Ethan's POV
The silence thickened between us, the sea breeze curling around our skin. She was still staring at me, eyes unsure but not retreating. Her breath came slowly, steadily, like she was weighing every consequence.
Then Ember leaned in—not fast, not shy, just… willing.
Our lips met.
It wasn't wild or rushed. It was slow, curious, the kind of kiss that explored rather than consumed. Her hands trembled slightly as they found my shirt, and mine gently brushed down her arms, coaxing warmth into her chilled skin.
We moved inside the room, wordless, but somehow everything was being said.
The kiss deepened, slow at first—exploring, awakening. Her hands gripped my shoulders as I gently laid her down, our breaths mingling in the soft glow of the room.
"Are you sure?" I asked again, hovering over her.
She nodded, eyes steady. "Yes. I want this… with you."
Our clothes fell away, piece by piece, until nothing separated us but heat and rising anticipation.
When I entered her, she gasped softly—eyes widening at the sensation, her fingers clutching the sheets.
I moved gently at first, letting her adjust. Her soft moans escaped like whispers, hesitant at first but soon growing louder with every slow thrust. I held her tightly, grounding her to me, as her hips lifted to meet mine with growing urgency.
She was responsive, her body trembling with every touch, every roll of my hips against hers. The room filled with the sound of our breathing, the soft creak of the bed, and her name on my lips.
"Ethan…" she moaned, voice breaking.
I kissed her again—deep, desperate—as we lost ourselves in each other completely.
We didn't rush. We took our time, learning, discovering. And when we reached that peak together, it wasn't just satisfaction. It felt like something shifting between us, something neither of us had expected.
She lay on my chest afterward, warm and quiet, tracing patterns on my skin.
This time, there was no fog. We remembered every second.
When the morning came, golden light filtered through the curtains, painting the room in a soft glow. I opened my eyes slowly—and there she was.
Ember.
Sleeping soundly, her head resting on my chest, her arm draped around me like it belonged there. Her breaths were slow and even, her face peaceful—almost childlike in her innocence.
A soft smile tugged at my lips as memories from last night flickered in my mind. The way she looked at me. The way she touched me. The way we held each other like we'd been doing it for years.
Everything had changed.
We came to this island as strangers bound by circumstance. She was the girl who ruined my engagement. I was the man she was forced to marry. We were cautious, guarded… distant.
But last night, something broke between us. Or maybe something healed.
We went from dislike to something gentler. From untouchable to touchable. From pretending to something real.
But I knew one thing.
Leaving this island… wouldn't be as simple as I thought.
Ember's POV
He opened his eyes just as I was looking at him.
"You're already awake?" I whispered.
He smiled—a soft, lazy smile that made my breath hitch. That smile… the one I told myself I didn't care about, but had secretly been dying to see again. He looked too handsome, too relaxed, like all the weight he usually carried had melted overnight.
I tried to sit up, but his arm held me in place.
"It was just one night, mister," I said, avoiding his eyes.
He chuckled softly, his fingers brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "I don't think it'll just end in one night," he said, teasingly.
I narrowed my eyes. "Don't you want to go home, Mr. Hart?"
"Right now?" he smirked, pulling me slightly closer. "Not really. I kind of like this view."
My heart did an annoying flutter. I hated how easy it was to fall into his warmth. But I also hated how unsure I was about what last night actually meant.