Page 134 of His Ruthless Match

We sat side by side on the cool stone. I closed my eyes, listening to the water and the rustling of trees. Peace settled over me, and I inhaled deeply.

“I was thinking about Cerulean Innovations. It’s so new, so secretive. Do you really think it could be tied to Genevieve? It’s the first real lead we have, and I’m trying real hard not to get my hopes up.”

Jareth tilted his head to the side. “It could be,” he said after a moment. “I have my guys on it. But right now? I don’t want to think about any of that.”

A small smile tugged at my lips, and I nodded. “Fair enough.”

His hand brushed lightly against mine before curling around it. The warmth of his touch sent a spark up my arm. I glanced at him, but he wasn’t looking at me. His eyes were on the water, his expression calm, though there was a tension in his jaw that made my stomach flip.

“Eva,” he said softly, his voice weighted. “I need to tell you something.”

My heart stilled at the seriousness in his tone. “What is it?” I asked, barely able to hear myself over the pounding of my heart.

He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say a word, a raindrop landed on my hand. I looked up just as anotherdrop hit the rock beside us. Within seconds, the sky opened up, rain pouring down in a sudden, relentless deluge.

“Shit,” Jareth muttered, jumping up and pulling me to my feet.

I laughed despite myself. “So much for the perfect moment.”

His grin was lopsided, almost boyish, as he tugged me toward the trees. “Come on. Let’s not get soaked.”

We ran through the forest, dodging puddles and slipping on wet leaves. Laughter spilled from my lips. By the time we made it back to the path, we were drenched, our clothes clinging to us and water dripping from our hair.

But I didn’t care. In that moment, with Jareth beside me and the rain washing everything else away, I felt lighter than I had in weeks. Whatever he’d wanted to tell me could wait. Right now, this connection, this joy, was more than enough.

Jareth and I ran side by side, the slick forest floor forcing me to watch my every step.

“This is ridiculous,” I shouted over the cacophony of the rain. My voice was a mix of exasperation and laughter as I slipped slightly, catching myself just in time to avoid a full fall.

Jareth glanced over his shoulder, his grin flashing through the gloom like a beam of light. His dark hair was plastered to his head, water running in rivulets down his jawline, but he looked completely unfazed. If anything, he seemed to be enjoying himself.

“Keep up, Delgado,” he called, his voice carrying easily over the rain.

“I can’t see a damn thing,” I yelled back, laughing all the time. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt so unencumbered by stress, responsibilities, or the crushing weight of everything going on in my life. For this fleeting moment, it was just the storm, the woods, and Jareth’s contagious energy.

When we finally reached the cottage, we were soaked to the bone. Water pooled on the wooden floor as we stepped inside, and I shivered as the cold seeped into my skin. My hair hung in wet strands around my face, and every step I took squished loudly thanks to my soggy socks.

“Well,” I managed between breaths, brushing my hair back from my eyes. “That was fun.”

Jareth, already shrugging off his soaked jacket, raised an eyebrow. “Fun? You’ve been complaining since the first raindrop.”

“I’m capable of multitasking, you know. Complaining and having fun at the same time is a skill many people lack.”

He shook his head, chuckling as he began unbuttoning his shirt. The soaked fabric clung to his frame, and when he finally peeled it off, it revealed the broad planes of his chest. His skin gleamed under the warm light of the cottage, droplets of water trailing down the hard lines of muscle. I stared a beat too long before snapping my gaze away and swallowing hard.

“You hate the rain, huh?” he asked, amusement lacing his words.

“Despise it,” I muttered as I peeled off my sweatshirt. The damp fabric stuck stubbornly to me, and when I finally got it off, it landed on the back of a chair with a wet thud. I pulled my tank top over my head, leaving me in just my bra and leggings. My skin prickled in the cool air, and I couldn’t stop myself from glancing at Jareth.

His gaze lingered on me, and the air between us grew heavier with each passing second. His golden-brown eyes darkened, and the intensity of his stare sent a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold.

“You’re freezing,” he said as he stepped closer. His hands skimmed my arms lightly, his touch warm and steady against my chilled skin.

“I’m fine,” I whispered, but my voice trembled, betraying me.

He leaned in, his forehead brushing gently against mine. His breath was warm against my skin, and the storm outside seemed to fade into the background. His hands slid down to my elbows, his touch steadying me as my knees threatened to buckle.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmured, the rawness in his voice making my heart twist painfully.