Page 12

DANIEL

I look at her. She’s lost in her thoughts. I watch her as the setting sun casts a warm, golden glow on her face, her hair gently ruffled by the soft ocean breeze. The light bathes her in its soft, warm, amber hue. Her body is revealed in a green bikini that highlights her curves perfectly, and it’s hard not to notice how beautiful she looks. I need to see that smile of hers; it seems like it's becoming my favorite thing to see. “I have an idea,” I say slowly. She looks at me intensely. “Let’s make sandcastles.”

She blinks at me for a moment then laughs. “What?” Her surprise at my suggestion is endearing, her laughter filling the air with a sweet melody that’s as captivating as her smile. Her eyebrows quirk in surprise as she looks at me, her eyes filled with skepticism and amusement.

“Sandcastles?” she echoes, a hint of disbelief in her voice. “Are you for real?”

I can’t help but chuckle at her bewildered expression, her reaction fueling the spark of mischief within me. “Yes. Actually, let’s compete.” I smile smugly.

Her surprise quickly morphs into a smirk, her laughter fading into a challenging glare. I press my lips together to stifle the laughter bubbling in me, loving the way she rises to my bait, the competitive spirit flaring within her.

“And what will I get if I win?” She faces me, intrigued by my proposal.

I chuckle devilishly. “First of all, you’re not going to win.” I correct her. She scoffs. “And secondly, good question.” She rolls her eyes, laughing slightly.

“How about I do anything you want me to do if you win?” I suggest. “And if I win,” I whisper as I shift closer to her, squeezing her hand. She gasps softly, her lips parting. “If I win,” I repeat, my voice low and sultry. I lean in to whisper in her ear, a slight shiver coursing through her body at my proximity. “I will throw you into the water.” I smirk. She turns bright red at my words, her eyes widening with shock. Her hands fly up to my chest, pushing me away half-heartedly.

“You wouldn’t dare,” she accuses, but there’s a hint of excitement behind her feigned annoyance.

“Come on. You are at a beach, with no water or sand on your body. It’s unfortunate.”

She shoots me a glare, her hands on her hips, though I can see the hint of a smile on her face. “You’re going to regret it,” she threatens.

“Oh, really?” I say, raising an eyebrow, enjoying the way she gets riled up. “I’d like to see you try and defeat me.”

With that, she huffs, turns on her heel, and stomps off. I can’t help but chuckle as I watch her walk away, her hips swaying tantalizingly.

“What? Are you going to just stand there and stare at me?” she exclaims. I get up and follow her, my eyes still admiring her figure as she stops near the water’s edge.

“Are you ready to lose?” I tease her, coming up behind her. She turns around, her eyes sparkling with determination. She scoffs, sticking up her middle finger at me. “Looks like someone’s feeling confident,” I say, still smiling. “You’re feisty.”

She crosses her arms over her chest defiantly, sticking out her tongue at me. I laugh, thoroughly entertained by her brattiness. I’m about to reply when she suddenly bends down to start gathering sand.

My eyes immediately drop to her behind, her body straining slightly as she scoops up the sand. I feel my mouth go dry, my thoughts getting distracted. I quickly shake my head. I might like her, but I happen to be quite competitive myself. I have to win. Plus, think of the reward. I smirk as I bend down to start working on my own creation.

But it’s difficult to concentrate. The sight of her working on her sandcastle in that adorable little bikini is torture. As I build my castle, I glance over at her every few moments, admiring her focused expression and appreciating the view of her from behind.

Her tongue sticking out in concentration, her arms reaching out and digging in the sand, her legs bent in an enticing manner–I won’t be surprised if I lose because it’s impossible to focus.

I scoop up wet sand, pressing it firmly as I shape the base of my castle. My focus wavers when I glance at Anya. She’s crouched over her creation, her brows furrowed in deep concentration. Her hands move quickly, smoothing the walls and perfecting every tiny detail, like the fate of the world depends on this sandcastle. When she looks up, her eyes lock with mine, fierce and challenging. “Don’t just sit there slacking,” she says, her tone sharper than it should be for something so trivial. I grin, but her intensity pulls me in. Maybe I should take this seriously too.

