Runaway Hearts: Seduced by Danger

13. Cold Hearted Pond

Chapter 13

Cold Hearted Pond

M y body lands into a muddy pond with a resounding splash, and it takes two seconds for my brain to register the information. But the smell of rotting plants and stagnant water is undeniable, and as I try to grip onto something, I find that there are nothing but cattails, slime, and aquatic plants.

The murky water is opaque, coated with debris. Green algae cover the surface, and my feet sink into the cold, sticky mud.

I wonder why I didn’t stand my ground. I’m at least fifty pounds heavier than any of those bikini girls. They would’ve had to go around if I had just held my place. But something stopped me.

Shame lingers, making it difficult to take a deep breath.

I’m having an out-of-myself moment.

I think back to how I ended up here. Assertiveness. I have none.

A picture forms in my mind, showing how a woman like me ends up with guys like Eric. It’s almost like I chose him to feel worthless. To extinguish my inner fire.

The flame is there, inside me. It’s up to me to let it grow. I know that now. Why can’t I? Why am I giving up before the fight even starts?

My fingers have been tingling for a long time, and I have a pain in my neck. I stare at the water’s surface, searching for an answer that will never arise.

Eric extinguished the fire with big swooshes. I sigh; my jaw clenches. “Why do I let people who hurt me get away with it?” I wonder aloud, frustration bubbling inside.

But then, like a ray of sunshine, Kai calls out, “Marianne?”

My heart skips a beat at his voice, a warmth spreading through me.

A spark of self-respect sizzles within. A flickering light urges me not to be gentle anymore, to stop being the girl who isn’t spicy enough, thin enough, wild enough.

I’m done.

“Marianne?” Kai’s tone drips with irritation and concern, but it comes from a distance.

He calls my name again, his voice getting closer. I’m waist-deep in the murky pond, hidden among the cattails.

“Down here!”

Branches rustle, and Kai appears. He stands at the edge of the pond now, his brow furrowed. “How did you end up here?”

The pond is shallow, but there’s a five-foot drop to the ground, and I’m not sure I can climb alone.

I’m stuck here, shit.

A sarcastic giggle escapes me as an involuntary shudder rocks through me, and I wipe at my face, smearing more muck on already dirty skin.

I’m so done being nice.

“I’ve decided to become a mermaid,” I say, and another giggle escapes.

Kai doesn’t wait for a rational response. He jumps into the pond and strides, his body slicing through the water with ease. His clothes cling to his chiseled frame, revealing every sinew and curve of his perfectly sculpted body. He moves toward me, undeterred by any potential danger that may lurk within.

Like frogs. I hate frogs.

The left corner of his mouth tugs up as he reaches me. “Mermaid, huh?”

“I fell.” I sniff, my shoulders going down with my facial muscles. “The skaters zoomed by, and I tried to step back, but I stumbled under the tree row and”

“Are you hurt?” Kai frowns, his hand stretching out to take mine.

“Just scratches.”

“Fucking bitches.”

“But…” Tears gather in my eyes as I examine my dress. I wiggle out of Kai’s grip and slide my fingertips over the fabric covering my chest. “This was my favorite,” I whisper.

“I’ll buy you a new one.”

No man has ever seen me in that dress.

“Oh… you can’t. My best friend Arietta bought it in Italy last year. It’s…” I bite my lower lip.

I wore it for you. “It’s ruined,” I whisper.

Kai stands there, watching me pull at the fabric, and his jaw works. Something flashes in his eyes, but it’s gone so quickly I can’t be sure it was there.

“Let me see.”

I freeze momentarily before realizing he’s asking about the scratches on my arms. I hold them out to him, and he inspects the shallow cuts. His touch is careful, and something about it makes my skin heat up.

But it doesn’t last.

“Let’s get out of here,” he whispers.

The cold water laps against us as he surveys the distance to the embankment, his jaw setting with determination.

We wade out of the swamp into clearer water, leaving a trail of mud and debris behind, then head toward a quiet corner of the embankment on foot until we’re finally out of the water. My sandals squelch and slide onto the rocky beach as I get out. My hair is clumped. A calm place where the lake is undisturbed. My skin shivers.

