From the initial tension to eventually melting into him completely, Anastasia was lost in the moment.

They were still locked in that kiss even as the hot air balloon began its descent.

When they finally made it back to solid ground, Anastasia was pressed against Cassian’s chest, her heart absolutely racing.

Cassian scooped her up in his arms without warning.

Anastasia squeaked and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.

“If you’re scared, just say so. You don’t have to be tough with me,” Cassian murmured against her hair.

Anastasia looked up at him, startled. “You knew I was freaking out?”

Cassian gazed down at her with the softest expression. “You never have to pretend around me.”

“Okay,” Anastasia whispered, looking away.

Someone else had said those exact words to her once, but that person had ended up destroying her.

She’d shown Jasper her most vulnerable self, only to be met with cruel mockery.

So she’d learned to build walls, to never let anyone see her true feelings again.

She thought she’d hidden it well from Cassian, but apparently…

Cassian gently laced their fingers together. “It’s getting pretty late. Should we head back?”

“Yeah.”

Suddenly, Anastasia spotted a street vendor selling fresh coconut water.

The coconuts were sitting on ice, ready to be cracked open on the spot.

Between the tropical heat and all that grilled food, she’d been dying of thirst.

She stared at the stand like it was an oasis.

“Want one?” Cassian asked.

“God, yes.”

“Then let’s get you one.”

“Perfect.”

Anastasia was ready to grab and go, but the vendor smiled at them. “Hey, after you drink the water, you can eat the coconut meat too. You two look like tourists – you should try the full expérience!”

He could tell from their accents they weren’t locals.

Anastasia nodded eagerly. “That sounds amazing.”

They ended up sitting on tiny plastic stools the vendor provided, sharing the coconut and taking turns sipping from it, both looking totally blissful.

Suddenly, Anastasia noticed people gathering around to watch them – they’d accidentally become the vendor’s live advertisement.

She leaned close to Cassian’s ear, her breath tickling his skin. “Let’s have him crack this open and then get out of here before we become a tourist attraction.”

“Smart thinking,” Cassian said, his voice slightly rough.

The coconut meat was different than she’d expected – not very flavorful, just mildly sweet with a soft, almost jelly-like texture.

“What do you think? Good?”

Anastasia scooped up a piece without thinking. “Here, try some.”

Cassian didn’t hesitate to eat from her spoon, his lips brushing her fingers. “Really sweet.”

Anastasia looked confused. “Sweet? I think it’s pretty bland.”

Cassian’s eyes never left her face, a knowing smile playing at his lips. “Trust me. It’s incredibly sweet.”

When they got back to the hotel, Griffin and the guys were still deep in their card game.

Seeing how intense their poker faces were, Cassian decided not to interrupt and started steering Anastasia toward their room.

“Wait, I can’t,” Anastasia said suddenly, stopping in her tracks. “We’ve got team building stuff tomorrow, so I should probably sleep with Tamia tonight.”

Cassian’s face fell and he caught her hand, not wanting to let go.

“I’m seriously regretting this whole vacation idea,” he said with an actual pout.

Normally after work, he could go home and have his wife all to himself. But here they were on this romantic getaway, and he couldn’t even sleep next to her!

“Babe, what am I supposed to do with myself all night without you?”

Anastasia’s cheeks went pink – she’d never seen this clingy side of him before.

She swallowed hard. “You…sleep?”

Cassian’s expression turned absolutely wicked. “I was hoping for the less…static kind of sleeping.”

Anastasia’s brain practically short-circuited.

She slammed the door between them and leaned against it, her heart hammering so hard she thought it might… actually burst out of her chest.

It was crazy – they were married, should be totally comfortable with each other by now.

But every time Cassian looked at her like that, she still felt like a teenager with her first crush.

Cassian stared at the closed door, his jaw clenching. When would he finally have all of her? When would he be the only thing filling her heart and mind?

Anastasia tossed and turned in the empty bed, completely unable to stop thinking about Cassian. His face kept flashing through her mind, and when she remembered how he’d kissed her in the hot air balloon to keep her calm, her lips still felt electric and heat pooled in her stomach.

Tamia still hadn’t come back, and sleeping alone was impossible.

After what felt like hours, she finally drifted off.

Anastasia woke up naturally to find the other bed still empty.

She texted Tamia and immediately heard a phone buzzing right outside the door.

The door creaked open and Tamia shuffled in, yawning and looking like death warmed over.

Seeing Anastasia awake and watching her, Tamia looked sheepish. “Oh hey, you’re up?”

Anastasia’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Please tell me you didn’t just spend the entire night playing poker?”