It feels like honeymoon. – Liana
Liana
We were only an hour into the drive and I was already smiling like an idiot.
The windows were down. Sunlight streamed across the dashboard, painting golden lines across Elias’s arms as he drove. He wore sunglasses and that worn gray T-shirt I always secretly stole. The radio was playing something lazy and summery, and his fingers tapped the steering wheel in rhythm.
Every so often, he glanced over at me like I might disappear.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I teased, catching him for the third time.
He grinned. “Good. I just like looking at you.”
I rolled my eyes, turning back to the window.
Ten seconds later, I felt his hand sneak across the center console.
Fingertips brushing mine.
I didn’t move.
So he did it again. A little more obvious this time.
I turned to him slowly. “Elias.”
“Yes, princess?”
“You’re driving.”
He shrugged, completely unbothered. “I can multitask.”
I tried to swat him, but he caught my wrist and lifted my hand to his lips. Kissed the back of it.
“Cheater,” I muttered, cheeks warming.
He laughed.
We didn’t talk for a while after that. We were feeling the presence of each other.
The sun was warm. The road stretched out smooth and empty. And for the first time in almost a month, the silence wasn’t scary anymore.
I felt safe and full again because he’s here.
Elias
The resort was ridiculous, but that was exactly what I was going for.
She didn’t ask for anything. She rarely did.
I wanted to make it up to her—for leaving, even though it wasn’t my intention.
Palm trees lined the private driveway. Bougainvillea spilled over every archway. The villa had its own gate, its own pool, and the kind of bed that looked like it had swallowed a thousand clouds.
She walked in ahead of me, pulling off her sunglasses, and just… stopped.
Eyes wide. Mouth slightly parted. Her voice came out in a whisper.
“Wow… this is beautiful.”
I dropped the bags by the door. “That’s a good sign, right?”
She turned slowly, eyes wide, a trace of hesitation in her voice. “This place looks… expensive… Can we afford it?”
Her voice trailed off.
I walked up behind her and slid my arms around her waist.
“I’ve got savings,” I murmured against her ear. “Hazard pay. Overseas contracts. A few years doing things I don’t talk about.”
She turned her head slightly, looking at me over her shoulder, blinking. “You never told me you had money.”
I kissed her cheek. “Because you never asked. And because… none of it mattered until now.”
“I’ll hit the shower, then take you out for dinner, okay?”
“okay” she nodded.
So I kissed her shoulder, stepped in the bathroom.
