I accept my wine glass, the rich burgundy liquid catching the fading sunlight. Ares raises his scotch, his eyes dancing with mischief.
"To new beginnings..." He leans in close, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And all the places we haven't christened yet."
Heat floods my cheeks, but I raise my glass with a challenging smirk. "To working together..." I pause, letting my gaze drift deliberately down his body. "And thorough exploration."
His sharp intake of breath is all the victory I need.
The next couple of hours blur into a tapestry of perfect moments.
I catch myself memorizing details—the way Ares's fingers brush my lower back when he guides me to a better viewing spot, how his cologne mingles with the warm August evening air, the warmth in his eyes when he catches me taking pictures of things I want to paint.
"Would you like me to take a photo?" The crew member's voice breaks through our comfortable silence. "The light's perfect right now."
My fingers tremble as I reach for my phone, the smooth metal nearly slipping through my grasp. "Yes, please." Though I've never mastered the art of photography, this moment begs to be preserved.
Ares's palm settles warm and steady against my lower back, guiding me toward the railing. Behind us, the Charles River glows like molten gold, its rippling surface painted in streaks of amber and rose by the sinking summer sun. He steps closer, his arms encircling my waist, drawing me back until I'm nestled against the solid wall of his chest.
"Smile," the crew member says, my phone held aloft.
Ares dips his head, his lips grazing my earlobe. "Think about last night when you—"
"Ares!" A laugh bursts from my throat, unbidden and bright, as heat crawls up my neck and blooms across my cheeks. The phone makes its telltale click.
"Perfect." The crew member's eyes sparkle as they tap the capture button several more times. "You two are naturals."
I step away from Ares's embrace, closing the distance to reclaim my phone. As I swipe through the images, my lungs forget how to work. The screen captures us frozen in pure delight—my head tipped back, hair catching the golden light, mouth open in genuine laughter. Ares gazes down at me, laugh lines deepening around his eyes, his smile wide and unguarded. His stubble has grown over the past few days, the dark shadow along his jaw catching the golden hour light. It makes him look different—more intense, more raw somehow. Less the polished billionaire and more the man beneath all those careful layers.
I've grown addicted to the slight roughness against my skin when he kisses me, the way it leaves a delicious burn that lingers like a memory. There's something undeniably masculine about it, something that sends heat spiraling through me whenever I look at him too long.
The late summer sun wraps around us like a caress, the still-green trees and glittering water creating a perfect frame. Joy radiates from the image, as if the years between us have melted away—just us, unguarded and real, his stubbled face and bright eyes making my heart stutter in a way that feels dangerously close to hope.
"This is gorgeous," I whisper, the words barely making it past my lips.
"The subject matter helps." His chin comes to rest in the curve where my neck meets my shoulder, his breath warm against my skin as he studies the screen. "Though I think we should recreate what I whispered, just to be thorough."
My elbow finds his ribs in a playful jab, even as I sink back against his solid frame. "You're incorrigible."
"And you like it."
Turning toward the view once more, I let the tranquil scene settle over me. Ares's arms slide around my waist, pulling me close, and I feel each deep breath he takes, his chest expanding and contracting against my spine.
The crew member discreetly retreats, leaving us alone with the sunset and our thoughts. A flock of geese arrows across the sky, their calls echoing over the water. Everything feels suspended in this golden moment—the gentle rock of the boat, the warmth of Ares's embrace, the way my heart feels too full and too light all at once.
For now, I let myself believe in the magic of this moment. Tomorrow can worry about itself.
As we finally dock, my body hums with wine and possibility. I rise on my tiptoes, pressing my lips to his. "Thank you for this. It was..."
Perfect feels too small a word.
"I know." His thumb traces my cheekbone, understanding shining in his eyes.
Just then, something flickers in the trees—a quick glint, maybe sunlight catching on metal. I pause but shake it off when a mouthwatering aroma drifts through the air.
I spot a line of food trucks along the Esplanade, colorful and inviting. My stomach growls in response, loud enough to make me laugh.
"Ooh, let’s grab a bite from one of those! I’m starving."
Ares chuckles and falls into step beside me as I make a beeline for a truck boasting gourmet burgers.
