Days passed after the confrontation on the beach, but Isabella couldn’t stop thinking about Rafe. His words lingered like the taste of saltwater on her lips, leaving her confused and frustrated. She knew she should hate him, his arrogance, his entitlement, but there was something beneath his anger, something she couldn’t ignore.
The Pogues had noticed her distraction.
“You’re quiet,” JJ remarked as they lounged on John B’s porch one evening. He tossed a beer her way, but she barely caught it. “Is this about him?”
“Who?” she asked.
“Rafe,” Kiara said bluntly, narrowing her eyes. “You’ve been acting weird ever since that night on the beach.”
“I’m not thinking about Rafe Cameron,” Isabella snapped.
The Pogues exchanged looks, but before they could press further, Isabella’s phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and froze. It was Rafe.
Later that night, curiosity got the better of her. Against her better judgment, she found herself at the edge of the marsh, where Rafe had asked her to meet him. His silhouette was visible against the moonlight, and for a moment, she considered turning back.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Funny,” he said, stepping closer. “I was about to ask you the same thing.”
“You asked me to come,” she shot back.
He smirked, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Guess I wanted to see if you would.”
The air between them crackled with tension as they stood inches apart. “Why can’t you leave me alone?” Isabella demanded.
“Because I don’t want to,” he admitted, his voice low. “You’re in my head, Isabella. And I don’t know what to do about it.”
Her breath hitched, and before she could think, his hand cupped her face, pulling her closer. His lips crashed against hers in a kiss that was equal parts of passion. For a moment, she gave in, her hands gripping his shirt as the world disappeared around them.
Then reality hit, and she pulled away, her heart racing. “This doesn’t change anything,” she said, her voice trembling.
“Doesn’t it?” he asked, his eyes burning into hers.
YOU ARE READING
Beneath the Waves
RomanceConcept: Set against the vibrant yet turbulent backdrop of the Outer Banks, Beneath the Waves follows the story of Isabella, a girl caught between two worlds. Born into wealth and privilege as part of the Kooks, Isabella has always felt out of place...
