Page 96 of The One That Got Away

This was perfection.

I couldn’t think of a single thing that would make this moment more magical.

I wanted it to last forever.

I knew it couldn’t, though. In less than forty-eight hours, I’d be back in London. Back to normal life and Max would just be a memory.

Which was why it was more important than ever to enjoy every precious second of this bliss whilst it lasted.

When I woke up, I was in bed, the sheets wrapped tightly around me. I turned over and saw Max, sitting up beside me.

‘Morning!’ he smiled and my stomach flipped.

‘Morning,’ I croaked. ‘Did you carry me to bed? Last thing I remember was making love under the stars, but even that feels like it was too good to be true.’

‘Yeah?’

‘Yeah. It was… incredible. Out of this world.’ I pictured Max’s head between my legs, then relived the sensations that pulsed through me when I rode him.

I also remembered Max cleaning me up, which was sweet.

Although Max didn’t comment on what I said, his wide smile told me he’d enjoyed it just as much as I had.

‘It’s late, so I thought we could have a brunch picnic on the beach, seeing as it’s our last day here?’

My stomach sank. We were going home in the morning and this amazing experience would be over. I wished that every minute for the next twenty-four hours could last an hour. But even then, it wouldn’t be long enough. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Max.

‘Sounds lovely,’ I said.

‘Oh, and Jasmine messaged to say we have to submit our final playlists and photos by two. So we can go through yesterday’s photos and send them the ones we took in the hot tub.’

‘Good plan. And we could do our playlists on the beach if we bring our headphones.’

‘Okay. I’m gonna shower now. Feel free to join me.’

‘I might take you up on that. Give me five and I’ll be there.’

‘Cool.’ Max climbed out of bed and walked towards the door. ‘And Stell?’

‘Yeah?’

‘Ididcarry you to bed after we made love under the stars. And you were right: it really was out of this world.’

As he left the bedroom, butterflies erupted in my stomach.

He’d felt it too.

He’d said we’dmade love.

Before we’d agreed that this wouldn’t be anything serious.

I’d promised myself I wouldn’t catch feelings and swore I’d be happy with a holiday fling.

But now things were different.

Now I’d changed my mind.

Shit.

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