Page 86 of Hawaii Can Suck It

Did he really mean that?

Does he need… me?

A bump in the road shifts me closer to him, and memories of that kiss flood back. Steam was definitely visible on the livestream from the heat we generated in that waterfall pool. How his hands gripped my ass, guiding my movements as I rocked against his—

¡Mierda! I squirm in my seat, trying to dispel the ache pulsing in my core.

And now? He’s over there pretending it never happened, as if fifty million viewers (and counting) didn’t just witness our full-body, hot as fuck, dangerously erotic moment.

I squeeze my thighs together, willing my traitorous lady bits tocalm the fuck down, but that only makes things worse because my entire body craves the feel of him. My shoulders wiggle as the delicious sensation zings through me.

Reece’s head snaps toward me, his eyes dark with what seems like irritation—or desire. Then, his gaze goes directly down to my tits.

Andohhhhh shit.

Because let’s not forget that little detail where I lost my bikini top. Which means I am sitting here wearing nothing but a wet, white DareGirl tank, with my very enthusiastic nipples making a guest appearance.

He stiffens from head to toe. His throat bobs. His fingers flex. And then—he averts his eyes, jaw clenching so hard I swear I hear his teeth cracking.

So, that’s how we’re playing this?

Kiss me like your life depends on it, grope me so passionately my mind explodes, but then ignore me?

If he wants to be distant and broody, FINE. Two can play that game.

He can sulk in silence while I daydream about all the things his lips could be doing—besides staying shut.Wait, no. That’s not what I meant.

Kai’s voice takes on a rare serious tone as he stands near the driver, facing us. “My friends, if you look to your left, you’ll see Lahaina town. The fire was one of Maui’s darkest days. A lot of you may have seen it on the news, the former capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii—our crown jewel—lost many of its iconic structures. Countless homes reduced to ashes.”

The rain streaks down my window like silent tears as the devastation comes into view. Where vibrant storefronts and houses once stood, there’s only… emptiness. Charred remnants and hollow foundations stretch toward a gray sky, as if the town itself is reaching out, begging to be remembered. The humidity fogs up the glass, but nevertheless, I can make out the brutal evidence of nature’s fury—blackened walls, twisted metal, spaces where entire buildings simply ceased to exist.

A heavy silence fills the shuttle. Even the newlyweds in the back stop their canoodling to listen.

“The loss runs deep,”Kai says, the usual swagger in his voice completely absent. “Heritage runs deep.But the people here? They are resilient.” He draws a breath before adding, “If anyone is interested, Aloha Amour Resort partners with local volunteers to help rebuild. We also hold a weekly spiritual ceremony to honor those lost. You are welcome to participate.”

I fumble for my phone, trying to capture something—anything—through the foggy, rain-streaked window.

“You’re not gonna get a good shot.”

Oh, look who decided to speak.Mr. Critical is back, right on schedule.

“Really? Thanks for the hot tip, Captain Obvious.” I zoom in anyway, refusing to give up. “I had no idea windows could be difficult to shoot through. Is that the kind of premium insight that comes with your millions of subscribers?”

“Why are you wasting your time?”

“Right, because if it won’t go viral, why bother? I know it’s not another shirtless Will It Explode? video, but God forbid we document something that actually matters.”

He opens his mouth to respond, but I’m livid. “This was somewhere I wanted to visit, but between your aggressive content schedule and Gordon’s demands, I didn’t have time.” My voice catches embarrassingly. “Do you realize how many people are still displaced? How many reconstruction efforts have stalled because of funding? Some residents can’t even get basic services restored because of bureaucratic bullsh—”

I exhale, trying to steady myself. “I… I wanted to take some photos. Remind others on social media that this cause still needs attention. These peoplestillneed help. Just because it’s not trending anymore doesn’t mean it’s fixed.”

“And the pictures would… help?”

“Yeah. Probably… I think so. I hope so. You definitely can’t know if you don’t try. Not everything needs a million likes to make a difference.”

For a heartbeat, his expression changes—like I’ve caught him off guard—and the way he looks at me makes my breath catch. Then, his eyes fall to my mouth, and everything shifts. A fiery anticipation ignites within me, coursing through my veins like liquid sunshine. Every inch of me is alive, yearning for the electric touch of his lips, the rough caress of his hands. His gaze lingers, and I want to reach out, to bridge the gap between us…

But I’m frozen in place, held captive by his swirling storm of emotions.

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