“What?” I asked, already smiling.
Without warning, he scooped me up into his arms, spinning us in a circle as I shrieked with laughter.
“Will!” I cried, clinging to his shoulders.
“You’re too serious sometimes, Bradford,” he teased, his grin widening.
He finally set me down, but before I could catch my breath, his hands slid to my waist, pulling me closer. His lips found mine in a kiss so soft and deliberate, it made my knees weak.
When he pulled back, his gaze locked on mine, and his voice dropped to a low murmur. “I’ve had a crush on you since the moment I saw you at the gate.”
His words stole the air from my lungs. “Me too,” I admitted softly, my cheeks warming. “I just didn’t know what to do about it.”
He smiled, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “I’m glad we figured it out.”
“So am I,” I whispered, leaning in to kiss him again, the waves crashing gently behind us.
We stopped by the market on the way back to my house, picking out fresh ingredients for dinner. Will carried the basket, tossing in items he thought would go well with the chicken I’d suggested.
“You’re taking this very seriously,” I said, watching as he inspected a bundle of herbs.
“I’m a perfectionist when it comes to cooking,” he said. “You’ll see.”
Back at my house, we worked side by side in the kitchen. The air filled with the scent of garlic and rosemary as the chicken roasted in the oven. Will poured two glasses of wine, handing one to me before leaning against the counter.
“This feels good,” he said, his voice soft.
“Cooking?”
“Being here. With you. Like this.”
I met his gaze, my chest tightening at the sincerity in his expression. “It does,” I said, my voice barely audible.
Dinner was simple but delicious, and by the time we’d finished eating, I felt relaxed and at ease.
“Let’s take a bath,” Will said as we carried the dishes to the sink.
I raised an eyebrow. “A bath?”
“Trust me,” he said, his tone low and suggestive. Then came his signature wink. On any other guy it would have made me cringe.
The tub in my bathroom was big enough for two, the warm water swirling around us as we leaned back against the cool porcelain.
Will reached for me, his hands tracing slow, deliberate paths down my arms and along my sides. I leaned into his touch, my breath hitching as he kissed the curve of my shoulder.
Things heated quickly from there. The water sloshed against the sides of the tub as we moved together, our laughter mingling with gasps of pleasure. When we couldn’t contain ourselves any longer, we shifted out of the tub, the cool tile of the floor a sharp contrast to the warmth between us.
A towel became our makeshift bed as Will hovered over me, his lips finding mine in a kiss that felt endless. His hands explored every inch of my skin, his touch both urgent and tender.
When he finally entered me, it was slow, deliberate, as if he wanted to savor every moment. We moved together, our rhythm building until we were both lost in the intensity of it.
Afterward, as we lay on the floor of my bathroom, the towel beneath us forgotten, I traced my fingers along his jawline. His breathing was still uneven, his body relaxed in a way that mirrored my own.
“You’re dangerous,” I teased, my voice soft.
“Why’s that?” he asked, a lazy smile playing on his lips.
“Because you make me feel things I’m not sure I’m ready to feel,” I admitted.
