Max stared at Kaia, his expression unreadable but his eyes betraying a storm of emotions. For a moment, he was utterly still, as if the revelation had struck him like a lightning bolt. Then, as if realizing the intensity of his gaze, he cursed under his breath and put some distance between them in the water.
"f**k!" he muttered, running a hand through his wet hair.
Kaia's body was trembling, every nerve in her body electrified by his presence. She felt dizzy from the overwhelming interaction, her senses on overdrive. The scent of amber from his skin filled her nostrils, grounding her even as it heightened her awareness of him. She tried to speak, to make sense of the whirlwind of emotions, but the words caught in her throat.
Several minutes passed in charged silence. Max's face remaine
