Mia woke in Kai’s arms, his loft bathed in moonlight. His skin was warm, his breath steady, but last night’s passion was tainted by his secrecy. Over coffee, she studied him—his tousled hair, the faint scar on his jaw—and pushed for answers.

“That text,” she said, keeping her tone soft. “It wasn’t just work, was it?”

Kai’s jaw tightened, but he met her gaze. “I’ve got a past, Mia. I left it behind, but it’s not letting go.”

Her heart thudded. “What kind of past?”

He pulled her onto his lap, his hands firm on her thighs, his kiss a distraction. “I was caught up with some dangerous people. I walked away, but they don’t forget.” His voice was raw, his fingers tracing her spine. “I’m trying to protect you.”

She wanted to believe him, but Ethan’s lies had taught her caution. “Protect me by hiding things?”

His eyes softened, and he kissed her deeply, peeling off her shirt. “I’ll tell you everything soon. Just give me time.” Their bodies tangled on the couch, his touch reverent yet desperate, her moans echoing as he claimed her again, each thrust a plea for trust.

That night, they walked the beach, the stars a canopy. In the dunes, desire flared, and he laid her on the sand, his lips mapping her skin, her dress bunched at her hips. But a car engine growled nearby, headlights cutting the dark.

“Kai,” she whispered, fear spiking.

He shielded her, his body tense. “Stay low,” he hissed, scanning the shadows. The car idled, then sped off, but the threat lingered. Who was hunting him—and how much danger was she in?

Kai took Mia to a hidden cove, its cliffs a shield from the world. The water was warm, the sky bruised purple. Swimming, their bodies brushed, desire igniting. Against a smooth rock, he pinned her, his kisses searing, hands slipping under her bikini. “You’re mine,” he growled, and she surrendered, legs wrapping around him, waves lapping as he moved inside her, their cries lost in the surf.

On the shore, wrapped in towels, Kai bared his soul. “I ran contraband for a cartel,” he said, his voice heavy. “Small jobs at first, then bigger. I got out when I saw what it cost—lives, families. But their leader, Rico, wants me back. Or dead.”

Mia’s throat tightened. “Are they here? In Azure Bay?”

“They’ve tracked me before,” he admitted, pulling her close. “I won’t let them touch you.”

His vow warmed her, but as they kissed, a shadow shifted on the cliffs. “Kai!” she gasped, pointing.

He cursed, grabbing her hand. “Run!” They fled, the cove no longer a haven. Rico’s men were closing in, and Mia’s heart pounded with a truth: loving Kai meant embracing his danger.

Chapter 2: Secrets in the Sand

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