Stay Close [h.s.]

Chapter 4

Days of the trip went by deliciously slowly. We woke up without alarms and spent mornings walking the beach or wrapped in blankets poolside watching the sun rise into the sky. Afternoons were spent in the water, pushing against the waves of the ocean or rubbing the pool's chlorine from our eyes. There were snorkeling and parasailing excursions, yoga and cooking classes, and trips to the spa. We drank coconut water while shopping at the resort's boutiques. When the evening came around, we ate dinner outside while the sun set, and then relaxed in the hot tub or watched film in the residence's theatre room.

The longer we were on the island, the farther away our real lives felt. Without the rigidity of our routines and pressure of work, we were able to connect and communicate without distractions. We spent entire days with our phones left on the bedside table at our residence. Aside from the occasional meeting with Brendan or seeing our security sauntering nearby, we were more on our own than ever before. And if Harry had been recognized by any of our fellow resort guests, we didn't notice because we weren't approached by anyone.

The freedom to be an anonymous couple on their honeymoon was priceless. It was the best wedding gift either of us could have ever hoped for. The privacy and solitude we were afforded on the trip was more of a luxury than the resort itself.

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I walked back into the kitchen through the sliding glass doors. After lying poolside for most of the morning, my skin prickled from the heat of the sun. I slipped a thin linen sundress over my bikini and blinked a few times to adjust my eyes to the light indoors.

"How was lying out, baby?" Harry walked into the kitchen at the same time. He went to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottled water.

"Hot," I replied.

Harry uncapped the water and handed it to me. "I don't want you to get a sunburn." He gently brushed the back of his hand against my jaw.

"I'm being careful. Using SPF fifty."

"Good girl," he mumbled, leaning down for a kiss.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and let him pull me upward until I was on my tiptoes. He opened his mouth, deepening our kiss. Harry wrapped his arm around my midsection and brought our bodies closer together. I bit down gently on his lower lip and he let out a soft groan.

"Brendan is coming over."

I pushed my hair out of my eyes. "What?"

"Just a quick meeting."

I lowered myself back to flat feet and released my hold on Harry. "I thought you said honeymooning was going to come before work."

He hesitated it. "It is, love."

I pushed my hands up the front of Harry's shirt to feel the warm skin underneath. His eyes darkened as he leaned in to kiss me again. I let him kiss along my neck, his tongue darting out to sweep across my sun-soaked skin. "You can't cancel with Brendan? I really think this is going somewhere."

Harry hummed again my skin as he pulled the neckline of my dress down to reveal more skin. "Where is it going?"

"Hopefully upstairs," I suggested. "Or a guest room. Or a sofa. I'm not picky."

In one quick motion, Harry lifted my dress over my head and dropped it to the floor. I stood before him in just a swimsuit, his eyes tracing over every bit of bare skin. He reached for one strap of my bikini top and pushed it off my shoulder, then the other strap. The top hung loosely on me, revealing even more skin for Harry.

"Call Brendan," I said, looking at the strain against Harry's shorts.

"I..."

"Honeymooning first," I said. "Work later."