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“You’re letting fear win.You’re letting that asshole who hurt you win.”
A sliver of anger pierced her fear.“And you’re psyching me into doing something I don’t want to do.Is that fair?”she whispered.
“No.But I’d rather play a little dirty than let you continue to live with the fear.”
He stepped into the water.It only came halfway up his calf.
She glanced up at him in surprise and he lifted one brow.“You think I’d put you in deep water the first time you attempt this?”
“I didn’t say I was going to do this.”
His fingers tightened around hers.“Be brave.Let me help you do this.”
She looked from him to the water.She took a step closer and realized she could just about make out the bottom of the bath.Her heart thumped against her ribs as she forced herself not to think about what had happened to her the last time she’d been near a body of water.But the memory of being submerged, of feeling her lungs burst with the lack of oxygen as strong hands forced her under, was too strong.
With a choked gasp she tried to free herself, to get away from the terrifying feeling.
Zach leapt out of the water and caught her to him.He kissed her temple, then buried his face in her hair and held her tight as shudders raked her body.
“It’s okay.We don’t have to do this right now, if you don’t want to.”
She squeezed her eyes shut, but the scent of the bath remained in her nostrils.Holding on to him, she slowly opened her eyes.
For almost ten years, she’d let fear rule her life.
You’re letting that asshole who hurt you win.
“Come on, baby.I’m sorry for pushing you to do this.”He slid an arm around her waist and turned her towards the showers at the opposite end of the room.
Her feet started to dig in.“Wait.”
He stilled but said nothing, grey eyes boring into hers.
“I want to do this.”
14
“You sure?”Zach asked.
Bethany glanced at the water, her heart still hammering, then slowly nodded.“I want to try.”
The admiration in Zach’s smile strengthened her resolve.“Atta girl.”Lowering his head, he brushed his mouth across hers then tugged her gently back to the edge of the bath.
“Promise me you won’t let me go,” she blurted as fear threatened to take over again.
A look passed over his face, but it disappeared before she could accurately decipher it.
“I promise,” he said simply, but there was a touch of bleakness in his voice.Had she been less preoccupied with conquering her fear and stepping closer to the edge of the bath, she’d have wondered why.
But he was stepping into the rose-petalled water and turning to face her.“Hold on to me.Get used to the water around your feet before we take it further, okay?”
“Okay,” she murmured.She stepped into the bath.
Her fingers convulsed around his biceps as the sensation sent terror through her body.Desperately, she tried to swallow the fear that wanted to take over.
“Calm down, baby.You’re doing really well.Stop thinking about what the water can do to you and think about how it feels on your skin.Describe it to me.”
She licked her lips and tried to form the words.“It’s warm.Silky.”She looked down and saw one petal clinging to her knee.The sight was so innocuous it eased her fear a little.“It smells like heaven.”