WILDEST DREAMS

Rain hammered the cabin, a relentless drum against the windows, but inside, the fire snapped, casting a warm glow across Eduardo’s sharp features. His lips crashed into mine, soft at first, then fierce, carrying the taste of salt and something wild. My fingers tangled in his damp curls, gripping tight, his heartbeat a steady thump beneath my palms.

“You’re trouble,” he muttered, his lips brushing my jaw, voice low and teasing, sending a shiver down my spine.

“Good trouble?” I shot back, grinning, sliding onto his lap, my flannel shirt bunching up.

“The best kind,” he said, his laugh bright, eyes glinting as he kissed me again, deep and deliberate, hands settling on my waist, firm but careful. “Where’d you learn to kiss like that, Emily?”

“Born with it,” I teased, nipping his ear, his chuckle rumbling against me, warm and alive. “You’re not half bad yourself, Garcia.”

“Half bad?” he scoffed, pulling me closer, his grin infectious. “I’m rewriting the rulebook for you, Arquette.”

“Big words,” I laughed, kissing him hard, my hands roaming his broad shoulders, feeling the solid reality of him under my touch. His eyes softened, the gold flecks catching the firelight, turning serious for a beat.

“Tell me this is real,” he said, his thumb grazing my lower lip, voice rough with need. “No games. Just us.”

“It’s real,” I said, my hands framing his face, steady and sure. “You and me, Eduardo. Right here.” I kissed him again, slow and deep, his hands sliding up my back, warm, sparking heat. “You with me?”

“Till the end,” he vowed, lips trailing to my throat, his laugh soft but joyful, like a melody I couldn’t get enough of.

We tumbled onto the couch, blankets slipping to the floor, the firelight painting us in gold. His lips found my collarbone, slow and deliberate, each kiss a question, my laughter mixing with soft sighs. “You’re something else,” he whispered, his hands slipping under my flannel, cautious, eyes locked on mine, always checking.

“Says the dream,” I teased, tracing his jaw, kissing him again, our rhythm easy, alive, unstoppable. The storm roared outside, a wild chorus, but we were louder, whispers, gasps, laughs weaving together, our spark outshining the tempest.

The rain kept pounding, but it felt distant, like the world was just us, this couch, this fire. His hands were steady on my hips, grounding me, his kisses alternating between fierce and gentle, like he was trying to memorize every second. I leaned into him, my fingers tugging at his shirt, wanting more of his warmth, his reality. He grinned against my lips, playful, his breath hot.

“Challenging me again?” he murmured, his voice a low rumble, eyes dancing with mischief.

“Always,” I shot back, laughing, pulling him closer, our kisses a back and forth, each one bolder, brighter. The fire snapped, embers glowing, and the cabin felt like a bubble, just us, no past, no future, only now.

He paused, his forehead resting against mine, breaths mingling. “You’re gonna wreck me, Emily,” he said, half laughing, half serious, his fingers tightening on my waist. “And I’m all in.”

“Best kind of wreck,” I said, my grin wide, kissing him again, quick and fierce, then slow, savoring the way he responded, the way his hands moved like I was something precious but unbreakable. The storm outside faded to a low hum, the world narrowing to his touch, his voice, his laugh.

We shifted, tangled in blankets, the couch creaking under us. His lips brushed my shoulder, soft, reverent, sparking heat that made me laugh, giddy. “You’re too much,” I said, swatting his chest, my fingers lingering, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breaths.

“Me?” he scoffed, catching my hand, kissing my knuckles, his eyes bright. “You’re the one turning my world upside down.”

“Good,” I teased, leaning in, our noses brushing, breaths syncing. “Keeps you on your toes.”

He laughed, loud and free, pulling me against him, his arms a safe harbor. The firelight danced on his face, highlighting the curve of his jaw, the warmth in his eyes. I traced his cheek, memorizing the feel of him, the reality of this moment. No dream could match this, the weight of his arm around me, the sound of his laugh, the way he looked at me like I was everything.

“Still with me?” I asked, my voice softer now, needing his answer, his spark.

“Always,” he said, his lips finding mine again, slow and sure, a promise in every touch. “You’re stuck with me, Emily.”

“Lucky me,” I murmured, curling closer, his warmth seeping into me, grounding me. The fire crackled, the cabin quiet except for the soft patter of rain and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat under my cheek. I closed my eyes, content, letting the moment stretch, perfect and real.

Hours slipped by, the storm easing into a gentle drizzle. We stayed tangled, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on my back, my head resting on his chest. The fire had died to glowing embers, the cabin wrapped in a cozy hush. I tilted my head, meeting his eyes, still bright, still holding me.

“You okay?” he asked, his lips brushing my hair, voice soft.

“Better than okay,” I said, smiling, my hand resting on his chest. “You, Garcia?”

“Never been better,” he said, his grin boyish, fingers squeezing mine. “You’re still trouble, though.”

I laughed, swatting him lightly. “And you’re hooked.”

“Guilty,” he admitted, kissing me slow, lingering, like he had all the time in the world. “What’s our next move, Emily? More storms, more chaos?”

“Let’s figure it out together,” I said, nestling closer, his warmth my anchor. The dream I’d had of him was a faint echo, a pale shadow compared to this, real, vivid, us. The island outside waited, dawn creeping closer, but for now, this fire, this moment, was all we needed.

The night stretched on, and we talked, laughed, traded stories in the flickering light. He told me about growing up on the coast, the ocean his escape, the way it called to him. I shared pieces of my life, the city I’d left behind, the pull of something wilder, freer. Each word felt like a step closer, building something solid. His hand stayed in mine, his thumb brushing my knuckles, grounding me.

When the fire burned low, he grabbed another log, the flames flaring bright again. “Can’t let it die,” he said, winking, and I laughed, the sound filling the cabin. We raided the kitchen for snacks, finding marshmallows, toasting them over the fire, betting on who could get theirs perfectly golden. His caught fire, and he cursed, laughing, while I dangled mine, smug, until it fell into the flames, and we both cracked up, leaning into each other, the moment light, perfect.

Later, we settled back on the couch, the blankets a warm cocoon. His arm was around me, his breath steady, and I felt safe, seen, alive. The rain had stopped, the world outside quiet, but inside, our spark burned bright. I didn’t know what dawn would bring, what the island held for us, but I didn’t care. This, Eduardo, me, this night, was enough.

As I drifted, his voice broke the silence, soft, playful. “You’re gonna dream of me again, aren’t you?”

I grinned, eyes half closed. “Maybe. But the real thing’s better.”

He chuckled, kissing my forehead, his arms tightening. “Good. Let’s keep it real, Emily.”

“Deal,” I murmured, sinking into him, the fire’s glow fading, the world soft and warm. This was no dream. This was us, and it was everything.