After a long day, you and Rafe find yourselves at the beach. The moonlight glimmers on the water, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore drowns out the noise of the world. The air is cool, the kind of breeze that feels refreshing after everything you’ve both been through.

Rafe pulls a blunt from his jacket pocket and lights it with a flick of his thumb. He takes a long drag, leaning back against a large rock, his eyes half-closed, already relaxed. He passes it to you without a word, his gaze lingering on the horizon.

You take a hit, feeling the smoke fill your lungs before releasing it into the night air. The weight of the day, the stress, the little things that had been bothering you, start to slip away. For the first time today, you can breathe.

Rafe takes the blunt back, exhaling a long stream of smoke. But instead of pulling it back to himself, he leans in closer, his lips brushing against yours. He gently blows the smoke into your mouth, his eyes locking with yours. The air between you feels charged, and for a moment, the world outside fades.

The kiss lingers longer than expected, his hand finding the back of your neck to pull you closer, deepening the connection. The taste of smoke, the warmth of his lips, and the way his touch makes your pulse quicken all blend together, erasing the tension from the day. He pulls away just enough to look at you, his eyes dark and focused, lips curling into a small, almost teasing smile.

“Better?” he asks, smirking cockily.