Chapter 26. Beach Sex

Rae:

The sun dips beneath the ocean like it’s hiding a secret, bleeding pink and orange across the sky before the stars begin to claim the night.

I step away from the villa, bare feet brushing warm sand, drawn by the hush of the waves. The laughter from earlier is fading behind me. Just the sound of the sea and the soft whisper of wind remain.

And then I hear him.

Quiet steps behind me.

“You weren’t going to leave without me, were you?” S’s voice is low, warm—like the night itself.

I turn. He’s shirtless again, just a light hoodie hanging loose on his shoulders, hands in his pockets, like he belongs to the night. His eyes find mine. And stay there.

“I thought you were tired,” I say.

“I was.” He walks closer. “But then I saw you slipping away like a dream I wasn’t ready to wake up from.”

God. Why does he say things like that?

I look away, suddenly shy. “It’s peaceful here.”

“It is,” he agrees, then adds, “I haven’t fel