The comfortable silence of the jacuzzi was broken only by the sound of the bubbles bubbling in the water and the sea in the background, like a personalized soundtrack for the moment they were living. Emily played with the foam around her, dipping her fingers leisurely, while Matthew watched her from the side, with that calm smile that she was beginning to recognize as "Matthew's smile when he's planning something".
"What are you thinking about?" she asked, without taking her eyes off the foam.
"How to make you like it here even more," he answered calmly.
"It's hard, you know," she replied, smiling broadly. "You've already surpassed yourself. It's going to be hard to beat that."
He shrugged, as if accepting the challenge. "I like to exceed expectations."
"Oh, I've already noticed that," she teased, poking his shoulder with a wet finger. "You make it look easy."
Matthew tilted his head, staring at her with those intense eyes that made her feel as if the world had stopped for a moment. "With you, Emily, everything is easier."
She couldn't help but laugh briefly, trying to hide how much that touched her. "You're good at that, aren't you? Always with the right words."
"It's not about being good," he replied. "It's just that with you, it can't be any other way."
Emily bit her lip, looking up at the sky. The stars were so bright that night that they seemed to have been placed there on purpose, as if someone had decided that this moment needed to be even more special.
"Do you think things will always be like this?" she asked, not really knowing where the doubt came from. "So... perfect?"
Matthew took a few seconds to answer, as if he was choosing his words carefully. "They won't always be easy," he began, leaning slightly closer to her. "But perfect? Whenever we're together, yes."
Emily looked at him, realizing the seriousness in his words. "You're a danger, you know? You're starting to spoil me too much."
He laughed, splashing some water in her direction. "Oh, as if that were a problem."
After the jacuzzi, still wet and with her hair messy, Emily went straight to bed. She threw herself on the soft sheets as if the whole day had sucked all her energy. Matthew appeared soon after, carrying two glasses of wine.
"For us to toast," he said, handing one to her.
"And the toast is...?" Emily asked, raising the glass, but without taking her eyes off him.
"To you. For being the best part of any place," Matthew replied, gently clinking his glass against hers.
She rolled her eyes, but with a smile she couldn't hide. "You really don't know when to stop, do you?"
"I never stop when it comes to you," he replied, sitting down next to her.
They sipped their wine slowly, chatting about simple things. Emily told him about the time she tried to bake a cake by herself and ended up with flour all over the kitchen, while Matthew laughed until he was out of breath. He, in turn, shared stories about work trips, including one where he had to sleep in a makeshift cabin because the hotel they had booked was full.
"This is definitely an upgrade," he commented, looking around the suite.
"Absolutely," she agreed, raising her glass as if toasting the luxury around her.
The next day, the sun appeared unceremoniously, flooding the room with golden light. Emily was the first to wake up again, but this time she didn't get out of bed right away. She just lay there, watching Matthew sleep, his face relaxed, his hair messy on the pillow.
"You're beautiful even when you're asleep. It's not fair," she murmured softly.
As if he had heard her, he slowly opened his eyes, a sleepy smile appearing on his face. "Good morning to you too."
Emily laughed, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek. "Good morning, sleepyhead."
After a breakfast that looked like something out of a movie, with exotic fruits, fresh juices, and perfectly golden pancakes, they decided it was time to explore the area a little more. Matthew suggested a hike to a lookout that, according to him, had the most beautiful view in the place.
"It'll be peaceful, I promise," he said, as he put on a cap and adjusted his backpack with water and snacks.
"If you say so…" Emily replied, a little suspicious. "But if this ends up being harder than it seems, I'll complain the whole way."
"And I'll love hearing every complaint," he teased, pulling her by the hand.
The trail was, in fact, quiet at first. The path was surrounded by tall trees, with branches that created a kind of natural tunnel. Emily walked slowly, observing the details around her: the leaves that swayed gently in the wind, the colorful birds that appeared every now and then.
"This is like outdoor therapy," she said, stopping to take a picture of a group of butterflies.
"I told you you'd like it," Matthew replied, holding out a branch so she could pass.
But as they climbed, the path got steeper. Emily stopped, resting her hands on her knees and taking a deep breath.
"You said it was easy!" she accused, feigning indignation.
"It is," he replied, laughing. "You're just out of shape."
"Hey! Take that off now!" she protested, pointing a finger at him. "I'm perfectly fit. I'm just not used to this."
Matthew held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. Want me to carry you?"
"No way," she replied, determined. "If I start depending on you for everything, I'll never hear the end of it."
After a few more minutes (and a few complaints), they finally reached the lookout. And, as Matthew had promised, the view was breathtaking. The sea stretched out as far as the eye could see, sparkling in the sunlight. The nearby islands looked like tiny green jewels, floating in the endless blue.
