Half-naked, Bellamy grabbed her tightly and pressed her chest up against his warm torso, a place she’d be happy to stay forever. He nuzzled her cheek and she felt the soft brush of his lips as he whispered in her ear. “Just so you know, Rose, I've seen your dreams, and I know what pleases you.”

There wasn’t a doubt in her mind. “Thanks for the heads up.”

Rose tingled with excitement from head to toe as she gazed into Bellamy’s killer dark brown eyes. All the need and desire that surely filled him shone through his aura of mystery, like sunlight finding its way through the cracks of an old building. The man inside the enigma was ready to catch fire, and she wanted to be his spark. Rose had never felt so alive than right there in that moment. Being with him on this tiny heap of land, away from the world. Nothing else mattered. Bellamy wrapped an arm around her waist so that she couldn't escape even if she'd wanted to. A tiny sigh escaped her throat.

“Rose—”

“Shhh, don’t talk.” Words hadn't got them this far. Chemistry had. It was time to let that do the talking.

He nodded and traced an index finger along her bottom lip. She nipped the tip, then sucked it in, tonguing the appendage until he groaned.

“Rosssse—” He caught her face, fiercely, in both of his hands and kissed her with a passion that ignited her insides like nothing had ever done before. No drink. No drug. Nothing in life even seemed real up to this point.

His tongue toyed against the seam of her mouth and she willingly opened to welcome him. He delved in, a beautiful taste of wine and peanut butter touched her taste buds, lapping and swirling until her knees trembled. With a regretful sigh, she pulled away.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“Nothing. I-I…just need to know this is for real. This craziness. It feels like a dream. But…”

His thumb covered her mouth, ordering her to stop. “No, don’t think of that now. It’s whatever you want it to be, Rose. Delight in it. Delight in me as I will in you.”

And so, she did.

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

“So... what happens now?”

Rose realized it was the first time she'd ever asked that question so soon after making love to a guy for the first time. The question had weight, the answer had consequences, and in her experience men were not comfortable with either, at least not on a first date. But the truth was, neither was she. The sex had been amazing, far better than she could have hoped for. But now that the silence had returned, reality had begun to seep into their perfect island tryst. Reality in the shape of doubt, bad timing, all the practicalities of hooking up with someone whose life and circumstances she knew precious little about.