Half-decomposed leaves, rotten branches, and lumps of damp dirt now weigh down the once-flowing layers of fabric. I return to knee-deep waters to shake most of the disgusting shit out of my dress. Next are my legs. And back to solid ground. I pull the waterlogged hem of my dress up to wring out some of the water.

At least I don’t smell like a swamp monster.

Kai gaze lingers on my wet clothes, and I follow his line of sight, realizing my nipples are poking through the thin fabric. I blush. My heart thunders in my chest like a wild stallion. Heat creeps up my neck, spreading across my cheeks. I’m suddenly conscious of every inch of my body, every line highlighted by the wet fabric clinging to me.

Does he like what he sees?

But then, Kai turns and coughs. He takes off his snug black shirt and wrings it out.

It’s strange because he never hesitated to flaunt his body around me before. A few droplets of gray water reach the ground. A long scar catches my attention. It’s a fine line from his right shoulder plate to his side, finishing just above the cut I stitched two days ago.

When he removes his jeans, a large clump of mud slips from my hair and drops with a loud plop.

He pulls his shirt back on, raking his fingers through his damp hair until it stands up in wild spikes. “We should get back home before catching a cold,” he mutters and twists his jeans to get out most of the water.

His navy boxers hug his ass, and damn, I can’t look away. The grooves in his thigh muscles call to me. I take a step forward.

Something weird melts behind my sternum. A balm against the cold. He wriggles his jeans back on and turns to me.

Kai takes a deep breath, his chest rising and falling beneath the damp fabric of his shirt. He avoids my gaze, focusing on a point just beyond my shoulder. “We’ll stop at the restrooms to remove all the dirt we can.”

I wonder how his skin feels like…

I swallow hard and bite my tongue.

And then, a shudder enlivens my whole frame as I catch a glimpse of a swelling behind his zipper.

He clears his throat and raises an eyebrow as if he knows exactly where my focus is. My cheeks are on fire.

But I can do nothing else but blink.

A primal arousal floods in my veins, but it’s quickly silenced by the drunken whistles and lewd chuckles from a group of men nearby. I take a step back. Kai’s gaze darts to them, protective anger blazing in his eyes before he steps in front of me.

He lifts his hand as if to touch me but stops halfway. “Let’s go.”

My head recedes to have a better look, “Are you okay? You look pissed.”

“Marianne.” Kai’s expression turns to steel, the intensity in his gaze enough to silence everything inside me, if only for a moment. “I’m not a good man, but I’m real with you. I’m so fucking honest, it’s ruining me.” His eyes have too much annoyance to know if he’s honest. But I think he is. “And right now,” he growls, stepping closer so the boundary between us blurs. “Those men are about to lose their eyes for the way they’re looking at you.”

I feel a confidence building inside me, a strength I didn’t know I had.

Possessive sexy criminal.

“So, pretty fucking please , can we get somewhere I can recollect before I snap?”

The proximity of his body sends an electric current through mine. His chest heaves with heavy breaths that match my own.

Heat coils in my stomach. The part of me drawn to his darkness curses the other part that yearns for safety. But there’s something about the way Kai acts, like I’m precious and delicate, that sends thrills vibrating inside of me.

What if I kissed him?

“Sure, let’s go,” I say softly.

Then, he shuts his eyes. “Thank you.”

It’s like stepping out of the shadows and into the light.

Time to step up, Marianne.

I try to ease the pressure in my chest with a deep breath, but it’s no use. As we approach the restrooms, Kai keeps glancing at me out of the corner of his eye, like he’s trying to suppress something.

Don’t suppress, Kai. Show me! Does my wet dress turn you on?

The reek of urine and soap assaults my nostrils as we approach the bathrooms. Without hesitation, I enter the family restroom. The dingy lights flicker above, casting eerie shadows on the cracked tiles.

Kai follows me, shutting the door behind him.

He puts on the lock. Click.

We’re alone.

The silence in the small room buzzes, only broken by the drip of a leaky faucet. Kai’s presence feels overwhelming in the confined space. His eyes are stormy.

I lean against the sink, the cold porcelain seeping through my clothes. Kai doesn’t move. He studies me.

