Olivia

    I pulled on my cover–up as we headed back to the house, still feeling the cool dampness of my bikini against my skin.

    The afternoon sun filtered through the palm trees, casting dappled shadows across the path.

    Alexander walked slightly ahead of me, and I couldn’t help but notice the way his muscles moved beneath his shirt, still damp from our swim.

    “The chef should have lunch ready by now,” Alexander said, ncing back at me. “You hungry?”

    “Starving,” bI /badmitted. “Swimming always makes me ravenous.”

    “Good. Miguel makes ban /bamazing ceviche.”

    As we approached the house, I found myself studying Alexander’s profile, the strong line of his jaw, the way his hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck, where it was still wet. I’d been so focused on the contractual nature of our rtionship that I hadn’t really allowed myself to fully appreciate just how ridiculously handsome my new husband was.

    “What are you staring at?” Alexander asked, catching me looking.

    “Nothing,” I said quickly, feeling heat rise to my cheeks.

    A knowing smile spread across his face. “Admiring the view?”

    “You wish,” I scoffed, but there was no real heat behind my words.

    We reached the patio, where Miguel had indeed set up lunch, a spread of fresh seafood, tropical fruits, and chilled white wine.

    “This looks amazing,” I said, sinking into one of the chairs.

    Alexander poured us each a ss of wine before sitting across from me.

    We ate infortable silence for a few minutes, the fresh ceviche practically melting in my mouth. Alexander watched me over the rim of his winess, his eyes tracing my features in a way that made my skin tingle.

    “You know,” he said suddenly, “you’re quite beautiful when you’re rxed.”

    Thepliment caught me off guard. “As opposed to when I’m not rxed?”

    “You’re balways /bbeautiful,” he rified, his voice matter–of–fact rather than flirtatious. b“/bBut there’s something about you here, away from the office and the city. Your face is softer. Your eyes are brighter. It suits you.”

    I felt my cheeks warm at his words. “Thank you.”

    “Just stating facts.” He took another sip of his wine. “The sun looks good on you too. Brings out the gold in your hair.”

    I touched my hair self–consciously. b“/bIt’s going to be a tangled mess from the saltwater.”

    “I like it a little wild.” His eyes held mine for a moment too long, and I felt something shift in the air between us.

    I cleared my throat. “So, what’s the n for the brest /bbof /bthe day?”

    “Nothing scheduled. We could rx by the pool, take the boat out, or…” he trailed off, a smirk ying at his lips.

    “Or what?”

    “Or I could show you the rest of the house. There are a few rooms you haven’t seen yet.”

    “Like what? A dungeon? Secretboratory?”

    “Nothing so exciting. Just the library, the media room, the gym.”

    “You have a library on a private ind?”

    “Of course. Where else would I read?”

    I shook my head, smiling despite myself. “Show me everything.”

    After lunch, Alexander gave me a proper tour of the mansion. The library was impressive, walls lined with books from floor to ceiling. The media room contained a massive screen and the mostfortable–looking couches I’d ever seen. The gym bwas /bstate–of–the–art, with equipment I didn’t even recognize.

    We ended up in the living room, where floor–to–ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the ocean. The sun began to lower in the sky, casting a golden glow across the water.

    “It’s breathtaking,” I murmured, moving closer to the window.

    “Yes, it is.” When I turned, I found Alexander looking at me, not the view.

    Something fluttered in my stomach. This man was my husband. On paper, at least. For a year. The thought sent a confusing mix of emotions through me.

    “I’m going to shower before dinner,” I said abruptly. “Wash off the salt and sand.”

    Alexander nodded. “Good idea. I’ll do the same. Meet back here in an hour?”

    I retreated to the master bathroom, letting the hot water wash away the remains of our day. As I dried off, I caught sight of myself in the mirror. My skin was slightly pink from the sun, my hair falling in damp waves around my shoulders. I looked different somehow. More alive.

    For dinner, I chose a simple sundress from the closet full of clothes Alexander had provided. It was white, flowing, and far more elegant than anything I’d have chosen for myself. I left my hair down to dry naturally and applied just a touch of makeup.

    When I returned to the living room, Alexander was already there, dressed in linen pants and a white button–down with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He turned as I entered, and his eyes darkened appreciatively.

    “You look incredible,” he said, his voice low.

    “Thank you. So do you.”

    He crossed to the bar in the corner. “Drink before dinner?b” /b

    “Sure. Whatever you’re having.”

    He mixed two cocktails, handing me one that was a pale pink color. I took a sip; it was fruity but not too sweet, with a

    definite kick of alcohol.

    “This is delicious,” I said. “What is it?”

    “Ind sunset. Local rum, passion fruit, and a few other things.” He clinked his ss against mine. “To our honeymoon.”

    I couldn’t help but smile at the irony. “To our honeymoon.”

    Dinner was served on the terrace, the ocean providing a soundtrack of gentle waves. Miguel had outdone himself again, with grilled lobster, roasted vegetables, and some kind of coconut rice that melted in my mouth.

    As the sun disappeared below the horizon, the sky exploded in shades of pink and orange. Lights came on automatically around the terrace, casting a warm glow over our table.

    “I could get used to this,” I admitted, leaning back in my chair with my wine.

    “The food? The view? Or mypany?” Alexander asked with a hint of a smile.

    “All of it,” I said honestly. “It’s hard to remember the real world exists out here.”

    “That’s the point.” Alexander topped off my wine. “Reality is overrated anyway.”

    We talked easily as the stars began to appear, about nothing important: favorite books, movies, travel destinations. It felt strangely normal, like we were just a regr couple enjoying their honeymoon, not two people bound by a business

    contract.

    As Miguel cleared away our tes, Alexander moved to a seating area with plush outdoor furniture. He patted the space beside him on arge cushioned lounger.

    “Join me? The stars are incredible here with no light pollution.”

    I settled beside him, leaving a respectable distance between us. He was right; the night sky was spectacr, a nket of stars stretching in every direction.

    “It’s incredible,” I breathed, tilting my head back to take in the vastness above us. “You can even see the Milky Way.”

    “City lights make us forget what the night sky really looks like,” Alexander said, his voice low and smooth in the darkness. “We’re so busy looking down at our screens, we forget to look up.”

    “That’s surprisingly poeticing from you.”

    “I contain multitudes, Liv.”

    The shortened version of my name sent an unexpected shiver through me. It sounded intimate on his lips, like we shared something real.

    “Cold?” he asked, noticing my reaction.

    “No, I’m fine,” I lied.

    He shifted closer anyway, his thigh now pressing against mine. “Better?”

    The heat from his body radiated through my thin dress, warming my skin. “Yeah.”