‘I’m not saying no now.’
‘You’re really not.’ His eyes lit up.
Even though they were on an island filled with other people, it felt like they were the only ones for miles and miles. The ocean stretched to where the moon pooled in its depths and a million stars twinkled down on them and only them.
Freya led Zander into the refreshing coolness of the villa. This time it didn’t feel reckless or too soon. There was not a hint of uncertainty in her heart, only a longing that had been building day by day as they slowly got to know and understand each other. It crossed Freya’s mind as they reached the top of the stairs that they’d needed everything to have happened with Aaron, the bookshop and the fire to make them realise their true feelings.
‘I don’t even know which one’s your room.’ Freya paused on the landing that overlooked the open-plan downstairs.
Zander led her this time, stopping before he reached the room she’d stayed in on the night of the fire. He pushed open the door and let her in first. The bedroom was dark, lit only by the moonlight flooding through the open doors that led to the balcony. It made sense him being at the heart of the villa. On the night of the fire, she’d slept in the room next to him but hadn’t realised. Her heart fluttered.
After letting the sexual tension between them build for weeks, they wasted no time. Freya peeled off Zander’s shirt and got her first proper look at the chest she’d admired in magazines. He’d grown into his handsomeness, his boy band good looks had aged well. He’d gained a maturity in his appearance as well as his outlook on life. Zander didn’t hesitate either, making light work of removing her thin strapless top and skirt, leaving them on the floor. She slid on to the bed after him, pulling off his shorts and leaving a trail of kisses across his chest and up to his lips. The bed sheets had the same floral freshness she’d noticed when she’d first stayed, mixed with the rich spiced scent of Zander’s aftershave. Zander freed the bow tying her bikini and slowly pulled it down. It was his turn to leave kisses across her hot damp skin. Freya closed her eyes and wrapped her legs around him.
~
Morning was a magical time on Loabi Fushi, before the sun got too high and the heat too intense. Dusk was filled with the chatter of fruit bats in the trees, while the morning felt peaceful with most of the guests on the island still asleep and only the occasional call of a bird and the gentle swoosh of the ocean lapping the white sand beaches.
Freya hadn’t had much sleep, but what sleep she did have had been deep and satisfying, wrapped in Zander’s arms, the air conditioning cooling their hot skin. They’d woken early, had made love again, and then covering themselves in a bed sheet, went outside to the balcony, giggling.
They lay curled together on the daybed overlooking Driftwood Cove. The sun was rising on the other side of the island, but the silvery pink tinge had crept across the sky making the ocean shimmer.
‘What if I told you I don’t want you to leave?’ Zander trailed his fingers through Freya’s hair.
Lying against his shoulder, she glanced up at him. ‘You want to keep me on at the bookshop after the nine months is up?’
‘I mean, I don’t want you to leave. Ever.’
Freya swallowed hard, the meaning of his words hitting her. He wasn’t just talking about the bookshop.
‘I don’t know what to say... me and you, it would never...’
‘What? Work?’
‘I’m not from your kind of world.’
‘And that’s exactly why I want to be with you.’ He took her face in his hands. ‘You don’t even realise how amazing you are, and grounded and kind, thoughtful, intelligent. My past is behind me and I don’t want to fall into the trap of fame and money and possessions being more important than anything else ever again. I live a charmed life; I’ve built a business I’m passionate about which has soul and integrity and gives back to the local community while offering people the chance to experience a holiday of a lifetime, but I want to share it with someone who cares more about books than celebrity and would rather chat into the early hours than go to a premiere and be photographed by paparazzi. Someone who makes me happy. I want to share it all with you.’
He kissed her. Pressed against him, she could feel his heart pounding. He leant his forehead on hers.
‘I want you to live here, Freya.’
‘Here?’
He nodded and laughed. ‘Yes, here, with me. I want to wake up with you every morning, because I love you.’
His words filled her with joy. She didn’t need to think about a reply, the words were out of her mouth before she even realised. ‘I love you too.’
‘You do?’
She took his hand and kissed him. ‘I really do.’
She really did. She snuggled back against him and he encircled his arms around her, warm against her bare skin. She touched Amber’s pendent and slid her fingers between Zander’s, tracing the outline of the ‘W’ on his ring. Heartache and loss, disappointment and loneliness had brought her to the island, family and hope, a soulmate and love would keep her here. A wave of absolute contentment swept over her, echoing the gentle way the waves lapped the sand below. That loneliness and heartache that had consumed her back home had slowly been chipped away, first by new friends and then by Zander, a man she’d assumed so much about, but who had ultimately captured her heart.
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