The villa was alive with murmurs. Laughter and music still drifted from the beach, but Taylor's world had gone silent the moment Xavier stormed off. She had chased after him, her heels sinking into the sand as she struggled to keep up, but his strides were too long, his fury too sharp, too consuming.
"Xavier! Wait...Xavier!" she had called after him, her voice breaking in the sea breeze.
He didn't stop. Didn't even turn. His hands were balled into fists, his shoulders stiff, every part of him radiating that quiet violence she both feared and admired. Taylor slowed down, tears stinging her eyes. She hated it when he looked like that...like a man on fire and she couldn't touch him.
By the time she reached the villa, she already knew where to find him.
The balcony.
She hesitated at the d
