The Lake House.

(KAIRA'S POV)

Slade hadn’t said a word since we left the mansion. Somehow, his silence felt more threatening than insults.

I followed a few steps behind him, like a student trailing a teacher. Past the house doors, the hedged pathways, the garden gates and was soon welcomed with the most gorgeous variety of flowers.

Then, carefully past the stepping stones sitting on water to the serene lake house.

I am not a fan of water bodies that are bigger than a half filled bathtub, but I found myself captivated by the scenery and the large glass house reflecting the brilliant sunset.

I had totally zoned out when Slade's voice pierced the silence.

"Why are you here? " His voice was too calm for the deathly glare he was sending my way.

"Our-Our parents got engaged." I avoided his gaze as I spoke.

“And did you have a hand in it?”

I turned to him with a frown. “What?”

“Tell me stalker, did you conjure a plan to make me your stepbrother?” His vocie remained steady but his stone cold emerald eyes were flashing heavily.

I looked away.

"I didn’t know anything about this until today.” I muttered,

He took a step forward. "So what do you and your mum really want? Money? Power?—“

“You know my mum doesn’t care about that.” My calm snapped instantly and our gazes collided as I spoke.

Slade laughed. Short. Dry. “Now I know Miss Shanice is your mum, I’m not so sure of her anymore.” He sounded so cold as he spoke. “So tell me, what’s this about? What do you want here?”

"Well, don’t be too proud." The words escaped my mouth before I could stop them and the flags of surprise in his eyes was unmistakable.

“I am not here for you or for your money." I didn't look away but I lowered my voice. "I am here because our parents are getting married and you're not the only one who's not excited about it."

His jaw tightened.

"Don't try to play the victim. You're still a stalker."

He sounded soft yet dangerous as he walked towards me, pinning me to place with his focus. "If I had known since, that Miss Shanice was your mum, I would have told her that the perfect daughter she used to tell me about is actually a creep."

My throat burned. His leer was heavy but I didn't look away. I couldn't.

"It's not too late." He continued, now closer. "For me to tell them what you did."

Guilt wrapped me and I felt my body tremble before him. He was now less than a foot from me, so close that if his head bent a few inches more, his dark strands would touch my forehead.

"I said I was sorry. You don't have to forgive me but stop acting like I did it on purpose." I defended in a shaky whisper, keeping eye contact.

My neck was craned, like his hand was around it. And though no parts of us touched, I was frozen to the spot.

Slade scoffed, his face barely moving. His eyes had stopped flashing and now he looked bored. Irritated. The normal Slade Horton look. But he still didn't move away.

"I-I'm really sorry." I found myself saying.

"Of course you're sorry. What else can you give? Your whole life can't afford what you fucked up."

I hate that the gut-wrenching words shattered my heart. I staggered back slightly but he came closer with renewed hostility in his eyes.

"You've made a terrible mistake by coming here." He growled. "Now, you'll surely get what you deserve and you will pay for what you did."

I was fighting to hold back tears but I could tell I was about to lose, and so I turned around and quickly headed back in the same direction he had led me.

I held my neck high while walking hastily and repeatedly telling myself not to cry.

It was no surprise when the dam collapsed and tears soon blurred my vision. As I wiped my eyes angrily, my foot landed on slick moss instead of a stepping stone. I swayed sideways and landed into the lake in a huge splash with a loud scream.

Jolts of panic infiltrated my veins.

One moment I was gasping for air and the next, I was choking mouthfuls of water. My hands splashed desperately but to no avail.

Just when I thought I would black out, I felt strong protective arms around me and my head was over water. My hands hung tightly around his neck as I was scooped into his arms. I could feel us emerge from the water but my mind was still in chaos.

"Open your eyes! Look at me!" Slade's voice weakly fought the darkness in my mind.

"Is this you trying to manipulate me?" He demanded.

I didn't answer him. My face remained pressed to his chest and I clung to him like I was seconds away from death.

"Stop shaking, fuck! Open your eyes!" He sounded frustrated.

But I couldn't stop myself. My heart slammed against my chest impatiently and my body rocked violently. I could still feel the water splashing around me as I struggled to breathe.

"Open your eyes!" He ordered through gritted teeth, this time even more aggravated but his tone way lower.

Then, I felt his touch. His hand, surprisingly gentle, rubbing my back in consistent circles.

"Breathe gently. Breathe." His tone had changed completely, unbelievably warm.

I fought to create stillness in my mind but my eyes remained shut and my breath still came out in short rasps.

"Breathe. It's alright now. You're okay now." His cool but immersive voice came again and again and ceased when I stopped breathing noisily. The back rubs continued though, for some time before he asked,

"Are you alright?"

My eyes opened slowly. I wanted to reply him, to tell him I was okay. But I realized how close we were and my tongue became dead immediately.

I had never felt so breathless. His arms were still around me, and suddenly I couldn’t remember how to think.

I couldn’t look away and I could hear myself breathing, as we drank each other in.

Slade stared at me. Like he was looking at me for the first time.

"Your face." He whispered.

I frowned as I noticed his emerald eyes darken.

Was he angry with me? Does he hate my face?

But his eyes dropped to my lips and for one impossible second, neither of us moved.

Then he cursed under his breath and leaned over.

His lips brushed mine once, so quickly that I almost wondered if I’d imagined it. Then he did it again, slower this time.

My breath caught. And before I could think better of it, I kissed him back.

My stomach erupted with butterflies.

In a short span—less than five seconds—Slade withdrew his lips from mine.

Our eyes met and the clear regret I saw was like a kick to my stomach that made the butterflies disappear immediately.

I felt a rush of shame instantly.

And a pang of annoyance.

Why did I let him kiss me?

Why did I kiss him back?

Why did I want him to?

Just as I wished inwardly, to disappear into thin air, the sound of footsteps broke the silence. Heavy and purposeful coming from the garden path.