The Hawaiian sun was blinding when their team stepped out of the airport, but nothing matched the heat smoldering between Julia and Alan. The trip was supposed to be a three-day corporate retreat—meetings, workshops, presentations. Simple. Professional.
But nothing had been simple since the night Julia confessed she was carrying his child… and the night she lost it.
Now she barely looked at him. She hadn't forgiven him. She didn't even trust herself enough to speak without shaking.
Still, Alan couldn't stop watching her.
At the Resort
The hotel was luxurious—oceanfront balconies, warm breeze drifting through the hallways, the sound of waves echoing like a heartbeat. Everyone rushed to change for the welcome dinner. Julia stayed behind, pretending to search for her badge. In truth, she needed a moment to breathe.
A knock sounded.She froze.
"Julia," Alan's voice. Deep. Controlled. But something raw hid under it.
She opened the door only an inch—but he pushed it wider with his palm, stepping inside before she could protest.
"What do you want?" she whispered.
"You."
Her heart stuttered.
"You've avoided me for weeks," Alan said, jaw tight. "You won't look at me. You won't talk to me. But you still think about me."
"You're imagining things."
"Am I?" He stepped closer. "Your hands shake when I enter a room. Your breath catches when I stand near you. Julia… I feel everything you're trying to hide."
Her pulse thundered.
"You hurt me, Alan," she whispered. "And nothing can undo that."
He flinched like she'd hit him."I know. And I'm not asking you to forgive me. I just… I can't stand being this far from you."
Julia meant to step back.She didn't.
Alan's hand brushed her wrist—light as a question.She didn't pull away.
"Tell me to stop," he whispered.
Silence.
He cupped her jaw gently, like she was something breakable. His forehead touched hers."Julia…"
And she broke.
She grabbed his shirt, pulling him down into a desperate, hungry kiss. He kissed her back instantly—hard, aching, like weeks of restraint collapsing at once.
Her back hit the wall.His hands slid to her waist.Her lips parted, breath mixing with his.Heat surged between them as his mouth trailed along her jaw, her throat, returning to her lips with deeper urgency.
Julia's fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer.Alan groaned softly against her mouth, a sound that trembled with longing and regret.
"You have no idea what you do to me," he murmured between kisses.
"I shouldn't want this," she whispered, breathless.
"But you do," he replied, kissing her again—slow, deep, claiming.
Her knees weakened. He held her firmly, their bodies pressing together, hearts racing like they might shatter through their ribs.
For a moment, nothing else existed—Not their past.Not their pain.Not the world outside the hotel room.
Just raw, overwhelming need.
When he finally pulled back, both of them were shaking.
"We should go to the dinner," she whispered.
"We should," he agreed… but didn't move.
His thumb brushed her swollen lower lip, eyes burning into hers.
"This isn't over, Julia," he whispered. "Not even close."
She swallowed hard.
And deep down, she knew he was right.