Beautiful

Abby dismounted bike, her mind filled with confusion. What had just transpired? One moment, he'd been sharing smiles and a seemingly perfect moment with her, and the next, it was as if he'd brushed her aside.

"The place is really nice. Why ..." Her words faltered when she met the intensity in his eyes as he turned toward her. Her tongue lightly moistened her lips, and his gaze immediately locked onto her mouth. Abby's voice dropped to a whisper, her confusion growing with every passing second. "Bring me here."

The atmosphere between them seemed to shift, and she couldn't fathom why.

The sudden attention he was paying to her mouth left her feeling light-headed and vulnerable.

She questioned herself silently—what was happening here? Why was he fixated on her lips like that?

His response shattered the fragile tension. "Don't worry I'm not going to kill you here, freckles."

The use of the nickname sent shivers down her spine, and it sounded anything but casual.

"It's peaceful here at night, it's quiet. And there's no people around, thought you might like it."

They walked together toward the edge of the lake, their footsteps barely making a sound on the soft sand.

Abby's fingers dipped into the cool, clear water, the gentle ripples she created mirroring the ripples in her own heart. She was aware of Remo's presence beside her, and it sent a pleasant shiver down her spine

"It's breathtaking," she said, catching Remo's eye to find that he was watching her instead of the lake.

She had been looking at it, her eyes wide with amazement, much like a small child seeing something for the first time. She was sure he must think she was being ridiculous.

There was a softness in his eyes, a quality she hadn't still gotten used to.

It was enough to steal the breath straight from her lungs.

"It is," he agreed, his voice surprisingly gentle. "Just like you."

Abby felt a rush of warmth flood her cheeks as Remo's words hung in the air between them.

The unexpected tenderness in his tone caught her off guard, and for a moment, she found herself unable to respond.

His gaze remained fixed on her, his eyes holding a depth of emotion she had never seen in him before.

She struggled to find her voice, her heart beating erratically as a thousand thoughts raced through her mind.

As the seconds ticked by, Abby finally managed a soft, heartfelt reply. "T—Thank you."

She turned to the lake to hide the deep blush tainting her cheeks.

"Ever heard of skinny dipping?" He asked with a smirk on his face.

Abby nodded, "I-Yes. "

Remo raised his brows in amusement, "Ever tried it?"

The deep flower of shame blossomed on her cheeks. "I-I—No."

Remo didn't say anything as he pulled his shirt over his head then bends down to untie his dirty black boots. "W—Why are you undressing?"

She asked and look at the lake. Oh no. "You are going to swim? In that?" She said and pointed to the water.

"Yea, I do it all the time. You are too" he unbuttoned his pants and she had to force herself to not stare at the way the muscles in his back move when he bent down to pull his pants through his legs.

Abby felt her cheeks grow hotter, and her heart pounded faster. She quickly turned her gaze back to the serene lake, trying to calm the flurry of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.

This unexpected turn of events had her heart racing, and she couldn't deny the electric tension that hung in the air between them.

As Remo stripped down to his swim trunks, he waded into the lake with easy grace.

The moonlight played on the water's surface, casting a silvery glow around him. "Well, what are you waiting for, freckles?" he called with a playful smile, beckoning her to join him.

Abby hesitated for a moment, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and desires.

"But it's late and it will be cold and we brought a motorbike. How are we going to go home?"

"Tony will bring us new clothes and pick us up in a car."

Abby bite her lips, "B-but I didn't bring any swimwear."

A mischievous glint passed through Remo's eyes as his gaze fell on his shirt on the ground.

"Wear my shirt."

"W-What? I-I can't—-"

"Okay, if you get in the water, I will fulfill one wish of yours. What is something that you've always wanted that I can give you?"

Abby's eyes fell on his lips and she slowed nervously averting her gaze with a flush on her face.

Abby took a deep breath, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts.

"Alright," she finally stammered out, "one wish."

Remo's playful grin softened into a warm smile. "Deal."

With shaky steps, Abby began to undress, feeling the cool night air against her skin.

She glanced at Remo, who was already waist-deep in the water, with his back facing her as he waited patiently for her.

Abby, still blushing, slipped on his shirt, finding it oversized on her smaller frame. The fabric carried his scent, making her feel even more aware of his presence.

"Y-you can turn around." She to Remo whose back was facing her.

When he turned around, he unapologetically drank in her features from head to toe. She blushed.

Remo's appreciative gaze lingered on Abby, taking in her appearance as she stood there in his oversized shirt, her cheeks flushed with a delicate shade of pink. His eyes, as always, held an intensity that made her heart race.

Abby couldn't help but feel self-conscious under his scrutiny, especially with the way his gaze seemed to study every inch of her. It was both thrilling and unnerving to have his undivided attention in this way.

With a soft, self-conscious laugh, she finally spoke up. "Y-You're—staring, Remo."

He chuckled, his voice low and husky. "Can you blame me, freckles? You look beautiful wearing my shirt."

Abby's blush deepened at his words, and she nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Remo's eyes, filled with a complexity she couldn't decipher, held her captive.

She found herself drawn to him, her earlier confusion replaced by a growing attraction that she couldn't deny.

Swallowing hard, Abby managed a shy smile. "T-Thank you," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.