I scream with surprise and excitement, gripping my hands on his thighs. The wind whips through my hair, sea spraysplashes my face, and I laugh uncontrollably. Nero handles the jet ski with skill, carving tight turns and jumping waves—pulling nervous, thrilled screams and laughter from me.
After a while, he slows down and guides us to a calmer area, where the sea is gentle and the view breathtaking. We cut the engine, letting the jet ski drift smoothly over the crystal-clear water toward a small beach.
“What did you think?” he asks with a smile, hopping off the jet ski and bringing his hands to my life jacket, unfastening it. He takes his time—longer than necessary—subtly touching me in the process, never breaking eye contact.
“Incredible,” I admit, still breathless from the adrenaline. “Thank you for steering, Captain.” I tease, giving a sloppy salute.
“Always at your service, madam.” Nero smiles, kisses my cheek, and helps me down.
“What’s that?” I ask, noticing the small bag he pulls from the compartment under the seat, with two tubes sticking out of it.
“Do you know how to swim?”
“I live in Khione, Nero,” I reply dryly. “We learn to swim before we learn to walk.”
“I also live in Khione—but I only learned how to swim at sixteen.”
I gasp at the confession, and the image of the boy Nero I knew at the orphanage rushes back with force, setting off everyprotective, affectionate instinct inside me. I throw myself into his arms and hug him tight, whispering,
“Thank you for caring and not assuming basic things—and I’m sorry for not doing the same. I—”
He cuts my guilt short by claiming my mouth with more urgency than I expected, crushing my lips against his.
The invisible spark snaps between us instantly. I melt in his arms, lifting my hands to his neck to get closer—even though there’s barely any space between us beyond our mingling breaths.
Nero frames my face gently, and the kiss changes—still deep and urgent, but softer, slower—exploring texture and taste in this moment frozen in time, where only salt and sun witness the inexplicable connection forming between us.
Our lips move together in a rhythm that feels both familiar and entirely new, communicating desires and emotions beyond words.
My hands trace Nero’s face, skimming his cheeks and caressing the back of his neck, feeling the smooth warmth of his skin beneath my fingers.
He tightens his arms around my waist, pulling me closer, while his other hand slides through my hair, spreading the kiss along my jaw and sucking hard. Our bodies press together as if we’re trying to merge into one. The heat between us is almost tangible, and the urgency of the kiss intensifies—fed by the growing desire consuming us.
A scream bursts from my throat—completely mismatched with the moment—and Nero startles.
“I think a snake just brushed my leg,” I say, alarmed.
“Saved by a snake,” he inhales deeply, glancing down at his erection. “Maybe not so saved after all.”
He hands me the snorkel mask and helps me put on the fins. When he stands, he gives me nothing but a chaste peck on the lips and says seriously,
“Maybe three lifetimes won’t be enough,Little Fae.”
I press my lips together, trying not to laugh—and fail spectacularly.
“Come on.” He kisses me again, as if he can’t help himself, and dives in without letting go of my hand.
Schools of vibrant fish swim around us as we observe the corals and tiny creatures clinging to them. The cool, translucent water envelops us, and Nero pulls me closer, our bodies nearly touching.
As we dive deeper, on impulse, Nero kisses me underwater. I feel the pressure of his lips on mine.
The intensity makes us momentarily forget the need to breathe until he gently guides us back to the surface. With our lips still touching, we inhale deeply—never breaking contact.
Nero helps me stay afloat, and I wrap my legs around his waist, bringing our bodies even closer. My hips brush subtly against his, and desire blooms inside me—heightened by thecold water surrounding us and the heat radiating from his skin, creating a uniquely intoxicating sensation.
He holds me firmly, letting me lose myself in the moment and surrender to everything we’re feeling together. Our kisses deepen again, more demanding, our hands exploring each other, discovering new ways to provoke and ignite.
When I feel myself on the verge of doing something truly reckless, I break away, laughing at the expression on his face as I swim off just a few strokes. He chases me.
