Page 106 of Sands of Atonement

His neck felt like a tower. I didn’t want to let go. I liked being in his arms. They were warm and protective against the menacing waters.

But I knew I couldn’t hold on to him forever. I dropped a foot down.

My toes felt the rough limestone bottom first, and I planted my full foot. Then I brought my next foot, now fully facing Ezra with my trembling arms still around his neck.

My naked body was completely flush with his, but I didn’t care.

I couldn’t think much about it since I was only focusing on surviving.

I took a deep breath. Why was he doing this? I wanted to get out of here. I felt another pressure choke me in my throat.

Ezra slowly wrapped his hand around one of my wrists and pulled it from his neck.

What was he doing? My breath quickened.

Was he going to leave me here?

His other hand reached toward the arm he held, and he began to softly brush it with the bar of soap.

The world stilled.

I couldn’t focus on anything but what he was doing.

Ezra swept the bar across my inner arm and brushed his thumb slowly along my soapy skin. His gentle touch was at odds with his tan, strong hand washing me.

My breath hitched.

The blood in my veins began to heat uncontrollably. He was staring at his movements, too.

His hand with the bar moved higher to my shoulders and my neck. I lifted my eyes and met his instantly.

His eyes were dark pools. The gold completely disappeared. I felt a pull toward them.

Slowly, I let go of his neck, and for a moment I froze, unsure.

His arm was still around my waist in a possessive manner, ensuring I wasn’t going to drown again.

Ezra hadn’t stopped brushing the bar along my skin, my neck, my collarbones. It was slow, and the feeling was mesmerizing.

Time had slowed, and so did my breath.

His eyes were so intense, I felt like I couldn’t breathe or move, or I would break this moment. My brain fired up then—I should want to break this moment. But I didn’t.

I liked his hands on me. They felt nice… and warm… and safe.

What was happening?

The bar reached the top of my chest, but his eyes hadn’t left mine. His movements were controlled.

I dropped my hands from his neck to his shoulders, grazing over his muscled chest. He shuddered under the tips of my fingers.

The shudder turned into tensed muscles, and his arm around my waist suddenly turned me around.

The sudden movement, without Ezra in front of me, caused my mind to race. My breath faltered, and I began to panic.

God, I was so weak.

His hand pressed my waist against him, and my core warmed. His hands brushed my wet hair to the side, and I felt the bar of soap cross my upper back. He was so tender. I questioned whether I had died and this was my heaven. He was my heaven. Remembering all the times I was obsessed with him when I was younger, wishing he would just see me.