Read On Dry Land (Swimming Upstream #3) for Free Online

say, Tyler? Do you want to hear that I was terrified? That I’m surprised I didn’t literally shit my pants? That one minute I almost lost everything, including my life? Do you want to hear that all day I’ve been in a shitty mood because I’m so damn tired all the time that I can barely stand people, let alone stand myself? So tell me, Tyler, what the fuck do you want me to say?”
    It was a face off. Ava stood in the lounge room, hands on her hips, panting steadily while Tyler blew out a frustrated breath, his hands on his head.
    “Fuck, Ava! I don’t want you to say anything but the truth. Do you know what it was like to get that call this afternoon? To know that because I’m a stubborn shit that I hadn’t spoken to you in days because I was pissed off at you…”
    “I deserved it.”
    “Shit no! That’s the thing. You didn’t. Just ’cause I think something should be the way I want it, doesn’t mean I’m right.”
    A giggle escaped Ava’s lips. She never thought she’d see the day when a guy, Tyler nonetheless, admit they’d been wrong. Surely that was a myth. A rarity. Like spotting Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster, always talked about but in reality it just didn’t happen.
    “Stop laughing!”
    “But you said you were wrong,” Ava barely got out before she snorted, sending her into another fit of hysterical laughter.
    “Did you just snort?”
    “No!”
    “Ava?”
    “Just shut up and kiss me. Please?”
    Tyler didn’t need to be asked twice. In three strides he was dominating her space. As Ava licked her lips, Tyler’s fingers sunk into Ava’s hips and he yanked her towards him. Taking a breath, Tyler crushed his lips against Ava’s until they were both breathless.
    Rolling over, Ava rubbed her eyes roughly before stealing a glance at the clock. It was almost midnight. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep and she rarely crashed that heavily, but for some reason being wrapped in Tyler’s arms, cocooned by his warmth, made Ava sleepy. Wriggling out from under Tyler’s heavy arm, Ava scooted into the bathroom and took care of business and threw on her robe. Moments later she padded back into the bedroom and crawled into the chair in the corner of the room. Tucking her knees against her chest, Ava wrapped her arms around her legs and watched Tyler sleep. She was trying to play it cool, calm, and collected, but the sight of the beautiful man lying spread-eagled on her bed with the pink flannel sheets draped low on his hips made her mouth water. His hair was mussed, and knowing that it was her own fingers responsible made her grin stupidly.
    Ava didn’t know how long she sat there watching the steady rise and fall of his broad, hairless chest, but she didn’t look away. She couldn’t. Too mesmerized by his body, Ava didn’t even notice when his eyes fluttered open.
    “See something you like?”
    His voice was thick with sleep but it wrapped around Ava’s heart and owned it completely. She held the words themselves inside. A feat that proved to be harder than she could have ever envisaged.
    “Maybe.”
    “Well then, why don’t you crawl back in here and keep me warm?”
    Ava giggled as she pushed the hair back from her forehead. Standing up, Ava yanked the hem of her robe down as far as it would go. There wasn’t much give in the cotton. It fell mid-thigh, and even though she didn’t want to be, Ava was overcome with humiliation. It was a peculiar feeling she couldn’t quite wrap her heads around. Tyler had seen her in far less than a thin robe, but for some reason she was frozen where she stood with embarrassment.
    “Ava?” Tyler voice trembled as he pushed himself up on his elbows.
    “Yeah?”
    He sighed heavily before sitting up. The covers left nothing to the imagination. Every bare inch of exposed, tanned skin sent Ava’s pulse sky rocketing. Tyler remained silent but reached out his hand and when Ava’s fingers touched Tyler’s outstretched palm, he wrenched her into his lap.