Ashes of Us

Chapter Ten: The Edge of Temptation

Then, Tobi’s phone rang.

The sharp vibration against the wooden railing shattered the moment, breaking through the tension that had wrapped around us like an invisible thread.

I inhaled sharply, blinking as if waking from a trance.

Tobi exhaled slowly, his fingers sliding away from my wrist as he reached into his pocket. He didn’t step away, didn’t lower his voice.

“Talk to me,” he said, his tone still dark and measured.

The voice on the other end was fast, low, serious. I couldn’t make out the words, but I could feel the shift. The air around him darkened. His expression turned unreadable.

And then—he laughed.

It was deep, effortless. Like whatever was being said didn’t faze him in the slightest.

I frowned, stealing a glance at him. His fingers drummed idly against the railing. His eyes were still fixed on the ocean, his mouth twitching with mild amusement.

“Handle it,” he said simply, then ended the call.

Silence settled between us like a heavy fog.

Then—

“You’re not gonna ask?”

I turned fully toward him. “Ask what?”

Tobi smirked, tilting his head slightly. “What that was about.”

I hesitated.

I had questions—so many questions.

But something about the way he said it, like he was daring me to ask, made me bite my tongue.

Instead, I crossed my arms, trying to keep my cool. “Should I?”

His chuckle was slow, dark. “Smart girl.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re impossible.”

Tobi turned toward me then, closing the space between us. “And yet, you’re still here.”

I opened my mouth to argue—but nothing came out.

Because he was right.

I was still here.

Still staring at him.

Still drawn to whatever the hell he was.

Tobi studied me with amusement. Then, like it was the most natural thing in the world, he asked—

“You ever been on a boat?”

The question caught me off guard. I blinked, unsure if I heard him right. “What?”

Tobi smirked, nodding toward the dock beyond the terrace. A sleek, black speedboat rocked gently against the waves, its polished surface catching the faint glow of the moonlight.

I followed his gaze, lips parting slightly in surprise.

He wanted to take me out there? At this hour?

A whisper of doubt curled in my chest, but the way he looked at me—steady, expectant, like he already knew my answer—made it hard to say no.

I exhaled slowly, my heartbeat quickening. “Is this the part where I disappear, never to be seen again?”

Tobi chuckled low, rich, his voice sending a shiver down my spine. “Shuga, if I wanted to do something to you, I wouldn’t need a boat for it.”

My body tensed, but not from fear. From something else. Something I wasn’t ready to name.

Tobi leaned in slightly, his voice dropping. “So? You coming?”

I hesitated for only a second.

Then—I nodded.

Tobi’s smirk deepened. He reached for a set of keys from his pocket and gestured toward the dock. “Let’s go.”

I followed him down the wooden steps, the ocean breeze teasing my skin as we approached the boat. He stepped in first, offering his hand to help me inside.

I didn’t hesitate.

His fingers closed around mine—firm, steady—as he helped me into the boat. It swayed beneath us, the rhythmic lull of the waves vibrating through the space.

Tobi moved effortlessly, unhooking the ropes, starting the engine. The soft purr of the motor echoed in the air as he maneuvered the boat away from the shore.

I sat, my hands gripping the edge of my seat, the wind whipping around me, carrying the scent of salt and something undeniably wild.

Tobi glanced at me, one hand on the wheel. “You good?”

I nodded, though my heart was pounding in my chest. “Yeah.”

A slow, knowing smirk curved his lips. “Relax, Shuga. Just enjoy the ride.”

Easier said than done.

Because as we drifted farther from shore, with nothing but the dark ocean stretching around us, I felt it again.

That pull.

That dangerous, magnetic force tying me to him.

And for the first time, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to fight it.

Or let it consume me completely.

Chapter Eleven: Drowning in the Unknown

The wind tousled my hair as the boat sliced through the water, smooth and effortless. The scent of salt and the cool night breeze mixed with something richer—something undeniably him.

Tobi handled the speedboat like it was second nature, one hand on the wheel, the other resting lazily on his thigh. He looked at ease, like he belonged here. Like the ocean bent to his will the same way everything else seemed to.

I exhaled, trying to shake the unease curling in my stomach.

This was crazy.

Everything about tonight was reckless—being here, being with him.

And yet, I hadn’t said no.

Tobi glanced at me, the corner of his mouth twitching. "You’re thinking too much again."

I tore my gaze from the endless stretch of water. "And you’re enjoying this too much."

His smirk deepened. "Maybe."

The boat slowed slightly, the hum of the engine steady beneath us. The moonlight cast a silver sheen over the waves, making everything feel unreal—like we were suspended between two worlds, between danger and desire.

"You didn’t answer me earlier," I said suddenly.

Tobi raised a brow. "About what?"

I shifted, gripping the edge of the seat. "What do you do?"

His expression didn’t change.

For a moment, the only sound was the water lapping against the boat.

Then, slowly, he leaned in. Not touching me—but close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his skin.

"Why do you want to know?"

I swallowed. "Because I should."

Tobi studied me, his gaze sharp, assessing.

Then, he chuckled. "You ask too many questions, Shuga."

"And you never answer any."

He exhaled, shaking his head. "I handle things."

I frowned. "That’s not an answer."

"It’s the only one you need."

The words sent a shiver down my spine.

I should push, demand the truth. But something in his tone told me I wouldn’t like the answer.

Still, I held his gaze. "That sounds like something a criminal would say."

Tobi smirked. "And yet, here you are—alone on a boat with me in the middle of the ocean."

My breath hitched.

The way he said it, the quiet power in his voice—it was both a warning and a challenge.

I should be afraid.

But I wasn’t.

Because the truth was, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to escape this anymore.

If I even could.