Page 74 of Love on the Waiver Wire

Swallowing, she leans back in her seat, settling down finally.

We park outside of the aquarium, making sure it’s locked before heading inside.

The city around us is alight, the moon hanging high above. It’s beautiful, and so is the woman in front of me.

“Have you come here often?” I ask her as we head in. It’s one of the most beautiful aquariums in the country, and she has a view of it from her apartment.

“I did when I was a kid. I heard it’s changed a lot since the last time I was here.”

It has changed a lot.

“Then I’m excited for you to see,” I tell her, gently tugging her along.

There’s a guard waiting for us outside, and they open the door for us as we approach. I smile at him, thanking him before following Isla though the main entrance, past the giant waterfall from the exhibit above.

We pass a couple more people, all of whom greet us with a smile and a nod, letting us know they hope we have fun on our visit.

Isla looks around, her eyes wide as she takes in everything we’re seeing.

We turn right into what’s one of my absolute favorite parts of the whole place, their reef area. A wide-open space, the reef is full of the most beautiful fish.

“Oh my god,” she breathes beside me, pulling my hand as she goes to the edge. “That ray is huge.”

We watch as their whiptail ray swims past us, its spots shimmering in the light above us.

Isla is entranced as she watches the fish swim past, but she seems particularly in love with the zebra shark.

“He’s beautiful,” she says as she leans over the edge, watching him closely. “I mean they’re all beautiful, but he’s gorgeous.”

I stand next to her, my hand on the small of her back, and when she turns, I’m closer than she thought. Her chest pushes up against mine as I look down at her.

She casts her eyes downward, and I pull her in closer, kissing the top of her head as I run my fingers through her hair.

“We have a lot more to see, are you ready?”

* * *

“I don’t think I can pick a favorite,” she says as she leaves the tropical rainforest exhibit. It was darker than it usually is, but looking around and watching the city lights outside was something special. Making out way down to the Atlantic coral reef exhibit, we take our time. My favorite is next.

Catching sight of it, Isla is the first to say something. “Are these the sharks?” she asks, her eyes shining with excitement.

I nod, smiling back.

“She takes off, making her way down the ramp.

“They’re beautiful,” she says as she steps up to one of the viewing windows, watching as a nurse shark floats by.

I come up behind her, wrapping my arms around her shoulders and pressing my lips to the back of her head. Breathing in, I close my eyes, feeling so at peace I never want to leave. The scent of vanilla fills my nose, and when she grabs my arms, holding them to her, I know I’m a goner.

Isla opened up more and more as we walked around, getting comfortable. I’m not sure if it’s because of me or because she’s excited about what’s going on around us, but I’m not going to complain.

“Thank you for this,” she whispers so quietly I barely catch it.

“Hmm?” I ask into her cheek, my face right next to hers.

She turns slightly, rubbing her cheek along my jaw, her eyes closed. When she opens them, they’re darker. Dangerous. Clouded with desire.

The girl in my arms doesn’t care about consequences.

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