Swim

The darkness pressed against my skin as I lay alone on the wide bed, moonlight sneaking in through the tall windows.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Noah.

A part of me wished I’d stayed—waited to hear whatever else he had to say. But I’d been too angry then, too tangled up in the past to think clearly.

I shut my eyes, desperate to push him out, to erase the ache sitting stubbornly in my chest.

But the moment I did, another memory bled in—her.

Davina.

And suddenly it was all twisted together. I couldn’t think about one without the other.

The betrayal.

The confusion.

The weight of everything I was pretending not to feel.

Having enough of both, I tossed the covers stood up, and went for the only thing that called my name.

Swim.

I slipped into a black one-piece, grabbed a towel and a bottle of water, and padded barefoot down the quiet hallway. I didn’t bother with the lights—there was something comforting about the hush of the dark. Like I could vanish in it for a while.

When I stepped outside, I froze.

Someone was already there.

A broad, sculpted back faced me, muscles flexing slightly as he leaned forward.

I knew immediately it was Noah.

He was lighting a cigarette, sitting casually on the edge of the pool with his legs dipped in the water, smoke curling lazily around him.

Unbothered, I walked over to one of the pool chairs opposite him and set down my towel and water bottle. His gaze found mine immediately—before I even reached the pool’s light switch.

When I flipped it on, the glow illuminated everything.

His face. His body.

Damn. He looked way too good. But his face was mixed with something more like he was angry.

I stepped in from of the pool, stretching slightly before I heard his feel voice from the other side of the pool.

“I didn't know you swim,” he said.

“I took swimming lessons when I was younger,” I replied flatly before loosening my bun and letting my hair fall down my back. I always loved swimming with my hair free.

I could see his gaze devouring every inch of my body. That same gaze of that night. So unforgettable.

His jaw clenched slightly, eyes trailing my figure with no attempt to hide it.

But I kept my face neutral, refusing to give him the satisfaction.

When I was ready, I dove in.

I surfaced at the far end of the pool, directly across from him—far enough that I didn’t have to worry about splashing him.

The water welcomed me like it had been waiting for me all along, cool against my skin.

For a moment, it helped and I felt relaxed. But he was still there. Watching.

When I surfaced, I didn’t look at him right away. I floated on my back, staring at the dark sky, pretending I was alone.

I swam a few laps, slow and steady and every time I turned, I could feel him.

He hadn’t moved from his spot.

Eventually, I stopped at the edge of the pool, resting my arms on the ledge, trying to steady my breath.

“You always sneak out to swim this late?” his voice was low.

“Only when I need to clear my head,” I said and began floating back toward where he sat.

“Must be a lot on your mind then.”

“Something like that,” I said, almost whispering.

“Does that something include me?”

I paused, still floating, before I positioned myself upright to face him.

“Why does it matter?” I asked, voice steady but soft. “It’s not like you’d do anything about it.”

My hands reached for his legs, fingertips brushing against the coarse hair on his thighs, slowly trailing up.

His thigh muscles tensed beneath my touch, and his jaw locked. He was affected, and I loved it.

“You never exactly gave me the chance,” he said, leaning down just enough so we were eye to eye.

I leaned in, grazing my lips against his ear.

“Because you’re a coward,” I whispered.

It came out colder than I intended — or maybe not. Still, it felt good.

Smirking, I pushed away and turned to swim off — but I didn’t get far.

His hand caught my neck, firm but, turning me to face him and before I could blink, he’d pulled himself into the water.

“Don’t play with me like that, Dianne,” he said, voice thick with warning.

I smirked, “or what?”

“You think I’m a coward?”

His hands clamped around my waist, lifting me out of the water like I weighed nothing, setting me on the cold tile.

“What’s stopping me from taking you right here—hard, until your knees give out and every inch of you remembers my name?”

His fingers dug into my thighs, bruising and possessive.

“You don’t want me like this, Dianne. I’d ruin you.”

“I’m already ruined,” I whispered, heat blooming low and fast. “You did that a week ago.”

His lips hovered a breath away from mine.

“That wasn’t me ruining you,” he said, voice sharp. “That was me being easy.”

A pause.

“You don’t want to see what I’m like on a bad night.”

His thumb traced my bottom lip slow and deliberate.

“You’re the kind of temptation I spent years trying to stay clear of…and now you're all I want.”

“You make me forget everything I promised myself I wouldn't do. Every line I swore I wouldn’t cross again.”

His forehead pressed lightly against mine. His breath fanned my cheek, hot and unsteady.

“And yet, here I am.”

My fingers curled into his shoulders. “Then don’t hold back.”

His head dropped briefly to my thighs, shaking side to side like he’d finally given up. But when he tried to move away, I locked my legs around him, refusing to let him go.

I couldn’t hold back anymore. I was completely, pathetically obsessed with this man.

Before he could speak, I didn’t even think—I just moved. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him.

It was hesitant at first, our lips brushing. But then he caved. His tongue met mine in a slow stroke suppressing my moans.

Before I knew it, my hands were sliding down to his torso, desperate to feel more of him. At this point, I didn't care if I was being watched. That's how badly I wanted this man.

My fingers trailed lower, dipping past the hem of his shorts. But just as I brushed over the heat of him, his hand caught mine.

He broke the kiss, forehead resting against mine, breath ragged.

“Don’t,” he murmured.

“I want you,” I whispered.

“This isn’t right, Dianne.” He sighed, shaking his head.

“Why?” I whispered.

“I don’t want this for you.”

“Oh? So you see me as just a one-night stand? Or are you embarrassed for me?”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

He dragged a hand through his hair, frustrated. “If I let myself keep going… I won’t stop. And I’ll ruin you for the man who already has you.”

“Ruin me.”

“Dianne.. It's not that easy.”

“What do you mean?” I arched a brow.

“I don’t do commitment.”

Every fiber of desire I had was shoved to the back of my mind as I tried to absorb his words.

“You were right. Maybe we should stay away from each other.” His eyes dropped for a moment, then lifted to meet mine.

My grip loosened instantly. “Okay.”

I pulled myself out of the pool.

What was the point? Talking to him felt pointless.

“You’re not worth it.”

With that, I walked away, leaving the temptation behind.