Page 33

Bella

The Boston skyline glitters behind us as we glide past the Longfellow Bridge, the boat's gentle sway matching my racing pulse. I grip the railing, drinking in the late summer scene as sunlight dances across the Charles River's surface.

"You arranged this?" My voice catches as I turn to Ares, who's watching me with that insufferable, knowing grin.

He nods, hands tucked in his pockets. "Like it?"

I spin in a slow circle, taking in the elegant vessel—all polished wood and gleaming chrome.

We're the only passengers aboard, save for the small crew.

The August breeze carries the sweet scent of blooming water lilies and warm stone, just enough to stir my hair but not enough to cool the summer heat.

Above us, cotton-wisp clouds drift across an impossibly blue sky.

"I..." Words fail me. The trees lining the riverbank are still lush and green, though a few early turning leaves hint at the coming autumn.

The late afternoon sun gilds everything in honey-gold light, the water reflecting the sky like nature's own masterpiece.

My fingers itch for my sketchbook, wanting to capture this moment.

Warm arms slide around my waist, and Ares's chest presses against my back.

His breath tickles my ear as he murmurs, "Yesterday, I remembered how you used to talk about wanting to see Boston from the Charles River.

All those afternoons you spent sketching in the garden, dreaming about different perspectives, saying how the city would look like a painting from the water. .."

My heart stutters. He remembered that? Those quiet confessions, whispered between stolen kisses and shared dreams? The way I'd describe how I wanted to capture the city's soul from every angle, see its beauty from the water that shaped it. I lean back into him, emotion thick in my throat.

"I did say that," I whisper, watching the sunlight dance across the river's surface like scattered diamonds. "I can't believe you remembered."

His arms tighten around me, and I feel his chest press closer against my back.

His head lifts, and I watch his dark eyes dart from point to point across the horizon, scanning with an intensity that makes the hair on my neck prickle.

My own gaze follows his, sweeping across the river banks and other boats, but nothing stands out.

"Is everything okay?" I twist in his embrace, craning my neck until I can see his face.

He blinks twice, rapid and sharp, before his eyes lock onto mine.

"Hmm? Just keeping an eye out for those vultures.

" The corners of his mouth lift in what should be a reassuring smile, but the skin around his eyes remains taut, creating tiny creases at the corners.

"I thought I saw something, but it was nothing. "

I hold his gaze, searching for any hint of what might have caught his attention.

The boat rocks beneath us, a gentle side-to-side motion that sends ripples through my muscles.

His body heat seeps through my clothes, and my shoulders slowly unwind.

His face softens, the earlier tension melting away as his eyes remain fixed on mine, warm and present.

"Can I get you something to drink? We have a full bar, including some excellent local craft beers and wines."

His lips brush my temple, and I feel them curve into a smile against my skin. "What do you say, Red? Ready to toast to new beginnings?"

"Wine would be perfect." I catch myself leaning further into his warmth. "Red, please."

"Macallan 18, neat," Ares adds, his fingers still tracing patterns on my hip.

We stand in comfortable silence as the boat glides through the water, the late afternoon sun painting everything in honey-gold hues. A few leaves spiral down from overhanging branches, dancing on the breeze before joining their fallen companions on the river's surface.

"I've missed this," Ares murmurs against my hair. "Los Angeles has its charms, but there's something magical about watching the seasons change here. The way everything transforms, like nature's putting on a show just for us."

"How is life in LA?" I turn my head slightly, studying his profile.

"Meetings. Contracts. More meetings." His jaw tightens almost imperceptibly. "The usual corporate circus."

"What do you do for fun out there? When you're not being Mr. Corporate?"

His pause speaks volumes. "Ethan keeps me sane. We grab drinks, hit the gym..." He trails off, and that ache in my chest grows sharper.

I turn in his arms, my hand finding his cheek. Before I can overthink it, I press my lips to his—soft, sweet, barely there.

"What was that for?" His eyes search mine, thumb brushing my lower back.

"Oh, you know." I force lightness into my voice. "Just part of the girlfriend boyfriend package. Section 3, subsection B—spontaneous kisses during sunset boat rides."

