Tragic Beauty (Beauty & The Darkness #1)(15)

I would smile if it wasn’t for the vulnerability lurking in his eyes.

“No,” I say. “The acting’s good.” Truth is, it’s great. I just can’t bring myself to stroke his ego that way. He no doubt has plenty of people to do that for him.

He frowns. “Just good?”

This time I can’t help but smile, something I seem inclined to do around him. “Better than good. Happy?”

No, he isn’t happy. But he isn’t angry. He simply looks…frustrated.

“Then, what is it?”

“What is what?”

“You know.”

I grin. Again. I can’t help it.

Gavin narrows his eyes on me. “You’re fucking with me, aren’t you?”

I seal my lips and shake my head, trying desperately to keep up the charade.

“You are!” With a playful growl, he lunges at me.

I squeal and try to cut to my right, but he’s there with lightning speed, wrapping me in a bear hug from behind. My body jolts with white hot heat, his arms strong and tight around me.

“What—what are you—?” I can’t get the words out, because there’s suddenly a sound so foreign, I can’t focus on anything else. It’s me. I’m…laughing…actually laughing…laughing so hard my stomach hurts and I can barely breathe.

“Admit it,” he rumbles into my ear. “Admit you love my movies.”

I struggle against him and shake my head, the laughter still tumbling out of me. Slowly, we begin to move, and the bottom begins to slant. “Wait,” I gasp. “Wh—what are you doing?”

“Getting you to admit it.”

Panic begins to set in, but I still can’t stop laughing. “You—you can’t—”

“Say it.”

The ground leaves my feet and now nothing’s holding me up but him. I’m not laughing anymore. I grip his forearms that have me trapped. “You wouldn’t.”

“Try me.”

With a surge, he sends us further into the deep end, one of his arms leaving me to tread water, the other still wrapped tightly around me. “Oh God, Gavin, I—”

“I’m waiting.”

“Okay, okay. I love your movies. Now take me back.”

“Say: Gavin, you’re the best actor in the world and you deserve an Oscar.”

“You’re a bastard, you know that?”

“Yes. I’m aware. Now say it.”

I groan but can’t hide the laugh behind it. “Gavin, you asshole, you’re the best and most annoying actor in the world and you deserve a damn Oscar, or at least a nomination. There. Close enough. Now take me back. Right. Fucking. Now.”

He chuckles deep and sexy in my ear. “That’s the most words I’ve heard from you all night. See, I knew you had it in you.”

I’d be amazed too, were it not for the panic still pounding its way through my body.

But it begins to fade as he starts guiding us back to the shallow end, until we’re standing once again on solid ground. But he doesn’t let go. Instead, he just holds me, and I become suddenly aware of the feel of his body against mine. And there’s something else. Something…hard.

My breath vanishes.

I feel the grate of his cheek along my ear, feel the graze of his lips along my neck. My body melts into his and a rush of heat surges between my legs. Then he’s gone, leaving nothing but the water lapping at my back. When I turn around, he’s standing a few feet away, his broad chest heaving. I watch his dark eyes drift to my breasts and his lips part. That’s when I realize I’m only waist deep in water.

“Jesus,” he hisses. With a surge he moves past me, up the stairs and out, his hand once again adjusting his crotch. Only this time, he doesn’t bother trying to hide it.

“Where are you going?” I ask, feeling strangely abandoned.

“To bed.”

“Why? What did I do wrong?”

He grabs a towel from a patio chair and wipes himself down, then secures the towel around his waist. It’s a long moment before he turns to face me. I’m out of the water now, standing at the edge of the pool. I don’t bother trying to cover myself up.

I become faintly aware the rain has stopped when the full moon breaks through the clouds, sending the world around us into a silvery sheen. But all I can focus on is Gavin, who grabs the other towel and slowly make his way back to me. He places the towel around my shoulders, then swipes a caress across my cheek that steals my breath.

“You didn’t do anything wrong, Ava. You’re perfect. But I brought you here to help you, not take advantage of you.”

I lift my chin. “Nobody takes advantage of me. Not even you.”

He sighs and smiles, but it’s a sad smile. “Still. I made you a promise, and I intend to keep it.” His gaze drifts over my face as though taking in every feature, every detail, then he gently tucks back a wet lock of my hair. “Besides, you’re too good a woman to have a fling with a man like me. And that’s all it’ll be. A fling. I’m not good for anything else. I have no room for anything else. I’m sorry.”

He leans down and presses a gentle kiss on my forehead that brings a tightness to my throat.

I don’t want this to end.