A few moments later, she jumps up. “I am done! I am done!” she exclaims. Her exclamation draws me out of my distracted state, and I lift my head to see her standing, hands on her hips, looking pleased with her work. I raise an eyebrow and straighten up, moving to stand next to her.

My eyes rake over her creation, and I stare at her. “Is that it?” I ask, truly confused. She tilts her head, puzzled by my question, and her eyes land on my work. She gasps. Her mouth opens and then closes, and she eyes me warily.

“You haven’t finished it yet, so I win.” She shrugs.

I chuckle. “The competition never had a time limit, sweetheart.” My smug tone makes her eyes snap up to mine, her mouth curving into a pout, frustration written all over her face. “My castle is still only halfway done and I am already winning.” I can’t help but chuckle at her reaction, finding her pouty expression adorable.

“Don’t worry. You put up a good fight.”

Her eyes narrow at my words, realizing the hidden mockery in them. “First of all, you don’t get to decide who wins.” She pokes my chest. “You will obviously say you won.” She huffs and gazes around on the beach and smiles slyly. “Let’s ask Siya.” She smirks.

A smug smile tugs on my lips, too. “Fine.” I intentionally graze her arm with mine. “Let’s do that, Firecracker,” I whisper. “But I must say, you’re a sore loser, Anya,” I murmur in her ear.

Her body tenses at my touch, the tips of her ears turning pink. “I’ll have you know, I don’t lose. And I’m not about to start now,” she whispers.

“I don’t know about other things—” I stand up straight. “---but you do lose your temper pretty quickly,” I add in a hushed tone. She stares at me, her face redden, as she folds her arms, pushing her breasts together. My eyes linger on her chest a little longer than they should. I clear my throat. I don’t think it’s humanly possible for anyone to be as red as Anya is right now. I am genuinely concerned now.

She looks away, suddenly waving at Siya. My eyes remain fixed on her. “Come here!” she mouths. Siya comes walking forward. She looks at Anya then sees the sand castles and grins. “Whose castle is better?” Anya asks. There’s an edge in her voice, and I know she’s trying to cheat, but I let her. I think I would let her get away with anything.

I see Siya’s struggling expression. She definitely knows mine is better, but her best friend is against me. She suppresses a grin. “Anya, I am so sorry.” She sighs. “I can’t lie so blatantly.”

Anya gasps and I chuckle. “Oh no, Siya. You just made your life worse.” Siya’s words hang in the air and Anya’s eyes widen further, her mouth agape at the betrayal. She looks between Siya and me, disbelief written all over her face.

I struggle to contain my laughter, finding the situation more entertaining than I should.

“You see, Anya, sometimes the truth can be tough,” I say, trying to sound sympathetic but unable to conceal the teasing lilt in my voice.

As I continue to look at Anya, her expression shifting from shock to annoyance, I can’t help but revel in the moment. She’s struggling to find a comeback, her frustration growing. She huffs, her cheeks flushing, and turns her gaze back to me, fixing me with a glare.

“That’s not fair,” she finally says, her voice laced with a mixture of anger and embarrassment. “You guys are being biased!”

“You can always ask for another opinion,” Siya suggests slowly.

Anya looks at her. “There’s no need for that.” She pouts. “Fine, I lose.” She looks at me through her hair.

I raise an eyebrow, a mixture of surprise and satisfaction on my face. “Are you admitting defeat, Firecracker?” I wasn’t expecting her to accept defeat so easily, and the sight of her scowling is too adorable to handle.

She nods slowly. “You’re the witness, Siya. You can’t go back on your words now, Anya.” I chuckle evilly.

“It’s not my fault. I grew up in Delhi. There weren’t many beaches around.” She rolls her eyes.

“Excuses won’t work now, Firecracker.” I tease, my voice low and laced with amusement. “You lost fair and square. Admit it.”

I close the gap between us, standing directly in front of her, forcing her to look up at me now. I love the difference in height, towering over her petite frame, a little power game we often play. Her eyes stay fixed on mine, still defiant, but there’s a hint of wariness in them too.

“So, you admit I won?” My voice is low, almost a whisper. Siya coughs and Anya pushes me away. Her breathing quickens she looks away, nodding. I can’t help but marvel at Anya’s pouting expression, her cheeks flushed in frustrated defeat. The real prize here is the sight of her, so adorably flustered.

