A glowing sun peaked above the horizon and stirred me awake. It extended its vivid light across our naked and entwined bodies. Rough waves roared and rolled down, crashing onto the shore with a soft hiss as it peeled away at the bronze sand. The fatigue from last night seeped out of me as my heart thumped hard against my ribcage.
My joints ached. The morning light was a soothing lavender and sparkling amber that bathed over Mags’ body. She was curled into me, her head laid on my chest. “Fuck, Mags. Wake up.” I shook her shoulders.
She used my chest to push up and sit on the edge of the chair. Her hair was wild, and her green eyes wide as she glanced around the beach, her gaze stopping at me. “Did we really fall asleep out here?”
I was just as surprised as she was. Those fucking lounge chairs were uncomfortable to sleep on; my back killed me.
I chuckled. “Looks like it. I don’t see anyone right now, but we might want to put our clothes on.”
Her cheeks were flushed as she nodded. She reached over to grab her dress when something moved underneath it, the dress moving with it.
She yelped. “Luca! Get it!” She jumped up and pointed to it.
The sleep in my eyes cracked as I laughed. I got up and slipped on my shorts before grabbing her dress and yanking it away.
Underneath the dress was a crab with huge coffee-brown pincers. He had darker legs and eye-stalks, his shell a mottle of the two shades. He scuttled sideways, making a few feet of distance between us before he clawed at the sand. In a few seconds, he was buried, lost under the swirling grains.
Mags’ mouth hung open. “Oh my gosh. Thank goodness we were off the sand!”
I handed her the dress, and she pulled it over her perfect, toned body. The memories from last night invaded my mind, and I groaned, tilting my head back. “Last night was unexpected.”
She dusted as much of the sand off the dress as she could before giving me a teasing smile. “This is the first time you’ve stuck around after.”
Thick gray clouds rolled in over the sky. The sea was no longer dark like last night, but it wasn’t that tropical shade of blue either. It looked metallic, glistening as the occasional ray of morning light pierced through the clouds.
“I’m sorry, Mags. I’m not walking away this time.” I used my thumb to brush the sand off her cheek before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
“I trust you. Don’t you dare make me regret it.” A drop of crystal-clear water appeared on her nose, and I smiled.
“You won’t.” I bent down and picked up our underwear and my shirt. “Let’s head back to the resort.”
All at once, the drops came, steady and soft, falling from a sky of gray velvet. We locked hands and started running across the gentle roll of the sand dunes. Her smile was bright and filled with a joyous sense of happiness as we ran through the rain.
It fell in crazy, chaotic drops and the wind gusted around us in a wild vortex one moment and a diagonal sheet in the next. The warmth of the summer shower drenched us completely. We finally reached the resort, and the staff gave us amused looks as we made our way to our rooms.
We stood in the hallway outside our rooms and stared holes into each other.
She bit her bottom lip. “Do you want to come in and take a shower with me?”
“Hell yes I do.” I grinned as she opened the door.
“I need help getting sand out of places sand should never be.” She shivered as we walked into the air-conditioned room.
“I am more than happy to help you with that, babe.” I winked, gazing out the huge window as the rain gave itself to the ocean. Each droplet became a part of the body of brine. I wondered if that’s what I was doing, giving myself completely to Mags. Was I even capable? I wasn’t sure, but if she had faith in us, I would too.
Day Five
7 AM - 9 AM - Breakfast and Meeting
“Good morning!” I offered the group a big ass smile as Luca and I walked in hand-in-hand over to the table in the cafeteria. We were late, of course, due to the much-needed shower. And because we had gotten distracted. But that was no fault of mine. I mean, Luca was a sex-god. What was I supposed to do? Not have shower sex?
Faith’s eyes widened as she zeroed in on our interlocked hands.
Evelyn gasped. “No fucking way!”
Asher grinned and winked at Luca. “Finally.”
Jamie and John shared a smile as I sat down. Luca went to get our plates, and my friends started grilling me.
