“This heat is awful,” Jamie said and waved her hand in front of her face. “Would you mind if John and I headed back?”
Faith shook her head. “Not at all. Honestly, I think we’ll come with you. It’s ridiculously hot.” She glanced at Asher who nodded in return, wiping the sweat off his brow.
“Thank goodness!” Eve sighed. “Let’s head back.”
Luca gripped my hand and gave me an indiscreet look. “I think Mags and I will hang back a bit, if it’s okay with her.”
I nodded, but I didn’t want to stay in the heat any longer either. “We’re getting some ice cream.”
Our group left us to it and headed back to the air-conditioned resort. I looked at Luca. “You’re crazy.”
“Let’s go get you that ice cream.” He chuckled.
I grumbled but followed him to the ice cream stand. I stared into the mass of people around us and caught a glimpse of someone familiar. I squinted my eyes and used my hand to shade the sun from my gaze.
“Got the ice cream.” Luca handed me my chocolate cone. “What do you—”
I gasped at who was in the crowd, mingling with a young blonde. “Luca, is that…”
He gripped his cone, causing it to cave under the pressure and the ice cream to fall to the ground. “My father.”
Before I could blink, he stormed through the crowd over to his dad and the blonde. My feet started moving, and I was right behind him as he yelled at his father.
“Who the fuck is this?” He gestured toward the blonde with owlish eyes. The anger came off him in waves. I’d never seen him so upset before.
His father shook his head. “I’m not sure, son. I just met the girl. I was apologizing for accidentally bumping into her.”
I gripped Luca’s arm. “Sorry, Mr. Reed. We just noticed you two over here and wanted to say hi.”
His dad’s lip snarled as he glanced between us but he smiled, covering the expression. “Lovely.” He turned back to the girl. “Sorry, my son must have misread what was happening. Again, I do apologize for running into you.”
She waved her hand and glanced between the three of us with a bewildered expression. “Uh, it’s fine. Have fun at the festival.” She pivoted on her heels and booked it away from us.
Mark glowered at Luca. “I told you, I love your mother. I wouldn’t betray her trust again.”
Luca clicked his tongue, his fists closing at his side. “Yeah, right. Sorry.” He gritted those words out before grabbing my hand and leading me away without another word.
We boarded the ferry and headed back to the resort in silence. When we were outside our rooms, he unlocked his door, and I followed him inside. He collapsed on his bed and put his hands over his face.
I glided over and sat down next to him. “You’re not crazy. It looked rather intimate of your father, the way he talked to the girl.”
He groaned. “I know. I hate that you had to see that.”
I pressed a kiss to the tip of his nose. “I’m here, Luca. For all of it. Good and bad. But for the record, I would have been pissed if I was you.”
His jaw tightened before he grasped the back of my hair and brought my lips to his. His lips were rough against mine. It wasn’t slow and tender like the night on the beach but steamy, demanding. “Magnolia,” he whispered my full name, prolonging each syllable as if to savor it.
My lips curved into a smile, and my heart fluttered at the sincerity in his voice. I clasped my hands on each of his cheeks. Never had my name ever sounded so fucking perfect.
As his lips moved in harmony against mine, the world gave way. His hand rested below my ear, his thumb rubbed my cheek as our breaths mingled. I pulled him closer until there was no space left between us. His heart beat against my chest, and I knew I needed to feel him closer.
“Clothes, off,” I breathed. Our hands fumbled with each other’s clothes as they were torn off and thrown on the floor. Without the barrier of the clothing, we were able to get even closer.
As he thrust inside, I let out an uncontrollable moan. This wasn’t just sex anymore, it was something deeper. With that realization, I was writhing in pleasure as an orgasm hit me. The side of his thighs were pressed against mine, and I surrendered completely to the notion of love. I sensed every movement. As he came, electricity sparked between us like a magnetic field.
Did he feel it too, the immense swelling of love that blossomed between the two of us?
Day Five
5 PM - 8 PM - Rehearsal Dinner
Mags went to her room to get ready for the rehearsal dinner tonight. Weirdly enough, my chest ached when she left, even though she was only a door away. I wasn’t sure what I felt, but I didn’t want to lose her that was for damn sure. That alone scared me shitless.
I stood in front of the mirror and fixed the collar on my shirt. We had a dress code of semi-formal, and I dressed in a light blue button-up with dress slacks. My hair was unruly from the lack of a haircut. It grew fast and back home I had to get it cut every week to stay in regulation with work. I forked a hand through the black strands to tame it.
A few minutes later, I’d deemed myself presentable and knocked on Mags’ door. I sucked in a sharp breath as I let my gaze wander from her bouncy blonde hair that hit just above her elbows to her long, smooth