My pulse quickens as he finally steps closer.

The relieved sigh he lets out puzzles me. “I’m sorry,” he blows out.

“For what?”

I don’t understand.

I turn on the faucet, realizing there’s no hot water.

He reaches out and brushes a stray leaf from my hair. “Are you angry?”

I scrub the mud off my face the best I can with cold water. “Why would I be angry?”

Kai rubs his face and scoffs. “It’s not really a good ending to our date.”

“Nothing cotton candy can’t solve.” I grin. “Or tequila.” Or a kiss.

My cheeks, once cooled by the water, now burn with something else.

“I’ll get you both,” he says.

I twist my hair to wring out the water, and our eyes meet in the tiny bathroom mirror.

Kai watches me silently for a moment, his eyes trailing down my body through the dirty mirror. I follow his gaze. The murky water seeped into my dress, turning the once-flowing layers into a see-through mess. The wet fabric sticks to my skin, revealing more than I ever intended to show.

His eyes narrow, and a muscle in his upper lip jumps, his fingers curling into a fist.

But I’m not scared.

A hot flush creeps up my neck as I remember the bulge in his jeans earlier. And now, standing here in this dingy bathroom, with him staring at me like this ... my heart races uncontrollably.

Eric was wrong. I’m pretty. And wet.

Kai moves closer to me, our bodies almost touching. Sucking in a sharp breath, his eyes come back to mine through the mirror. “I can’t think straight,” he mumbles.

But nothing happens, so I keep cleaning myself, picking clumps of mud and dead leaves from my loose hair.

My cheeks burn hotter as I try to ignore the pulse between my legs. His stare sparked to life.

Kai steps closer, his breath hitching again as he looks at me. “That’s not...” A murmur. “Don’t freak out.” He takes a pile of brown paper, wets it, and wipes dirt off my back.

The heat from his breath grazes my neck as he leans to get to the mud that clings to my skin. And I try not to squirm under his ministrations because I want more. His hand lingers on my bare but now-clean shoulders a moment longer than necessary, allowing me to feel the tension in his muscles.

I like how he fights so hard to control himself, yet he seems so out of control. The raw power lurking beneath the surface is fascinating.

He’s ready to snap, but he doesn’t.

“Thank you,” I whisper, trying not to show my excitement.

He finishes cleaning the mud off my shoulders and back and turns to toss the paper towel into the trash. When he swivels back, his hands clasp on my hips, and he rests his cheek on my temple, breathing slow and deep.

He’s trying to calm down.

I stand still, waiting for his next move. It’s freaking enthralling. The small bathroom feels effervescent as we stand so close, our bodies barely touching.

Kai then lets out a long, shaky breath and slowly pulls away from me. “You’re welcome.” His words are choked, half-angry, half something I don’t recognize.

But for once in my life, I decided to be bold.

I catch his wrists to put his hands back on my hips.

Oh, my fucking god…

Is it possible for my blood to pump so wild that my veins burst out?

His arms cinch around me, pulling me to his hard chest. My eyes shut. He groans softly, the sound resonating through me like a surrendering plea.

Without looking at him, I turn the water off, trying to ignore the hot gushes of need pooling in me.

Assertiveness 1. Anxiety 0.

The rough pads of his fingers trace tantalizing patterns on the curve of my hips, and his thumbs find a way under my dress. His touch ignites a fire that burns hotter than anything I’ve ever felt.

A slow moan escapes from my lips, emboldening him. His hands slide toward my panties, testing the waters for a reaction.

Our wet clothes stick to our skin, creating a barrier between us that only heightens the intensity of the moment.

A single syllable flies from my mouth, breathier than I intended. “Kai.”

“Fuck,” he murmurs, a primal acknowledgment of our shared desire. “Tell me…” He lets his thumbs trace circles closer and closer to my covered pussy. “This is real.” He pauses, hiding his face in my hair as he struggles to find the right words. “The untamed desire I have for you defies logic, but it fucking owns me.” His nose runs up and down the nape of my neck, making me gasp. “And I hope against hope you feel it, too.” A hesitation. “At least a little.”

