Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Brody
“ S ome thrills are even better than island-hopping adventures,” I said, flashing her a mischievous grin.
Avery snorted, curiosity and amusement playing across her features. “Oh really? And what might those be, Mr. Influencer?”
I chuckled, loving how she could make me feel both challenged and completely at ease in the same moment. “Well, I was thinking we could find out together.” I squeezed her hand and started leading her down from the hilltop toward a hidden cove I had spotted earlier.
“If this is another Instagram photo op, I swear to God?—”
“It's not, I promise,” I said, then paused. “Although, now that you mention it…”
“Brody!”
“Kidding, kidding!” I laughed, ducking as she swatted at me.
We reached the secluded beach, and I heard Avery's sharp intake of breath. The moonlight danced on the water, turning the whole cove into something out of a fairy tale. Or a really expensive perfume commercial.
I turned to face her, my heart doing a weird flip-flop thing in my chest. Shit, when did I turn into such a sap?
“Avery,” I started, then cleared my throat. And why did I suddenly sound like I'd been gargling rocks? “I know I've been a grade-A jackass at times?—”
“At times?” she interrupted, raising an eyebrow.
“Okay, most of the time,” I conceded. “But being here with you… fuck, Spark, you make me want to be better. To be real.”
Avery's eyes sparkled, a blush creeping up her cheeks. It was adorable and sexy, and I wanted to kiss every inch of her.
“I've spent so long being 'Brody the Influencer' that I almost forgot who Brody the person was,” I continued, running a hand through my hair. “But you see me. The real me, even, as we previously pointed out, my less-than-sane tendencies.”
“There are a lot of those,” Avery mumbled, but I could see the smile tugging at her lips.
“Yeah, well, you're no picnic yourself, Spark,” I shot back, grinning. “But that's what’s great about you. You're real. You're stubborn, and sarcastic, and so obsessed with all those lists?—”
“I’m not sure I like the way this is going…”
“—but you're also the kindest, funniest, sexiest woman I've ever met.”
I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “I think I love you, Avery. And not just the version you put on paper, but the real you. The you that can't function without coffee. The you that calls me out on my bullshit and makes me laugh so hard I nearly piss myself.”
Avery's eyes went wide, and for a second, I panicked. Shit, did I go too far?
But then she smiled, and it was like the sun coming out from behind the clouds.
“You big idiot,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I think I love you too. Instagram-filtered abs and all.”
I pulled her close, feeling like my heart might burst. “Just for the record,” I murmured against her hair, “these abs are one hundred percent real.”
Avery laughed, the sound more beautiful than any ocean view. As I kissed her under the moonlight, I couldn't help but think this was way better than any thrill I'd ever chased. Take that, cliff diving.
The kiss deepened, and I felt myself getting lost in the sensation of her lips on mine, her body pressed against me.
Breaking the kiss, I rested my forehead against hers, our breaths mingling in the small space between us. “You know,” I said, a hint of my usual playfulness returning to my voice, “I think it's time we create some content that's definitely not suitable for my Instagram followers.”
Avery laughed, the sound music to my ears. “Just what did you have in mind, Mr. Hawkins?”
In response, I began to slowly unbutton my shirt, my eyes never leaving hers. “Well, I was thinking we could start with a little skinny dipping. After all, when in Greece…”
A mix of excitement and apprehension crossed her face. “What if someone sees us?”
I shrugged, letting my shirt fall to the sand. “That's part of the thrill, isn't it? Besides, I thought you were all about uncovering hidden gems. And I can assure you,” I added with a wink, “this is definitely a sight worth seeing.”
Avery rolled her eyes at me but started to remove her own clothes, her movements hesitant at first but growing more confident with each passing second. It was like watching a butterfly emerge from its cocoon, if that butterfly was smokin' hot and about to get lucky.
“I feel like we're starring in our own private nature documentary,” I said. “‘And here we see Brody and Avery in their natural habitat, engaging in their mating ritual…’”
Avery snorted, her laughter breaking the tension. “If David Attenborough narrated this, I'd die of embarrassment.”
“Hey, speak for yourself,” I grinned. “I'd be honored to have Sir David describe my ‘impressive plumage.’”
Once we were both naked, I took Avery's hand and guided her into the warm, shallow waters of the cove. The gentle waves lapped at our skin like nature's own foreplay, and I positioned us so we were half-submerged, half-exposed to the starry sky.
I paused for a moment, drinking in the sight of Avery silhouetted against the moonlit sea. She was more beautiful than any view I'd ever captured on camera during our travels. If this were a painting, it'd be hanging in the Louvre, probably titled “Sexy Venus Rising from the Sea, But Way Hotter.”
“You're staring,” Avery said softly, a hint of self-consciousness in her voice. She shifted slightly, causing little ripples in the water that seemed to dance around her curves.
I smiled, pulling her closer. “Can you blame me? You're breathtaking, Avery. And I'm not just talking about your physical beauty. Everything about you—your passion, your intelligence, your kindness—it's all breathtaking. If NASA ever needs a new definition for 'stellar,' I'm nominating you.”
Avery's cheeks flushed at my words, turning a delightful shade of pink. She leaned in to kiss me, her lips soft and inviting.
As our lips met, I felt a surge of desire course through me, like I'd just chugged a gallon of liquid electricity, and as the stars twinkled above, witnessing our passion, we let the rhythm of the waves and the beat of our hearts guide us through the night.