Page 27 of Into the Blue
“Come on, then.” He jerks his head and starts walking. “The place I want to take you isn’t far.” There’s a nervous sort of energy around him as he leads the way.
Disappointment flashes through me. Maybe I misunderstood him, and he’s just asked me out again because I seemed like such a sad sack yesterday and he feels bad, so he’s going to give me a tour of the town or something. But he comes to a stop almost as soon as we walk through the timber archway at the edge of his property. Deep jungle surrounds us on either side of the road.
“What are we doing?”
He turns his head, his strong profile sharp against the wall of dark green. “I told you I’d take you somewhere else, didn’t I? And here we are.”
“Just a short walk from home, too. Very thoughtful of you.” My leg is stinging a bit, but it feels better than it did.
He grins. “I aim to please. Follow me.”
I stamp on the filthy part of my mind that wonders how else he might please me as I follow Axel into the jungle. I probably should be nervous, but for some reason I’m not. I’ve surfed in plenty of places around the world, had to climb down to some pretty inhospitable beaches, so wandering through wild jungle doesn’t really bother me. Plus, I feel safe with Axel. I tell myself it’s because he lives here and knows what he’s doing.
Sure, Jade.
He leads me through to another clearing, and my jaw drops. But there’s no temple here. We’re on the edge of a low cliff, looking out to sea. The view is magnificent, uninterrupted, the beach below golden and smooth, the land dropping away towards Axel’s compound.
“Wow. This is glorious. Although, I can see some pretty nice waves I know I can’t ride.” I screw my face into a mock-annoyed expression, folding my arms.
“Don’t look at them.” Axel grins at me, and those dimples pop out again, just to fucking taunt me. Zach who?
I know, that’s a shitty way to be. But the fact is, I think part of me detached from Zach a while ago. I had to do it in order to protect myself, no matter how I loved him. It just took me until now to realise. And, if he can move on so quickly, maybe I should too.
Still.Axel Black is not your rebound.
“Well, where am I supposed to look?”Apart from at you. And I can’t ride you either.The words are on the tip of my tongue. I bite them back.
“I’ll show you.” He goes to the edge of the cliff, then steps over it.
“Shit!” I rush after him, but he hasn’t fallen. He’s standing on wide rock steps, cut into the cliff face. Still, it’s a few metres down to the beach and I keep one hand on the rock as I follow him down. “I can still see those waves,” I say.
“Not for long. Just hold on.”
We reach the bottom of the cliff. The sandy beach is smooth and deserted, translucent turquoise water lapping at the shore. It’s like a travel agent’s wet dream.
“Another magical beach.” I’m not kidding. This place is crazy. “And it’s linked to yours?”
“The beach isn’t mine.” At my glance he continues, “Well, technically it is, but it’s not like I close it off.” His expression darkens.
“What is it?”
“This land is for sale. Between my place and the village.”
“It is? Are you going to buy it?”
He doesn’t answer me. “The beach is nice, I agree,” he says. “But this is what’s really magical about it.” He pulls aside a curtain of green vines hanging over the cliff, revealing a narrow opening in the rock face, a dark slash in the stone.
I glance at him, unsure.
He holds out his hand. “Trust me.”
Do I trust him? Or, and this might be the bigger question, do I trust myself? I hesitate, but only for a moment before I take his hand and let him pull me inside. It’s pitch dark at first, and I’m nervous. Then I see a faint gleam of light.
“Watch your step. I won’t let go, okay?” Axel keeps pulling me forwards.
I gasp.
Axel