A sharp inhale raises my chest as his words wash over me like a tidal wave. My insides tremble with anticipation. I lean back into his chest. “I do,” I whisper. Feeling daring now, my hand trails up to grab the back of his neck, pulling him to me.

Assertiveness 2. Anxiety 0.

He lets out a sigh of relief and nuzzles the crook of my neck. “Thank god.” His lips brush up to my ear. “Because I was going crazy over this.”

My fingers thread in his hair, and I press his head into me just a bit. And he fucking bites down on my neck with a wide-opened jaw, eliciting a non-sexy squeal from me.

“What the fuck?”

He chuckles at my reaction. And licks my nape from my shoulder to my ear, his lower teeth grazing behind, hard enough to wake goosebumps all over my arms.

My hands clench on the sink, and my mouth opens in a silent moan. Every nerve ending I possess is overloaded with sensations. As he nips my skin, my entire body melts. And I gasp, shivering.

“Cutie, fuck… Talk about sensitive… Damn!”

I wonder what I taste like after my plunge into the pond. “Don’t mock me.”

Kai’s throaty laugh fills the bathroom. “I’m not.” His thumbs graze under the waistband of my underwear, and I squeak. “You have no idea how incredible it is.”

Oh, god.

His dick hardens against my ass.

My left hand grips his hair tightly while my right nails dig into his forearm.

His tongue, his teeth, his hands… Fuck.

Kai’s hand slides between my legs to cup my pussy, pulling me even tighter against his hard dick.

I yelp.

An arrogant smirk tugs at his lips. “You’re mind-blowing.”

I’m so turned on I’m panting and can’t answer. We have a thing for public bathrooms, it seems.

Lost in the intoxicating haze of passion, all my muscles jolt at a loud banging on the bathroom door, and I scream.

Kai’s wild eyes, flushed cheeks, and parted lips disappear with the second knock. The air turns frigid, his lips press into a thin line, and he snorts.

A very harsh, super annoyed, extra noisy snort.

The next knock reverberates in his body and exits in grumbles until he barks, “What!”

I question him with my eyes and shrug. “Just a minute!”

Lethal vibes float in the atmosphere like acid clouds over Kai’s head. I open the door to see a police officer standing on the other side, his expression far from amused. One glance at Kai’s opened shirt, the prominence in his pants, and the man turns to my guilty, bright crimson face.

“Come on.” He shakes his head in disappointment. “Time to get out.”

As we step out of the bathroom, the cold air pricks my skin like barbed wire. Kai quickly tucks himself in while casting a death glare at the officer. He slams the door shut behind him. The look on his face is enough to make me want to combine with the ground. Not an ounce of awkwardness in his features or body language. Only pure frustration.

“Sorry,” I croak out, my mind reeling from the sudden shift in the atmosphere. “I’m... I’m so sorry.” I tug at the dirty skirt of my dress. “I fell into the swamp side of the lake, and I had to clean up and… You know, mud and leaves and just… disgusting muck…” My voice sounds weak and pathetic even to my own ears.

The officer raises an eyebrow at me before turning back to Kai. “Anything else?”

I shake my head, but the officer is staring at Kai. Because Kai is glaring at the cop like he wants to bite his head off.

The officer shifts uneasily, the tension thick enough to slice through. Kai’s intensity unnerves him, but he stands his ground.

I’m in a stand-off.

And I burst out laughing.

That makes Kai smile at me and approach to remove the last debris from my cleavage. “No,” he replies to the man in front of us. “Just got a little carried away.”

The cop grunts. “I expect this from teenagers, not grown adults.”

My laughter transforms into soft giggles. “Are we in trouble or something?” I ask, blinking my most innocent eyes at the policeman.

Kai’s hand slips in mine, and I stroke his palm with my thumb. His glare could burn the policeman down to ashes.

The officer sighs. “There won’t be any trouble as long as you keep it decent.”

Kai’s grip on my hand tightens momentarily before he lets go and steps back.

“Of course, officer.” I put on an inoffensive smile I’ve spent years working on. “We understand.” And I nod.

The cop nods once and leaves without another word.

When he walks away, Kai tugs at my hand. “Let’s get you cotton candy.”