The water was cold, but pleasant. In the darkness of the night, only their silhouettes hovered above the surface of the sea, and the waves gently rocked them, as if time had slowed in this one moment. Rafe and you stood in the water, submerged to your waists, though the faint sound of the ocean seemed full of intensity.

Although it wasn’t the perfect place or time, in that moment, nothing else mattered. It was just you and him – inseparable in the quiet of the night. The sea around you was unpredictable, but you could feel Rafe keeping you close. His hands were strong, and his gaze was full of focus. Every move was calculated, though both of you were aware that not everything was under control.

The cold water on your skin brought relief, but your heart was beating faster. Rafe looked at you, not averting his gaze, his eyes deep and unreadable. The smile that appeared on his face was slightly teasing, but still full of that familiar intensity that made it impossible to resist.

Rafe slowly moved closer, the water swirling around you, but still, you didn’t feel compelled to pull away. Your bodies were close, only a few inches separating you from an even more intimate space. His touch shifted into a gentle caress, and your heartbeat quickened.

“We’re not here by accident, are we?” Rafe asked, his voice low, filled with certainty, as if he knew what was going on in your head.

You paused for a moment, considering your response, but instead of words, you felt the water beneath you rise slightly, and he gently cupped your face, forcing you to look into his eyes.

“I’ve always known there was something between us…” he added, his voice growing softer, more personal. “But I didn’t expect to feel this way…”

Before you could respond, his lips were already near yours, and the kiss, though full of passion, was still gentle, as if neither of you wanted to let this moment slip away. There was something in that touch, in the exchange of breaths, that made the rest of the world disappear, as if it didn’t exist.