“I won. Now, I get to claim my prize,” I remind her, a sly grin tugging at the corners of my mouth. “Ready for it?”

“I will just submerge myself in the water. Happy?” She groans.

I laugh. “Where’s the fun in that?” I feign innocence. “How about I do the honors?” She rolls her eyes, but I see a small smile finally tugging on her lips.

“So water we waiting for!” I exclaim.

Siya chuckles while Anya just blinks at me repeatedly. “Are you serious?” She pulls a face.

“Damn serious!” I grin widely.

“Lord, give me patience or—” She glares at me.“---an untraceable handgun.” I am always amused at how easily she drops these murderous comments in the middle of a conversation while looking so fucking tiny and adorable.

I don’t give her much time to taunt me anymore. I pick her up bridal-style. She squeals. “What are you doing?” she exclaims, her voice laced with a mixture of surprise and feigned annoyance. She grabs onto my shoulders for support. I love the way she feels in my arms—so light and dainty .

Her hands tighten their grip on my shoulders, her slender fingers pressing into my muscular arms, and I can feel her body tense up slightly as I lift her effortlessly. For someone who acts so tough and assertive, she sure is easy to fluster.

“Don’t worry, Firecracker. I’ve got you.” I reassure her with a smug smile, enjoying the way her eyes widen and her ears turn red. Her warmth radiates through her bikini against my chest, and I can’t help but notice the faint scent of coconut and sunscreen that clings to her skin. It’s intoxicating, drawing me in closer despite the playful banter.

As we approach the edge of the water, she clings to me tighter, her fingers digging into my shoulders. “Daniel, I swear if you drop me, I will never forgive you,” she threatens, her voice a mix of amusement and genuine concern.

“You have my word, firecracker.” I assure her with a mischievous grin. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” With a swift movement, I step into the shallow surf, the cool water lapping at our feet. Anya lets out a squeal, her grip on me tightening even more as she instinctively leans back, away from the water. Her eyes widen, panic flickering across her face, and I can’t help but laugh at her adorable reaction.

“Relax, it’s just water,” I tease, pretending to lose my balance just to see her reaction. She squeaks and tightens her grip, her body pressing closer to mine, her eyes locked onto mine with a mix of anxiousness and slight fear.

I take another step, the water now up to my knees, and I can feel her tense up even more. “Daniel, seriously,” she pleads, her voice now tinged with a hint of desperation. “I’m warning you.”

But I ignore her protests, enjoying the playful dance between us. With a quick, fluid motion, I lower her closer to the water’s surface, the cool waves lapping gently against her feet. Anya lets out a startled gasp, her eyes wide as she realizes she’s now just inches away from the water .

“See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” I tease, my voice low and playful. She glares at me, but the corners of her lips twitch upwards in a reluctant smile.

“You’re impossible,” she mutters, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and amusement.

I hold her steady, the water swirling around our legs, and for a moment, we just stand there, her gaze locked with mine. The playful banter fades into a comfortable silence, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore filling the air around us.

“You’re not mad, are you?” I ask softly, my tone sincere now. Anya shakes her head, a small smile playing on her lips.

“No, I’m not mad,” she admits, her voice softening.

“Good,” I reply, relieved that she’s not truly upset with me. “Because I did promise to throw you into the water.”

She rolls her eyes, but I can see the spark of amusement in them. “Yeah, yeah,” she grumbles half-heartedly. “You win this round, Daniel.”

I chuckle, feeling victorious in more ways than one. Holding her close and feeling the rhythm of her breathing against my chest, I realize just how much I enjoy spending time with her. She might be my favorite part of the day. I smile gently at her as she splashes some water at me, laughing. It’s so beautiful to see her so carefree.

I can’t help but grin like an idiot. She’s radiant in this moment, her carefree spirit contagious. Her eyes sparkle with mischief as she scoops up more water, aiming another playful splash in my direction. I smile smugly. “Oh, I am not letting that pass, Anya!” I exclaim. “Oh, it’s on firecracker.” I laugh evilly, my heart still racing looking at her smile.

You’re just so beautiful, Anya. Do you have any idea how much you affect me?

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