Fragmented ✔️

14. Dangerous trysts

Nature's lullaby came to a standstill. Idle, steady and quiet. Everything slipped away. The erratic tempo of my pulse echoed louder and louder behind my ear; nothing else mattered, only that velvet mouth, feather-light against my lips.

Matt pulled me closer to him, his hands inching up my neck until they weaved into my dampened hair. His touch was gentle and confident when he slipped his tongue past my lips, deepening our kiss. In a blur of sensations, that gentleness turned fervent; limbs locked over one another, breathing laboured.

Incandescent embers smouldered in my chest.

While lip-locked, we paid no attention to anyone walking to or from the nearby café. CeCe and Zaire were long forgotten. That was until we were doused in ice-cold liquid, smothering my fire. Pulling apart in shock, Matt and I rubbed the water away from our eyes.

"What the hell was that for?" I stayed seated on the grassy bank, glaring at Zaire, who held an empty water bottle in his hands.

Matt stood up, wiping the grass stuck to his wetsuit, looking away from the group.

"Cooling you down and doing you a favour. It's not 'pay for a tour, receive a show for free'." Zaire twisted the bottle lid in his hand, shaking his head, a stupid grin on his face. "Come on, Bumblebee. Let's get you lunch before you eat Matt's face again," he laughed, walking towards the changing rooms.

CeCe burst out laughing, following after him and leaving me with Matt. He held his hand out, helping me up, his cheeks a slight tinge of pink.

My heart still beating a mile a minute, I cast my eyes to the floor. "I'm sorry. Don't know what came over me."

Matt grabbed my chin and lifted it so I had no choice but to look at him. "Don't be. I wish it had happened sooner," he said, his husky voice vibrating through me as he wrapped his arms around me.

His gaze too intense, I laid my head on his chest, listening to the irregular beat of his heart. Matt twisted the ends of my hair around his fingers, neither one of us speaking while I steadied my breathing. Acting on impulse, I hadn't thought of what that kiss could mean for either of us. All I knew was that I didn't regret it.

"So do I," I let slip, allowing myself to live in the moment. Those words felt good rolling off my tongue. Months of living as a mere shell of myself, I deserved to take a bite out of life, no matter how short that bliss might be.

Matt held me tighter at my words and kissed the top of my head. "Let's get changed and food. Zaire's cranky when not fed," he laughed, placed a soft kiss on my lips and slipped his hand in mine.

We wandered up to the wooden cabin, detaching our grip only when we reached the separate changing rooms.

CeCe waited for me, sat on the wooden bench, changed back into her dry clothes. The corners of her eyes crinkled as she glanced to the floor, trying to suppress a smile.

"What's that face for?," I asked, grabbing my towel out of my bag.

She burst out laughing, making me smile along with her. I peeled off my wetsuit, revealing my black one-piece.

"Sorry. I'm really sorry." She held her sides as she laughed again. "Zaire's face when you practically climbed on top of Matt. I can't! It was too funny. His eyes nearly popped out of his head and then he–" a little snort escaped as she held her breath for a second–, "if you had seen it. He was creeping around looking for a water bottle. One of the guides threw it over."

I screwed my face up, cringing inwardly. "Was he mad?" Not something I wanted to over-analyse.

"Not at all. He thought it was hilarious." She lay back against the wall and sighed. "Kind of hot if you asked me. A few people couldn't keep their eyes off you."