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We breathed the same air for unmeasured moments. His hand tangled in my hair, and I got the idea that he was trying to maintain his self-control.
Malachi would be a passionate lover, I knew. Part of me wanted to push him; the rest of me needed him to make all the moves.
I shivered and he straightened to look at me. “Are you cold?”
My suit had dried and the night was warm, but every new place he explored sent chills over my skin.
“A little.”
Lying back, he opened his arm to make a place for me. “Come here,” he said, and I did, snuggling against his warm body with zero point zero shame.
My head rested on his chest and his hand cradled it to keep me there.
Time passed and the moon slid delicately over the sky, but it was clear neither of us had any intention of moving.
My eyes grew heavy with sleep, and still, leaving Malachi’s arms never crossed my mind.
Just before I blinked away, I remembered my promise from earlier.
“My wish came true too,” I murmured. “You kissed me, and it was everything I hoped it would be.”
***
I can’t imagine anything more entertaining than watching the most beautiful woman I’ve laid eyes on bathe in star-soaked water.
Remembering Malachi’s words from the night before put a stupid grin on my face as I made my way back to the suite the next morning. I fully expected my friends to give me hell for staying out all night, but I didn’t care.
This Walk of Shame was worth it. Hell, maybe I’d rebrand it to Walk of Claim. Because I’d decided I was claiming Malachi as mine.
Besides, nothing happened aside from that toe-curling kiss.
We slept, and woke to the sunlight and each other. It was glorious, but it also wasn’t what the girls might be thinking.
Literally the opposite, and I might have felt undesirable if I was with anyone else but Malachi. However, there was no mistaking his attraction to me when he plastered me to the front of him.
Thedesirewas present. And huge.
He wanted me as badly as I wanted him, but last night he held back.
He was being a gentleman, and I definitely didn’t hate it. On an island renowned for its romantic sexcapades with a nickname like “Peen Isle,” it was nice to know romance could still take center stage.
When I got to the suite, I found it empty.
Seriously. Where the hell was everyone? Were they also on a Walk of Claim? Because that would be a hilarious outcome to this chub-girl summer vacation.
Except many of the clothes they’d worn last night were scattered over various pieces of furniture. Clearly they had returned for the night and left again before I got back.
Huh.
Malachi had to work but I was meeting him for lunch, and I desperately needed to process my feelings before then. I dialed Gia, and then Kara. No answer. I texted Helena, knowing she’d rather message than talk. But her response was a short text that explained nothing:
Everyone’s taking a solo day so we’re all doing our own thing.
It was strange coming from Helena considering she wasn’t the type to go out on her own. She was the most mild mannered of all of us, constantly over explaining herself so she didn’t come across as rude or misunderstood. In social situations, she leaned on more outgoing personalities like Gia or myself, and we had her back if she was ever put in an awkward position.
Awkward was one of Helena’s beautiful personality quirks.
Going out on her own? Not so much.
