Page 23 of His Ruthless Match (Below #3)

JARETH

T he waves crashed in steady crescendos, only broken by the occasional call of a distant seabird.

The air smelled of salt and dampness, and the sand shifted beneath my boots as I walked a few steps ahead of Eva.

The soft glow of the moon illuminated the endlessly stretching beach.

It was one of the rare moments in The Below where things were quiet. Almost normal.

I glanced over my shoulder. Eva trailed behind.

Her shoes dangled from one hand, her head tipped back slightly to let the ocean breeze brush her face.

Strands of her dark hair had escaped the loose knot and danced wildly in the wind, escaping the loose knot she’d tied it into.

For the first time since I’d met her, she didn’t look like she was carrying the weight of the world or her stubborn pride on her shoulders.

She didn’t look like the Eva Delgado I had come to know. She looked… peaceful. Soft.

Utterly human.

“You look like you’re actually enjoying yourself,” I said, slowing my pace enough for her to catch up.

She gave me that trademark shrug that somehow managed to be nonchalant and exasperated all at once. “Don’t get used to it.”

A chuckle escaped me as I stuffed my hands into my pockets. “Noted.”

We walked in companionable silence, with only the sound of the shifting sand beneath our steps and the rhythmic roar of the waves. Eva stopped suddenly, curling her toes into the cool, damp sand. Her expression shifted, becoming unguarded, as if she’d just let a fortress door crack open.

“I didn’t think I’d like this place so much,” she said, her voice soft and uncharacteristically honest.

I tilted my head, unsure if I’d heard her correctly. “Oh yeah?”

She nodded, her gaze fixed on the horizon where the moonlight shimmered on the water. “It’s peaceful. I didn’t realize how much tension I was carrying until now.”

Something about her confession stirred a warmth in my chest from my cougar, a dangerous pull I didn’t want to examine too closely.

“We can keep walking,” I said, keeping my tone light. “The shoreline’s quiet this time of night. And there’s no one out here to bother us.”

Her brow lifted, a flicker of amusement crossing her face. “No one except the inevitable, terrifying creature that’s bound to try and eat us.”

I laughed, the sound ringing out over the waves. “With me here? Please. Nothing’s dumb enough to mess with us. The Shadow’s second commands respect. And fear.”

She stopped walking and dipped into the most exaggerated bow I’d ever seen. “Oh, forgive me, Lord Jareth,” she said, her voice dripping with mock reverence. “I didn’t realize I was in the presence of someone so admirable.”

The corner of my mouth quirked up, and I crossed my arms over my chest. “You mock me, but it’s true. I’m basically royalty around here.”

“Royal pain in the ass, maybe.”

I bolted toward the water. The cold waves splashed around my boots as I waded into the shallows, cupping a handful of icy water in my hands.

“Jareth, don’t you dare?—”

I hurled the water toward her, catching her squarely on the front of her dress. The droplets sparkled like tiny stars against the dark fabric.

Her gasp turned into a sharp laugh. “You asshole!”

“You wound me,” I teased, grinning wickedly.

She tossed her shoes aside and marched straight into the water, eyes blazing with mock vengeance. Scooping up a handful of water, she flung it at me with surprising accuracy, and it soaked right through my shirt.

“Cats don’t like water, right?” she quipped.

“Oh, you’re going to regret that,” I growled, lunging forward to return fire.

We spent the next few minutes splashing each other.

The water glittered as it arced through the air, catching the pale light before crashing back into the restless ocean.

Eva was relentless in her attack on me. Her laughter carried over the sound of the waves.

It wasn’t the usual sharp-edged wit or sarcastic bite.

It was a real, unrestrained laugh that made something in me go still for a moment. It was pure, untamed joy.

The sound hit me harder than expected and loosened a knot deep inside me that I hadn’t known was there. I wasn’t sure what to do with the warmth spreading through my chest, but it made me want to hear her laugh again and again.

I splashed her again, this time drenching her hair. Squealing, she pushed the wet strands out of her face.

“Jareth, you?—”

“—are winning!” I interrupted, grinning like an idiot as I dodged her retaliation attempt.

