She Devil

Chapter 7

Dasha Taran as Amara in the thumbnail >>>

Waking up to the sounds of the ocean, I can't help but feel a weird sense of calm as I step outside the villa. Amara is already by the beach, stretching, wearing a tight black sports bra and matching leggings that hug her curves. Despite everything that's happened, seeing her so effortlessly beautiful makes my knees weak.

"Early bird, huh?" I say, my voice still rough from sleep. I try to sound casual, but I can't ignore the fact that something about being alone with her in this quiet moment feels special and more confusing.

Amara doesn't look at me right away. She's busy adjusting her legs into some contorted yoga pose. "I don't need a whole morning of laziness," She replied, her voice teasing but calm. "Unlike someone who probably hit snooze five times."

"Excuse me, I was meditating in my own way," I retort, taking my position beside her. There's a slight smirk tugging at my lips. It's impossible to not be competitive with her.

She raises an eyebrow, glancing at me sideways. "Meditating by hitting snooze? You really should try a real workout for once, Gray."

I rolled my eyes. Yabang talaga, porket sexy. "Watch me." I copy her stance, my body slightly uncoordinated but determined. It's not like I'm a yoga expert, but I'm not about to back down from her challenge.

Amara's eyes flash with amusement, her lips curving upward. "Let's see how long you last, then."

We continue, a mix of stretching, balancing, and the occasional snarky comment. There's something oddly exhilarating about competing like this with her there's always that fire, even when we're doing something as mundane as yoga.

By the time we're done, my muscles feel sore in a good way, and I'm honestly impressed with how toned and flexible she is. But what surprises me the most is the odd sense of connection that's built between us without even saying a word. We didn't need to talk to be in sync.

"Not bad," she says, taking a deep breath. "Maybe you're not a total lost cause after all."

"Don't get too used to it, boss," I shoot back, but there's a warmth and teasing in my voice that made her smile even more.

I try to ignore the nerves buzzing in my chest as we walk into the spa. They told us it was a "couples massage," but something about the word feels off. Not in a bad way, but in that way where it's a little too intimate.

Amara is beside me, still as confident as ever. "Relax, Gray," she teases, glancing at me with a smirk. "It's just a massage."

"You're the one who needs to relax," I mutter under my breath, but she clearly hears me.

"Oh, I'm relaxed," she says, her voice low, dripping with a hidden meaning that I can't quite place. She flashes me a quick look, and I'm suddenly very aware of how close we are.

We're led to separate tables, and the moment my masseuse starts, I almost jump. I'm not used to this level of closeness with a stranger. But somehow, it's not as awkward as I thought it would be.

Amara's laughter breaks the silence when she lets out a tiny gasp as her therapist works on her neck. "This is a good kind of pain," she mutters, clearly enjoying the experience.

I raise an eyebrow, trying to ignore the warm feelings creeping up. "You're a workaholic, but even you need to unwind," I say, keeping my voice light.

"Shut up, Gray," she mutters, but her tone is softer than usual. "Not like you. I can take a break."

But I know it's not just the massage she's talking about. It's us, too. Everything between us feels so much more real here. Away from the office, the people, the drama. It's just us. And, weirdly, I kind of like it.