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“Better?” Kwan asked, a rosy glow to his cheeks.
I nodded. Yes, I felt much better both from my proximity to the ocean, this man and the belly full of food I now had. I’d not realised how hungry I was, but it’d been hours since our last meal.
“Ok, well, let’s take a walk along the beach, but keep your shoes on this time.”
Another bone-crushing hug from Sandy for us both, and we were back on the sand, walking hand in hand, admiring the iron statues set into it. They were as tall as us both, some a little taller, and we fooled around, taking selfies and running from one to the other. It was the most fun I’d had in I didn’t know how long.
All too soon though, the sun started to set and dusk began to fall. I loved this time of the day, though, the eerie sound of the waves lapping along the shoreline. I moved towards the sea almost without thought, the hypnotic sound tempting me.
“Hey, Beau, come back to me. It’s time to go home.” Kwan’s touch was so gentle I almost couldn’t feel it, but I knew I needed to go back. My moment was here with him.
“Hold me, Kwan. It’s you I want.”
I stepped once again into his arms. Arms that felt like home, arms that were strong and secure. I never wanted to leave them. Never wanted him to leave me. It was too soon, but sometimes, your heart just knew and right now, my heart wanted him more than anything in the world.
I had no way of knowing if he felt the same way. The few relationships I’d had, I’d fallen hard and fast, hurting my feelings, sending me into a spiral. I needed to feel loved, needed to feel wanted, and when that didn’t happen, depression would take over, sometimes so deep it would take weeks to pull myself back up. I’d always managed before.
After our parents had died, I thought I’d never feel anything for anyone again, but their deaths had seemed to make me fall harder and quicker. I was trying so hard to not let that happen again, but he wasn’t making it easy.
He was everything I’d ever looked for in a man; caring, thoughtful, sexy as hell, and he seemed to understand me and that was something no one had tried to do before. Yes, I knew what he studied at university, but I knew he wasn’t trying to ‘shrink’ me. He listened and always seemed to have the right words to put my world back on its axis when all around me, things were trying to throw me off course.
The journey back home was over too quickly, and I knew that soon enough, he’d be back on his way to Manchester, leaving me with my thoughts. That wasn’t always a good thing, especially after the weekend I’d had, but I was determined not to let the situation with Megan, and that with Kwan, get to me. I had to start getting back on track.
We entered the flat, and I slumped on the sofa, suddenly tired from the day. I closed my eyes, just for a moment, just to gather my wits about me and take stock.
A gentle shake woke me from my brief nap, brown eyes I could drown in staring down at me.
“Bed for you. You need to get some rest. I’ll stay with you tonight and go back tomorrow morning. I’ll need to leave early, though.”
I stumbled as I stood, feeling exhausted. I really needed to sleep, but as I lay next to Kwan, it eluded me, so I cuddled into his side even though he was as hot as Hades.
“Why do you love the water so much?”
The question surprised me; I thought he was sleeping.
“I’m not sure. I always loved it as a child. Our parents used to take us there most Sundays, even if it was raining, so I suppose when they died and Megan was in hospital again, I’d go there and just watch it, remembering the good times we had.”
It wasn’t quite the truth, but it was all I could give him at this point. I was intrigued by it, fascinated by it even more so when it was rough, when the waves crashed against the shore. I’d been down into Wales and watched it breaking against the cliffs, the sound so loud you couldn’t hear yourself think.
“Is that all, Beau? Or is there more to it?”
Always with the probing questions, knowing when I wasn’t really telling the truth, skirting the issues.
“I don’t know what to say. I love the sea, the noise, the power, the unpredictability of it. Some people are infatuated with volcanoes or tornadoes, but for me, it’s the sea. I can’t explain it any clearer. But Crosby especially holds a place in my heart.” I huffed out a laugh. “If ever you can’t find me, go there. It’s where I go to do my thinking, where I feel safe, I suppose.”
Talking about it had made me sleepy, and I sighed happily as Kwan drew me in that bit closer, kissing the top of my head. Falling for him had been the easiest thing to do. I just hoped he’d do as he said when we first met and take care of my heart, but instead of giving it to him, I think he’d stolen it from right beneath my nose.
