The steady waves make for the perfect white noise for Marina to lose herself in her own thoughts. Each crash setting her on her own wobble and shift sipping on the last bottle of rum the Villa had. The bonfire they set up early on the evening slowing down as the night moves to morning.
She feels quiet wash over her and the realities of next week seem more manageable. The Creative agency she's been working for the past two years have decided to go on a company trip, renting out a sweet villa in Bali with its own semi-private beach and stocked it with enough liquor that everyone in their 30 person team had enough to just barely remember the weekend.
She's been grateful for the job that came in when it did, fitting in easily, being valued and having pretty cool bosses. Especially Faiz, co-founder and COO, the resident man-child tech genius that could be more humble about himself. While she doesn't really work directly under him, they've grown close, riffing jokes off of each other as soon as she got comfortable. Now, they've even fallen into a routine of grabbing lunch together most days of the week.
The soft crunch of footsteps on the sand breaks the smooth rhythm of the waves.
"Marina, you're still out here?" Faiz's voice rings out.
"Yeah, just not ready to leave."
He plops himself right next to her, sides pressed against each other, the only barrier between them being a blanket wrapped around her.
"I feel the same way." He pulls out a joint, slipping it between his lips while his hands search for his lighter
"Have you been holding out on us?"
He lights it up.
"The best things I find I keep for myself but since you're here, want some?" He holds out the joint in front of her, smoke curling around him.
"Thanks," she takes a long drag off of it. Holding it between her fingers, enjoying the slow haze creeping in. She can feel his eyes on her as the takes a second drag, handing it back to him.
Their fingers brush and he shivers.
"Shit it's colder than I expected."
"Oh poor you." He takes a drag and holds it in for a long time,
"Who would've thought that our dear sweet Marina would've turned out to be such a little shit two years down the line?"
"Again, you were the one that hired me"
"Someone should've stopped me" he hands it back to her.
"Hindsight is always 20/20 right?" She says through a puff of smoke. Coughing at the end of it.
"Easy there." A mischievous tone creeps into his voice.
"Shut up" she says fighting a smile.
He raises his eyebrows, she passes it back to him. His presence taking up more of her consciousness as the high kicks into full gear. She rests her head on his bare shoulder, enjoying this moment of quiet between them. The night sky glittering with stars as if baring witness to a quiet secret of hers.
Suddenly she feels his weight shift away from her and hears a sneeze followed by a coughing fit. She offers him her rum, the only drinkable thing with them. He takes a swig, pulling a face as soon as the taste hits him.
"Seriously?" he says pulling a face while looking at the label handing the joint to her.
"Don't hate on free liquor," she grabs the bottle from him and takes a swig herself, finishing the last of it. Wiping the last droplets of rum on her lips with the back of her hand.
He shivers.
"Are you cold?"
"I was just joking"
She lifts up her arm, offering him entry into her blanket "Don't be silly, just come here if you're cold."
He eyes her.
"It doesn't have to be weird," she rolls her eyes.
She can feel his cool skin against hers as he slides in, pulling half of the blanket over himself. Their sides pressed close when he slides his arm around her waist, pulling her in.
"You weren't kidding about how warm it is," he snuggles in.
"Told ya." She takes the last pull of the joint, burying the roach in the sand.
"Damn, is that the last of it?" He turns his head to hers.
She turns to him, their faces close, she doesn't dare breathe out to let any smoke out. She nods.
He pulls her chin towards him. "Shotgun?"
She nods again, his eyes close and lips parting in wait to inhale her. Her eyes go over the details of his face, closer than it's ever been before, taking in his sharp cheekbones, 3 day stubble, and lips that look so soft. She moves closer to him, literally a breath's away and blows the smoke out. He inhales all of it, sharing her breath and holding it in. She doesn't dare blink committing as much of his vulnerability to memory as she can.
On his exhale, breathe just teasing her lips, drawing her even closer. She closes the gap and feel the brush of his lips against hers. The contact was brief and was immediately met with his hand pulling her in for more and the other grabbing on to her hair. Lips pressing against each other, tongues venturing out to taste, her head spinning.
Her heart is pounding. "Oh God, is this really happening?" she breathes out.
"I mean you can still call me Faiz, but God is fine."