The Morning After
Sunlight poured softly through the sheer curtains, bathing the room in a golden warmth. Pedro stirred first, eyes fluttering open to the sight of Lisa curled into his chest, her breathing slow and even, her skin glowing against the cream sheets.
He smiled.
She looked so peaceful, so his.
Careful not to wake her, he brushed a few strands of hair away from her face and pressed a kiss to her forehead. She stirred, murmured his name like a sigh, and slowly opened her eyes.
"Morning, baby," he whispered.
Lisa blinked up at him, a sleepy smile tugging at her lips. "Morning."
They stayed like that for a while—wrapped up in each other, legs tangled beneath the sheets, saying nothing and everything in the silence. His hand drew lazy circles on her back while hers rested over his heart.
"I've never felt like this," she whispered eventually, her voice thick with emotion. "Safe. Full. Home."
Pedro leaned in and kissed her slow. "Then stay."
"I already am."
They lay together a little longer, the comfort of their closeness making time feel suspended. Eventually, Pedro stretched and glanced at the clock.
"You hungry?" he asked.
Lisa chuckled. "Starving."
"Let's get dressed. There's a cute spot by the beach that makes killer seafood platters."
She raised an eyebrow, teasing. "Trying to spoil me?"
He grinned. "Always."
---
Later That Afternoon
The coastal breeze was light as they stepped out of the restaurant, full and smiling. The place Pedro had picked was small but beautiful—wooden decking, sea views, and the scent of lemon and garlic in the air. They'd shared a platter, stolen bites from each other's plates, and toasted with fresh juice.
Lisa wore a soft yellow sundress that danced in the wind, her skin glowing from the sun. Pedro hadn't stopped looking at her all day.
"You've been staring at me since the waiter took our order," she teased as they walked down the beach, fingers interlocked.
"I'm memorizing you," he said without hesitation. "In case I wake up and this is all a dream."
She stopped walking and turned to him, heart swelling. "Then let me make it feel even more real."
She pulled him close, kissed him right there on the sand. Not heated like the night before—but tender. Deep. A kind of kiss that said I'm not going anywhere.
And neither was he.
They strolled along the water's edge, the waves brushing over their feet as the sun warmed their skin. Lisa had taken off her sandals, letting the sand sift between her toes, while Pedro held them in one hand and her hand in the other.
"You know…" she began, tilting her head with a sly smile, "I think you planned all this."
Pedro glanced sideways, playing dumb. "Planned what?"
"The romantic lunch, the beach walk, the bedroom workout last night…"
He smirked. "Bedroom workout?"
"Mm-hmm," she teased. "Had me breaking a sweat, breathing hard, legs shaking…"
Pedro stopped walking and turned to her, that devilish look darkening his eyes. "Keep talking like that and I'll have to pull you into the backseat of the car."
Lisa laughed, bumping her hip into his. "We're in public."
"There's tinted windows," he shrugged.
She shook her head, grinning. "You're unbelievable."
"You started it."
They kept walking, the flirtation lingering between them like heat in the air. A gust of wind lifted her dress slightly, and Pedro's eyes dropped, gaze lingering on the smooth skin of her thighs.
"Seriously though," he said, voice low, "you've got no idea what you do to me."
Lisa turned, walking backwards in front of him, playful and bold. "Oh, I have an idea. Last night gave it away."
Pedro growled under his breath and caught her wrist, spinning her gently into his arms. He held her close, his lips brushing her ear.
"Next time, you won't be walking the next day."
Her breath hitched, her body responding instantly to the heat of his words.
Lisa looked up at him with that spark in her eyes. "Then maybe I'll need to visit more often."
Pedro kissed her—hungry, slow, with a promise of what was coming later.
And the waves kept crashing, the sun kept setting, but for a moment, the whole world was just them.