3.

Arcade

The stillness of the night wraps around us as I get her out of the water. She's light in my arms, her body fitting against mine as if she were always meant to be here. The fact that she's naked makes everything a thousand times worse and I'm so close to just tossing her down and entering her in one, swift move.

Instead, I squeeze my jaw and set her down gently, our feet sinking into the soft mud at the water's edge. She looks up at me with wide, obscure eyes, her looks even more striking up close. And for the first time do I realize just how young she is, and that I must be more than a decade older. But I'm not going to let that stop me.

"Name's Arcade Theron," I rasp, my voice rough, betraying the emotions swirling inside me. I can't tear my gaze away from her, memorizing every little detail.

"Belle," she replies, her voice so frail it doesn't linger for long. Knowing her name sends a thrill through me, and I feel an overwhelming urge to keep her close, to protect her.

She shivers slightly in the cool night air, and I take off my shirt and wrap it around her. My hands linger as I adjust it, the warmth of her skin seeping through the fabric. "I don't want you to get cold," I grunt, my fingers brushing against her as I pull the shirt tight.

"I didn't shiver because I was cold," she whispers, looking up at me with a seductive smile that makes my heart leap. That smile—it's like lightning through the sky, and I know, in that moment, that I'm falling for her. Hard.

The chemistry between us is undeniable, a forceful pull that I know is going to drown me. I can't get enough of her, can't bear to let her go. My hands find their way to her hair, stroking the silky strands, and she leans into my touch, her eyes half-closed in contentment.

"Beauty," I growl, my voice barely more than a whisper, "you're coming home with me."

It's not a question and she knows it.

Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I'm afraid she'll try to fight what we have going on. But then she nods, a silent agreement that sends a surge of joy through me. My heart feels like it's about to burst out of my chest, the intensity of my feelings for her almost too much to bear.

I almost thank for her it, but stop myself and pull her close again. This connection that feels so right, so perfect. She fits against me as if she's already a part of me, and I know I'll do whatever it takes to keep her by my side.

Stroking her hair, I savor the softness under my fingers. She tilts her head back slightly, giving me that small smile again, and my heart swells with something potently fierce. I don't believe in love at first sight and yet there's no other explanation for this. This beautiful, innocent girl has captured my heart completely.

"Let's go," I rumble hoarsely, taking her hand in mine. She squeezes my hand, her trust evident in the gesture, and together we begin to walk away from the swamp, towards my cabin. Each step we take feels like a promise, a step towards a future I didn't know I wanted.

In the back of my mind, warning bells ring, telling me this is too good to be true. But I refuse to listen. I want her too much to let anything deter me.