"Really? I thought it was cheesy."
"You did?" She put her empty mug on the floor beside her and put her arm back into the warmth of their blanket.
"I don't know. I thought you'd think it was cheesy and judge me for it."
"I love it."
"Good." He kissed her temple.
She sighed. "I love you so much."
She felt him pull her closer. "I love youtoomuch."
"Too much..." she murmured, smiling.
"Way too much." He leaned down, placed his lips under her ear, and left a trail of fluttering kisses along the length of her neck.
She sighed, throwing her head back on him.
"Don't," he croaked against her skin.
"Don't what?" she whispered.
"Don't moan like that."
Butterflies broke out in her belly. "Don't kiss like that."
She felt his lips stretching into a smile against her neck, burning her skin underneath. He squeezed her, kissing the crook where her neck met her shoulder.
"Stop me," he whispered.
Grinning, she got up, and before he could grab her or process her intentions, she ran out into the rain, the chilled raindrops piercing her skin like pins.
"It's cold!" he yelled.
Itwascold, but she ran around like a kid, laughing. The rain drummed a beat on her body, and she was drenched in an instant.
She ran bare-legged on the wet sand, her feet sinking with every step, till two arms grabbed her waist from behind. She bent forward as Chris twirled her around, their laughter echoing in the air.
"Woah, I'm dizzy," she said as he steadied her on her feet. "We used to do that when we were kids, remember?"
He held her arms and whirled her toward him. The downpour blurred her vision but there was no mistaking his eyes that devoured her. The brown of his eyes had turned black, and her breath hitched, the cold raindrops a contrast to the heat between them.
"I remember," he shouted against the rain, panting, "and I always wanted to do this."
He grabbed the back of her neck and crushed his lips against hers, wet and cold. Goosebumps formed all over her body. She held his shirt, pulling him closer as she kissed him back. His hands trailed down her body. He grabbed her thighs, pulling her up, and she jumped to wrap her legs around him.
This was heaven, thought Giselle, as he carried her effortlessly inside the beach house into the room, water dripping down their tangled bodies, breaking the kiss only a few times to look where he was going, till they reached the bed.
She'd never felt this alive.
Chapter 37
Cheeks burning at last night's memory, Giselle walked barefoot in the shallow water of the sea, her hand firmly held by Chris. Her white sundress glided in the water. The sun shone brightly over their heads, wrapping them up in its warmth. The sea roared as each wave crashed upon itself, slowing to a crawl at their feet.
"So, what do you wanna do today?" he asked, raising their joined hands to his lips, and kissed where their fingers met.
"Um, when are we leaving?" She looked at him, the cut on his forehead freshly cleaned and bandaged by her this morning.