Outerbanks Imagine

Heat of the moment - Rafe Cameron

The summer sun in the Outer Banks was relentless, beating down with an intensity that made it feel like the air itself was on fire. You could practically see the heat waves rising from the pavement as you and Rafe strolled down the marina.

Rafe's hand was wrapped around yours, his thumb gently stroking your skin. He looked over at you, his lips curling into that lopsided smile that always made your heart skip a beat. "You doing okay, Y/N?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of concern.

You forced a smile, trying to ignore the lightheaded feeling creeping up on you. "Yeah, I'm fine," you lied, waving it off. You didn't want to worry him—he'd been so happy lately, and you weren't about to ruin your day together.

But the truth was, you weren't fine. The heat was suffocating, making it hard to breathe. You'd been out all day with Rafe, hopping from the beach to the marina, and the sun was taking its toll on you. The air felt thick, like you were drowning without even being in the water.

"Let's sit for a minute," Rafe suggested, guiding you over to a shaded bench. He looked at you, studying your face closely. "You look a little pale."

You brushed him off with a small laugh. "It's just hot, that's all. I'm good."

Rafe's blue eyes narrowed. "Y/N, seriously, you don't look okay. Did you drink any water today?"

You opened your mouth to reply, but the words never came. Instead, the world around you seemed to blur, the edges of your vision darkening. You felt your knees buckle, and before you could react, everything went black.

---

When you came to, the first thing you felt was the cool sensation of something wet on your forehead. You blinked, disoriented, trying to make sense of your surroundings. You were no longer at the marina; you were lying on a couch in a small, dimly lit room. The familiar scent of Rafe's cologne surrounded you, comforting but mixed with the sharp smell of worry.

"Y/N," Rafe's voice broke through your haze, a mixture of relief and panic. He was kneeling beside you, his hand clutching a damp towel to your forehead. "Oh my god, are you okay?"

You struggled to sit up, but Rafe gently pushed you back down. "Take it easy," he said, his voice softer now, but you could see the fear in his eyes. He looked like he'd just seen a ghost.

"What happened?" you croaked out, your throat dry and scratchy.

"You passed out," he replied, his jaw clenched tightly. "I've never been so scared in my life, Y/N. One second you were talking, and the next you were on the ground. I thought—" He cut himself off, shaking his head as if he couldn't bear to finish the thought.

You reached up, placing your hand over his. "Rafe, I'm okay," you whispered, trying to reassure him, but the look on his face said he wasn't convinced.

"You scared the hell out of me," he muttered, his voice cracking. He sank down onto the edge of the couch, burying his face in his hands. "I thought I lost you for a second. I didn't know what to do."

You pushed yourself up slowly, ignoring the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm you. You placed a hand on his back, rubbing small circles. "Rafe, look at me," you said gently.

He finally lifted his head, and you saw the tears glistening in his eyes. "I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you, Y/N," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're my everything."

Your heart clenched at his words. Rafe Cameron, the guy everyone thought was invincible, was sitting here, falling apart in front of you. You cupped his cheek, brushing away a stray tear with your thumb. "I'm right here," you told him. "I'm not going anywhere."

Rafe let out a shaky breath, leaning into your touch. "I know it sounds stupid, but I can't lose you. Not after everything."

You nodded, understanding the weight of his words. He'd been through so much—his dad's constant pressure, his sister's struggles, and his own battles with his dark thoughts. You were his anchor, the one thing he could hold onto when everything else felt like it was slipping away.

"I'm okay," you repeated softly, leaning forward to press a kiss to his forehead. "It was just the heat. I should've taken better care of myself."

Rafe pulled you into his arms, holding you so tightly you could hardly breathe, but you didn't care. You needed this just as much as he did. "You need to take it easy," he murmured into your hair. "I don't care if you think you're fine; from now on, you're drinking water every hour if I have to force it down your throat myself."

You couldn't help but laugh, even though tears were still brimming in your eyes. "Okay, okay," you agreed, pulling back to look at him. "I promise."

Rafe searched your face for any sign that you were lying, and when he was satisfied, he nodded. "Good," he said, his voice rough. He tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, his fingers lingering on your cheek. "You're too important to me, Y/N. I don't want to risk losing you over something like this."

You leaned into his touch, closing your eyes as you savored the feeling of his hand on your skin. "I'm sorry I scared you," you whispered.

He shook his head, pressing his forehead against yours. "Just...don't do it again, okay?" he said with a small, shaky laugh. "I don't think my heart can take it."

You smiled, squeezing his hand. "Deal."

For a moment, the two of you just sat there, holding onto each other like you were each other's lifeline. Outside, the sun was still blazing, but inside, wrapped up in Rafe's arms, you felt safe and cool, like nothing could touch you.

Because no matter how hot it got, no matter how much the world around you tried to drag you down, you knew you had Rafe. And he had you.

And that was all you needed.