The three boys guided their dates to the edge of the dock with the calm of someone who has absolute control of the night. The water gently lapped against the hull of the anchored yacht, reflecting the golden lights that hung like fireflies suspended in the air. A wooden bridge separated them from the vessel, adorned with rope railings and small bulbs that flickered with the rhythm of the sea breeze.
The girls moved forward amid laughter, trying to keep their stiletto heels from getting caught in the gaps of the bridge. The air smelled of salt, expensive perfume, and a hint of something else... an energy that felt alive, wild.
Eliza wobbled a bit, and Stephan was there, so quickly that she didn't even see his arm move. He held her by the waist, firmly, with that mixture of tenderness and dominance that disarmed her. His fingers sank into the soft fabric of her dress as he pulled her to his chest. For an instant, she was left breathless.
