Page 25 of When Constellations Form (Light in the Dark 4)

“Like what?” I counter.

She smirks. “Like you want to rip this bikini off and fuck me right here.”

“Then you have it exactly right.”

She frowns. “It’s too bad we have company then.”

I groan as I imagine peeling off her bikini and fucking her right here on the beach. Sure, in reality it’d probably be … messy and not practical, but in my mind, it’s hot as fuck. Unfortunately, the beach is covered with tourists and locals, making such impossible.

Thea stretches out on her towel. It’s the middle of the day already, and it’s hot as hell. We spent most of the morning lying in bed and gorging ourselves on room service. When we finally decided to leave the bed we both agreed that we wanted to sit on the beach.

“Forget this,” I say suddenly and hop up, pulling her along with me.

“Xander, no!” she shrieks when she realizes what I’m doing.

; “You’re not a witch. You aren’t going to melt if the water touches you,” I defend.

“Oh, yes I am.” She tugs on my hand trying to pull away in the other direction.

I shake my head and wrap my arms around her thin waist, hauling her to the water.

“Ahhh!” she cries, kicking her legs. Her efforts to get away are futile as I drag her into the water. It’s surprisingly cool, but feels refreshing against my heated skin.

I toss Thea gently into the water and she drops like a rock. She comes up sputtering a moment later. “I hate you.” She glares at me, her long hair hanging in wet strings around her face.

I laugh—I can’t help it.

“That was uncalled for.” She points at me like I’m an unruly child. “Now I’m soaked.”

“At least you’re cool,” I counter.

She splashes me just to spite me, I know, and I can’t help but laugh more.

I splash her back and then before I know it we’re having an all-out war in the middle of the ocean. She begins to laugh and her enjoyment makes me happier than just about anything. Thea likes to pretend she doesn’t like spontaneity but she’d be pretty bored if I didn’t keep her on her toes.

Somehow our war ends and she ends up in my arms with her legs wrapped around my waist beneath the water. Droplets of water drip from her nose back into the water. Her skin glows with a slight tan and something else—something entirely Thea.

“Hey, you.” I kiss her nose.

She wraps her fingers in my hair and tugs slightly. “Don’t ever drag me into the cold water ever again.”

I laugh. “It’s not that cold.”

“It’s cold enough,” she counters, looking down at her chest and pebbled nibbles.

I press my lips together, but my laughter erupts anyway. “Okay, so it’s chilly,” I concede.

She drops her legs from my waist and lets go to swim away. I grab her foot and tug her back.

“Xander!” She tries to sound scolding, but she’s smiling and there’s laughter in her voice.

“I have a question for you,” I defend.

She raises a brow and her lips quirk. “What is it?”

“How are you feeling?” I ask her, grabbing a wet piece of hair from her forehead and moving it behind her ear. “You seem better since the other morning but I want to make sure that’s true and you’re not hiding something from me.”