Laura
I wanted to talk about out kiss, I wanted to know his mind about it. If it was a casual thing for him or if it meant something, like it did to me.
He didn't. He just continued with his food like nothing happened. My hope and patience finally thinned out and I pushed it into the deepest part of my mind.
Maybe it's for the best. He's my boss after all. We shouldn't be mixing business with pleasure. He doesn't, and I should respect that.
The rest of the breakfast was still. We ate in an uncomfortable silence, both of us ignoring each other's gaze. It was like we were walking on eggshells, pretending nothing had happened, and the tension between us was thick enough to choke on.
Once he was done, he cleared his tray and disappeared into his room, while I felt the weight of silence settle around me.
Frustration bubbled up inside me. Why was he acting like this? After everything that had happened between us, he couldn't just sweep it under the rug. I needed to clear my head. I needed space from all the confusing emotions swirling inside me. So, without a second thought, I grabbed my towel and headed out to the beach for a morning swim.
The ocean was wild today, the waves crashing against the shore with more force than usual. But I didn't care. I needed the release. The water always had a way of calming my nerves, and right now, I needed it more than ever. I stripped down to my swimsuit and waded into the cold water, gasping as it hit my skin. The chill helped clear my mind, at least for a moment.
With a deep breath, I dived in, submerging myself fully, letting the water wash over me. I stayed down there until my lungs burned and my heart pounded in my chest, my thoughts racing with the same intensity as the waves. When I finally came up for air, I gasped, coughing as I dragged myself back to the surface.
But even the water couldn't drown out my thoughts of Jake. I swam back to shore, each stroke more labored as my mind replayed the events of the past few days. That kiss. His touch. The way he looked at me like he wanted me but couldn't have me. And now, knowing how he felt about me, it made everything so much worse. Before, I could have convinced myself I was the only one feeling this way. But now… now I couldn't stop thinking of ways to have him. I wanted him, and I couldn't deny it anymore.
When I finally made it back inside, dripping wet and shivering slightly from the cold, I heard a loud noise outside. My heart leaped into my throat. Was it help? Was someone finally coming to rescue us from this island?
I didn't even think twice before running out the door. "Jake!" I called, already seeing him bolt outside too, clearly thinking the same thing. But when we got there, our hopes were dashed. It was just the waves, crashing against the rocks with a force that had shaken the ground beneath us. No helicopters. No boats. No rescue.
We stood there, staring out at the sea, disappointment settling between us like a thick fog. I hated how the hope had built up inside me only to crash down like those relentless waves. I glanced at Jake, who looked just as disheartened, his brow furrowed in frustration.
I knew we needed to break this mood, this heavy cloud that was hanging over us. So, without thinking, I nudged him lightly with my shoulder and smirked. "You know, I bet I could outrun you."
Jake raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Is that a challenge?"
"Oh, it's definitely a challenge." I grinned, already taking a few steps back.
"You really think you can beat me?" He crossed his arms over his chest, giving me a look that said he wasn't about to back down.
"Try me." And with that, I took off running, sprinting down the beach as fast as I could, my laughter ringing out over the sound of the waves.
I heard him behind me, his footsteps pounding against the sand as he chased after me. "You're gonna regret this, Laura!" he called, but I didn't stop. I kept running, my heart racing for more than just the exertion. I needed this—this distraction, this moment where we could be ourselves without all the tension, all the confusing emotions getting in the way.
But as fast as I was, I knew I couldn't outrun Jake for long. He was faster, stronger, and after a few minutes, I heard his footsteps gaining on me. I risked a glance over my shoulder, and sure enough, he was right there, grinning like a madman as he closed the distance between us.
"Gotcha!" he shouted, lunging for me, but I managed to dodge him just in time, letting out a triumphant laugh.
"Not yet!" I called back, my legs pumping as I pushed myself harder.
But Jake wasn't one to give up easily. He kept chasing me, his laughter echoing in the wind as he tried to catch me. I knew it was only a matter of time before he'd wear me down, but I wasn't about to make it easy for him.
Finally, after what felt like forever, I heard him groan from behind me. I glanced back to see him collapse into the sand, his chest heaving as he lay there, completely spent.
I slowed to a stop, turning back with a smug grin. "What, you giving up already?"
But before I could gloat, he looked up at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oh, I'm not done yet."
In one swift move, he reached out, grabbed my ankle, and pulled me down into the sand with him. I let out a surprised yelp as I fell on top of him, our bodies tangling together in a mess of laughter and limbs.
"You cheated!" I accused, trying to push myself off him, but he held me there, his arms wrapped around my waist.
"I didn't cheat. I just played smart." He smirked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
We both lay there, laughing breathlessly, the tension from earlier momentarily forgotten. But then, as our laughter faded, the reality of our situation settled in again. Our bodies were still pressed together, his hands still resting on my waist, and suddenly, the air between us shifted.
I looked down at him, my breath catching in my throat as our eyes met. His laughter had died away, replaced by something deeper, something darker. I could feel the heat radiating off his skin, could hear the soft, unsteady rhythm of his breathing. And just like that, the tension was back, thicker than ever.
Neither of us moved, neither of us said a word. We just stared at each other, the weight of everything unspoken hanging between us. I knew I should get up, that I should break this moment before it spiraled into something we couldn't take back. But I couldn't. I didn't want to.
Jake's hands tightened on my waist, pulling me a little closer. I could feel the warmth of his body beneath me, the hard lines of his muscles pressed against me. My heart raced, my pulse pounding in my ears as I fought to keep my breathing steady.
"Laura…" he whispered, his voice rough, almost strained.
I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. "Jake…"
Before I could finish, he shifted, his hand reaching up to brush a strand of hair out of my face. The simple touch sent a shiver down my spine, and I sucked in a sharp breath, my body reacting to him in ways I couldn't control.
And then, without warning, he pulled me down toward him, his lips crashing against mine with a hunger that stole the breath from my lungs. It was like all the tension, all the frustration, everything we'd been holding back finally exploded between us. I kissed him back, my hands gripping his shoulders as I pressed myself closer, feeling the heat of him, the taste of him.
It was desperate, frantic, like we couldn't get enough of each other. His hands roamed over my back, pulling me closer, deeper into him, and I could feel the raw need in every touch, every kiss. My heart pounded in my chest, my body alight with a fire I hadn't felt in so long.
We kissed with a kind of reckless abandon, like we were the only two people in the world, like nothing else mattered but this moment. His hands slid down to my hips, gripping me tightly, and I gasped against his mouth, the intensity of it overwhelming.
But then, as quickly as it had begun, I pulled away, breathless and wide-eyed, my chest heaving as I stared down at him. What were we doing? What had we just done?
Jake looked up at me, his expression a mix of desire and uncertainty. He didn't say anything, just waited, his breathing just as ragged as mine. And for a moment, I thought about walking away, about putting distance between us before this went any further.
But I couldn't.
Before I knew it, I was kissing him again, harder this time, with even more desperation than before. And this time, there was no going back…