Sara slipped off her sandals, letting them sink softly into the warm sand, before breaking into a playful run toward the shore. The cool waves lapped eagerly at her feet, sending delight through her.
Luca set down his bag and arranged a comfortable spot for them to rest, smoothing the sand beneath a towel with care.
As he stepped back, his gaze wandered, and he caught sight of Sara surrounded by children. Their laughter rang through the beach as she crouched to splash water at them, her earlier gloom nowhere to be seen.
Before breakfast, she looked so gloomy but now her entire demeanor had shifted. Her laughter sparkled like sunlight on the sea.
"Aunty! I want to be in the air!" one of the children squealed.
"I’m not an aunty!" Sara laughed, scooping the little girl up into her arms. "Call me sister, okay?"
The girl giggled as Sara held her high for a moment before lowering her gently onto the sand. Soon, the children darted off toward the other side, where their parents watched with amused smiles.
"That was fun," Sara murmured softly to herself, glancing toward Luca. He was leaning back, methodically applying sunscreen to his arms and legs. She shook her head with a small smile and padded toward him.
"You’re a man, a tanned body looks much hotter," she teased lightly.
"I get sunburns easily," Luca replied, rubbing the thick layer of sunscreen over his skin.
"Then maybe we shouldn’t have come here," Sara said, lowering herself onto the sand. She turned her legs to one side, letting the breeze sweep her hair back and reveal the graceful curve of her neck to him.
"I’ll be fine after applying it," he murmured. His gaze lingered on her. "And you find tanned bodies hotter!?" His jaw tightened as he met her eyes again.
"Who doesn’t?" Sara murmured with a small smirk. "You have a nice body too." She tied her hair into a bun, adding softly, "This beach isn’t that crowded, which is good."
Luca planted a large umbrella firmly into the sand, letting its shade envelop them. Then, scooping a generous amount of sunscreen onto his palm, he began applying it over Sara’s arm.
"I can do it myself," she whispered, though a faint shiver betrayed her as his touch sent tingles along her skin.
"Why? Now, I’m your husband, so it’s part of taking care," Luca whispered. Sara’s heart skipped a beat while he moved to her other arm.
He glanced at the sarong that draped over her, revealing just a glimpse of her thighs.
"Rest if you want. You can apply it later," Luca said softly, settling a little farther away on the sand.
Sara shook her head with a playful smile. "Let’s go into the sea. It’s much more fun there." She grasped his hand firmly, curious if his mood had been shadowed by his conversation with his mother. She wanted to draw a smile from him, to lighten the air between them.
With a tug, she pulled him to his feet and dashed toward the water, her laughter trailing behind her like music.
"Feeling better?" he asked as the waves curled around their feet.
Sara looked up at him, the sunlight catching the gold in her hair. "Yes. I suddenly feel... good." She broke into a grin, running deeper into the sea. A playful wave surged toward her, striking her from behind. She stumbled, caught her balance, and burst into laughter.
Luca watched her, a faint smile tugging at his lips again. And then, he splashed water on her face.
"Don’t!" Sara stepped back instinctively, almost stumbling into the shallow water.
"Why? Didn’t you bring me here for fun?" Luca’s voice was low, his eyes narrowing just as Sara splashed a handful of water at him.
She laughed, retreating with playful defiance, her arms moving to keep her balance. The sunlight danced on her wet skin, making her seem almost ethereal.
Luca shook the water from his face, his lips curling into a faint, amused smirk before charging toward her. With a swift motion, he caught her, his grip firm around her waist.
"Let me go," Sara protested, thrashing her legs against him instinctively. The moment their bodies touched, her chest pressed against his bare skin. A soft blush crept up her cheeks, spreading to her ears, betraying her composure.
Luca’s breath hitched just slightly as he held her closer.
"I won’t. You teased me first," Luca murmured, his gaze drifting down to her lips, glistening with droplets of seawater.
"Luca, are you—Mmmph."
Her words dissolved into a soft moan as his warm lips found hers. Her hands pressed against his chest, not to push him away, but for balance, as if anchoring herself in the moment.
She responded to his kiss slowly, her eyes fluttering open just enough to meet his before her long lashes brushed her skin and she closed them again.
’I shouldn’t kiss him,’ she thought, a quiet warning echoing in her mind.
At last, she let reason take over, placing a gentle push against his chest.
Luca paused, his gaze locking with hers. Slowly, he pressed a soft kiss to the tip of her nose, making her heart skip a beat.
"Your cheeks are red," he whispered.
"I’m flustered... I’ve never been kissed like that," Sara admitted softly. "Let’s move to the shore." She turned her head toward the beach.
’Gosh... why do I feel attracted to him? I wasn’t in love with him. I—I stopped having feelings for him,’ she thought, confusion knitting her brows.
"Sure," Luca replied, taking her hand and leading her toward the shore.
Sara lingered there, pausing before the water’s edge. "Go ahead," she told him, her voice trailing. "I need to gather my thoughts."
She busied herself shaping castles and patterns from the sand, but her mind was elsewhere. It was restless just like her heart. Tilting her head, she caught sight of Luca, suddenly surrounded by a few women.
A pang of jealousy surged inside her. Without thinking, she hurried toward him.