Filthy Beautiful Forever(Filthy Beautiful Lies, #4)

Mia

The kiss feels so right, so perfect. The water might be cold, but our bodies are on fire with heat from the friction as we press together. Collins’ warm arms hold me close, and I push my chest and my core against him. My entire body is overheating, and I feel as though we are melting into one being.

It’s that right.

When Collins somehow manages to pull away, it’s as if he’s ripping us in two.

I’m so flustered, and in such a haze that even with the harsh separation, I still gaze at him. His eyes match my lust and my need. I search his face looking for anything, any reason we can’t be together. Because it feels so perfect, him and me. I can see it in his eyes, he feels it too. That zing between us, this temptation, this desire hasn’t gone away over time. My racing heart and his gasping for breath suggest the heat between us, hasn’t faded at all-it’s grown.

Before, fifteen years ago, we were two curious friends. We cared for each other, sure. But here, today, there’s something more. It’s barely been twenty-four hours since I arrived here, and I feel so drawn to him, that I’m not sure how I can possibly back away.

Yet I know I have to. His face changes and his eyes dart up to the boat. He’s remembering his girlfriend, who we’ve left on deck. My stomach drops, and I think I might too. If he let me go right now, I might sink to the bottom of the ocean. Not because I wanted to die, but because without him, I wasn’t sure if I had the energy to live.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

“Are you happy with her?” I ask.

He still holds me, but he maneuvers me to the ladder. “I…” he pauses and looks at me pleadingly. And then I can’t read his face anymore. It’s as if he’s shut me out. “I don’t know.” He says it as if he truly isn’t sure, but he’s also not sure he’s ready to end it with her.

I sigh and turn away, gripping the ladder. As he backs away, I feel the cold of the water surrounding me, and I shiver. Suddenly, I have an urgent need to get up the ladder and get warm. I pull myself up. My teeth chatter like mad. Even though Tatianna is around the corner and the crew is out of sight, I cover myself as best as I can and rush for the pile of new fluffy towels someone has left out for us.

Seriously, how many staff are aboard this thing? I wonder.

“Mia?” Collins has followed me up.

He heads toward me. Water drips from his tan, muscular torso. A scene I’d been enjoying for the last hour and still know I will never tire of. His body is so firm. His skin is soft yet hot to the touch. I might as well just rip off my bikini bottoms and hand them over to him. It is nearly impossible to turn away. But I do and rush to throw on my tank. I’m humiliated. If he’s really staying with her, he doesn’t get any more free shows. Nope.

“I’m sorry, Mia,” he says. He places his strong hand gently on my shoulder and guides me around to face him.

I’m forced to look again into his amazing blue eyes and wait for him to say more.

He rubs his hand over his wet hair and says. “My life is complicated. It’s not as easy as it was when we were little. We can’t just pinky swear and then live happily ever after.”

His words hurt so much I flinch. I can’t tell if I believe them, but they must be right. Because I hear them all the time. My parents always tell me I’m a dreamer. Leila says I’m too romantic. I’ve always taken the comments as playful jabs. But hearing it from him, for some reason that hurts. Maybe it’s time I finally accept it. I wipe away a tear and take in a shaky breath, nodding. “Yeah. I know. It’s not a fairytale; it’s real life. You two have been together for a long time.” I step back and wave him off, blotting my eyes with my towel.

“Lunch,” Tatianna shouts from around the corner.

Collins eyes lock on mine. “Sorry,” he mouths.

I want to tell him it’s okay, that I’ll be all right. But I can’t find the words, because it feels like someone just punched me in the stomach.

So instead, I just nod and follow him around to the bow where a table has been set for our lunch. Thankfully, Collins pulls his shirt back on before he sits down. My ego is hurt, and still I’m going to have a hard enough time keeping my eyes from visually molesting him-even without him being half naked.

“My agent set up a few shoots for me this week. We don’t have anything going on, right?” Tatianna asks Collins.

He glances at me before answering her. “Uh, no. We’re clear.”

“I figured it was fine,” she smiles at me then at Collins. “I mean you two have all your catching up to do or whatever. It’s not like you guys want me around for that. You can spend some time together. You know, show Mia a good time.”

My face flushes, and I look down at my sandwich. She has no idea how close her words bring me to a nervous laughing fit. She also, apparently, has no idea what just happened between Collins and me. Her face shows not a hint of being jealous or worried that I might pose a threat to her relationship with Collins. And now that I look at her, with her perfect hair and beautiful face-not to mention her beyond elegant body-I have no idea why someone who was dating her would want to kiss me, let alone dump her for me.