[Open Seaside Restaurant]
The air smelled like salt and grilled shrimp.
A breeze swept through the open-air terrace, ruffling the linen tablecloths and making the lanterns above sway slightly. The restaurant was perched on a cliffside, its edge fenced in with glass panels, allowing a full view of the moonlit ocean below. Waves crashed, soft and slow.
Alex and Caroline sat across from each other at a table set with flickering candles, a half-empty bottle of chilled white wine, and two untouched plates of seared ahi and coconut risotto.
She was barefoot again, of course. Her dress shimmered when the candlelight hit just right. She hadn't even touched her food yet, too busy playing footsie.
"You're doing it again," Alex said, leaning back slightly, lifting one eyebrow.
Caroline's eyes widened innocently. "Doing what?"
He took another sip of wine. "Weaponizing your feet like it's a Bond film."
She smiled, sweet but deadly. Her toes slid further up his leg under the table, slowly nudging against his thigh with increasing confidence.
"I'm just trying to get comfortable," she said, voice sugary.
"By creeping up my leg like a seductive crab?"
She tilted her head. "A sexy crab. Get it right."
Alex set down his wine and leaned forward, bracing his forearms on the table. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you're trying to seduce me into skipping dinner."
Her foot inched closer to very dangerous territory.
"You mean you're not already seduced?" she asked.
"I'm trying to act civilized. You're over there playing 4D footsie chess."
Caroline took a bite of the risotto at last and closed her eyes. "God, this is good. I might make out with this rice."
Alex reached for his wine again, voice low. "If you're putting your mouth on anything tonight, it's not going to be the rice."
She choked on a laugh mid-bite. "Oh my god, you cannot say things like that while I'm eating carbs."
"You started it, crab assassin."
She raised a brow. "You gonna punish me later?"
Alex didn't answer. He just gave her a slow, deliberate once-over and licked a drop of wine off his bottom lip.
Caroline shifted in her chair. "Okay. New topic before I combust. Let's call Max."
"Mid-leg seduction and now phone calls? Multitasking level: professional."
She pulled out her phone, grinning. "Let's see what she's up to."
Alex leaned in. "Let's also make her jealous."
Caroline winked and hit the call button, putting it on speaker.
It rang twice.
Then Max picked up.
"HELLO, PEASANTS. I'm currently watching Mamma Mia in my pajamas while thinking of switching to some questionable private tapes. Speak fast."
Alex smirked. "Hey, Max."
Caroline cut in. "Guess who's eating risotto on a moonlit cliff overlooking the ocean?"
There was silence.
Then Max replied flatly, "I swear to God if one more person has a romantic dinner without me, I'm releasing that photo and video of Alex in the Spider-Man costume making pew pew sound and running around."
Alex slapped his face, remembering that day when he lost a burrito-eating competition to Max, and she made him wear the Spidey costume and run around in it, while she took pictures and probably a video.
Caroline gasped and quickly asked. "Can I have a copy of that?"
"Nope. That's mine. And if you two don't stop rubbing your rich-people happiness in my face, it's going on the internet with the caption: Meet Hollywood's Golden Spidey Boy."
Alex leaned forward, grinning. "You still mad I didn't let you drive the Mustang?"
"Mad? No. I'm over it," Max said.
Caroline raised an eyebrow. "She's definitely not over it."
Alex smirked. "I can hear her bitterness through the signal."
"Do you want me to bring up the time Alex spilled orange juice on a $10k brand-new comic draft and tried to blame it on a ghost?" Max fired back.
Caroline nearly fell out of her chair. "Please say that's real."
Alex sighed. "We're ending this call in five."
Max ignored him. "Anyway. Since you two are clearly winning the romance Olympics, I'm going to go pour myself a glass of grape juice and pretend it's wine. But before I hang up, Alex?"
"Yeah?"
"If you don't bring me back at least one souvenir or a new horse, I'm burning the Spider-Man photo. And not in the fun, 'delete this memory forever' kind of way. I mean framed, displayed, and printed on a hoodie."
"You're evil," Alex said calmly.
"I'm lonely. And powerful. Don't test me."
Caroline laughed, leaned into the phone and whispered, "We'll bring you back something special, promise."
"Make it glittery," Max said, then hung up with a dramatic beep.
Caroline set her phone down and exhaled. "She's going to run this country one day."
"She already runs six cupcake shops from her beanbag chair," Alex muttered.
