Skye’s POV
The water was warm around me, rippling gently against my skin as the last traces of sunset painted the sky in deep orange and violet streaks. I could still feel the echo of Damian’s kiss from earlier—the way his mouth had claimed mine under the moonlight the night before—but this time was different.
There was no rush, no frantic pull toward something dangerous and forbidden. It was just us, suspended in the quiet embrace of the lake, as if the world had decided to slow down for a while.
Damian’s hands rested lightly on my waist beneath the surface, fingers splayed in a way that made my heart stutter. He was close—close enough for me to feel the steady rhythm of his breathing, close enough that the heat of him seemed to seep through the water.
“You’re quiet,” he murmured, his
