Saltwater And Secrets

Richard had left the city for an urgent work. Scarlett suggested they go to the beach.

At first, Lena refused but decided she wasn't going to let Scarlett get to her, she came here to have fun and will have it to the fullest.

The tension in the car was enough to break a wall.

When they arrived at the beach, the Atlantic was a shimmering expanse of turquoise, the waves rolling in rhythm. The sand was searingly hot, forcing them to move quickly toward the blue-and-white striped umbrellas that marked their territory.

Scarlett was the first to shed her cover-up. She was wearing a crimson bikini that looked more like adventurous swimwear. Her hips swaying as she laid out her towel close to Jayden’s.

"It’s breathtaking, isn't it, Jay?" Scarlett purred, shielding her eyes as she looked out at the horizon. She reached into her bag and pulled out a bottle of sun screen, holding it out toward him with a smile.

My shoulders are already starting to sting."

Lena, sitting on the edge of her lounge chair, felt a sharp prick of irritation. She fumbled with her sunglasses. 

She watched as Jayden hesitated, his gaze darting toward Lena for a split second before he took the bottle.

"Sure," Jayden said, his voice flat.

As Jayden applied the cream to Scarlett’s skin, Scarlett leaned back into his touch. She whispered something into his ear, her hair brushing against his forearm, and Jayden let out a forced, awkward laugh.

Lena couldn't take it. She convinced herself that she wasn't jealous; it's just because it's Scarlett that's involved.

Who was actively trying to dismantle her life was too much.

"I'm going for a swim," Lena announced, her voice sharper than she intended. 

She stood up, shedding her linen wrap to reveal a deep emerald one-piece, and marched toward the shoreline. The water was cold against her skin; it made her feel alive.

She dived under the first breaking wave; the salt burnt her eyes, and the pressure of the ocean muffled the sounds in the background.

When Lena surfaced, shaking the water from her hair, she saw a group of people had set up nearby, and Scarlett was in a deep conversation with a tall woman in an oversized straw hat.

"Vanessa! It's been ages; I haven't seen you since the gala in Milan!" Scarlett’s voice carried over the water.

Jayden was standing by the water’s edge, looking out at Lena. Without a word, he jumped in.

He swam toward her with steady strokes until he was just a few feet away. The water here was chest-deep, swirling around them.

"What's going on between us?" he asked, his voice low, shadowed by the cresting waves.

"What's going on?" Lena laughed.

"Yes, because I don't know what I'm doing anymore, Lena.

"Well, it doesn't seem so to me," Lena snapped, turning to swim further out.

But Jayden was faster. He grabbed her waist.

"Stop. Just look at me."

Lena turned, her chest heaving. Behind Jayden, on the shore, Scarlett was gesturing wildly to her friend, her back turned to the ocean for just a moment as she laughed at some piece of gossip. The sunlight on the water’s surface created a perfect, shimmering veil.

"People are watching, Jayden. 

"Then let's get underwater," Jayden whispered.

Before Lena could protest, Jayden filled his lungs and pulled her downward.

The transition from the blinding sun to the darkness underneath.

Underneath the water, there was no question asked, just the feeling of intimacy.

Jayden’s hands moved from her waist to her face, his palms cupping her cheeks. Lena reached out, her fingers tangling in the wet silk of his hair, pulling him closer.

When their lips met, it wasn't gentle.

The kiss was fierce and tasted of salt and rebellion. Jayden pressed her back against the gentle pull of the undertow, his tongue seeking hers with a hunger that made Lena’s head spin.

Lena could feel the frantic thud of his heart against her chest. He kissed her as if he were trying to pull the very air from her lungs, and she gave it to him willingly. Her legs wrapped around his waist, the fabric of her swimsuit slick against his skin. Every point of contact was electrifying—the brush of his chest, the grip of his thighs, and the way his thumbs traced the line of her jaw under water.

It was a beautiful, suffocating madness. They were drowning in each other, a secret locked under the water.

The need for air finally forced them apart. They broke the surface a few feet away from where they had gone down, gasping for breath, the sunlight hitting their faces.

Lena quickly smoothed her hair, her heart still racing a mile a minute. She wiped the water from her eyes, trying to compose herself to avoid suspicion.

They waded back toward the shore, keeping a careful distance between them.

Scarlett was still talking to Vanessa, but as Lena and Jayden approached the towels, Scarlett’s eyes snapped toward them. She didn't miss the way Lena’s lips were slightly swollen, or the way Jayden was staring at anywhere but her.

"You two were gone for a long time," Scarlett said, her voice lowered.

She stood up, brushing sand from her thighs, her gaze scanning Lena’s face like a hawk looking for a breach in the tall grass. "Did you guys go for a swim? 

"Yes," Lena said, her voice remarkably cool. She picked up her towel and began to dry her arms, her back to Scarlett. Jayden heads to the other side, wiping his body.

Scarlett stepped closer, leaning in until she was just inches from Lena’s ear. "You really are desperate, right?" she whispered, her voice laced with venom. "And funny how you think it's okay to ruin a family just to prove a point."

Lena’s heart skipped a beat, but she didn't flinch. She looked Scarlett dead in the eye. "If you are this bored, you need a job, don't you think, Scarlett? It's starting to look irritating."

Scarlett’s smile didn't reach her eyes. She looked toward Jayden, who was busy folding a towel. "Bored? No, darling, I don't get bored easily. I like to play. And I think this game is easy and fun. And trust me, I don't play fair games."

As they walked back to the car, the only thing on Lena's mind was the kiss; she felt good that she and Jadyden were okay again. Scarlett didn't have proof, but she was sure she wouldn't bow without a fight. 

The drive home was silent; the only sound heard is the song playing from the radio. The beach had been a good distraction that she needed.