A few minutes later...
They both leaned back into their chairs. The wine was nearly gone. The plates were half-empty. The breeze picked up just enough to make Caroline's hair flutter.
She reached across the table and took his hand again. "This night's kind of perfect."
Alex brought her fingers to his lips. Kissed them. Held them there for a moment longer than necessary.
"You know what would make it better?" he asked.
She smiled. "Another kiss?"
He stood and stepped beside her chair. She turned just as he pulled her up, wrapped an arm around her waist, and kissed her.
Not soft this time.
Slow. Deep. With intention.
Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt as she leaned into him.
They broke apart a few seconds later, breathless and very not done.
Caroline blinked up at him. "You keep kissing me like that, I'm going to start a fight with dessert just to leave early."
Alex grinned. "Then let's ask for the check."
She narrowed her eyes. "What about the chocolate lava cake?"
"We'll make one," he said, voice low. "I've got lava. You bring the heat."
Caroline groaned. "Damn it! So cheesy, yet so true. I love you."
"Pretty sure you said that already."
"I meant it every time."
They kissed again. Longer this time.
The waiter came by with the check.
Neither noticed.
...
[Penthouse – Poolside]
The sliding glass door clicked open.
Caroline walked barefoot onto the private terrace, wrapped in a dark green towel that matched the shimmer of her bikini underneath. The pool glowed with soft underwater lights, casting silver ripples across the surface. Waves crashed somewhere far below the cliff, barely audible.
Alex was already in the water.
Correction: Alex was already lounging in the water, leaning back against the edge in nothing but navy boxer briefs, arms spread along the rim like a man who had just invented the concept of being chill.
Caroline stopped at the edge and stared.
He stared right back.
"You look so freakin' sexy," she said.
Her thoughts: 'God! I just can't get enough of him.'
He extended a hand. "Come say that closer."
She dropped the towel.
Alex didn't blink.
He had seen the bikini earlier in the store, the one with the crisscrossed straps and the dangerous lack of back coverage, but it hit differently under moonlight.
"You're staring," she said.
"I'm calculating," he replied. "How long you'll last before you cannonball in and ruin all this peace."
She stuck out her tongue, walked down the steps into the pool, and sank beside him with a satisfied sigh. The water was warm, and his body was warmer.
They sat in silence for a while.
His arm draped lazily around her shoulder. Her head rested against his chest.
She sighed again.
"I didn't know hot boys came with built-in heating systems and shoulder real estate," she mumbled.
"I'm multifunctional," he said. "I also do taxes and dish out unsolicited life advice."
Caroline tilted her head. "Do you also come with a massage feature?"
Alex kissed her neck. "Press the button and find out."
She raised her hand and gently poked his side. "Boop."
He chuckled, shifted behind her, and rolled his knuckles down her back. "Okay. Sit up. Let me fix you."
"Fix me?" she repeated, smirking. "What am I, a broken vending machine?"
"Your posture screams 'tension.' You need a reset."
"Fine. But if you touch one of those weird hidden pressure points and I black out from an intense unstoppable orgasm, you're legally responsible for wiping, changing, and dragging me to the bed."
Caroline floated before him.
Alex didn't reply. His hands were already on her shoulders, thumbs pressing into that exact place near her spine that made her let out a sound that was definitely not PG-rated.
"Oh my God."
"Told you."
"Oh, yeah... Ahhh~"
He worked slowly and methodically, tracing circles down her shoulder blades, over her lower back, and up to the base of her neck. Each time she sighed, he adjusted his pressure. Every time she relaxed, he pushed just a little deeper. Within five minutes, she was like jelly. By ten minutes, she was slumped against his chest, completely silent.
Alex lowered his voice. "You okay?"
A small, tired noise came out of her. "My soul left my body, and I'm too lazy to get it back. Sorry, love. I'm too tired and sleepy tonight. Just need to rest a bit..."
Her head dropped onto his shoulder. Her fingers stopped fidgeting. Her breath evened out.
Within a few minutes, she was asleep.
Alex stared down at her.
Then he smiled.
He shifted just enough to hold her tighter, let her sink further into his arms. The water lapped gently around them. The glow from the pool danced on her skin. A breeze whispered past, cool and perfect.
He rested his chin on her head.
"I love you," he whispered.
She didn't respond.
She was too busy drooling slightly on his collarbone.
He didn't mind.
...
