Page 69 of The Wrong Fiancée

I wrapped my body around hers, wanting her close. We were half naked, and my arousal was unmistakable. I ignored it. She put a hand on my thigh, and my breath caught.

"You're playing with fire, baby."

"It looks more like an erection."

I laughed. I'd forgotten about her playfulness—maybe she'd forgotten as well with the pressures she'd been carrying for the past years.

She gave me a light stroke, and when I groaned, she pulled her hand away. "I find you attractive," she admitted. "Veryattractive."

"Good."

"I…we had good sex."

"The best."

"Will…ah…giving us a chance mean…you know?"

I kissed her wet hair. "Let's not cloud our minds with lust." I all but smacked myself for that. I wanted her. I wanted inside her. But I was playing the long game. I didn't want to make love with her today or even tomorrow; I wanted it for the rest of our lives.

"What?" She raised her head to look at me.

"Hey, I don't like it any more than you do.ButI want us to get to know one another better. We already know we like to fuck and that we do it well."

"I hate it when you make sense," she grumbled and put her head back on my shoulder. "Damn, but I wanted to get laid."

I chuckled. "When it's time, baby, I'll take very good care of you."

I stroked her arm, and we sat quietly for a while, watching the sunset.

"What do you want to do tomorrow?" I asked when we made our way back to Dad, who was waiting for us at the snorkeling rental shop.

She smiled cheekily. "Why don't you let me plan tomorrow?"

"I'd like that. Very much."

We walked back hand in hand, and it felt fucking awesome.

Chapter Twenty-Four

ELIKA

Ifelt alive!

The air was thick with the scent of rain-soaked earth, and the lush greenery enveloped us as we entered Wailua River State Park. Towering ferns and tangled vines lined our path, while the canopy above cast soft, dappled light onto the forest floor. The trail, worn but serene, wound deeper into the heart of the rainforest, where the only sounds were the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant calls of birds hidden high in the trees.

When I suggested a hike, Dean had been all in. I loved to hike, and so did he. We'd talked about it in Honolulu, but there hadn't been time or opportunity to indulge.

I had invited Tate, but he had meetings and shooed us away to have fun. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he was helping Dean and me spend time together.Eye roll!

We were quiet as we hiked, taking in our surroundings—because there was so much beauty here to soak in. We took our time. We weren't in a rush. There was no agenda, no need to fill every moment with conversation. I had not had this with anyone before.

I glanced over at him, catching him mid-thought as he stared at a vine-covered tree. His profile was softened by the natural light, and I had the urge to look inside him.

"What are you thinking?" I broke the silence without shattering it.

Dean turned to me, a slow smile pulling at his lips. "I was just thinking how different it feels being here with you. I've been to Hawaii a dozen times, but with you it feels different. More."

I felt my chest tighten slightly, not with anxiety but with something warm. He was right. This was not our norm. It wasn't about old memories or unfinished business. This was us, starting fresh, taking a chance on each other in a way we hadn't before.

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