Ocean. B.L.U.E (Book 2)

Today was our last full day in San Francisco before we'd board a plane back home.

And I woke up with Elias sprawled across my chest, his breath warm against my collarbone, his fingers curled loosely against my side like he'd fallen asleep mid-thought and never let go.

I lay there, unmoving, letting the moment stretch, letting the weight of him sink into me. The hotel room was quiet, save for the distant hum of the city outside, the muffled laughter of students in the hallway. But here, in this bed, everything felt still—like we existed in some separate place untouched by time.

Elias shifted slightly in his sleep, his nose brushing against my skin. A small, contented sigh left him, his body unconsciously pressing closer, like he knew exactly where he belonged, even in his dreams.

I smiled, my hand skimming lazily up his back, fingers tracing slow circles against his shoulder blades. He was always moving, always thinking, always wrapped up in a million different emotions at once. But here, like this, he was completely at ease.

I wanted to freeze this moment.

To stretch it into forever.

Instead, I dipped my head, pressing a kiss to the top of his hair. "Elias," I murmured, my lips ghosting against his curls. "Time to wake up."

He groaned, burying his face deeper into my chest. "No."

I chuckled. "Yes."

His grip tightened, his body going limp like if he played dead, I'd leave him alone.

I rolled my eyes. "Come on. It's our last full day here."

"Mm." His voice was muffled. "So?"

"So," I said, nudging his head up slightly, "I want to spend the whole day with you."

That got him.

His eyes cracked open, still heavy with sleep, but there was something warm beneath the haze—something softer, something that said he liked the sound of that.

"You do?" he mumbled, voice hoarse.

I smirked. "Obviously."

He huffed, rubbing his cheek against my chest before finally—finally—pushing himself up with a groggy sigh. His hair was a mess, his lips slightly swollen from sleep, and his shirt had slipped off one shoulder, exposing smooth, golden skin.

I swallowed.

Dangerous.

Elias blinked at me sleepily. "Okay," he said. "But you have to carry me to the shower."

I snorted. "Absolutely not."

He grumbled something under his breath before dragging himself off me and shuffling toward the bathroom, his feet barely lifting off the ground.

I followed, watching the way he stretched, his back arching slightly as he yawned, the little dimples in his lower back exposing themselves.

Evil.

"Are you just going to stand there?" he asked, glancing at me over his shoulder like he knew what he was doing to me.

I smirked. "Maybe."

He rolled his eyes but didn't argue, disappearing into the bathroom. A second later, I heard the shower turn on.

I grabbed my toothbrush and followed after him, my stealing glances at him as he stepped behind the tall glass door. The steam from the glass was enough to block out the view of him as he stepped under the falling water. His eyes closed, head tilted back. Droplets clung to his lashes, traced the curve of his throat, slid down his chest in slow, meandering paths.