[Next Morning – Penthouse Bedroom]
Caroline let out a long, delicious yawn that practically echoed off the floor-to-ceiling windows. Her eyes fluttered open like a sleepy cat in a luxury sunbeam. For a moment, she didn't move.
She just lay there, blinked slowly, and tried to figure out why she felt like someone had secretly installed a spa inside her spine.
Her arms stretched overhead.
No ache.
No knots.
No tension in her shoulders, back, or legs.
She tilted her head slightly and whispered to no one, "Did I... ascend last night?"
Then she looked to her left.
Alex.
Flat on his back.
Asleep in tight black boxer briefs that did zero to hide the fact that physics adored this man. One arm was sprawled over his head, the other rested across his stomach like he'd fallen asleep mid-model pose. His hair was a little tousled. His jaw looked like it had been sculpted by moonlight and minor chaos.
Caroline stared.
Then her eyes dropped to her own body.
A robe.
'Oh, sweetheart, thanks for changing me and taking care of me.' She thought with a satisfied smile.
Caroline sat up slowly.
"Why do you look like you were photoshopped into this bed?" she mumbled. "Why do you sleep like you're being painted by an invisible French artist?"
She crawled toward him like a detective on a mission. Her robe made soft swishing sounds. Her hair was a little tangled. Her face still held that just-woke-up puffiness. She looked adorable and mildly dangerous.
She saddled him and leaned over his face.
Waited and stared at him for a moment.
Then whispered.
"Hey."
Nothing.
"Hey," she repeated, poking his cheek gently.
Still nothing.
She poked again. "Alex. Human heater. Muscle pillow. Wake up."
Caroline went for another poke, this time aiming straight for the tip of his nose like she was booping a magical sleep creature.
Her finger barely made contact.
In one fluid motion, Alex's hand snapped up and grabbed her wrist.
Before she could react, he rolled, flipping her onto her back. The robe slipped open slightly at the collar as he pinned both her wrists above her head with one hand. The other braced beside her shoulder.
She stared up, wide-eyed and breathless, her hair a wild halo on the pillow.
He looked down at her, mischief gleaming in his sleepy, half-lidded eyes. His voice was gravelly, quiet, and dangerously fun.
"Good morning."
Caroline blinked. "Hi. Hello. Yes. Morning. Um-"
She trailed off because his hips had shifted, just slightly, and his very awake situation was pressing right against her.
She raised an eyebrow. "So… is that a sword or are you just happy to see me?"
Alex smirked, his voice still low. "What do you think?"
"I think," she said slowly, legs locking around his waist with zero hesitation, "that someone's trying to weaponize his morning wood."
His nose brushed hers. "You started the war."
"You were lying there all shirtless and sexy and hot. I had no choice."
"I was asleep."
"You were seductively asleep."
He kissed her then, firm, deep, but not rushed. Like he wanted her to feel it in every vertebra. Her back arched slightly, and her legs pulled him closer. His hand slid down, fingers trailing the edge of her robe, which had fully betrayed her at this point.
She pulled her wrists gently, testing his grip.
He didn't let go.
Instead, he whispered against her lips, "Still feel like poking me awake?"
She giggled, eyes fluttering closed as she arched into him. "Only if I get this exact punishment every time."
His mouth moved to her neck. Her pulse jumped.
"I should let you know," she said through a breathy laugh, "this is not how proper alarm clocks work."
"I'm not proper," he murmured.
"No," she said. "You're perfect."
He loosened his grip on her wrists, kissed her palms, and let her wrap her arms around his neck.
They stayed there like that for a moment. Just pressed together. Warm. Quiet. The soft sound of the ocean somewhere beyond the windows.
Caroline ran her fingers through his hair.
"You know what?"
"What?"
"I really, really love mornings with you."
Alex smiled against her shoulder. "I like being your snooze button."
She chuckled and kissed the top of his head. "I like pressing you."
His hips shifted slightly, teasing.
"Morning sex?" She smirked, narrowing her eyes.
"Morning sex," Alex gave her a nod.
----
[POWERSTONES AND REVIEWS PLS]
Support link: www.patr eon.com/UnknownMaster
[5 advance chs] [All chs available for all tiers] [No double billing.]
---
AN: I know some readers asked me to create a stat page on MC's wealth and things he owns, and the movie list. Been too busy lately, so I'll create a chart if I get some free time. Probably by next Monday.