The cabin door shut with a soft click.
And the silence after was loud.
Jay barely had time to turn before Keifer's hand caught her wrist, not rough—controlled, deliberate—pulling her back against him. His breath hit her neck, uneven.
"You enjoyed that," he said quietly.
She didn't pretend.
"I did."
That honesty broke him.
He turned her around, palms framing her waist, thumbs pressing into her like he needed to feel something solid. His eyes searched her face—heat, relief, desire all tangled together.
"You have any idea what you did to me out there?" he asked.
Jay lifted her chin slightly. "You didn't stop her."
A beat.
His jaw tightened. "I didn't think I had to."
She stepped closer, their bodies nearly touching. "Now you know."
Something dark and satisfied crossed his face.
Keifer leaned down, forehead resting against hers.
"You flipped the power," he murmured. "And you knew exactly what you were doing."
Her fingers slid up his chest, gripping his shirt. "So did you… when you kissed me in front of Ella."
His breath stuttered.
That was it.
He kissed her—slow at first, like he was savoring every second he'd been forced to hold back. One hand slid to the small of her back, pulling her closer, the other cradling her face like she was something precious and dangerous all at once.
Jay melted into him, answering without hesitation.
The kiss deepened—not desperate, not rushed—just hungry. The kind that said mine without a single word.
He broke it only to press his lips along her jaw, her cheek, just below her ear.
"You drive me insane," he whispered.
She smiled against his skin. "Good."
A soft laugh left him, low and breathless. He rested his forehead against hers again, hands still firm on her waist, grounding himself.
"You don't need to prove anything," he said quietly. "Everyone already knows."
Jay's voice softened. "I know. I just wanted to remind you."
His eyes met hers—something tender slipping through the heat.
Keifer kissed her once more, slower now, sweeter, like a promise wrapped in fire.
Outside, laughter echoed from other cabins.
Inside, the world narrowed to just them.
And neither of them wanted it any other way.
Night settled thick around the resort.
The cabin lights were low, rain tapping softly against the window like it hadn't finished what it started earlier. Jay sat on the edge of the bed, knees pulled up, wearing Keifer's hoodie again—because somehow it had become hers.
Keifer stood a few steps away.
Not because he wanted distance.
Because he needed it.
"You shouldn't look at me like that," he said quietly.
Jay lifted her eyes. "Like what?"
"Like you know exactly what you do to me."
She smiled, slow and soft. "I do."
That broke the last thread.
He crossed the space between them in two strides, hands bracing on either side of her thighs, caging her in without touching her. His forehead dropped to hers, breath uneven, control hanging by a breath.
"Jay," he murmured, voice rough. "If I don't stop myself right now—"
She reached up.
Placed her palm flat against his chest.
Not pushing.
Not pulling.
Just there.
"I trust you," she said.
Those three words hit harder than anything else that day.
Keifer closed his eyes.
For a second—just one—his jaw clenched, shoulders tight like he was wrestling something wild inside him. His hands flexed, wanting, aching—
Then he pulled back.
Actually pulled back.
He straightened, ran a hand through his hair, exhaled slowly like he was grounding himself all over again. When he looked at her, the fire was still there—but so was something deeper. Steadier.
He knelt in front of her instead.
Rested his forehead against her knees.
"You don't know how hard that is," he admitted quietly.
Jay's expression softened. She slid her fingers into his hair, gentle, reassuring.
"I know. That's why it matters."
He lifted his head, eyes searching hers. "I want you because you choose me. Not because I couldn't stop."
She leaned forward and kissed his forehead.
That kiss undid him more than anything else could've.
Keifer wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into his chest—not desperate, not demanding—just safe. Solid.
"I choose you," she whispered.
He held her there, lips pressed into her hair, voice low and certain.
"Always."
Outside, the rain finally stopped.
Inside, something stronger settled between them.
Not just desire.
Trust.