Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Solenn
The moment we stepped onto the private villa’s deck, I knew I was in trouble.
The view was breathtaking, endless blue stretching beyond the horizon, waves crashing gently against the shore, the sun turning the water into something golden and unreal.
The villa itself was ridiculous—sprawling open spaces, sheer white curtains billowing in the breeze, and an infinity pool that seemed to melt into the ocean.
It was the kind of place I had only ever seen in movies, the kind of place people booked for extravagant honeymoons or high-profile getaways.
It was too perfect. Too private. Too dangerous.
I glanced over at Maverick, who had set his bag down by the lounge chairs, his sharp gaze scanning the villa like he was assessing a business deal instead of a vacation.
Even here, away from everything, away from the weight of the world he carried, he was still composed, still unreadable.
But there was something different too—a quiet ease in the way he rolled up the sleeves of his linen shirt, the way his posture had lost its usual rigid control.
"Subtle," I mused, walking toward the pool, dipping my fingers into the warm water. "I never pegged you as the extravagant getaway type, Mr. Spencer."
He moved toward the balcony railing, staring out at the ocean. "Would you have preferred something less extravagant?"
I hummed, pretending to think about it, watching the way the golden light of the late afternoon sun cast shadows along his jawline. "Well, you could’ve taken me to a roadside motel. The kind with flickering neon lights and a sketchy receptionist named Carl. Set the mood."
His lips twitched slightly, barely there, but enough to make my stomach twist. "I’ll keep that in mind for next time."
I raised a brow. "Next time?"
He exhaled slowly, shaking his head as he ran a hand through his hair. "You're exhausting."
"You like it."
He didn’t argue.
The afternoon passed in lazy, easy moments.
We walked along the shoreline, letting the waves wash over our feet, the sand warm and soft beneath us.
Maverick wasn’t the type to fill silence with meaningless chatter, and for once, I found I didn’t need to either.
There was something about being here, away from everything, away from the world, that made the quiet between us feel… comfortable.
At one point, as we made our way back toward the villa, I reached for my hair, trying to shake out the damp strands that clung to my skin. A gust of wind sent loose pieces flying into my face, and before I could push them away, Maverick’s fingers were there, tucking them behind my ear.
It was such a simple gesture. So small. But it sent a sharp pulse through my chest, a warmth curling somewhere deep in my stomach. I froze, my breath hitching slightly because this wasn’t the way he was supposed to touch me. Not like this. Not so effortlessly.
His fingers lingered just a second too long before he pulled away, his expression unreadable.
I forced a smirk, trying to shake off whatever had just passed between us. "Careful, Spencer. That almost felt affectionate."
His gaze flickered, but he didn’t take the bait. "You have sand on your cheek."
I blinked, lifting a hand to wipe at my face. "Where?"
He sighed, stepping closer, tilting my chin up with two fingers. The air between us tightened, thick with something unspoken. His thumb brushed lightly across my cheek, wiping away whatever speck of sand had caught his attention, but he didn’t step back. Didn’t move away.
His voice was low when he finally spoke. "There."
I swallowed, too aware of how close we were. The sound of the waves, the scent of the ocean, the sun dipping lower in the sky—none of it mattered at that moment.
"Thanks," I murmured, and I wasn’t sure if I imagined it, but his lips twitched, just slightly, like he knew exactly what he was doing to me.
By the time night fell, the villa was bathed in soft golden light, the pool shimmering beneath the stars.
Dinner had been easy, just the two of us sitting on the deck, sharing a bottle of wine, conversation flowing effortlessly.
I had teased him about the fact that he relaxed today, about how I had half-expected him to pull out his laptop and start working on a merger in the middle of the beach.
He had rolled his eyes but hadn’t denied it.
Now, we were stretched out on the lounge chairs by the pool, the night air warm, the ocean a steady, calming presence in the background.
"You don’t do this often, do you?" I asked, turning my head to look at him.
He didn’t pretend to understand. He exhaled slowly, eyes still on the sky. "No."
I studied him for a moment, taking in the faint tension in his jaw, the way his fingers tapped absently against his glass. "Why?"
His gaze flicked to me, unreadable as ever. "Work keeps me busy."
I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head. "That’s not an answer, Spencer."
He was quiet for a long moment before he finally spoke. "I don’t like wasting time."
I raised an eyebrow. "And this? You don’t consider this a waste of time?"
His lips pressed together, his grip tightening slightly around his glass. "No."
The single word sat between us, heavy and unspoken.
I didn’t push.
Instead, I leaned back, letting my eyes drift shut, listening to the steady rhythm of the waves. After a moment, I felt movement beside me, and then—warmth.
I blinked my eyes open just as Maverick reached over, pulling my lounge chair closer to his until there was no space left between us. He didn’t say anything, didn’t meet my gaze, just rested an arm along the backrest, his fingers brushing absently against my shoulder.
I should have teased him for it. Should have made some smart remark about how Maverick Spencer didn’t cuddle.
But I didn’t.
Instead, I exhaled, shifting slightly so that my head rested against his shoulder, my body fitting easily against his.
His fingers stilled against my skin, but he didn’t move away.
I closed my eyes again, listening to the steady sound of his breathing, feeling the way his chest rose and fell beneath me.
This was dangerous.
This was too easy.
But for tonight, I let myself have it.
For tonight, I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, this didn’t have to end.