Chapter 30 This girl is going to be the end of me.
I did not realize I had been staring. He looked incredible. The morning light caught the angles of his face, and he seemed to glow. Those clear blue eyes, that reckless smile… he looked like something from a dream.
“Nothing,” I mumbled.
He narrowed his eyes, not believing me for a second. He had caught me, and there was no point in hiding it. So I did not try. I slid my arms around his neck and leaned in, pressing my lips to his. Instead of saying all the embarrassing things in my head, I let the kiss say it for me.
I guess what I am trying to say is… I want to do everything on earth with you, too, Ryan Jake Williams.
After our breakfast on the water, Ryan and I decided to stay out. We had the boat, so why not? He turned on some music, and we lay back, soaking up the sun. At one point, he stood up to pull his shirt off, and a terrible, wonderful idea came to me.
Without a word, I shoved him with all my strength.
SPLASH!
He fell straight into the water. I was laughing, the sound echoing over the waves, when his head broke the surface. He glared at me as he swam back to the boat.
“You are so going to pay for that,” he called out.
Oh, no.
This boat was small. There was nowhere to hide. Ryan climbed back in, water streaming from him, and walked toward me like a man on a mission. I backed up until I hit the side, trapped.
“Wait! Truce!” I cried, holding up my hands.
He did not listen. In one smooth motion, he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder.
“Ryan…ah!”
SPLASH!
Before I could even finish yelling, he jumped in, taking me with him. I came up sputtering, salt water in my eyes, to the sound of his deep, satisfied laugh. He thought this was very funny.
I was still catching my breath when he swam closer. His hands found my waist under the water, pulling me to him. I tried to give him my best angry look, but it did not work. He just kept smirking, and every part of me felt weak and warm.
His eyes dropped to my mouth, and he licked a drop of salt water from his own lips. I watched his throat move as I swallowed hard. He put one hand on the side of the boat to steady us. The other came up to cradle my face. I placed my hands on his wet chest, and then he was kissing me.
I could taste the ocean on his lips, and it made my head spin. Every kiss from him was like this—powerful and overwhelming. It really was going to be the end of me.
It is official. Hawaii is my favorite place on earth.
Ryan
Watching the sunrise with Saraphina was great. Spending the whole day with her on the ocean was even better. But my favorite time was always the night. When the sun went down and our little town got quiet, that was our time. That was when we could really be ourselves.
We could not be seen together much during the day. That was her rule. She was always worried our parents would find out. So in the daylight, we found hidden spots. It was good, but the night was better. At night, I had time. I had freedom. I could do what I wanted.
Like tonight. We got back from the ocean, and my dad never knew I took his boat. I put the key back before he looked for it. At dinner, he asked what we did all day. I told him we went swimming. That was it. Easy.
After dinner, Saraphina went to her room. I went to mine. She was probably exhausted. I had woken her up so early. I should have been tired too, but I was not. I was wide awake in my bed, thinking about her. I wanted to hold her. I wanted to kiss her again.
What is wrong with me? I saw her five minutes ago.
With a groan, I got out of bed. I had to do something about this. I wanted to see her. So I would go see her.
Simple.
I did not want to use the stairs. Someone might be awake. So I went to my window. My room was right above hers. A thought came to me. I opened the window and climbed out as carefully as I could, feeling like a fucking superhero as I made my way down the wall to her window.
When I got there, I saw her light was on. She was in bed, reading. I tapped on the glass. Her eyes shot to the window, and her whole face showed her shock.
“Ryan?” she gasped, pushing the window open.
“Hey,” I said.
“What are you doing?”
“Coming to see you.”
Without waiting, I climbed into her room and tumbled onto the bed with her, pinning her gently beneath me.
“Ry…oh!”
She was on her back now, and I was above her, our faces close.
“Hi,” I said.
“Hi,” she whispered back.
My hand went to her cheek. My thumb brushed over her skin.
“I missed you, Sara,” I told her. It was the truth.
Her eyes went wide for a second before she tried to hide it.
“You just saw me,” she said.
“I know.”
I can never get enough of you.
I leaned down and kissed her. Her lips were so soft, so sweet. I could kiss her forever. I tried to pull her closer, but she let out a small laugh and pushed lightly at my chest.
“Ry, stop,” she said.
“Why?”
“Our parents are right downstairs,” she whispered, a challenge in her eyes.
“I do not care,” I said, my voice low. “I just want to be with you.”
Her eyes softened then. I love that I can see exactly what she is feeling just by looking at her. I smiled and kissed her again, deeper this time, until she kissed me back just as hard.
It is official. This girl is going to be the end of me.