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“Maisy.”
Maisy paused. Xander had stopped walking and was standing on the beach behind her.
“Yeah? Is something wrong?”
“Kind of.” He chuckled. “There’s something you should know. Before we leave this island.”
“What is it?” Maisy’s heart began to beat faster.
“I want you to know that I didn’t take Niko’s place in the wedding just to help him. Or even to help you. There was another reason. I took Niko’s place because I always had feelings for you. I wanted to be there for you.”
“You had… feelings for me?” Maisy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She’d suspected that Xander might feel something for her, but she’d never thought he’d say anything about it. Didn’t he know what a bad idea this was? Yet, even though Maisy knew this was going to end poorly, she couldn’t help feeling a rush of warmth and hope at his words.
“Yes. And I still do. Listen, Maisy, I understand that you don’t feel the same way. And I understand that even if you did, us being together would create a lot of problems. I wasn’t planning to tell you, but I thought you deserved to know before we leave the island. Before we go on to our futures.”
“I… I don’t know what to say.” Maisy’s mind was spinning.
“That’s all right. I know I kind of sprung this on you.” Xander gave her one of his classic charming smiles, but there was a shadow behind it. “I know you’re betrothed to Niko. And I know you don’t feel the same way. But I realized that I couldn’t keep this hidden any longer. I was furious when Niko didn’t show up for the wedding, but a small part of me was relieved, too.”
“Xander…” Maisy’s legs felt weak. Despite the near miss on the island while they’d been kayaking, despite all the moments of connection she’d felt, she hadn’t expected this. As always, her mind went first to her duty. She knew she needed to marry Niko — it was what her family and his expected. It was best for everyone. She couldn’t just let them down like that.
But then, Maisy put those thoughts aside. On this honeymoon, Xander had encouraged her over and over to follow her own feelings and to enjoy herself. Maybe tonight was one more opportunity to do that.
When Maisy put aside her duties and thought only of her own heart, the answer was as clear as the starry sky above them. She cared for Xander — deeply. She had for a long time. She’d found him handsome and attractive when they’d met as teenagers. At the time, she’d been much more attracted to him than to serious, dutiful Niko. Maisy had put those feelings aside, but they’d continued to grow despite her. Now, during these last few days in Kanalea, they’d only grown more.
Her feelings for Xander went beyond a simple crush. They weren’t something she could just brush off. And if Xander had been brave enough to tell her how he felt, she could do the same.
“Xander…” Maisy bit her lip. “I have… feelings for you, too.”
“You do?” Xander’s dark eyes widened, and he stepped forward, taking Maisy’s hands in his own. That simple contact sent shivers up her arms.
“Of course I do. How could I not? You’ve always been a ray of sunshine in my life. You make me laugh, you make me think about things in a new way, and I’ve always felt happier when I’m with you. And sometimes I wonder, if you’d been born two minutes earlier, well… everything might be very different.” Maisy blushed. Xander had admitted feelings, but she’d taken it one step further. She wasn’t sure how he’d react.
“Oh, Maisy. Maybe we don’t need those two minutes for everything to be different.” Xander was grinning now. Still holding her hands, he spun her around, their feet leaving tracks on the soft sand. “After all these years, I can’t believe I’m hearing this.”
“Me neither.” Maisy stumbled on a patch of softer sand, and Xander caught her around the waist and pulled her close. She was pressed against him, her curves molding perfectly into his muscular chest. He lifted a hand to her cheek and ran his thumb along the top of her cheekbone. It was a relatively innocent gesture, but it made heat flood Maisy’s limbs.
“But Xander.” She reached for his hand and put her own over it. “I’m glad we’re talking about this, but what about our families?” She bit her lip. “What about our duty?”
“You always bite your lip when you’re nervous.” Xander ran his thumb over the curve of her lips, and Maisy felt shivers run down her spine. She wanted to be nearer to him. She wanted, desperately, to feel his mouth on hers. He’d kissed her at the wedding and she’d felt something, despite the situation. If he kissed her now, Maisy couldn’t even imagine how she might feel. Maybe, just maybe, it would be one of those romantic kisses from the books she’d loved as a young girl.
“I’m nervous now.” Maisy looked up at Xander. Those deep brown eyes were looking straight into hers, and she felt as if she might fall into them and leave this whole world behind. And his lips were so close, so tantalizing. They’d stood like this before, but never with this much tension. Never with their feelings in the open.
“Don’t be nervous. I know you’re thinking about all the implications of us admitting our feelings, and trying to determine the best solution. I know you’re thinking of our families and a million other people. But it’s just us here, on this beach, right now. Only think of us.”
“I don’t know if I can do that.” Maisy bit her lip a little harder. The pull of Xander was so strong. It would feel so good to let go of responsibilities and overthinking for just a moment, just for tonight.
“Maybe I can help.” The hand on Maisy’s cheek fell her to shoulder and his other hand, on her waist, pulled her in. “Maisy, I would like very much to kiss you.”
Maisy’s rational mind told her that this wasn’t a good idea, that kissing Xander could have consequences far beyond what she could imagine right now. But her heart told her to take a chance, for once, on a guy who made her feel weak in the knees. A guy who might just be her chance at the “happily ever after” she’d always dreamed of.
Maisy’s heart won. “I’d like that.”
The moment seemed to stretch as Maisy lifted onto her tiptoes and Xander bent his head towards hers. Her heart fluttered with anticipation. For once, there was no time for questions as Xander’s lips captured hers in a kiss that started out gentle and tender. Then Maisy deepened the kiss and it grew passionate. Xander’s hands seemed to be everywhere — on her waist, skimming along her spine, tangling in her hand, always pulling her closer, closer, closer.
Maisy, for her part, felt such a strong wave of attraction that she knew she’d never want to do anything other than kiss Xander forevermore. She’d rarely been kissed before. After a few teenage dalliances, she’d become engaged to Niko and they’d shared little more than a few awkward pecks on the cheek in front of the cameras. But Maisy suspected that, even if she’d kissed a hundred men, or a thousand, kissing Xander would still be unbelievable.
Time seemed to stop as they explored each other. Maisy could faintly hear the crashing of the waves and a faint rustle of wind, but those noises seemed as far away as the stars above. The only thing that mattered was this moment, Xander’s lips on hers, then on her neck, his broad hands on her body.
