The morning began peacefully, with the soft sound of waves crashing in the distance and the first rays of sunlight illuminating the luxurious suite. Matthew woke up first, still in bed, with his arms crossed behind his head, just watching Emily sleeping soundly. He could spend hours there, admiring her without interruptions, but soon the aroma of freshly brewed coffee called him out of bed.
After drinking, he approached the bathroom doors, which were ajar, letting out some of the hot steam from the shower. "Good morning," he called, with a slight teasing tone.
Emily answered from inside, her voice muffled by the water. "Good morning! I'm getting ready, almost ready. We have plans today, don't forget!"
Matthew didn't answer right away, but sat on the nearby couch, waiting while he scrolled through his cell phone. When the bathroom door opened, he looked up and completely lost his breath.
Emily emerged wearing a black bikini that seemed tailored for her. The delicate straps molded her shoulders and highlighted her silhouette flawlessly. The fabric shimmered slightly in the room's light, and her damp hair fell in natural waves over her shoulders. She carried a light, transparent beach cover-up in one hand, but she hadn't put it on yet.
"Ready for the beach?" she asked casually, but noticed his silence and stopped walking. "Matthew?"
He was still sitting, motionless, looking at her as if it were the first time he'd seen her. His dark eyes roamed her body with an intensity that made her blush.
"Are you going out like that?" he finally asked, his voice husky.
Emily blinked in surprise. "Sure, we're going to the beach."
Matthew ran a hand through his hair, trying to compose himself. "Do you have any idea what you're doing to me, Emily?"
She smiled, now aware of the effect she was having on him. He approached slowly, letting the beach cover-up fall onto the couch, and leaned in to steal a quick kiss before pulling away. "You'll have to wait until later."
Matthew let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "You're cruel."
The morning wore on, and before long, they were heading down to the hotel's private beach. The sun was shining brightly, but a refreshing breeze made the heat bearable. Emily carried a beach bag full of essentials, while Matthew held a cooler with some drinks.
When they arrived, the view was breathtaking. The white sand contrasted with the crystal blue of the sea, and there were few people around, which made the environment even more exclusive and peaceful.
Emily ran to touch the water, leaving Matthew to organize things under an umbrella. She squealed with joy as she felt the waves touch her feet. "It's perfect! Not too cold, not too hot!"
Matthew finished setting up the mat and sat down, watching her play by the water's edge. She looked radiant in the sun, her hair catching the light and her smile lighting up her entire face.
"Come on!" she called, waving him over.
He hesitated for a moment, but couldn't resist. He took off his shirt, revealing his athletic physique, and walked over to where she stood. Emily watched him in awe, biting her lip slightly, but looked away before he noticed.
They spent most of the morning alternating between swimming and relaxing on the sand. Emily challenged him to a race to a specific spot in the ocean, and of course, she cheated by diving in first. Matthew laughed as he reached out and pulled her into a hug, both of them laughing as the waves washed over them.
"You always play dirty, don't you?" he asked, still holding her close.
"I call it strategy," she replied, trying to look serious but failing as she laughed again.
After a while in the water, they decided to rest a bit. They sat under the umbrella, each holding a cold coconut they had bought from a street vendor.
"This is just what I needed," Emily said, sighing as she took a sip.
Matthew smiled, nodding. "You look so happy here."
"I am." She turned to him. "I think it's because… everything is simple here. There's no pressure, no commitments. Just… the two of us and the sound of the ocean."
He nodded, touching her hand. "Maybe we should do this more often."
"Is that a promise?"
"Absolutely."
After a short rest, they decided to walk along the beach. Emily picked up shells at the water's edge, showing the prettiest ones to Matthew, who just laughed at her excitement. At one point, she found a starfish and insisted that they take a picture together with it.
"You look like a kid when you're here," he commented, holding up his phone to take the picture.
"And you look like a grumpy old man," she replied, teasing him.
Matthew shook his head, still laughing. "I'll take it. As long as you keep being the kid who makes me laugh."
The afternoon passed at a leisurely pace, but Matthew couldn't ignore how stunning Emily looked. Every time she ran into the ocean or bent down to pick something up from the sand, he felt his heart race.
When they returned to the umbrella area, he caught her hand before she could sit down.
"What's wrong?" she asked, surprised.
"I just…" He hesitated, but pulled her closer, his fingers intertwining with hers. "I meant to say you look beautiful today. No, not beautiful… gorgeous."
She blushed, laughing nervously. "You're exaggerating."
"I'm not, Emily." He leaned in, his eyes fixed on hers. "I can't stop looking at you."
Before she could respond, he kissed her, and the world around them seemed to disappear. It was a slow kiss, full of passion and affection, as if he wanted to capture that moment forever.
When they broke apart, they were both breathless.
"Matthew..." she began, but he interrupted her.
"I know, we still have the rest of the day to enjoy. But I had to do this."
She smiled, resting her forehead against his. "You're impossible."
