“Well, it sucks to hear, but it was for the best. If there’s something you can’t control, it’s because you weren’t meant to control it. All we can do is manage how we react to what inevitable pain life brings us.”

Olive lifted her chin to meet my eye and squinted, like she was trying to figure something out about my philosophy.

“Think about it, if you were still with that douchebag, you wouldn’t be here in this hot tub getting the world's best massage.” I grinned at her in an attempt to lighten the mood and hoped the rage in my chest would burn out.

She smiled ever so slightly. “I guess you’re right. You are pretty good at this.”

The admiration in her voice only bolstered me more. “Wow, is that what it’s like to hear Olive Moore compliment me?”

She poked a finger into my bare chest. “Don’t get used to it.” Her words said one thing, but her threatening smile said another.

I grinned harder and made my move. I grabbed the back of her exposed thighs under water and pulled her onto me, her legs straddling mine. Her wet t-shirt clung to her smooth curves, and I fought to keep my hand from running over them.

Her cheeks flushed, mouth slightly agape. I raised a hand to her chin, the same chin I touched earlier tonight, when I’d been about to kiss her, before we were interrupted.

This time, there were no interruptions around us. I traced my thumb down her throat as she swallowed. I made small circles on her sensitive pulse point. With my spare hand, I trailed from her knee to her upper thigh. I appreciated every soft, feminine curve she had.

Olive breathed in a puff of air when my hand slipped to her backside as my other thumb pressed slightly on her throat.

“Finn.” She spoke my name like it was something she had longed for, like at this moment it was all she could think to say. I soaked in the syllable as though it was the first time I’d ever hear it.

“Tell me, Olive.” I pulled her closer to me, only a wet t-shirt separating us.

“Please,” she whispered, almost like she was embarrassed, but it was enough for me. My hand at her throat moved under her hair at the back of her neck, and I pulled her mouth to meet mine.

Finally. I pressed my lips against hers and slid into home. She tilted her head slightly and our lips meshed together, a perfect fit. I was gentle despite everything in my body begging me not to be. I kissed her soft and slow, my hands gripping her. I craved more, but Olive was like a scared kitten that you had to let come to you. So, I fought every instinct I had.