Page 104 of Tears for a Broken Sky
He froze. His eyes flew open.
“Shit,” he muttered, and bolted.
He grabbed the bucket just in time and hurled himself over it, gagging miserably.
I blinked, stunned.
Then he groaned, one hand raised weakly. “It’s not you, I swear.”
“I still think you’re handsome,” I whispered against his cheek.
“And sexy,” he corrected, eyes fluttering open.
I smiled and let my lips graze the tip of his nose. “Both.”
He sighed dramatically, resting his head against the wall again. “You know, you keep doing that and I might fall in love with you all over again.”
“You say that like you ever stopped.”
“Touché.” He reached up blindly and found my hand, lacing our fingers together.
His grip was weaker than usual—but it was stillLeo. Still warm. Stillreal.
Stillmine.
“I love you,” he said, his voice raspy.
“I love you too.”
“I hate the sea,” he muttered.
“I know.”
“I’m only doing this for you.”
“I know.”
A beat.
“Okay, maybe for Slade, too. And Phoenix. Maybe Maddie a little even though she’s a devil woman. Also Thorne. But mostly for you.”
I leaned in, resting my forehead gently against his. “I’ll make it up to you,” I whispered. “Once we’re off this godsdamned boat.”
He hummed, a tired smile tugging at his lips. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
He grinned—just for a second. Then his face twisted, and he lurched back over the bucket.
“Ugh. Tell Phoenix he wins. I can’t even be jealous when my insides are trying to mutiny.”
“I’ll tell him you surrendered with dignity.”
“You better not.”
The moment held—soft, fragile.
Then the bell rang.
