The hotel restaurant was cozy and inviting. Tyler and I sat at a table near a window, and the sound of the waves crashing outside drifted through the dining area. The menu was incredible, boasting local, seasonal ingredients. I was just hopeful that this wasn't one of those restaurants that served tiny portions. I was starving and needed a substantial meal.The atmosphere was intimate, with only a few other couples scattered about the room, quietly enjoying their meals. The low hum of conversation and the gentle clinking of cutlery created a soothing backdrop.As we waited for our food to arrive, my eyes lingered on Tyler as I contemplated asking him the question that had been burning inside me all day."What?" he asked, reading my mind."So... what happened to your face?" I ventured. "I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that my guess that it was from training is wrong."Tyler sighed, his gaze dropping to the table for a moment before meeting my eyes again. "Ryder and I... W
Tyler's grin widened as he took my hand, leading me back inside.Our room was warm and quiet, the space feeling private and comfortable.I watched with disappointment as he closed the door to the balcony behind us, but that was soon forgotten as he kissed me again, his lips hungry and needy.My fingers snaked up beneath his shirt, feeling the ripples of his chest against my fingers, his heart hammering away almost as violently as my own.I was nervous, but certain at the same time.He broke the kiss, his eyes watching me intently before he pulled his shirt up over his head. I followed suit, shedding mine as well before my fingers tugged at the button on my pants. I realized I was trembling slightly, my nervousness making itself apparent.I took a deep breath, determined to compose myself, trying again and this time managing to get the button and zip undone before I stripped my pants off, tossing them aside.When I looked up, Tyler had also shed his pants. We stood motionless in front
"I love you," I murmured, reaching out a lazy arm and resting it on his chest. "I love you too," he replied, wrapping his hand around mine before he brought it to his lips, pressing a kiss to it.With a sigh, I closed my eyes, feeling wholly content.Outside, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore continued on, muffled now that the balcony door was closed.Tyler and I lay side by side on the bed, still trying to catch our breath and waiting for our heart rates to normalize to a more reasonable BPM.With great effort, I managed to roll onto my side and shuffle my way closer to him, craving his touch... The feel of his skin against mine. Those waves of warmth and comfort that he seemed to exude.He moved to accommodate me, shifting his arm to a more comfortable position beneath my head as he cradled me like I was the most important thing in his world.We said nothing and the room was silent aside from the sounds of the sea. Words felt unnecessary.His fingers raked through m
The morning sun streamed through the sliding glass door, its golden rays illuminating the room with warmth. I roused slowly, my body reluctantly waking from the deep, restful sleep I hadn't expected to get.I reached out blindly, searching for Tyler's warm body, but my hand met only cold sheets."Tyler?" I mumbled groggily, opening one sleepy eye to scan the room for him.He poked his head out from the bathroom, a toothbrush hanging from his mouth. "Morning, beautiful," he said around the toothbrush. "Did you sleep okay?"I yawned and stretched my limbs, feeling a satisfying click in my back. "Eventually," I replied, offering him a sleepy smile.He looked at me sympathetically, probably suspecting what had kept me awake.As he disappeared back into the bathroom to finish brushing his teeth, I curled up on the bed, pulling the covers back over myself as I faced the glass door that overlooked the sea.The view truly was breathtaking. The water seemed to stretch on forever, meeting the
I hesitated, knowing this was the moment I'd been waiting for. My organic opportunity to open up and tell him a little more about my home life. I hadn't expected it to present itself so quickly and was a little annoyed as a result."No," I began slowly. "I would have loved to have gone, but I was never included. When I was younger, they would send me to these shitty camps while they were away. As I got older, I started insisting they just let me stay home because the camps were so terrible. Of course, in my later years, that's when Jenna and I would get up to the most mischief," I recalled with a nostalgic smile.Tyler's eyes opened as he regarded me with a frown. "So, what? Did your parents just dump you and your sister at these camps and then head off on their own little amazing holiday?" he asked, clearly unimpressed at the thought."No," I replied, trying to sound casual. "My sister went with them. It was only me who stayed behind," I explained.He looked confused."We didn't get
(Ryder’s POV)The silence in the house was deafening. Tyler and Katelyn had left on their trip, and all I could think about was how badly I needed to see her, to try and make things right again. The emptiness gnawed at me, a constant reminder of the mess I had created.Earlier that morning, I had gone to the therapist my mom had recommended. I hated the idea of seeing a therapist, but I couldn't think of any other way to show Katelyn that I was serious about changing.Surprisingly, even though it was just the first session, I felt like there was some progress. The therapist, Dr. Henderson, had a way of making me feel understood, and I started to see why people might recommend therapy. It was a step in the right direction, a step toward becoming the person Katelyn deserved.I sat behind my desk with my headphones on, just blankly staring at the screen while my mind ran the same laps over and over as I asked myself why I'd been so determined to hurt her. Suddenly Ash walked into the stu
(Katelyn’s POV)The days with Tyler had flown by, filled with sunshine and laughter. We’d spent most of our time lounging on the beach, wading in the waves, and at night, we would watch the stars from our balcony. We indulged in a romantic and relaxing couples massage on one day, and then on another, we took a trip to the nearby farmers market with the hotel's sous chef where we explored the vibrant stalls and even got a chance to taste some of the fresh, local produce.Now, on our last night at the hotel, I finally had the chance to soak in the bathtub I’d been eyeing out since we'd arrived. I ran the water adding a generous amount of bubble bath, and lit myself a candle that smelled like cinnamon buns.I was so ready for the warm relaxing embrace of the water and couldn't think of a better way to round off our trip.The golden glow from the candle flickered against the tiled walls, while the scent of warm cinnamon buns wafted through the air. The room felt like my own private spa an
The next morning, Tyler and I ate a quick breakfast in the restaurant before packing our bags. The peaceful days we’d spent together already felt like a distant memory as the weight of reality loomed over us.We checked out early, as we'd planned the night before, in hopes that we'd get an opportunity to discuss our little issue with Alpha David before the commencement of the Lunar Eclipse Celebration that evening.The drive back went far quicker than the drive there, and before I knew it, we were already back at Tyler's house.I should have been feeling positive and well-rested after our trip, but instead, I felt miserable and uncertain.Tyler reached over and squeezed my hand as we sat in his car in the driveway, apparently both procrastinating, not wanting to head inside just yet. "We'll handle this, okay?" he assured me.I nodded and tried to force a smile, but I couldn't muster the strength to even fake it.Tyler carried our bags as we headed inside, both looking despondent as we