Chapter 3: The Almost Kiss
The evening air was warm and fragrant with the scent of tropical flowers as Auri stepped onto the terrace of the resort's exclusive restaurant. Lanterns glowed softly, reflecting in the glass of the infinity pool that stretched toward the ocean. She had spent the day carefully avoiding Dante—yet somehow, he had managed to appear at nearly every key moment.
Tonight, however, there was no escaping him.
Dante was already seated at a table for two, hands loosely clasped in front of him, eyes scanning the horizon. When he saw her approach, he did not rise. He simply looked at her, that same dark, magnetic gaze, and let her feel the pull of his presence.
"You're punctual," he remarked simply, voice smooth and steady.
"I like to arrive before the storm," she replied, sliding into the seat opposite him.
He smirked faintly, as if approving her defiance. "I'll keep that in mind."
---
The first course arrived, but neither of them seemed to pay much attention to the food. Their conversation had shifted into a battle of wits, teasing each other in a dance that made her heart race.
"So," Dante began, swirling a glass of wine, "how untamed are you really, Auri? Or is it just an act for the vacation?"
Auri laughed lightly, tilting her head. "Careful, CEO. That's a dangerous question."
"Dangerous questions are my specialty," he said softly, leaning just slightly forward. The faint tilt of his head, the shadow of a smirk, made her pulse spike.
"You really enjoy this, don't you?" she asked, pretending to study her menu.
"Enjoy what?" he countered, voice low. "Testing your patience? Watching you squirm just a little?"
Her lips curved into a teasing smile. "You have a strange definition of fun."
"And yet," he replied, "you seem to enjoy it too."
Auri's stomach fluttered. He's infuriating, she thought, and I can't stop responding to him.
As the night deepened, so did the tension. Every subtle movement was charged:
A brush of hands as they reached for wine glasses.
Glances that lingered too long to be accidental.
Shared laughter that carried an undercurrent of something unspoken, something urgent.
Auri caught herself staring at the curve of his jaw in the soft lantern light. He noticed and smirked faintly, as if reading her mind.
"Thinking something scandalous, I imagine," he said, leaning slightly closer.
She felt a shiver of anticipation. "Maybe," she whispered, letting her words hang in the space between them.
"Careful," he murmured, voice lowering, "I might take that as permission."
Auri's pulse quickened. Her free-spirited heart told her to tease him, to play the game, to resist. But another part of her—the part that had felt sparks every time he was near—wanted to let the barrier crumble, just a little.
---
After dessert, Dante suggested a walk along the moonlit beach. The night was quiet, save for the soft lapping of waves and the occasional distant laugh from other guests. Their hands brushed occasionally as they walked side by side, neither admitting the electricity they felt.
At one point, he stopped and looked down at her, eyes glimmering in the moonlight. "You're… fascinating," he said softly. "So untamed, so… unpredictable. I don't know whether to admire or chase you."
Auri's lips curved into a mischievous smile. "Why not both?" she asked, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her nerves.
Dante tilted his head, studying her. "Maybe I will," he said, leaning slightly closer. His breath was warm against her cheek.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. She could feel the tension in the air, electric and dangerous. Their faces were mere inches apart.
"I shouldn't…" she murmured, even as every instinct in her body screamed yes.
"Shouldn't what?" he whispered, his voice husky now, compelling, teasing.
"Do this," she breathed.
Dante smiled faintly, slowly leaning forward. His lips were so close she could feel the warmth radiating from them. The world seemed to shrink around them—the sound of waves, the scent of salt air, the soft glow of the lanterns.
And then—a sudden shout from the resort broke the spell. A staff member called out to him about an urgent matter regarding a late-arriving client. Dante's hand instinctively tightened around hers for a brief, fleeting moment—a spark of contact that made her pulse race—and then he released it.
"I'll handle it," he said softly, eyes lingering on hers. "But… this isn't over."
Auri watched him walk away, jaw tight, heart pounding. The near-kiss hung between them, unfulfilled, a promise of what was to come.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm the wild flutter in her chest. She had come on this vacation to be untamed, to be free, to escape her routines. And yet, here she was, standing on the beach, utterly captivated by a man who challenged every boundary she thought she had.
The night stretched on, but the tension remained, thick and undeniable. And somewhere deep down, Auri knew that this game of glances, teasing, and almost-touching was only just beginning.