Rafe Cameron Imagines

A Moment of Peace🤍

The beach was quiet, almost as if the world had forgotten about the chaos it often carried. The waves rolled in and out, the soft sound of water meeting sand filling the air. The sun was setting, casting a warm orange and pink glow over everything. The sky above you both was painted with hues of purple, pink, and gold, and for a moment, you both just stood there, taking it all in.

It had been a hectic few days, and neither you nor Rafe could handle the constant noise. You'd managed to escape to the quiet of the beach, far from the distractions of life. It was just the two of you, and it felt like a rare moment of peace.

You and Rafe walked side by side, your fingers brushing against his as you moved through the sand. Neither of you spoke at first, but you didn't need to. The quiet felt comfortable, the kind of silence that only came when you were with someone who understood you without words. His hand brushed against yours again, and this time, his fingers slid between yours, gripping your hand as if he never wanted to let go.

You glanced up at him, noticing the way his jaw tightened as the ocean breeze picked up, but his grip on your hand didn't loosen. "You okay?" you asked softly, your voice carrying just enough for him to hear.

He looked at you, his lips curling into a small, almost hesitant smile. "Yeah. Just... thinking."

You tilted your head, curious but not pushing for more. "About?"

Rafe glanced at the horizon for a moment before meeting your gaze again. "A lot of things. I guess I've been trying to figure out how to slow down. I've always hated the quiet, you know? It felt like it was trying to drag me into something I didn't want to face. But now... I'm here. With you. And I don't know. It feels different."

You squeezed his hand, encouraging him to keep going. "What do you mean 'different'?"

Rafe let out a slow breath, his eyes on the sand beneath his feet as you both continued walking. "I don't know. Usually, I'm always moving—always doing something. I can't stand being still. But when I'm with you... it's like time doesn't matter. I can just be. I don't need anything else. Just you."

You smiled softly at his words, warmth spreading through you. Rafe wasn't one to open up like this, and hearing him admit that to you made your chest tighten. "I like being with you, too," you said quietly, glancing up at him. "More than I can even explain."

He looked down at you then, his usual cocky grin replaced by something softer, more genuine. "Yeah?" he asked, the corner of his mouth quirking up. "Even with my baggage?"

"Especially with your baggage," you teased, nudging him playfully with your shoulder. "I kind of like it. Makes you... you."

Rafe chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're the only one who says stuff like that. But... I don't mind it. I'm tired of pretending I've got it all together."

"I don't need you to have it all together," you said softly, stopping to face him. "I just need you to be real with me. That's more than enough."

Rafe's eyes softened, and for a moment, you saw a side of him that few people ever did—the side that wasn't guarded, the side that let himself feel. He pulled you a little closer, the warmth of his body against yours a comfort in the cool evening air. "I don't know why you put up with me sometimes," he muttered, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I can be a real pain."

You laughed, the sound light and easy. "Rafe, you're a lot of things, but 'a pain' isn't one of them." You stepped back a little, grinning. "Well, maybe sometimes."

His expression softened into something more serious, and he reached for your hand again, intertwining his fingers with yours. "I'm serious, though. You're too good for me. I don't know what I did to deserve you."

"Stop," you said, squeezing his hand tightly. "You're perfect the way you are. I don't want anyone else. Just you."

Rafe's gaze flickered down to your intertwined hands, then back to your face. He looked almost conflicted, as if your words were too much for him to fully believe. "I don't know how to do this, you know?" he said quietly. "I've spent so much of my life thinking I couldn't be loved the way I wanted to be. But here you are... and you just keep showing up. Even when I don't deserve it."

You reached up, cupping his face with both hands, forcing him to meet your eyes. "Rafe, don't doubt yourself. You're worth it. You've always been worth it."

His breath caught in his throat for a moment, his lips slightly parted as if he wanted to say something but couldn't quite find the words. You didn't press him, though. You knew that sometimes, he just needed time to process what he was feeling.

Instead, you leaned in, pressing your lips to his in a gentle kiss. It wasn't rushed or full of tension, just a simple, tender kiss that spoke volumes. When you pulled away, Rafe was looking at you with a mix of surprise and something deeper—something that made your heart swell.

"You make it easy," he whispered, his forehead resting against yours. "You make me want to be better."

"You don't have to be anything other than what you are for me," you replied, brushing your thumb along his cheek. "I love you just the way you are."

Rafe's lips curled into a smile, and he kissed you again, this time a little more urgently, as if he couldn't help it. When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against yours, both of you just standing there, breathing in the stillness of the evening.

For a long time, you stayed like that, neither of you needing words, just the connection between you both—the calm in the chaos of the world.

"I don't know what the future holds," Rafe said after a while, his voice softer now, "but with you, I don't care. I'll take it one day at a time."

You smiled, your hand finding its place in his again. "I'll be with you every step of the way."

Rafe pulled you close, wrapping his arms around you like he never wanted to let go. And for the first time in a long time, you both just stood there, content to be in the moment, feeling more at peace than either of you had in ages.