LILY
I tried to force myself to focus on the waves rolling against the shore, the sun bouncing off the golden sand, but every time I closed my eyes, his face was there.
Roland.
His dark eyes, the way he’d groan my name, the guttural commands that still echoed in my mind even hours later. I hated how persistent the memories were, refusing to leave me alone, but at the same time… I couldn’t stop thinking about him.
The canopy above us offered little comfort. Alex sat beside me, laughing at something Bella said, the sound warm and easy, but I was only half-listening.
My hands rested on my lap, fingers twisting the edge of my sundress, heart thudding unevenly. Behind my eyes, I could see Roland’s fingers on me again, the slow, deliberate teasing that left me trembling in ways I couldn’
