Read Desire (#5) for Free Online

streaked down my cheeks. I knew it had been too good to be true. I curled up on the floor my arms wrapped around my stomach, and closed my eyes tight, trying to picture Benjamin’s face.
    I dozed off. I’m not sure for how long, but I was woken by splashing and Benjamin calling my name.
    I blinked. Benjamin was staggering towards me, his lips blue with cold. Water streamed off his body, and his wet hair hung across his eyes.
    “Kate.” He rushed forward and bundled me in his arms, covering my face with kisses. “Kate, talk to me. Are you okay?”
    I reached out and touched his face. “Are you real?” I asked.
    He laughed. “Listen to me, angel. We have to get out of here.” He grasped my hand. “There’s only one way out of this cave, and it won’t be easy.”
    He pulled me along the passage way back down towards the darkness.
    “I don’t want to go back in the dark.”
    “I know, baby. But it’s the only way.”
    He put an arm around me holding me close to his body and helped me stay upright as we staggered along.
    He put his hand on my head as we ducked back inside the crystal cave. In the centre of the sand, he stopped and looked down at me, clasping my head in his hands, tilting my face to his.
    “We need to swim back to shore, Kate.”
    “Swim?” My jaw dropped. I couldn’t do that. It was too cold.
    “I need you to trust me, Kate. Can you do that?” he asked, starting to strip me of my heavy wool coat.
    Without waiting for me to answer, he pressed his lips onto mine. “I love you, and I’m going to keep you safe. Please trust me.”
    I nodded. “I do.”
    He thrust a hand through his wet hair, and I realised he had to swim inside the cave to get to me. He’d managed it once. It must be okay.
    “I used to do this all the time when I was a kid. So you can do this. Just hold your breath until we surface and don’t let go of me, whatever happens. It will be pitch black in the water. We have to swim underneath the rocks.”
    “Okay,” I said. “I can do it.”
    “Good girl. Ready?”
    I nodded, and we waded into the freezing cold water. I whimpered.
    He turned his gaze on me, those dark brown eyes full of hard determination.
    “You can do this, Kate. I know you can. Take a deep breath,” he ordered.
    I sucked in a breath, and we dived under water. Benjamin kept one hand locked on my arm and used the other to propel us along.
    Within seconds, we were in total darkness. I could feel the panic fluttering in my chest. I couldn’t see Benjamin. I didn’t know if we were even getting anywhere. Soon the panic turned to a burning sensation as my lungs began to scream for oxygen.
    I felt my limbs grow heavy as the chill penetrated my muscles, then suddenly I saw light. I kicked my legs furiously, desperate to get to the surface.
    The sensation of air against my skin as we emerged was one of the sweetest sensations I had ever felt. I reached out for Benjamin, my eyes stung from the salt water and my tears.
    His arms encircled me, and he whispered. “You’re safe now, Kate. I’m never going to let anything happen to you.”
    As we got close to the shore, I noticed for the first time that people were gathered there. Carter the butler waded in up to his knees in the surf and wrapped a towel around my shoulders. I may have been mistaken, but I think there were tears in his eyes.
    Mrs. Wicker stood on the beach, with her hand clamped to her mouth. And next to her was my sister.
    “Tina!” I surged forward, forgetting my water-drenched clothes were heavy and that my muscles were too cold to respond properly.
    I staggered a little, and Benjamin caught me with one strong arm around my waist.
    “Tina, I thought he’d hurt you…”
    Tina rushed forward and enveloped me in a tight hug. She was saying something, but I couldn’t make out her words through her tears.
    “Come on,” said Mrs. Wicker, the voice of reason. “Let’s get everyone inside and warm.”

6

    IT TOOK A WHILE for the sedatives to