I inhaled, listening to the calming cadence of his voice, and let the water surround me.
Once I regained my composure—and honestly, the water wasn’t that bad—I conjured up a wicked little plan.
I stayed still, pretending to shiver just a second longer, then lunged forward in an attempt to tackle him. But Logan didn’tbudge. Solid as ever, he caught me easily, those strong arms locking around me like I was weightless.
“Not so fast,” he said, a grin tugging at his lips as he spun me, fast and dizzying.
Water splashed around us in glittering arcs, and my laughter echoed across the surf. My head tilted back, the world blurring as I lost myself in the moment, arms tightening around his neck.
When I lifted my head again, our faces were so close I could feel the warmth of his breath on my skin.
The spinning slowed, his steps easing into stillness.
And then everything stopped.
The laughter faded. The sounds of the beach dissolved. Time, for a beat, ceased to exist.
All I could see was him.
Logan’s gaze dropped to my lips, and I watched—completely helpless—as his tongue darted out to wet his bottom lip. My heart slammed against my ribs, and my mouth parted slightly as the space between us disappeared inch by inch.
My chest rose and fell in rapid waves, breath caught somewhere between panic and yearning.
It felt cinematic. Surreal. Like I’d stumbled into the kind of moment that only happens once, and only ever in love stories.
I moved my hands to his face, cupping his jaw, my fingers curling along his cheeks. I stared into his eyes, and he didn’t look away.
He didn’t flinch.
His expression darkened with intensity, gaze sharpening as he leaned in, just enough for our lips to almost touch.
I closed my eyes and couldn’t hold myself back any longer.
I kissed him like I meant it, like I’d been waiting forever to.
My lips met his in a slow, deliberate crash of need. His arms pulled me in tighter, molding our bodies together as if he’d been starving for this too.
There was no hesitation. No pause. Just fire.
I kissed him deeper, tasting the salt of his skin, the heat of his mouth. His lips parted, and I seized the moment, diving in like I was afraid to ever come up for air.
It was controlled chaos—intentional and consuming.
Every suppressed feeling, every unspoken word, poured into that kiss.
I wrapped my legs around his waist without thinking, and he responded instantly, hands sliding to my ass as he held me up.
The ocean rocked around us, waves curling at our sides, but the only thing anchoring me was him.
My fingers threaded through his messy blond curls, tugging, tying myself to the only thing I could feel.
Logan kissed like he meant to rewrite everything I thought I knew about want. About need. About him.
And I let him.
I let himcompletely.
I didn’t fully come back to myself until we both naturally pulled away, breathless, lips swollen, and hearts pounding.