The rest of the afternoon was marked by more lighthearted and fun moments. Emily convinced Matthew to build a sandcastle, and he surprisingly took the project seriously, creating elaborate towers and even a moat.
"That's pretty good for someone who never does these things," she commented, impressed.
"I'm good at everything I set my mind to," he replied with a cocky smile.
"Cocky."
As the sun began to set, they decided to swim one more time before heading back to the hotel. The water was cooler now, but still pleasant. They stood side by side, floating and watching the sky turn shades of orange, pink, and purple.
"I could stay here forever," Emily murmured.
Matthew held her hand under the water. "Me too."
Back in the suite, while Emily showered, Matthew prepared something special for dinner. He had ordered room service to set up a table on the balcony, overlooking the moonlit sea. When she emerged from the bathroom, wearing a light dress and her hair still damp, he felt that same fascination he had felt earlier.
"Ready to end the day in style?" he asked, offering his hand.
Emily smiled, accepting the gesture. "With you? Always."
As Matthew pulled out the chair for Emily to sit in, the smile on his face was calm, but his gaze remained fixed on her, as if he didn't want to miss a single detail of this moment. The table was simply but elegantly decorated with a white tablecloth, scented candles, and a bouquet of tropical flowers in the center.
"You really prepared all this?" Emily asked, surprised and delighted.
Matthew nodded, pouring her a glass of wine. "I wanted to do something special to end the day. You deserve it."
Emily touched his arm affectionately. "You know that just being here together is special to me, right?"
He smiled but said nothing. Instead, he raised his glass. "A toast, then."
"To what?"
"To both of us. To the memories we're making."
Emily raised her glass as well, and the sound of the crystal clinking echoed softly across the balcony.
The food arrived minutes later, served by discreet servers who soon disappeared, leaving the couple to their own devices. There was fresh seafood, light pastas, and a tropical salad side dish that perfectly matched the mood.
"This is amazing," Emily commented, taking a bite of shrimp.
"You look surprised," Matthew replied, with a pleased smile.
"It's not every day you see a CEO planning a romantic dinner on the beach."
"I may be a CEO, but I also know how to prioritize what's most important."
She laughed. "Now you're trying to score extra points, huh?"
"Is it working?"
"Maybe..."
Dinner passed with laughter and lighthearted conversation, the two of them reminiscing about the funniest moments of the day. Emily told the story of how she almost tripped when she got out of the water because she was distracted by looking at him, and Matthew pretended not to notice, but the truth was that he had noticed every detail.
"You mesmerize me," he admitted suddenly.
Emily looked up from her wine glass, surprised by his sudden honesty. "What?"
"Ever since we met, you've had this effect on me. No matter where we are or what we're doing, all I can think about is you."
She smiled, blushing slightly. "You know you have the same effect on me, right?"
"Oh, yeah?" He leaned across the table, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Then I guess we're even."
When they finished dinner, Matthew suggested a walk along the beach, now under the moonlight. Emily agreed immediately, excited to prolong the night.
The sand was cool under her bare feet, and the sound of the waves was even softer in the darkness. Matthew walked beside her, their fingers intertwined, as the gentle breeze made Emily's light dress dance around her.
"Do you notice how everything seems more magical at night?" she asked, looking out at the horizon.
"With you here, everything seems magical," he replied without hesitation.
She laughed, pushing him lightly on the shoulder. "You need to stop saying that, or I'll start to think you're trying to convince me of something."
"What if I am?"
She stopped, looking at him with a curious expression. "Convince me of what?"
Matthew didn't answer right away. Instead, he gently pulled her close, wrapping her in a hug. "That I would do anything to see you happy. Always."
Emily felt her heart race. For a moment, she was speechless, just enjoying the warmth of his embrace and the way he held her, as if she were the most precious thing in the world.
Later, back in the suite, they were both exhausted, but not yet ready to call it a night. Matthew prepared two simple drinks at the bar in the living room, while Emily took off her earrings and tied her hair in a messy bun.
When she returned to the living room, he was already sitting on the couch, holding the two glasses. "I thought we could toast one more time, just the two of us."
Emily took the glass he offered and sat down next to him, pulling her legs up onto the couch and resting her head on his shoulder. "I think today was one of the best days of my life."
Matthew kissed the top of her head. "I hope this is just the beginning. I want to give you many more days like this."
"You're already doing a great job," she murmured, closing her eyes.
For a few minutes, they sat in silence, just enjoying each other's company. The sound of the sea could still be heard in the background, and the soft light from the lamps created a cozy atmosphere.
Before they went to the bedroom, Matthew stopped on the balcony to look at the landscape once more. Emily appeared behind him, hugging him from behind.
"Are you thinking of something?" she asked.
"Just saying thank you for today."
She smiled, squeezing him tighter. "Then we're in tune."
And with that, they went back inside, ending the day with the certainty that they were exactly where they were supposed to be: together.