Emily was silent for a moment, just admiring. Then she turned to Matthew. "Okay, you got it right again. This is amazing."
"I knew you'd like it," he said, putting his arm around her shoulders.
They stood there for a while, talking about dreams and future plans. Emily told him how she wanted to open an animal shelter one day, while Matthew revealed that he wanted to build a country house where they could escape the chaos of the city.
"Sounds perfect," Emily said, imagining the scenario. "You, me, maybe some dogs..."
"And kids," Matthew added, looking at her with a twinkle in his eye.
Emily blinked in surprise, but then gave a shy smile. "Maybe. One day."
And with that unspoken promise, the two of them walked down the path.
The night was falling softly, enveloping the hotel in a blanket of tranquility and elegance. Dinner that night had been memorable: fine dishes that seemed like art on the plate and wines that glided across the palate like honey. Emily and Matthew were back in their suite, but the silence between them was not empty; it was charged with something palpable, an energy that seemed to grow as the minutes passed.
Emily walked along the balcony, her light dress moving in the warm breeze. She rested her hands on the railing, looking out at the sea that sparkled under the moonlight. The sound of the waves breaking against the sand was a constant reminder that they were far from everything, isolated in a world that seemed to belong only to them.
Matthew approached, his steps light, but she felt his presence even before he spoke. He wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"You're thinking," he said, his voice low, almost a whisper.
"I'm just taking it all in," she replied, leaning slightly against him. "It feels unreal, you know? Like at any moment I'm going to wake up and find out this was all a dream."
"Then I'll have to spend the whole night reminding you that it's real," he murmured, pulling her closer to him.
Emily laughed softly, turning to face him. The moonlight reflected in Matthew's eyes, and she found herself lost for a moment. There was something different about this night, something that made the moment more intimate than any words could express.
"You always have an answer ready, don't you?" she teased, but her voice was lower, softer.
"With you, always," he replied, serious now.
For a moment, neither of them said anything. It was as if time had stopped, allowing them to get lost in each other's gaze. Matthew lifted a hand, running his fingers down her face, slowly tracing the contours of her jaw.
"I love that about you," he said, almost to himself.
"That what?"
"That way of disarming me completely, with just one look."
Emily smiled, feeling her heart race. "You're impossible."
"And you're perfect," he replied, leaning in to kiss her.
The kiss started slow, almost hesitant, but soon gained intensity. Emily felt his hands on her waist, firm, as if wanting to engrave the moment in his memory. She held on to his shoulders, pulling him closer, as if the space between them was unbearable.
When they pulled away, they were both panting, but neither of them seemed willing to break eye contact. Matthew took her hand, intertwining their fingers, and guided her back into the suite.
The room was lit only by a soft light, which came from a lamp on the bedside table. The atmosphere was intimate, almost magical. Emily took off her shoes and sat on the bed, watching Matthew. He seemed more relaxed than she was used to seeing, but at the same time, there was an intensity in his eyes that made her skin crawl.
"You get too serious sometimes," she commented, trying to ease the growing tension.
"Only when it comes to you," he replied, slowly moving closer.
Emily felt his hands on her shoulders, his thumbs tracing slow circles at the base of her neck. She closed her eyes, relaxing into his touch.
"You know you don't have to win me over, right?" she teased, her voice light.
"Who said I'm trying to win you over?" he replied, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
He leaned in again, capturing her lips in another kiss. But this time, there was no hesitation. The kiss was full of promise, of something deeper than simple desire.
Emily responded with equal intensity, her fingers finding their way into Matthew's hair. He pulled her closer, and she could feel his warmth, the firmness of his hands as he held her.
The next few hours were a mix of low laughter, soft touches, and whispered words that only made sense to them. Emily discovered that Matthew had a sensitivity she hadn't expected, a way of making her feel like she was the only important thing in the world.
In turn, he seemed fascinated by every detail of her, from the way her fingers traced imaginary lines on his skin to the low laugh that escaped her lips in moments of relaxation.
"Are you laughing at me?" he asked at one point, feigning indignation.
"Maybe," she replied, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"This is dangerous, you know?"
"And you like a risk, don't you?"
He didn't answer, just leaned in again, silencing her with a kiss that made her forget what she was thinking.
The night wore on, but neither of them seemed concerned about the time. When they finally lay down, exhausted, Matthew pulled Emily close, wrapping his arms around her. She snuggled against him, feeling his heartbeat against her skin, a sound that was both soothing and exciting.
"I could get used to this," she murmured, her voice low and sleepy.
"You don't have to get used to it," he replied, kissing the top of her head. "Because this is just the beginning."
Emily smiled, closing her eyes.