Always you

Chapter 16

Sasha rolled over on Sarah's plush bed, cocooned in a soft blanket, staring at the faint glow of her phone. It was late—everyone in the Cameron household had long gone to bed, including Sarah, who was fast asleep beside her. Yet, Sasha couldn't drift off. Her thoughts had been racing since she'd arrived earlier that evening, Rafe's casual yet undeniably teasing comments from dinner playing over and over in her mind.

The faint vibration of her phone startled her out of her thoughts. She glanced down and saw a new text from Rafe.

Rafe: Meet me outside by the pool. Bring your bathing suit.

Her brows furrowed, and she stared at the message for a moment, unsure whether to laugh or roll her eyes. What is he up to now? she thought.

She tapped out a response, careful not to wake Sarah.

Sasha: It's the middle of the night. Are you serious?

His reply came almost instantly.

Rafe: Dead serious. Trust me.

She hesitated, biting her lip. Her heart beat a little faster, both at the audacity of his request and the inexplicable pull she felt to see him. Against her better judgment, she slipped out of bed as quietly as possible, grabbed her swimsuit from her bag, and tiptoed to the bathroom to change. The cool night air greeted her as she stepped outside, the faint sound of the ocean in the distance mingling with the soft rustle of the trees.

Rafe was sitting on one of the loungers by the pool, wearing a pair of swim trunks and a mischievous grin. His hair was slightly tousled, and the faint glow of the moonlight cast a golden sheen on his skin. He looked entirely too pleased with himself.

"You actually came," he said, his voice low but amused.

Sasha crossed her arms, still standing a few feet away. "I'm not sure why I did. What's your plan, exactly? Swim laps and wake up the entire house?"

Rafe chuckled, getting to his feet and stepping closer to the edge of the pool. "Relax, Sash. Everyone's asleep, and this place is soundproofed like a fortress. Trust me, no one's waking up."

Before she could protest further, he dove gracefully into the water, the splash breaking the serene stillness of the night. He resurfaced a moment later, shaking water out of his hair and flashing her a boyish grin. "Come on in," he called, his voice echoing slightly.

"I'm not sure this is a good idea," Sasha said, hugging herself against the chill of the night air. "What if Rose or Ward—"

"They won't," Rafe interrupted, swimming closer to the edge. "I promise. Besides, don't you trust me?"

Sasha hesitated, looking into his bright blue eyes. She sighed and stepped closer to the edge of the pool, dipping her toes in to test the temperature. Just as she opened her mouth to say something, Rafe reached out, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her into the water.

She let out a shriek of surprise as the cool water enveloped her. When she resurfaced, sputtering, Rafe was already laughing, his head tilted back with amusement.

"You did not just do that!" she exclaimed, wiping water from her face.

"Consider it encouragement," he teased, swimming backward to put some distance between them. "You were taking forever."

"Oh, you're going to pay for that," Sasha said, narrowing her eyes before splashing him. The sudden spray hit him square in the face, and he blinked, looking both surprised and impressed.

"Is that how we're playing this?" Rafe asked, smirking.

He retaliated with his own splash, and soon they were locked in a playful battle, their laughter echoing through the night. Sasha's earlier hesitation melted away as the tension turned into pure fun. For a moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the world, caught in a bubble of laughter and water.

But then, without warning, Rafe swam closer, his movements swift and deliberate. Before Sasha could react, his hands found her waist, and he lifted her slightly, causing her to wrap her legs instinctively around his waist for balance. The sudden closeness made her heart skip a beat, and she froze, her breath catching as she realized just how near their faces were.

The playfulness dissolved, replaced by something heavier, more charged. Sasha felt the warmth of his hands against her sides, the steady rhythm of his breathing, and the faint smell of chlorine mixed with his cologne.

"Hi," Rafe said softly, a small smile playing on his lips.

Sasha blinked, momentarily thrown by the simplicity of the greeting. "Hi," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

And then he kissed her.

He. Kissed. Her.

The moment their lips met, it was as if everything else fell away—the sound of the water, the chill of the night, even the faint worry about being caught. The kiss was soft at first, testing, but quickly deepened as they gave in to the pull that had been building between them for weeks. Sasha felt her fingers curl into the damp hair at the nape of his neck, while Rafe's grip on her waist tightened, holding her steady as if he were afraid to let go.

When they finally broke apart, both breathless, Rafe rested his forehead against hers, his eyes still closed.

Sasha couldn't help but smile, her cheeks flushed.

They stayed close for a moment longer, the water lapping gently around them. Eventually, Rafe broke the silence with a mischievous grin.

"Think you can keep up with me now?" he teased, pushing off and swimming away before she could respond.

"You're impossible," Sasha called after him, laughing as she chased him through the pool.

They played around for a while longer, splashing and laughing until their energy began to wane. Finally, Rafe swam to the edge and pulled himself out, offering Sasha a hand to help her out as well. They sat together on the lounger, wrapped in towels and still catching their breath.

"You know," Rafe said, glancing over at her, "I'm really glad you came out tonight."

Sasha smiled, pulling the towel tighter around her shoulders. "I'm glad you texted me. Even if you did ruin my sleep."

He chuckled, nudging her playfully with his shoulder. "Come on, you loved it."

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment before Rafe stood and extended his hand. "Come on. Let's go inside."

Sasha hesitated. "I should probably get back to Sarah—"

"Sarah's rooting for us, remember?" Rafe interrupted, smirking. "Besides, I'm not letting you sneak back to bed just yet."

Against her better judgment, she let him lead her inside and up to his room. Once there, they climbed into his bed, wrapping themselves in the warm covers. Rafe pulled her close, his arms encircling her as if he wanted to shield her from the world. A small smile painted his face as he held her close, finally realising that he had her all to himself.

"So," he murmured, his voice low and teasing, "do I get bonus points for the kiss?"

Sasha laughed softly, resting her head against his chest, listening to his heart beat. "You might. But don't let it go to your head."

They stayed up talking for a while, their voices hushed as they shared stories and secrets, the night stretching on around them. Eventually, Sasha's eyelids grew heavy, and she drifted off to sleep in Rafe's arms, feeling safer and more at ease than she had in a long time.