Sweet Hatred Chapter 337: Formentera pt 3

But finally, with obvious reluctance, he set down like I was the most fragile glass. I huffed, stomping back toward the food tray with all the dignity I could salvage.

He followed, of course, slipping into the chair beside like he hadn’t just manhandled . We ate in silence after that, though I could feel his eyes flick toward every few minutes, as if daring to look back.

When I was full, I collapsed against the pillows with a groan. "I’m not moving again."

"Ever?" he asked dryly.

"Ever."

And true to my word, I didn’t. The entire afternoon blurred into soft, lazy hours where I refused to leave the bed and he disappeared to do whatever shady Roman business occupied his ti, only to return at intervals, once with water, another ti just to lean over and press his lips to my forehead, pretending it was practical but really just to bother .

By evening, though, he’d had enough. He yanked back the covers with a smirk that made want to slap him.

"Up."

"No."

"Aria."

I glared. He just stood there, arms crossed, waiting out until finally I groaned and let him drag up by the wrist.

"To the beach," he said simply, and this ti, I didn’t fight him.

...

The sun was sliding lower, painting the whole island in shades of gold and orange that made everything feel like a dream. Kids were shrieking in the distance, chasing each other along the shoreline, couples strolled hand-in-hand, vendors called out in Spanish from little carts along the road.

And ? I was clinging to Kael like my life depended on it, my arms tight around his waist as he gunned the rented scooter down one of Forntera’s winding roads.

"Kael!" I shrieked as the wind whipped past us. "You bastard! Slow down!"

His laugh was maddening. "I thought you liked the thrill?"

"I like living!" I yelled, burying my face against his back. His chest rumbled with amusent, and I could practically feel his smirk.

By the ti we skidded to a stop at the edge of a quiet cove, my heart was hamring for all the wrong reasons. I climbed off the scooter on shaky legs, glaring at him as he swung it onto its stand like he hadn’t just tried to give a heart attack.

"This is why you’re not allowed near vehicles," I muttered.

He only reached for my hand, tugging down toward the sand without a shred of remorse.

The beach was empty here, waves curling lazily onto the shore, the sunset spilling fire across the water. My shoes were gone in seconds, toes curling into the cool, wet sand. And before I could think twice, I splashed at him, just a playful flick of water.

Kael stilled. Then raised a brow.

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

That was all it took. He waded in after , and I shrieked, backing away as he kicked up water like a lunatic. Soon we were both drenched, laughing and shoving and taunting each other.

And then I lunged, tackling him with a laugh that died in my throat when he moved faster, stronger, flipping us both so the waves crashed over my body while he caged against the sand beneath the water.

"You’re insane," I panted, water dripping from my hair into my eyes.

His grin was pure danger. "And you’re trapped."

"Am I?"

Before he could answer, I dragged him down to , lips crashing against his. Saltwater, heat, Kael’s weight pressing into the ocean floor, it all tangled until I couldn’t tell where I ended and he began.

I wrapped myself around him, desperate and reckless, the world disappearing into the sound of the waves and the pounding of my heart. His hands road my body with careful hunger, his mouth devouring mine like I was the only thing that could keep him alive.

And for that mont, I didn’t care about anything else. Not the past, not the guilt, not the shadows waiting to find us.

Just him. Just us.

Kael’s mouth was on mine like he’d been starving for years and finally decided to feed. The waves crashed around us, drenching my clothes, soaking his hair, salt stinging my lips, but none of it mattered.

Because he was everywhere. His weight pressed down, his hands gripping my waist like I’d vanish into the tide if he let go. Every drag of his lips, every nip, every hungry groan against my mouth was fire pouring through my veins.

I tightened my legs around his waist, pulling him closer, needing him closer, and he groaned, low, feral, like he was one second away from tearing every last shred of restraint to pieces right there in the ocean.

"Aria..." His voice was ragged, broken, his eyes burning into mine like he was begging for air. "You’re going to kill ."

I didn’t answer. I didn’t want to. My nails scraped through his wet hair, down his neck, urging him back to my mouth. And he gave in, kissing again with reckless abandon, deeper, harder, until I swore the sea itself couldn’t cool us down.

Then, just as my lungs burned, just as the world tilted into sothing dangerous, he tore himself back with a curse, his chest heaving. His hands trembled where they still clutched .

"That’s enough." His voice was low, like he was trying to convince himself more than . He pressed one last brutal kiss to my swollen mouth before pulling upright with him, water dripping down both of us.

I blinked at him, dazed, lips tingling, body still aching with the hunger he’d lit. "Enough?" I whispered.

Kael’s green eyes darkened, promising everything I couldn’t even say aloud. He brushed a thumb over my cheek, lips curling into that wicked smirk that made my stomach drop.

"For today." His tone was a dangerous vow. "Tomorrow... and the day after... and every goddamn day after that, " he kissed again, rough, quick, devastating, "I’m going to remind you you’re mine."

I wanted to argue. I wanted to demand more right then, right there. But all I could do was cling to him, shivering under the setting sun, and try not to drown in the terrifying, beautiful truth of how much I loved him.