Over and Over

Toul

The resort was beyond anything I could have imagined.

The turquoise waters stretched endlessly, the soft white sand sparkling under the sun.

Our private villa was perched over the water, complete with a pool that overlooked the horizon.

It was breathtaking, but the reality of being here with Hakeem, so far from everything and everyone, was daunting.

That first evening, the villa was bathed in the golden hues of sunset as we sat on the deck, a soft breeze carrying the scent of salt and jasmine.

Hakeem poured two glasses of sparkling juice, his movements relaxed but his eyes flickering with something deeper.

"To new beginnings," he said, holding up his glass.

I hesitated before clinking mine against his. "To... new beginnings."

We sipped in silence, the sound of the waves filling the gaps between us.

Finally, Hakeem set his glass down and turned to me, his gaze intense.

"Layla," he began, his voice low and steady. "I know this hasn't been easy for you—for either of us.

But being here, away from everything, I want us to focus on what's ahead, not what's behind."

I looked away, my fingers fidgeting with the edge of my dress. "It's not that simple, Hakeem."

"I know," he said, leaning closer. "But I meant what I said that night. I'm not asking for anything you're not ready to give.

All I want is for you to let me in—to trust me."

His words hung in the air, and before I could stop myself, I whispered, "I'm scared."

He reached for my hand, his touch firm yet reassuring. "So am I," he admitted, his honesty disarming. "But I'd rather face that fear with you than without you."

Something in his voice, in the way he looked at me, made my walls begin to crack.

Slowly, I nodded, meeting his gaze. "Okay," I said softly. "I'll try."

A flicker of relief crossed his face, and then he leaned in, his movements unhurried.

This time, when his lips met mine, I didn't hesitate. The kiss was deeper, more deliberate, and I felt the weight of his emotions in every movement.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple, I realized that for the first time, I wasn't running.

I was standing still, letting myself feel, and for now, that was enough.

The next morning, I woke to the sound of waves lapping against the wooden stilts of the villa.

The sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, casting golden patterns across the bed.

For a moment, I forgot where I was, but then I felt the warmth beside me—the unmistakable presence of Hakeem.

I turned my head slightly to find him still asleep, his face relaxed, the usual sharp lines of his jaw softened in the morning light.

He looked so different like this—vulnerable, peaceful.

His hair was slightly mussed, and for a fleeting moment, I felt a strange, almost intrusive tenderness bloom in my chest.

Careful not to wake him, I slipped out of bed and padded to the open deck.

The air was warm, the kind of perfect tropical breeze that made your skin tingle.

The sight of the endless turquoise waters was enough to take my breath away.

But as much as I tried to lose myself in the scenery, my thoughts kept drifting back to Hakeem.

Last night had felt like a turning point. His touch, his words, his kiss—they lingered with me, a soft ache I couldn't quite name.

It scared me, this vulnerability, but it also exhilarated me in a way I hadn't expected.

"Couldn't sleep?"

His voice startled me, and I turned to see him standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame.

He was shirtless, wearing only loose linen pants that sat low on his hips.

His hair was still messy, his expression a mix of grogginess and amusement.

"I didn't mean to wake you," I said, my cheeks warming as I turned back toward the ocean.

"You didn't," he replied, stepping onto the deck. "I woke up, and you were gone.

Thought maybe you'd decided to swim back to shore."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop the small smile tugging at my lips. "Very funny."

Hakeem came to stand beside me, his gaze sweeping over the horizon before settling on me. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

I nodded, but my pulse quickened when I realized he wasn't looking at the view—he was looking at me.

"You didn't have to get up so early," I said, trying to sound casual. "I was just... thinking."

"Thinking, huh?" He leaned against the railing, his smirk softening into something warmer. "About what?"

"About how ridiculous it is that we're here," I said, half-joking. "This feels like a dream."

He tilted his head, his dark eyes sparkling with mischief. "If it is, I'm not waking up. Not when you're here."

I laughed, trying to mask the flutter in my chest. "You're such a smooth talker."

He grinned. "Only when it comes to you."

The intimacy of his words caught me off guard, and I looked away, suddenly very aware of how close he was.

He noticed, of course—Hakeem always noticed.

"Hey," he said softly, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "You don't have to run every time I get too close, you know."

"I'm not running," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Good," he replied, stepping closer. "Because I'm not letting you go."

The rest of the day was filled with a kind of lightness I hadn't expected.

Hakeem insisted on taking me snorkeling, claiming it would be "fun" even though I wasn't exactly thrilled at the thought of swimming with fish.

But his enthusiasm was infectious, and before I knew it, we were laughing and splashing in the crystal-clear water.

"You're worse than a kid," I said as he dunked me under for the third time, water streaming down my face.

"You're just mad because I'm better at this than you," he retorted, his grin wicked as he dodged the handful of water I tried to throw at him.

"Better at what? Being obnoxious?" I shot back, but I couldn't stop the laughter bubbling out of me.

By the time we returned to the villa, we were both sun-kissed and exhausted, but the tension between us had shifted.

There was something easy about the way we moved around each other now, as if the walls we'd both been holding up had started to crumble.