He towered over all of us with both height and insanely thick muscles. On top of that, the man was stunning.

His tan skin was flecked with finger-sized specks of something in random places. They glinted dark blue in the moonlight. His eyes seemed to glow the same shade, and his messy, dark hair was cut just short enough not to hide them entirely.

Multiple silvery-white piercings climbed up one of his ears, put on display thanks to the way his hair was shaved on the sides and around the back. There was a tattoo on his opposite shoulder in the same color. The mark was definitely made of magic somehow, but I couldn’t tell what it was supposed to resemble.

A pair of dark swim trunks clung to his hips and thighs, but I didn’t let my gaze linger there.

I shouldn’t have been looking at him at all.

The alt woman had said not to acknowledge him. Staring definitely counted.

I jerked my head back to its neutral position, staring straight ahead as the man reached the woman beside me.

A heartbeat later, my view of the dark ocean was concealed by a massive chest.

The specks on his skin were scales. I could tell, because one was less than six inches from my face.

The blood drained from my cheeks.

It wasn’t a good sign that he’d stopped where he had. Not even a little.

A cold knuckle brushed the bottom of my chin, and I nearly jumped.

The man tilted my head back, until my eyes met his.

They were blue.

So, very blue.

Like bottomless pits of⁠—

He dipped his head, and his lips met mine.

The kiss was softer than I would’ve ever expected.

It surprised me so much, I didn’t jerk away.

His tongue brushed my lips, and for some insane reason, I parted them for him.

One of his hands went around my waist as his tongue met mine, the taste of him warm and spicy, with a hint of salt. My hands went to his neck of their own volition. I wasn’t in control of them.

He picked up the pace, kissing me deeper. Faster. Hotter.

My mouth moved with his as I pulled him closer, desperate for more.

Tingles raced over my shoulder and down my spine as we made out shamelessly on the beach, but I barely noticed them.

I barely noticed anything.

Until a throat finally cleared nearby. And suddenly, the man’s tongue slowed.

I started coming to my senses as he eased his mouth away, pressing his forehead to mine. We both caught our breath, staring into each other’s eyes. I should’ve been embarrassed, but I was just stunned.

And confused.

Very confused.

Women making out with the alt who stole them had definitely never made the news.

The man murmured something so quietly, I barely made the words out.

“Evve tah.”