—an unfamiliar scent lingering in the air, faint but distinct. It wasn't human.
"I can smell the person who was here," I said, my tone more certain now. "But they're long gone."
I scanned my cabin with growing unease. It was clear someone had been searching for something—drawers left open, chairs slightly askew—but nothing seemed to be stolen.
"What kind of thief breaks into someone's home and doesn't take anything?" I muttered aloud, half to myself.
Ginevra didn't answer right away, and that's when I noticed it—his heartbeat. The slight but unmistakable change in rhythm. It was quicker, more erratic. After spending the night so close to him, I'd grown attuned to its steady cadence, and now, this subtle difference stood out like a beacon.
"So," I said, my tone casual though I felt far from it, "did you find anything?"
His gaze flickered for just a moment, too brief for most to notice. "Not really."
His heartbeat quickened again. He's lying.
I stared at him for a moment, letting the silence stretch between us. I didn't push him, though. Not yet. Instead, I sighed and turned toward the front door.
But as I took a step, Ginevra moved to block my path.
"Blake."
There was something in his voice—something uncertain. That alone was enough to set my nerves on edge. Ginevra was rarely uncertain.
I sidestepped him with ease, refusing to let whatever he was hiding stop me. Reaching the door, I froze.
Etched into the wood in jagged, uneven strokes were the words:
"The Angels will be happy to find out."
A chill swept through the room, and it wasn't just the cold night air. The temperature seemed to plummet, the kind of bone-deep cold that made my breath visible. A shiver crawled down my spine as I stared at the message, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.