Page 96 of Queen’s Gambit

E: Well, this person you’re looking for sounds unrealistically perfect. Are you sure he’s not a figment of your imagination?

Y: Oh, he’s real alright, and I’m more than sure of it.

E: Look up.

Confused, I lifted my head and was about to turn in a circle again when I spotted him.

Eddie stood outside the restaurant on the patio that led to the ocean. He was wearing a short-sleeved linen shirt that was blowing in the warm breeze, khaki pants, and black sunglasses to block the bright sun. He had the top four buttons open, and the tattoos on his chest and arms were on full display. My heart stopped and restarted again.

“Are you okay,” Frida asked.

All I could do was nod. I didn’t dare take my eyes off Eddie for fear that he was nothing more than a mirage and would disappear. Frida followed my gaze and let out an excited giggle but quickly covered it and tried to act nonchalant.

“Go to him. I’ll text you your room number,” she whispered.

“Vlad?”

“Yes, Ms. Mikhailov?”

“I want you and Mylo to escort the rest of my guests to their rooms once they are checked in.”

“What about you? Will you be alright?”

“I’ll be alright.”

Vlad didn’t move until I glanced over at him.

“I promise.”

“Okay,” he said, seemingly satisfied.

I weaved through the busy restaurant and watched as Eddie smirked before casually walking away. I felt like a stalker as I focused on his shirt while he moved effortlessly through the crowd of people by the pool and then out onto the beach. He looked back at me, and even though I couldn’t see his eyes, there was no doubt in my mind that they held the same mischievous glint as the first night we’d met and played tag. It was so long ago, but it felt like yesterday. Every moment we’d spent together played like a movie on repeat in my mind.

He strolled along the shoreline, hands in his pockets, and I didn’t see any of the beauty surrounding us. All that mattered was him. My blood was singing and we hadn’t even touched yet.

I kept my distance so it would seem that I was just out enjoying the day like so many others.

Eddie veered off the sandy beach and up a path to a private villa that looked like a replica of the hotel. He opened the sliding glass door, and the white sheers flowed outside like they were summoning me to him. I glanced around, my paranoia heightened, but I didn’t see anything or anyone out of place, so I followed.

In comparison to the bright sunshine, the room looked like nothing more than a dark hole. But Eddie was in there somewhere, so I marched through the door, not caring if I could see where I was going. I squealed as an arm wrapped around my waist and picked me up off the ground.

With a quick spin, Eddie pressed me against the wall from behind. I moaned when he gripped my hands over my head and kissed the side of my neck. The heat from his hard, muscled body had me melting on the spot.

“God, Ana, I’ve missed you,” Eddie growled, and I smiled.

“I’ve missed you more.”

Eddie chuckled, the gravelly sound traveling through me and making my eyes flutter closed.

“Impossible,” he said.

He released my hands, allowing me to turn in his arms. And just like every other time our eyes met, I fell in love with him all over again. It seemed truly impossible to love someone this much, but half of me was missing when we weren’t together.

There was no hesitation when I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him hard. Our lips moved in sync as Eddie groaned into my mouth, and his body trapped me against the wall once more.

I was frantic. My skin was on fire, and my hands were desperate as I pulled on the remaining buttons of his shirt.

“Fuck, you’re driving me insane,” he said as our lips parted, only long enough for him to kiss my neck again. Threading my fingers in his hair I held him in place as a wildness consumed me.