Chapter 5

The humidity in the private cabana hit me like a warm, wet blanket the moment we stepped out of the main thoroughfare of the indoor water park. It was a secluded, glass-walled enclosure tucked away in the corner of the facility, far from the screaming children and the splashing crowds of the lazy river. The air smelled of chlorine, expensive cologne, and the faint, metallic tang of recycled water. I had followed him here, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird, because I knew he wouldn’t let me go until I was completely his. He had been watching me with that predatory, possessive gaze all day, even when we were just sitting by the wave pool, the artificial waves crashing around our waists. The noise of the crowd faded into a dull roar as he guided me into the cabana and kicked the door shut, locking out the world. The space was dim, lit by soft amber lights that reflected off the mirrored walls, making it feel infinite, like we were floating in a bubble of our own making. "You’ve been good, baby girl," he murmured, his voice a low rumble that vibrated in my chest. He