Page 47 of Reckless Hearts

Seb stops at the base of the path before it begins to wind back up. He looks out at the wild waves crashing in, and I can’t help wrapping my arms around him from behind and placing a gentle kiss on the back of his neck.

Seb turns in my arms, and we kiss properly, soft and unhurried. Just Seb’s lips moving against mine.

A simple kiss.

People are coming down the path to the bay, so this is not a kiss that can lead to anything.

Yet, when we pull apart, I’m breathless.

And that breathlessness remains with me as we climb the hill.

When we get to the top, Seb slides me a look.

“You look like you’re worrying about something,” he says.

I stare down at Sandfly Bay.

This landscape is wild and stark, raw and beautiful.

It’s a landscape that inspires truth.

But I don’t want to say the truth to Seb.

I’m worried I’m starting to like you too much.

11

Seb

Somehow, I’ve stumbled into a surreal fantasy world where I’m regularly hooking up with the most gorgeous and charming guy on the planet.

It’s like being bitten by a radioactive spider and gaining superpowers or being chosen as the next contestant onThe Bachelor: Alternate Universe Edition.

At the start, I could remember the details of every encounter with Marcus.

There was the time we fooled around in Marcus’s shower, and the sight of water cascading down Marcus’s incredible body made my mouth hang open, which turned out to be not a great thing around running water. Then there was the time Marcus took charge, pinning me down while he took his time to explore every sensitive spot I didn’t know I had, which also led to the discovery of a multitude of noises I hadn’t realized I was capable of making. Then there was the time we decided to experiment with ice cubes, but I somehow managed to drop the entire tray on Marcus’s body. Luckily, he’d found the incident funny rather than accusing me of attempting grievous bodily harm.

The thing is, it’s not just his gorgeous looks and charm and the incredible sex that have me entranced.

It’s the glimpses I get of another version of Marcus. One less cocky, more…thoughtful. And definitely more caring than I expected.

Then there was the time I fell asleep by accident and Marcus didn’t wake me up. Since then, sleeping over has turned into a regular thing.

Now, after we have sex, he’ll pull me close and put on an episode ofRed Dwarfas I lie with my head on his chest, his fingers drawing circles on my skin.

Marcus doesn’t seem as interested in the show’s plotlines as I am. I’ll often look up to find him watching me instead of the TV, with an impossible-to-read expression on his face.

I’m trying to tell myself that sleeping over doesn’t mean anything, that it’s simply convenience so we can have round two in the morning.

But honestly? There’s nothing I like more than waking up in Marcus’s arms, his warm breath on the back of my neck.

Tonight, though, it’s still dark when I wake up.

Marcus is holding me like normal, but he’s twitching in his sleep, his breathing rapid and shallow. He lets out a strangled cry, his body jerking violently.

I turn to face him. Sweat beads on his forehead as he mumbles incomprehensibly.

His body goes rigid, and he lets out a deep sob. It’s filled with so much anguish I can’t bear it.