Chapter 26

• "Do you think people cover themselves because they really believe that nudity is sinful, or because they are afraid of the world not accepting their true selves? Be proud of who you are. You don't have to hide your beauty, especially from me."
• The way he spoke, that gentle and soothing way, it would have made her heart flutter if coming from anyone but him, though that wasn't to say Helena didn't feel something when he spoke to her. He gently pulled on her arms, and as if forgetting why she had held them there in the first place, she dropped them and let herself be exposed, under the water at least. Xavier moved past her to the wall, then pushed off and began swimming across the pool in the backstroke. Helena kept her eyes shut, not wanting to find out whether or not "it" would float.
• "Come on, just standing there naked doesn't count as skinny-dipping. You're allowed to enjoy yourself, just like you were a minute ago."