Midnight Toxicity

31.

I needed air.

After spending hours poring over the county maps and fighting with Chace about how we should approach Colton, I had to take a break. Golding hadn't allowed me even a small amount of freedom since arriving, and after our short interaction, I now knew why. He didn't trust me. I didn't trust myself half the time, so I couldn't blame the guy.

"I'll be back later," I told Chace out of courtesy.

"Where are you going?" He yelled. "Don't start any fights, hellcat."

"Don't call me that anymore!" I snarled, catching his startled look as I stormed out of the room.

"Your bad attitude is not helping the situation, Charlize!" He returned.

I ignored him, needing space to figure out my next steps. When I made it to the pier, the lake's surface sparkled in the moonlight. I stripped off my clothes and dove in wearing only my panties. The water blanketed my head, and the silence was a welcome relief.

When I surfaced, Ian fucking Johnson stared back at me.

I groaned, gliding away from him. I wanted to prove to Golding I had more to offer than what was between my legs, but Ian thought I didn't belong. He may be right, but I never asked for their opinion. I didn't need any of these men to fail or succeed in life.

"What are you doing out here?" I demanded.

He bobbed my way. "Come here."

I stopped out of curiosity. "Why?"

He chuckled like I was telling a joke, floating inches from my face. We stared at each other, sexual tension pulsing in the air. I focused on his lips. The man could kiss, remembering our last romp. Recalled the raw hunger he unveiled while fucking me upside down.

"Do you want me?" he asked, pressing his leg against mine.

I shivered, wrapping my arms over his shoulder. He took most of my weight as he waited for an answer. "I like your partner. She's pretty and... nice."

"You're a terrible liar," he tsked. "But she's competent. What happened tonight?"

"I am not!" I splashed water on his cheek. "Nothing happened."

He hummed, trailing his finger down my chest until reaching a nipple. He pinched the tip, and I gasped, squeezing my thighs together at the rush of pain and pleasure. His mouth descended, and I met him halfway.

Ian sucked my tongue while holding my nipple hostage. A slow burn settled between our bodies as he licked every inch of my mouth. The gentle possessiveness he radiated left me drowning in lust while swimming above the waterline.

Beneath the stars and moonlight on a tranquil lake in Alabama, I found myself wrapped in a passionate embrace with the one man I knew I shouldn't even entertain. As the cool water lapped against our skin, his body pressed against mine seamlessly, igniting a warmth that contrasted with the night air. I savored the moment, exploring his muscular build, tracing my fingers over his defined arms and chest. The way his toned physique responded to my touch was surprisingly comfortable.

There was an undeniable allure to him—a raw, magnetic pulse between us that I couldn't resist. With each kiss and every swipe of our lips under the vast sky, I felt the thrill of danger. It was a moment that felt both exhilarating and forbidden, and I was lost in it, unable to think of the repercussions.

"Fuck," he breathed when I raked my nails down his chest. "Do you want me?"

I ducked my head, my lips teasingly nipping at the side of his neck, coaxing him into silence as I relished the intoxicating sensation of his warmth against my mouth. He gripped my waist tightly, our bodies instinctively grinding against each other beneath the dark waters, the coolness of the lake contrasting sharply with the heat radiating from our skin.