“You are insufferable ,” she yelled, but the grin stretching across her face betrayed her words. She didn’t mean it.

“Insufferable and undefeated!” I crowed.

Her eyes narrowed, her grin sharpening as if she were plotting her revenge. She took a few steps back, letting the water ripple around her legs. For a moment, I thought she might surrender, but then she surged forward, scooping up as much water as she could and flinging it straight at me.

The cold shock hit me square in the face, and I staggered, laughing despite myself. “Cheap shot!”

“All’s fair.”

I splashed water in her direction with both hands. Eva turned, trying to shield herself, but my aim was perfect. The water hit her shoulder, splattering her dress even more. She gasped and spun around, her eyes wide with playful outrage.

“Jareth Lanza, you are a menace!”

“Guilty as charged.” I shrugged, though it wasn’t as effective with my shirt plastered to my skin.

Eva’s laughter continued, wild and free, as if she’d forgotten the world.

I didn’t want her to stop. Seeing her like this—her cheeks flushed, her smile so bright it could rival the stars—was something else entirely.

She wasn’t the guarded, sharp-tongued woman who spent half her time trying to put me in my place.

She was radiant.

It took a hell of a lot of willpower to restrain my cougar because he was just as enamored with Eva Delgado and her entrancing laugh.

She splashed me again, and I decided to call a truce. “All right, all right! Truce!” I said, holding my hands up in surrender.

Eva froze, her hands mid-splash, eyeing me suspiciously. “Truce?”

“Truce,” I confirmed. “For now.”

She raised an eyebrow but lowered her hands. “Good, because I’m about two seconds away from hypothermia.”

“Not my fault you can’t keep up,” I teased, but my tone lacked its usual bite.

She rolled her eyes and turned her attention to wringing water from the hem of her dress. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“So I’ve been told,” I replied, watching her more closely than I probably should have. Her hair was plastered to her face, her cheeks glowing pink from the cold and exertion. Her dress clung to her in all the right places, and I forced myself to look away before my thoughts wandered too far.

“God, I’m soaked,” she muttered, twisting her hair to squeeze the water out.

“Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

She took a step closer, her bare feet sinking into the wet sand, and tilted her head to look up at me. “You know, for someone who claims to be my bodyguard, you’re not very good at keeping me dry and safe.”

“That wasn’t part of the job description. I’m just here to keep you alive, not comfortable.”

“Good to know,” she said, shaking her head, though the corners of her mouth quirked upward.

The playful energy between us shifted into something more.

The quiet roar of the ocean filled the space as we stood there, soaked to the bone and catching our breath.

Her gaze met mine, and I couldn’t look away.

There was something in her expression—something unguarded, just for a second—that made my chest tighten.

“You’re ridiculous,” she said, shaking her head at me. But there was no venom in her words, only amusement.

“Ridiculously fun,” I corrected, grinning.

Eva’s gaze drifted back to the horizon, her smile softening. Not wanting to ruin the moment, I didn’t say anything.

Maybe I didn’t want to ruin how I felt when I was around her, which I was beginning to suspect was a little more dangerous than any creature that lived in The Below.

“I’m freezing,” Eva said. She wrapped her arms around herself, as if sheer willpower could stave off the cold.

“Come on,” I said, my voice softer than I intended. “Let’s get back to the cottage.”

She nodded without argument—a rare occurrence—and we hurried up the beach.

Her teeth chattered, though she tried to disguise it, probably thinking I wouldn’t notice.

I noticed everything. And gods help me, her vulnerability stirred something in me I couldn’t quite name. Something I didn’t want to name.

By the time we reached the door, she was full-on shivering. I opened it and motioned her inside.

“I’ll grab you a towel,” I said, disappearing into the bathroom before she could protest.

When I returned, she was still standing at the door, rubbing her arms absentmindedly. Her dress clung to her frame, and for a split second, my eyes betrayed me, lingering on the curve of her hips before I forced them upward.

“Here,” I said, holding out the towel.

“Thanks.” Her fingers brushed against mine. The contact was nothing, really—skin on skin, a passing second—and yet, it seared itself into my brain like some kind of brand.

