NOCTE (Nocte Trilogy #1)(47)

“I have another question to ask you,” he tells me, with a certain smug look settling on his lips. I raise an eyebrow.

“What, already? You just asked one days ago.”

He chuckles. “Yep. But not here. I want to ask it somewhere else.”

I wait.

And wait.

“And that is…where?” I finally ask.

He smiles. “Out on the water.”

I pause. “On the water? Like, on our boat?”

He nods. “Is that ok?”

Of course it is.

“It’s just a little boat,” I warn him. “Nothing fancy.”

“That’s perfect,” he answers. “Because I’m nothing fancy, either.”

Au contraire. But of course I don’t say that. And it’s a good thing I slept in my clothes because this way, we can go straight there without pause. But of course I don’t say that either.

Instead, I simply lead the way outdoors and to the beach, not hesitating in the rain.

“We can still go,” I tell him. “It’s just a little rain, the waves aren’t bad.”

“I’m not worried,” he grins. “I’m used to rain.”

“That’s right,” I answer as I motion for him to climb aboard. “I forgot.”

He steps across and I untie the boat from the dock, before I toss the rope to him. I leap before the boat can float away, and land unceremoniously beside him.

He lounges against the hull as I steer through the bay, and suddenly, the rain stops as suddenly as it started. The clouds part, the sun shines down upon us and I lift my face to the warmth.

I live for times like these, when my grief pauses long enough for me to enjoy something.

And I have to admit, I’ve been enjoying more and more moments since Dare came to my mountain.

“You make me feel guilty,” I tell him quietly, opening my eyes. He’s sprawled out, his legs propped up on a seat. He glances at me, his forehead furrowed.

“Why in the world is that, Calla-lily?”

The name makes me smile.

“Because you make me forget that I’m sad,” I say simply.

Softness wavers in Dare’s eyes for a minute before they turn back into obsidian. “That shouldn’t make you feel guilty,” he tells me. “In fact, that makes me happy. I don’t like the idea of you being sad. Come sit by me.”

He opens his arms and I sit on the seat next to him, leaning against his hard chest and into his beating heart. His arms close around me and for the first time in my life, I’m lounging in a guy’s embrace. And not just any guy. Dare DuBray, who I’m guessing could have any girl he wants.

And right now, in this moment, he wants me.

It’s unfathomable.

It’s the perfect temperature as we drift in the sun, as the warmth saturates my shirt and soaks into my skin. I drag one hand over the side, letting it float on the surface of the water as I listen to Dare’s heart.

It’s strong and loud against my ear.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The rhythmic sound reminds me of the day he was punching the shed.

I look up at him, reluctant to bring it up, but wanting to know the answer.

“That day outside,” I begin. “When you were punching the shed. What exactly was making you so upset?”

He almost flinches, but he doesn’t move. He keeps his arms wrapped tightly around my shoulders and his dark eyes closed.

“Why do we have to talk about that?” he asks, his voice husky with relaxation. “I thought you wanted to hear my question?”

“I do,” I tell him quickly. “But I want to hear this first. You told me you were mad at yourself, that you were letting something get to you. What was it?”

Because I have to know.

He sighs, and then opens his gorgeous eyes.

“You,” he says softly, the word grazing along the edge of my heart. “I’m letting you get to me.”

I suck in my breath and draw back, trying to see more of his face, trying to figure his answer out.

“Why would that piss you off?” I ask him hesitantly. “I’m a girl, you’re a guy, I think it’s an entirely normal thing.”

He closes his eyes again, but his arms are still wrapped around me. Thank God.

“It is. But you’re not in a good place and I guess I was pissed at Serendipity for her bad timing.”

I’m silent because I don’t know what to say, and Dare opens one eye.

“Back home, girls often want to date me because of my step-father’s family, because they have a lot of money. I hate all of it, but I especially hate the part where I never know when someone is sincere and wants to be close to me just because I’m me.”

He pauses for a minute. “You have no idea who I am, but you like me just the same.”

I’m desperately confused now. “And that’s a bad thing?”

He shakes his head and opens his eyes and stares out at the water. “No, it’s just a bad time. You’re not ready for someone like me. You’re not in a good place.”

That sort of pisses me off and I shrug out of his arms. “Not in a good place? My mother just died. I’m hardly balancing on the edge or something. People die, and it sucks but it doesn’t mean that I’m a fragile little flower.”