When Joe heard the sound, he looked up, and his gaze landed on Skylar as she walked toward him.
Skylar’s fair skin seemed to glow under the soft lighting, and her gaze held an almost ethereal quality—like something out of a dream. There was an innocence in her expression, but also a subtle desire that she herself wasn’t aware of. Her body was mirrored in the rippling water beside her, and at that moment, any man in the vicinity would likely have found it impossible to ignore the magnetic pull she exuded.
Joe had never denied that Skylar held a special place in his heart. Her every movement had the power to stir something deep within him. As he stared at her, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotions.
Skylar, noticing Joe’s intense gaze, felt a bit self-conscious. Was something wrong with her outfit? She had checked herself in the mirror before coming out, and the swimsuit seemed simple enough, with a color she wasn’t used to wearing—but it shouldn’t look that bad, right?
“Does it look weird?” Skylar asked, uncertain.
Joe cleared his throat, feeling a slight dryness in his throat. He took a sip of his wine to calm himself before replying, “It’s fine.”
Skylar settled into a comfortable spot beside him and looked at him seriously. “Can we talk now?”
Joe gazed into her clear eyes, and for a moment, he felt his throat tighten again. They were so innocent, so earnest—like a child’s eyes full of trust. His heart raced.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he said, his voice low.
“What?” Skylar blinked, confused. What kind of look had she given him? It was just a normal look—she was only trying to discuss something.
“The way you look at me… it makes me want to make love to you,” Joe said bluntly, the words hanging heavily between them.
Skylar’s eyes widened in shock. She hadn’t expected him to be so direct. “You’ve got it wrong. I’m not trying to seduce you.” She blushed, unsure of how to explain. The fact that her simple gaze could have such an effect on him was almost too much for her to process.
“What do you want to talk about?” Joe asked, taking another sip of his wine.
Skylar noticed another glass of wine beside her. She took a tentative sip, gathering her courage before speaking. “We agreed this afternoon to be a real couple. But now… we’re talking about making out. Aren’t we rushing things a bit?”
She continued, her voice more serious, “I’m afraid you’ll regret it later.”
Joe set his glass down and moved to sit next to her. “Why do you think I’ll regret it?” he asked, his voice soft yet filled with curiosity.
Skylar looked at him earnestly. “You’re older than me, and you’ve never had any scandals. Grandma Gloria said you’ve never even had a girlfriend.” She paused, trying to find the right words. “In situations like this, you might have an unrequited first love. The novels say that if your first love comes back, you might regret betraying her and take it out on me. Wouldn’t I just become the scapegoat in that case?”
Skylar voiced her concerns, the same worries that had been swirling in her mind since the shower. Being married to Joe was one thing, but being the person he turned to when things went wrong was something else entirely. She wasn’t sure she was ready for that.
Joe chuckled softly, as though the thought amused him. “Love in novels is always grand, always ending with a happy conclusion. Do you really believe in that?”
Skylar used to, but now, she simply shook her head.
Joe leaned in closer, his tone softening. “I’ll give you a few days to adjust,” he said gently.
Skylar blinked, still unsure of how to process everything he was saying.
Joe paused for a moment, then seemed to remember something. “Is it because I’m too old for you?” he asked, recalling that Skylar had mentioned their age difference.
Skylar immediately stood up, shaking her head. “Absolutely not!” she exclaimed. “That’s not what I meant.”
In her sudden motion, the stones beneath her feet felt slippery, and she lost her balance, stumbling forward. But before she could fall, Joe’s arms shot out, catching her effortlessly.
In an instant, she found herself in his embrace, her body pressed against his chest. Her face flushed with the sudden intimacy, feeling the heat of his body against hers. His muscles were firm and defined, and the thin swimsuit she wore didn’t offer much resistance.
Skylar felt a rush of warmth flood her cheeks, unsure whether it was the hot spring water or Joe’s closeness making her so flustered.
“I…” she stammered, feeling the intensity of the moment.
Before she could say more, Joe leaned in, pressing his lips to hers in a deep kiss. It was a kiss that demanded attention, one that would have made any woman instinctively pull away. But Skylar didn’t move—she was caught in the overwhelming heat of the moment, feeling her body respond to his in ways she wasn’t prepared for.
Skip to content