Chapter 56 Safe Haven
\[Lilia\]
The fire dances in a massive blaze, swaying just as the warm wind blows around us. Its soft crackles resonated, transcending the tranquil sound of waves lapping up against the shore. The moon hovers in the night sky, reflecting its soft glow into the water, making it look so ethereal.
Aya had gone back to the villa as she said she would make us her chicken specialty dish, so we could enjoy the rest of the night staying here on the beach while Val was busy preparing punches for us to drink. Kael did say that he had everything settled for us here. I had never had any experiences like this before, staying all night on a secluded beach. I just thought that a pair of towels laid in the sand and a few bits of snacks would suffice enough, but Kael seemed to have a little bit extra on this one.
I know he’s damn rich and all, but is putting an entire functional counter bar near the bonfire necessary? I mean, a large-size cooler would do. Now, Val is acting as our personal barista. Kael could put up a counter bar but did not have the initiative to hire some professional baristas to complete his extravaganza.
“Do you want to take a swim, kukla?”
Speaking of the devil himself. Kael suddenly materialized in front of me and extended his hand. I looked upon him and then threw a glance to Val, who seemed to have been oblivious about us, and there was no sign of Aya coming around. Honestly, a little dip would be nice.
“Do I have the choice to refuse?” I mused, looking back to Kael and sighing before I took his hand and stood. I shrugged off my cardigan, folded it on the collapsible chair, and turned my attention to him.
Kael brushes his eyes down on my frame, and suddenly it sends down a shiver on my spine. I don’t know if the wind had caused it or the intensity of his mossy gaze burning a hole in my soul. I didn’t say a thing but let go of his hand as though it burned on my skin and began walking towards the water to douse the rising temperature my body was feeling.
The water is perfect for a dip, and a soft, satisfied moan escapes my lips as I reach knee-deep. I heard someone splashing right behind me, and soon a massive arm wrapped around my waist. Before I knew what would happen, I was suddenly lifted off the water, and a startled squeak slipped through my lips.
“I know how to swim, but please don’t take me too deep,” I gasped in a little panic just as I wrapped my arms around his neck just as the water reached his chest level. I am a small woman. I know that. I may have to know how to swim, but I am just a paddler with a grace of a frenzied elephant. If Kael decided to drop his hold on me suddenly, the current would probably take me to the deeper side, where I could no longer swim back to the shore.
A deep chuckle resonated in his chest, “Relax, kukla, I won’t let you go.”
I didn’t say anything and kept myself anchored to him. I lifted my head and looked over his shoulder, seeing that we were now getting further and further away from the shore, and I didn’t think Kael was still walking in the sand.
“Aren’t we far enough?” I sputtered out a response, a little bit anxious by the fact that if anything attacked us right now, it would be impossible for us to get away from the water. Sharks maybe?
Kael was swimming with one hand paddling through the water while his other hand gripping me tightly so I won’t be separated from him. I wanted to swim on my own, but fear got through me first. My body was on high alert, vigilant to anything that would bump on my toes that stuck out from the water or to anything that we might possibly come across.
“No, kukla, I’m taking you somewhere,” Kael responded, which took me by surprise.
Somewhere?
“What?” I gaped at him in a bit escalated tone, looking around us, hoping to see anything but it was nearly pitch dark if not for the moon.
“Kael, it’s dark. How are we supposed to see where we are going?” I gulped down the anxiety rising to my throat.
“Trust me, I know this water better than you think.”
“I thought we’re just in for a swim,” I groused, peering across the coastline as it got smaller with every paddle of his legs and sweep of his arm.
“A little night adventure won’t hurt, kukla,” he replied with full of confidence, not worrying even a tiny bit, while I, on the other hand, my heart seemed to have pinched close to jumping out from my chest.
“Well, it does when it involves nightly creatures, dangerous at that,” I retorted, hissing closely to his ear as I tightened my grip around his shoulders. His hand was on my waist, gripping me securely so I won’t slip off just as he swam.
“Aside from sea snake, blue-ringed octopus, and sharks, we’re safe,” I know he was just jesting me, but I couldn’t help but feel worried that in some cases, what he just said would come true. Surely, we have no match when it comes to ousting a shark.
“That’s not funny,” I mumbled, sighing out as I swept my gaze towards the water. Kael only chuckled but did not respond. He must have known that he was just scaring me the more he was teasing me.
We fell into a comfortable silence, and I turned my attention to listening to Kael’s sharp air intake as he propelled us both into the water. My eyes fixed on his side profile, noting the short stubbles on his jaw, arrogant straight nose, and lips enticing me to lean and kiss him deeply, throwing all my inhibitions that were still in the water.
I don’t know why, but after I gave my body up to his will, I have this unexplainable feeling of warmth whenever I am this close to him. I know I was supposed to hate him. I was merely a kind of leisure to him and nothing else, and what I am feeling now is starting to worry me.
Was this normal?
I blinked out my trance on his face and turned to see where we were going.
There wasn’t anything in sight, and I was starting to think that Kael had somehow lost his way, but after a moment, a small silhouette appeared. I panicked for a moment, thinking that a giant sea creature was coming toward us as it got bigger in size. However, I came to realize that it was a small island with an arching rock formation.
It also came to my attention that Kael was no longer swimming as the water had gone shallow, and he was now walking. He didn’t let go of his hold on me until we were on the shore, and he only put me down ankle-deep. My soft waves caress my feet, and my toes sink a little to the sand as I sweep my gaze over the place.
“Where are we?” I gaped out in befuddlement. I turned to look at Kael, though, he had his eyes completely fixated on me.
“In my safe haven.”