She wrapped the towel around her shoulders and clutched it tight. For a moment, neither of us said anything. The warmth of the cottage settled over us, and the silence wasn’t uncomfortable, exactly, but it was loaded.

I cleared my throat, stepping back to put some distance between us. “You should change into something dry before you catch a cold.”

“Yeah,” she said softly, hesitantly.

I turned toward the kitchen, giving her space. She needed to dry off, and I needed to stop whatever the hell this was. My job was to keep her safe, not… this. Not feeling her laugh echo in my chest or replaying the way her smile had transformed her face.

Get it together, Jareth.

Dragging a hand through my damp hair, I forced myself to focus. This wasn’t anything. It couldn’t be anything. The fact that she made me feel lighter, like I could breathe easier when she was around? That was irrelevant.

This was just a job. Nothing more.

Besides, The Shadow would likely have my head if he knew what I was thinking.

I leaned against the counter, arms crossed, trying to ignore my damp clothes clinging to my skin. The ocean spray hadn’t been cold enough to explain the chill running through me—no, that had more to do with the woman standing just a few feet away.

Her laughter from earlier played on a loop in my head, soft and musical and entirely unexpected.

The sound had burrowed under my skin, unsettling and addictive all at once.

I glanced her way as she stepped out of the bathroom.

She was wrapped in the towel, her wet hair plastered to her neck and shoulders.

She held her soaked dress in one hand, looking awkward and utterly out of place in my cottage.

“Those won’t dry anytime soon,” I said, pushing off the counter. “Wait here.”

I disappeared into my bedroom, then flipped through drawers with more care than usual. My fingers brushed over a hoodie I’d had for years—worn, comfortable, familiar. I grabbed a pair of shorts, too. They would be too big on her, but at least they were clean.

“Here,” I said, when I went back out. “These should fit you well enough.”

She scanned my face as if she were waiting for the catch. Eventually, she took the clothes. She didn’t thank me—of course not—but her posture relaxed slightly as she retreated back into the bathroom.

A minute later, she returned. My hoodie swallowed her, the hem brushing mid-thigh, the sleeves far too long for her frame. The shorts barely peeked out underneath. A faint smile tugged her lips.

“These smell like you,” she said absently. Then, her eyes widened, and her cheeks reddened. Clearly, she hadn’t meant to say that out loud. “Forget I said that.”

But I couldn’t forget it. The sight of her in my clothes did something to me. My instincts screamed to close the space between us, to press my lips to hers and see if her fire tasted as good as it looked. I forced myself to stay put, arms crossed, my body tense with restraint.

Eva cleared her throat. “It’s getting late. You should probably take me home.”

“Or you could stay here. It’s a long drive back, and you’re exhausted.”

Her eyebrow arched in suspicion. “And you’d just let me stay? No strings attached?”

“You can take my bed. I’ll sleep out here.”

Her skepticism deepened. “What’s the catch?”

“No catch,” I said, shrugging as if this wasn’t a bigger deal than I cared to admit. “Unless you count dealing with Grelth tomorrow. He’s not exactly a morning person.”

She snorted, but the sound lacked her usual sharpness. “I’ll think about it.”

We stood there, the air between us practically electric. She shifted awkwardly, holding her wet clothes like a shield. As she moved, a scrap of red silk slipped from the bundle and fell to the floor between us.

Her panties.

Time stretched unbearably as we stared at it. Eva’s eyes went wide, her cheeks flushing deep red. My gaze lingered a second too long before I forced myself to look away. Gods, why was my throat so dry?

She bent and snatched up her panties.

My lips parted, words caught somewhere between my chest and my tongue. But nothing came out. My pulse hammered in my ears. She was naked beneath my clothing.

“You should… get some rest,” I finally managed, my voice rough and uneven.

She nodded, clutching the bundle of clothes tighter. “Yeah. Good idea.”

She retreated to my bedroom and closed the door. The soft click of it sounded like a gunshot in the quiet. Exhaling sharply, I dragged a hand through my damp hair. My cougar was unsettled and disappointed at the distance between Eva and me.

She’s off-limits, I reminded myself. Just a job.

But as I stood there, heart racing and mind spinning, the lie was getting harder to believe.