The ocean stretches out in front of you, dark and endless, the water smooth like glass beneath the soft glow of the moon. The only sounds are the distant crash of waves against the shore and the low hum of the boat engine as Rafe steers, one hand resting on the wheel, the other laced with yours.

It’s late. Too late. You should probably be back by now, but neither of you care. The night air is warm, the kind that sticks to your skin, but Rafe hasn’t let go of your hand since you left the dock.

He glances at you, his lips twitching into a small smirk. “What?”

You shake your head, smiling. “Nothing.”

It’s a lie. It’s everything. It’s the way he looks at you like there’s nowhere else he’d rather be. The way his thumb traces lazy circles against your skin. The way he always brings you here, out into the quiet, where it’s just you and him and the ocean stretching into forever.

Rafe slows the boat to a stop, cutting the engine. The silence settles around you, heavy and intimate. The stars are bright above you, their reflection shimmering on the water. He turns to you fully now, his fingers still wrapped around yours, like he needs the contact.

“No one else gets to have you like this,” he murmurs, voice low, eyes searching yours. There’s something raw in the way he says it, something unspoken. He’s not just talking about tonight.

You don’t answer. You just reach for him, your fingers tangling in the fabric of his shirt as he pulls you in. The kiss is slow, deep, the kind that makes your head spin. His hands settle on your waist, grounding you. Holding you like he never wants to let go.

The boat rocks gently beneath you, the ocean carrying the moment like a secret.