SERAPHINA
The shrill ring of my phone shattered the quiet luxury of sleep. I groaned, slapping blindly across the nightstand until my fingers closed around it. Saturday—my one sacred day to sleep in—and someone had the nerve to ruin it.
Without checking the caller ID, I answered, voice thick with irritation.
"Seraphina, you better be awake," Tess sang, far too bright and bubbly. "I'm pulling up to your gate in fifteen. Travis's beach party starts at noon, and we are not showing up fashionably late again like last time."
I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "Fine. I'll be ready." I hung up before she could launch into more chatter and dragged myself to the bathroom.
Hot water cascaded over my skin, washing away the faint traces of last night's perfume and the ghost of Noah's trembling touch on my neck. When I stepped out, I stood before my walk-in closet and chose a short white sundress—soft cotton that skimmed my thighs and cinched perfectly at the waist. Beneath it, I slipped on a sleek black bikini: the top barely-there, the bottoms high-cut and teasing. The contrast would turn heads the second I peeled the dress off.
I tossed sunscreen, a oversized towel, dark sunglasses, and my favorite lip gloss into a woven beach bag. One last approving glance in the mirror—hair loose and sun-ready—and I headed downstairs.
Tess was already lounging in the foyer like she owned the estate, scrolling through her phone. She looked effortlessly stunning—turquoise bikini top peeking from under a cropped white tank, high-waisted denim shorts hugging her curves, sun-kissed waves cascading down her back.
"Damn, Sera," she whistled, eyes lighting up with approval. "Roman is going to lose his mind when he sees you in that bikini. You ditched him last night, right? He's been blowing up the group chat like a jealous boyfriend on steroids."
I smirked, grabbing my keys from the marble console. "He'll survive. Let's go."
We slid into my car, the engine purring to life like a contented predator. Music blasted through the speakers as we left the city behind, palm-lined highways giving way to the sharp, salty tang of the ocean air. Tess chattered nonstop about Travis's rumored new fling and who was hooking up with whom, but my mind kept drifting back to Noah's apartment—the shock on his face when I'd appeared on his couch, the way his knuckles had trembled against the side of my neck when he helped me with my jacket.
When we pulled into the private beach club's parking lot, the party was already in full swing. Heavy bass thumped from massive speakers planted in the sand, vibrating through my chest. Bright umbrellas and colorful towels dotted the golden beach like scattered confetti. The air smelled of sunscreen, grilled burgers, coconut oil, and sea salt. Laughter and shouts rose from the turquoise waves where bodies splashed and played.
Roman spotted me the second I stepped out of the car. His jaw tightened, shoulders stiffening under his open button-down shirt. He cut through the crowd with that familiar athletic stride, eyes stormy with barely contained anger.
"You ditched me last night," he said the moment he reached me, voice low and edged with accusation. "We had plans, Seraphina. Dinner, then whatever came after. I sat at that restaurant like an idiot for over an hour while you ghosted me. What the hell was so important that you couldn't even text?"
I tilted my head and gave him my sweetest, most innocent smile, sliding my oversized sunglasses into place. "Something came up. Don't ruin the vibe, babe." I leaned in and brushed a quick, teasing kiss against his cheek, but he didn't soften.
Before he could push further, Travis—broad-shouldered and effortlessly charming—waved us over from the center of the group. "There she is! The queen finally graces us with her presence."
Brittany jumped up from her towel and pulled me into a tight hug. "You look insane" she whispered, eyes sparkling with mischief. Madison lounged nearby with the other girls, sipping a colorful cocktail and offering a lazy wave. "Took you long enough, Sera. We were about to start the real fun without you."
I laughed lightly and slipped the white sundress off in one smooth motion. It pooled at my feet like spilled cream. The black bikini underneath turned every head nearby—guys pretending not to stare, girls whispering behind manicured hands. The sun instantly warmed my skin, kissing every exposed inch.
Roman's gaze dragged over me slowly, raw desire warring with lingering irritation.
"Come on," I said, grabbing his hand and tugging him toward the water's edge, voice light and playful. "Let's actually enjoy the day instead of fighting." But I could feel the tension rolling off him like heat rising from the sand. He wasn't going to let last night go easily.
And a dark, secret part of me loved watching him squirm.