His chuckle rumbles through his chest. "Ah, I must have missed that clause." He drops a quick kiss on my lips. "Though I believe Section 4 mentions something about reciprocation."

Someone clears their throat behind us. The crew member stands there with our drinks on a silver tray, trying and failing to hide his amusement.

"Your wine and scotch," he says, eyes twinkling. "Let me know if you need anything else. Like a copy of that interesting contract you mentioned."

My cheeks flush as I accept my wine, but Ares just winks at him. "Sorry, it's a very exclusive membership."

I accept my wine glass, the rich burgundy liquid catching the fading sunlight. Ares raises his scotch, his eyes dancing with mischief.

"To new beginnings..." He leans in close, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And all the places we haven't christened yet."

Heat floods my cheeks, but I raise my glass with a challenging smirk. "To working together..." I pause, letting my gaze drift deliberately down his body. "And thorough exploration."

His sharp intake of breath is all the victory I need.

The next couple of hours blur into a tapestry of perfect moments.

I catch myself memorizing details—the way Ares's fingers brush my lower back when he guides me to a better viewing spot, how his cologne mingles with the warm August evening air, the warmth in his eyes when he catches me taking pictures of things I want to paint.

"Would you like me to take a photo?" The crew member's voice breaks through our comfortable silence. "The light's perfect right now."

My fingers tremble as I reach for my phone, the smooth metal nearly slipping through my grasp. "Yes, please." Though I've never mastered the art of photography, this moment begs to be preserved.

Ares's palm settles warm and steady against my lower back, guiding me toward the railing.

Behind us, the Charles River glows like molten gold, its rippling surface painted in streaks of amber and rose by the sinking summer sun.

He steps closer, his arms encircling my waist, drawing me back until I'm nestled against the solid wall of his chest.

"Smile," the crew member says, my phone held aloft.

Ares dips his head, his lips grazing my earlobe. "Think about last night when you—"

"Ares!" A laugh bursts from my throat, unbidden and bright, as heat crawls up my neck and blooms across my cheeks. The phone makes its telltale click.

"Perfect." The crew member's eyes sparkle as they tap the capture button several more times. "You two are naturals."

I step away from Ares's embrace, closing the distance to reclaim my phone.

As I swipe through the images, my lungs forget how to work.

The screen captures us frozen in pure delight—my head tipped back, hair catching the golden light, mouth open in genuine laughter.

Ares gazes down at me, laugh lines deepening around his eyes, his smile wide and unguarded.

His stubble has grown over the past few days, the dark shadow along his jaw catching the golden hour light.

It makes him look different—more intense, more raw somehow.

Less the polished billionaire and more the man beneath all those careful layers.

I've grown addicted to the slight roughness against my skin when he kisses me, the way it leaves a delicious burn that lingers like a memory. There's something undeniably masculine about it, something that sends heat spiraling through me whenever I look at him too long.

The late summer sun wraps around us like a caress, the still-green trees and glittering water creating a perfect frame.

Joy radiates from the image, as if the years between us have melted away—just us, unguarded and real, his stubbled face and bright eyes making my heart stutter in a way that feels dangerously close to hope.

"This is gorgeous," I whisper, the words barely making it past my lips.

"The subject matter helps." His chin comes to rest in the curve where my neck meets my shoulder, his breath warm against my skin as he studies the screen. "Though I think we should recreate what I whispered, just to be thorough."

My elbow finds his ribs in a playful jab, even as I sink back against his solid frame. "You're incorrigible."

"And you like it."

Turning toward the view once more, I let the tranquil scene settle over me. Ares's arms slide around my waist, pulling me close, and I feel each deep breath he takes, his chest expanding and contracting against my spine.

The crew member discreetly retreats, leaving us alone with the sunset and our thoughts.

A flock of geese arrows across the sky, their calls echoing over the water.

Everything feels suspended in this golden moment—the gentle rock of the boat, the warmth of Ares's embrace, the way my heart feels too full and too light all at once.

For now, I let myself believe in the magic of this moment. Tomorrow can worry about itself.

As we finally dock, my body hums with wine and possibility. I rise on my tiptoes, pressing my lips to his. "Thank you for this. It was..."

Perfect feels too small a word.