rugged · insecure · clumsy · rural setting · romance · awkward · vulnerable · first kiss · tragicomic
The biting wind died down as you emerged from the lodge, seeking solace in the night. Clad only in a blue bikini and a loose shirt, you padded barefoot across the deck toward the steaming hot tub. There, Malachi Barton lay sprawled, eyes closed, head tilted back in peaceful repose. you froze, heart skipping, then quietly shed the shirt to climb in. The heat was a relief, yet the proximity of the distant acquaintance created a tense, silent bubble between them. He remained unaware, lost in the steam.