“That would never happen. I told you before. I want you, Luca. You’re not what you think you are.” I glanced over at our group who made their way over to us.
He rubbed the back of his neck as his baby blues darted away from me. “Let’s hope you’re right.”
“Alright, let’s start looking at sea life!” Evelyn handed us our tickets.
We started down the designated path to more exhibits after showing our tickets to an employee. There was a lot of diverse and colorful sea life on display. Despite the enchantment of the creatures, my heart sank as I watched them swim around in captivity.
The aquarium exhibits were interesting and educational. They had penguins, fish, starfish, seahorses, and more. What interested me most was the sharks, which happened to be the last exhibit we came to.
The beautiful machines of nature had an alluring way of moving among the brine. Other sea life gave way to them. The shark owned the ecosystem by controlling other large predators. They had both purpose and steady confidence. It was fascinating to watch them.
“Sharks freak me out.” Jamie shivered and John wrapped an around her.
“I have a fear of them but knowing they are behind the glass and can’t eat me makes me feel better.” Evelyn pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose as she stared at them.
Faith leaned into Asher’s chest as he pointed to a hammerhead shark that swam past. He was whispering into her ear, and she was giggling.
“Two days, love birds!” I sang out to them.
Faith’s pearly white smile widened. “I can’t believe it’s finally happening!”
Evelyn laughed. “I can. You two are made for each other. Always have been!”
“Damn straight.” Asher kissed the back of Faith’s head.
Luca bumped my shoulder against his. “You hungry?”
“I’m starving!” My stomach growled, confirming my statement. Our friends laughed around us.
“It’s time for us to head back anyway.” Asher checked his watch. “Dinner’s in an hour.”
Luca gave me a lopsided grin. “I don’t know if Mags can wait that long.”
I rolled my eyes and grumbled. But he had a point, my stomach was eating itself. The attention Luca was showing gave me butterflies. It was as if he was finally letting his walls down for me, but I didn’t want to push it. I had to wait for him to make a move. I couldn’t run him off again.
Day Four
8 PM - 9 PM - After Dinner
My feet sunk into the primrose sand, the steady warmth from the grains absorbed through the soles. The stars shimmered across the night sky. I inhaled the salty air, entranced by the sound of waves. With the moon, the shore was tinted sepia, the sand more orange, and the water dark. My stomach was full of the juicy steak and baked potato I had at dinner. The meal paired perfectly with the copious amount of red wine I helped myself to.
I swayed back and forth as the ocean breeze tousled my hair. I turned my head and saw Luca’s muscular physique strolling my way.
“Thought I’d find you out here.” His hair was pushed back. The black strands had grown out in the four days we had been here, and he wore it well.
I outstretched my arms and stumbled into a spin, my feet stepping into the lapping of the waves. “Why wouldn’t I be? We only have three more days to take advantage of this beautiful island before we go back to Violet Ridge.”
His arms shot out to catch me before I fell into the water, enclosing me in his warmth. I wrapped my arms around his waist and nuzzled my face into his chest. He smelled like a perfect combination of seaweed and timber. A mixture of home with the exciting new location we were at. “Careful, Mags.”
A bubble of laughter came out as I stared up at him. The moonlight bathed us in soft blue light. His once smooth jaw had a perfect stubble appearing. I was tired of waiting, and my hand reached up to let my fingers skim against the stiffness of the facial hair. Being in his arms was a little touch of heaven.
The swirls of emotion I saw in his blue eyes made me gasp. Desire, vulnerability, and… something else. But before I could consider it further, his hands rested on each side of my face as he covered my mouth with his in a ravenous kiss. As our lips moved together, sparks flew for the first time. The kiss obliterated every thought. It was perfect, the way his lips connected with mine. His mouth was warm, the caress of his lips softer than any of our previous kisses. I opened my mouth with a low moan, allowing his tongue to slip inside.
A kiss like that was just the beginning, a promise of more to come. He pulled away, and my fingers trembled as I held them against my lips. “Does this mean you’re…”
“Willing to give us a try? I think so. But, fuck, Mags. I’m scared.” His breathing ragged as he pressed his lips into a slight frown.
“It’s okay to be scared.” I touched my nose to his. “I’m not going anywhere.”
