Page 103 of Burn for You

Rafael stands up behind me and grabs my face with his clay-stained hands, pulling it back so I can see him. I squeal and try to wriggle out of his grasp, but he holds me still.

“Close that vulgar mouth of yours before I find something better to do with it,” he warns. His voice is low enough that only I can hear him.

I pull my bottom lip between my teeth. “Yes, chef.”

“Jesus Christ,” he swears. He presses a kiss to my lips that promises everything he’s going to do to me as soon as we’re out of here, and then he boops me on the nose, leaving a dot of moist clay on the tip. “I always knew you were a sore loser.”

I scoff as he walks away, but when he turns back to wink at me, I can’t shrug off the heat that burns through my veins from nothing more than a look.

I need to get out of this crowded studio, quick stat.

When I thoughtabout getting out of that studio, I was thinking of going somewhere more private than a stroll along Main with Isla and Caio.

The ocean smashes against the rock wall, spraying salt water over the edge onto the pavement in front of us. It almost feels like a relief with every wave — like no matter what happens, these waves will always crash against this wall. It feels steady, and maybe that's what I like so much about Ruby Cove. It feels calm, I feel anchored here.

“This is weird, right?” Isla says.

“So fucking weird,” I laugh. “Are we like…double dating right now?”

“I think we are.”

The boys ignore our revelations. Rafael shakes his head and Caio just smiles down at Isla.

“You don’t even date. This entire situation feels like a scene fromFreaky Friday.”

“She does now,” Rafael says definitively.

“Yeah, what was up with you calling her your girlfriend? Is that like…a thing now?” Isla says.

God, I thought I had no filter.

“Yeah, whatwaswith that?” I crane my neck to look up at him, one hand on his bicep and the other entwined with his.

“Do you not want to be my girlfriend, spitfire?” His hand squeezes mine.

“Is this supposed to be you asking me?”

“I didn't think you were the grand-gesture type, but I can get down on my knees if you want me to.”

I spin around, grabbing both of his hands in mine as I walk backwards. “You know how much I like seeing you on your knees.”

“Ew, did not need that knowledge,” Isla says.

“Okay, I know way too much about you two for you to even say that.” I throw over my shoulder before I turn around to face her and Rafael wraps his arms around my waist as we amble down the street.

“Well, soon we’ll be on our honeymoon, and you’ll miss our TMI conversations.”

“Ugh, I’ll be so bored without you,” I complain.

“I’m sure I can find some ways to entertain you,” Rafael whispers, sending a shiver down my spine before he presses a kiss to my neck.

“You better get creative,” I say back.

“Oh, there are a few things I've been waiting to try.”

I giggle, a blush crawling up my cheeks at the images forming in my brain.

“I know I upset you by making an exponentially cooler mug than you, so how about we go to The Cozy Corner, and I'll buy you whatever books are on your list?”

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