I was running towards him before I had commanded my legs to do so. I slid between him and the keg seconds before he could pour himself a cup.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I hissed, already tugged his arm to lead him back towards the woods.

“Dear, I haven’t even gotten a drink yet. Please, refrain from ruining the party for me.” He gazed longingly towards the stack of solo cups next to the keg.

“We’re leaving,” I commanded, pulling him again. Rosier sighed but begrudgingly followed.

“This isn’t really my crowd anyway.” He said, casting a look around at the partygoers. They were mostly clad in plaid and camouflage. “Are these hicks?” He asked in a loud whisper. I rolled my eyes.

“If I wasn’t done here, I would be a lot more upset,” I warned him. “I asked you to do one thing. Stay at the motel. And what did you do? You showed up at the party because of course, you did!” My inner monologue spilled out and was met with a loud hiccup. Rosier turned to me, delighted.

“Clara, are you drunk?” He looked absolutely thrilled. I scowled at him which only made him laugh. We were almost to the woods, a few paces away. I looked back at the party once more, I hadn’t expected to lock eyes with him. With Seth.

Seth stared at me.

Seth stared at me. Solo cup in one hand, phone in the other. He was frozen. I paused too. He still had those cute freckles. And those green eyes. Of course, he still had them. I just hadn’t expected to see them… ever again, really. He sucked in a deep breath. I wondered if he was going to come to talk to me. I should’ve been the one to go approach him- I really should-

“What’s happening? Are we staying?” Rosier asked, perking up even more. I had to get him out of there before he talked to a single person. I couldn’t talk to Seth. I couldn’t apologize to him, although I really needed to. “Wait…” Rosier whined which only made me push him to speed up.

We didn’t walk on the trail, instead, we crashed through the underbrush onto the beach. I couldn’t focus or really remember the way back to the motel at that moment. I massaged my temples and walked closer to the water. Rosier followed obliviously, like a puppy on my heels.

“I don’t see how this is going to work if you don’t do the simple things I ask you. Like, stay in the fucking motel.” I closed my eyes and urged my headache to go away.

“Wow, you’re a mean drunk.” Rosier scoffed.

“Why did you come?” I groaned.

“In case you needed my help.” He answered instantly. Like he was waiting for the question. I shot him a look. “You don’t believe me?” He asked.

“You just wanted to party…” I mumbled and kicked the sand. He seemed absolutely entertained by my behavior.

“Are you jealous? You want me to be protective? To be here for you?” He stepped closer to me. I could feel his heat contrast sharply with the cool air the ocean gave off. I swallowed.

“So what if I do?” I turned towards him. I would never have said this sober. But something about Rosier’s heat, his lips, the stars that seemed to spin in the sky, and the waves that lapped on the shore, so close I wondered if they swallowed up my words. I could only see what I wanted and nothing else seemed to matter. My head was empty. Rosier stared at me with wide eyes.

“You do?” He asked. As if surprised. As if he didn’t realize the effect he had been having on me this whole time. I’d only just met him and he was more intoxicating than anything I’d had to drink that night.

I trailed a finger down the length of his arm.

“Does it matter?” I whispered.

He stayed silent… and stepped closer. I felt his fingertips trailed down the lengths of my arms then slide around my waist. Lighting up each part of my being with his touch, like a string of Christmas lights coming to life one bulb at a time. I inhaled sharply and looked up at him. His features were dark. It was hard to tell what he was thinking normally, nevermind cast in shadow. With my face upturned towards his, flush with alcohol and moonlight, I’m sure I was much more obvious. Wide-eyed and unsteadily sucking in gasps of oxygen.

His hands tentatively traced over my hips and up my rib cage, brushing past the sides of my breasts before trailing back down. I looked straight ahead, at his chest, so that he didn’t see the way my eyelids flutter closed.

“Clara…” He breathed as one of his hands found its way to my cheek. I felt the heat of his palms against me. My heart beat wildly, threatening to crack open my chest, tearing through skin and tissue just to be closer to him. He tilted my face upwards back towards him. He brushed a stray lock from my face. Even his scent was intoxicating. Sandalwood and rain. How did he-

With his other hand, he slid down past my waist, grazing my ass before he dipped lower and grabbed the back of my knee. In one swift movement, he lifted me so that my legs were wrapped around his waist. I gasped as he hoisted me into the air. His arms encircled me, holding tight.

“Are you okay?” He asked, breathless. I tried to find my voice and failed. I looked towards him. One of his hands rested on the small of my back, holding me in place. The other brushed hair from my face. I nodded.

“Clara, I was made for you.” He said softly.

Our lips collided in a way that reminded me of planets crashing into each other, rough and violent. Too destructive to comprehend the depth of their calamity. We fit together perfectly, his soft lips consumed me. His hands that had so delicately brushed the hair from my face before, now grabbed the locks fiercely and jerked my head backward. I couldn’t help but moan desperately as I felt him leave a trail of hot kisses along my neck. I bit my lip and arched my body towards him. I pressed harder to him and he groaned. In a desperate fashion, I had never displayed before, I grinded against him. One of his hands found my ass and grabbed it hard, holding me tighter to him. I didn’t know we had gone down until I felt the sand against my back and I could feel his weight on me. He pulled off my shirt with a hunger I should’ve expected and I felt his lips against my skin, between my breasts, and along my stomach. I mentally high fived myself for the black lace bra I had on. When he got to the hem of my jeans I bit my lip so hard I wondered if it would bleed, the sky was completely out of focus above me.

Then he let go of me and braced himself above me. His arms formed a sort of cage around me. One I didn’t want to be let out of. We stared at each other, both gasping for breath. I stared at him wide-eyed, biting my lip to try and steady myself. He seemed to be tracing each of my features with his eyes. He was drinking me in again. He had done this before but I hadn’t felt this same heat last time. I hadn’t felt the wanting that was now coursing through him. Now I could see it. He dipped slightly, grinding against me. Now I could feel it. I bit back a yelp. Not one of pain. Instead, because this anticipation was too much to contain. I wanted him. Blindly. Completely.

“I want you.” He breathed. I nodded. I knew. My tongue felt heavy in my mouth. I couldn’t find the words to reply. “But not if…” He trailed off. This caught my attention. I blinked rapidly, waiting for him to continue. He seemed to be considering his words. I didn’t want the moment to be over. I could feel the cool ocean air ruffle my hair, the moon on my skin, and the sand rough against my back but most importantly I couldn’t feel his skin against mine. Which was what I craved like I hadn’t known possible.

A scream rang out from behind the trees we had just crashed through. We both froze. He looked down at me for one more beat then we were both on our feet, racing back towards the party.