Power. I used to hear that word a million times in my life. Power. I was growing up having it. I was simply granted it. But power always comes with a price. Sometimes, you buy someone. Sometimes, someone buys you. That's okay.

Until the time when the price just doesn't justify it.

I gave up that power. People thought that. My uncle thought that. General Mitchell, too. As well as that many other people I cut connections with.

Grayson Hall obviously thought that.

But I never gave a fucking shit about what people thought. I was the one who set up the rules, and I used to exercise my own version of power.

While these thoughts were naturally relevant, their course abruptly changed once I got to the SPA zone.

Ella stood there at the edge of the pool, leaning on her palms with her legs moving back and forth in the water. Of course, she would be there, why not? I brought her with me; there was no one to blame that she was now where I intended to be alone.

With rapid steps, I passed beside her and jumped into the pool. No sound or reaction followed. Once I surfaced, I turned instinctively to her.

She wiped her water-splattered face with her hand, then rested on her palm again. Her gaze wandered somewhere in space. A perfect moment for me to turn around and start swimming, enjoying the silence I didn't expect.

Instead, I looked intently at her. She was trying hard to avoid my gaze, but at one point, her eyes rested on mine. Nothing she said, neither did I. I was still mad with her, and she was probably not less angry with me.

That was the point where everything could have gone back to normal.

But I approached her. "Take my hand and close your eyes."

"Why would I do that?"

"Do you trust me?"

"Can I?"

"Don't answer my—"

"—question with a question. How could I forget the rules?"

"Do you trust me, Ella?"

"You know I do."

"Then close your eyes and give me your hand."

"I don't want to drown."

"I won't let you."

While Ella looked nervous, her eyes filled with anticipation as she clung to my hand.

However, the moment she dived into the water, she instantly wrapped her arms around my neck. "I can't, Axton. I can't."

I tried to ignore the small smile that played on my lips and repeated, "Close your eyes. Relax. And trust me." I lifted her into the water and let her float over the surface while supporting her back with my hands. "I hold you."

When we started moving, she seemed to overcome her fear; I loved how focused she could be.

"Now, let's get to the action. Are you ready?"

I guided her hands and legs with the right moves, and we headed to the other end of the pool. With each next stroke and kick, she grew more at ease, although soft moans flew into the space.

When we reached the center of the pool again, her movements suddenly got uncoordinated, and she ended up clinging to me, making me feel her unsteady heartbeat against my chest.

"I hold you. I hold you. Don't panic, love." Love? What the fuck? Why did this word split out that naturally when I promised not to call her that way?

But she didn't pay attention to that or just didn't betray her thoughts. Instead, she relaxed into my arms, obviously feeling secure again, and ran her hands through her wet hair, fixing it aback. "Axton." Her eyes met mine, and her soft voice made me feel that damn ease I felt with her so often despite all the shits. "There was no need to act like that in the morning. I can do the aftermath. Pretty aware I am that it was just sex. You made me feel... you just made me feel, and that was nice. But I don't expect anything from you." Her gaze moved down but quickly returned. "I just wanted to tell you that."

I didn't break our eye contact. What she said. She was not the problem. I was. She knew her place, yet I wanted to keep blaming her.

Because the arousal from the touch of her skin on mine hadn't gone away. And it was driving me crazy to think that I was losing control over the simple way of my life—never fuck the same woman twice. Once was enough for me to take all a woman could give. Only sometimes I would let someone like Kira have me multiple times in her mouth if she was good enough, but I had never fucked the same woman twice.

Now I wanted Ella again. And what was making me even more insane was that I didn't want only to fuck her. I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to hug her. I wanted to have her.

And I knew she wanted me, too, no matter how hard she tried to stay cold-blooded. The way her nipples shaped under her wet t-shirt said what she didn't say out loud. Her eyes were sparkling with desire. Her body shuddered every time I lightly moved my fingers over her flesh. Her heartbeat grew faster and faster; her breathing became deeper. At that moment, I knew that all she wanted was to feel again.

I tightened my grip around her waist and pressed her harder against me. A very soft moan escaped her mouth while her hands wrapped immediately around my neck. Her lips stood slightly apart, anticipating mine. I ran my thumb over them. I wanted to give her what she craved. I kissed her gently. Her taste spilled into my mouth. Gradually, my pace picked up. She violently responded to every play of my tongue.

I moved my kisses down. How damn good I felt her nails dig into my back after biting her erect nipples. Her back arched, and the water around us splashed.

We moved to one end of the pool just to support her back. I removed her clothes and my shorts and let them float over the water's surface.

She didn't need any time but encircled me with her legs and hurried to take me in her. Ragged gasps gave enjoyment to my ear when I pulled her hair back. She liked it soft-rough; she wanted me deep.

"Axton..."

I so damn liked to hear my name moaned from her lips.

"Yeah? You like it that way, right, love?" I thrust in her to my limit.

"Ax..." She was moving her pelvis in my rhythm, welcoming every push.

The more I fucked her, the more I didn't want to stop. But I felt her come closer. And I was close. I had to slow the pace. "Damn it, love! I don't want to finish yet."

"Don't... Axton, don't stop..." The muscles in her thighs tightened over my hips.

I stretched her hair again. Fuck, how much she liked that! "Say my name! Scream it again!"

"A... A... Ax! Harder..."

Damn it! How hot she was. "That way?" I asked. Her eyes went closed in ecstasy. "Look at me," I commanded. "Look at me while I fuck you."

She did. Yeah! The burning longing painted in her gaze.

I went harder. "You are driving me crazy, love!" And harder.

One last push. "Axton! Ax..."

She squirmed in my arms, letting all the pressure flow. And only a few moments after that, she was ready for more.

Ready I was to make her scream my name again and again.