Marcello watched her retreat, trying to hide from him as if she could make herself disappear. He hated it. He wanted more but not through force. He wanted her to want it. To drown in the fire with him willingly.

He longed to run his hands over her curves, to sink into her heat, but he knew moving too fast would frighten her. So he'd take it slow torturously slow.

He stepped closer, water cascading down his chest. She tensed immediately, feeling the space between them vanish. With a measured ...