Me: I need your help, but I need to trust you.

Mandi: I never betrayed you, Charlie. I never would.

“I swear to God, if I get bitten by anything, you better hope it kills me,” I threaten Mark for the tenth time. I can’t believe I let him talk me into this.

“I told you, sharks need to eat too.”

“It’s a wonder that you’ve been single this long.”

He smirks. “I was just waiting for you, princess.”

“Sure you were.”

It’s been a week, and Mandi and I have been communicating regularly. I hate keeping it from Mark, but we disagree, and I’d rather ask for forgiveness than permission.

However, he kept his promise, and I kept mine. That night in the vineyard was an anomaly. No more talk of making love, even though I do a shit job of not looking at him. I catch myself frequently, but for the most part . . . we’re back to Charlie and Mark—the hostile, sex-craved, sarcastic assholes who want to be on top of the world. It works better this way, even though I’m hopelessly in love with the jackass.

His eyes roll as he lays the surfboards down. “Whatever you say, Chartreuse.”

“That’s the worst one yet.”

“If you’d just tell me, I would stop having to guess. Unless your name really is Charlie?” I shake my head with a smile.

We spent some time with Aaron last night. It wasn’t as awkward as I thought it would be. He’s doing really well, and he actually had some information that might help me find Mazir. Seems I wasn’t the only one listening to everything.

“If I told you, I’d have to kill you.” I smile over my shoulder as I go to put my toes in the water. I really hate this. There’s not much I’m afraid of, but sea creatures are one. I hate not being able to see what’s beneath me. It’s a vulnerability that doesn’t sit well with me. I understand, considering the amount of time Mark’s spent in the water, how this feels like home to him. I, however, do not feel the same. The only reason I agreed to this is that he promised to take me back to DC soon. I’ve been gone long enough, and all this mushy stuff between us has me spooked.

My toes dip in the cold water and I suppress a shiver. There’s no way I’m going in. It’s ice cold, and as much as I don’t do the swimming thing, I sure as hell don’t do the cold. I head back toward the beach, but I’ve barely turned before strong arms wrap around my middle, lifting me off the ground. Oh, hell no! “Mark!” I scream as he hoists me over his shoulder. “No!”

“The best way to overcome your fears is to face them head first.”

“I’m not kidding! If you do this, I’ll smother you in your sleep!” I promise as I slap his back and flail my legs. “Don’t!”

“It’s really important to know your surroundings. Here, I thought you were a spy,” he chides. “You should never let your guard down, babe. You never know when a predator is around.” His taunting is not cute.

We’re now clearly in the water. Mark seems to be completely fine with the temperature. He acts like he’s forging into bathwater. Stupid man.

“I hope your balls shrink into your throat. Maybe then I won’t be able to find them to rip them off!” He spins me around as water splashes around me. I slap his ass, which causes him to do it again. “Goddammit, Mark! Put me down!”

Mark lets out a chuckle, but his forward motion doesn’t stop. “Be careful what you ask for,” he warns.

He keeps walking deeper into the ocean as if the loud slapping against his skin is a featherlight touch. I start punching. Maybe that will deter him. “Don’t do it!” I threaten.

Instead of heeding my warning, the son of a bitch drops into a sitting position, submerging us both.

We come up for air. I glare. He glares back. Then I lunge for him. “You asshole!”

He laughs and splashes me as I try to catch him. “Gotta catch me if you’re going to kill me.” This is truly his advantage. He plunges back into the water, which is when I know I’m truly in trouble. I start to move as fast as I can toward shore, but his hands wrap around my ankles. As he yanks back, I fall forward and go under.

When I come up, he’s laughing hysterically. He moves slowly as I stand with my arms crossed over my chest.

“I hate you!” I spew the words.

“You don’t.”

“I do.”

“Not believing you,” he says. He’s standing close enough that I have to tip my head back to see his eyes. “You’re so beautiful.”

I fight the smile that begins to form. “You’re in so much trouble.”

His arms wrap around me and bring me flush against him. “I knew you would back out. This was me vetting my opponent.”

“Dead.”

“I’ll take the risk.”

He dips his head and then his lips brush against mine. I breathe him in, trying to memorize this moment. As angry as I want to be, I’ve never had so much fun. Felt so carefree and . . . safe. He brings out the playful side of me but always seems to be watching what’s going on. Mark is so much more than what he lets people see.

I stand here in his arms with our lips barely touching. The sun is behind me, casting its beautiful glow on us both. Mark’s eyes are warm, his heart is large, and for some reason, he’s trying with me. I’m far from an easy person to love. I’m not warm and fuzzy or open and honest. I’m stubborn, manipulative, cunning, and ready to crush anyone who stands in my way, because I’ve had to be. This though, is petrifying. It’s allowing someone into a heart I didn’t know I had.

Neither of us speak. The motion of the waves shifts us closer together. His lips press harder, and my arms wrap around his neck. Time drifts by us, just like the tide. I’m no longer cold, angry, or even upset. He warms me from the inside. I allow my fears to follow the current out into the great unknown. I have no more control over my heart than I do of the moon.

Mark’s lips touch the tip of my nose. “What have you done to me?”

I search his eyes. “I could ask you the same thing. You make me feel like I’m drifting.”

“I’ll keep you secure. I won’t let you float away.” Mark spins me so my back is to his chest. “See that out there?” he asks. I stare at nothing.

“See what?”

His arms wrap around me while he rests his chin on my shoulder. “It’s a clean slate. There’re no rules right here. We’re not defined by our jobs. It’s just us, open. You’re anyone you want to be.”

I recline into his embrace. “Sounds like we’re going on a mission.”

“The only mission is us.”

“And what are the risks?”

“That you’ll fall in love with me.”

“Is that so?”

I laugh as his arms tighten. “Yeah, I’d say the chances are high.”

I peer at him from the side. “I’m not so sure.”

“I never fail.”

Mark tilts down, pressing his lips to mine before I can retort. The kiss is short, but poignant. I feel it deep into my bones. He’s right. I’m doomed. I’ve already fallen in love with him, and that shouldn’t have happened. I won’t stand idly by and have something catastrophic happen. He’ll get shot this time, or worse. I’ll have to avenge the death of another person I love. I’ll lose the two men I’ve loved in my life, and realize all too late that I’m the black cloud.