Mia Harper stood on Azure Bay’s golden sand, the ocean’s rhythm soothing her fractured heart. At twenty-eight, she’d left behind Ethan’s manipulative control—his cruel words still echoed, calling her passion “childish.” Her beach cottage was a sanctuary, her paints a lifeline. As the sunset bled crimson across the sky, she set up her easel, determined to capture the wild beauty before her.

“Careful, the tide’s sneaky,” a voice rumbled, low and warm. She turned to see a man holding her wind-tossed canvas, his presence as commanding as the waves. Tall, with bronzed skin, dark hair curling at the nape, and sea-green eyes that pinned her in place, he wore a linen shirt, unbuttoned to reveal a sculpted chest glistening with salt.

“I’m Mia,” she said, her voice steadier than her pulse. “Thanks for the save.”

“Kai,” he replied, his smile wicked, eyes tracing her sundress’s cling to her curves. “New in town, huh?”

“Just arrived,” she said, heat blooming under his gaze. “Hoping to paint something worth keeping.”

He stepped closer, the air sparking. “You’ve already got my attention.” His voice was velvet, his look a dare. “I teach surfing down the beach. Come by if you want to feel the ocean, not just paint it.”

Her laugh was nervous, alive. “I’m not much for waves.”

“You sure?” His eyes lingered on her lips, his body close enough to feel his warmth. “You look like you could ride anything.”

Her breath hitched, desire curling low in her belly. She should’ve backed away, but her skin hummed, craving his nearness. “Maybe I’ll surprise you,” she teased, bold despite herself.

“I’m counting on it,” he murmured, then turned, leaving her breathless. As she painted that night, her strokes were fierce, Kai’s face haunting every hue. She needed to see him again—but was she ready for the fire he promised?

Mia couldn’t shake Kai’s pull. Three days later, she stood at his surf school, her heart racing as she gripped a board. The beach buzzed with energy, but Kai’s presence drowned it out. His wetsuit hugged every sinew, his grin pure sin as he approached.

“Changed your mind about the waves?” he asked, his voice a low purr.

“Figured I’d see if you’re as good as you claim,” she shot back, her smile daring.

His laugh was rich, his eyes darkening. “Challenge accepted.” In the water, his hands guided her onto the board, fingers grazing her hips, sparking heat through her bikini. “Loosen up,” he whispered, his lips near her ear, breath hot. “Let the ocean take you.”

Her focus faltered, his touch igniting her. When his hand slid to her thigh, steadying her, she gasped, her body arching instinctively. “You’re distracting,” she muttered.

“Good,” he growled, his fingers lingering. She caught a wave, her laughter mingling with his cheers. On the sand, their shoulders brushed, the air thick with unspoken want.

“You’re trouble,” she said, her eyes on his lips, now inches away.

“You have no idea,” he replied, leaning in. His kiss was salt and fire, slow then ravenous, his hands sliding into her wet hair. She pressed against him, craving his hardness, the beach fading.

“Not here,” he rasped, pulling back. “My loft’s close.”

Her body screamed yes, but caution flickered. “I barely know you,” she whispered, even as her hands clung to his chest.

“Then let me show you,” he said, his eyes raw. She nodded, and at his loft, their restraint shattered. Her bikini hit the floor, his wetsuit followed, and he worshipped her—lips tracing her throat, hands claiming her curves. She arched on his bed, his name a moan as he moved inside her, their rhythm as relentless as the tide.

But as they lay spent, his phone lit up. His face hardened at the message: You can’t hide forever. “Work,” he said, too quick, his voice clipped.

“Something wrong?” Mia asked, dread creeping in.

“Nothing,” he lied, kissing her to silence her. But the shadow in his eyes said otherwise. What was he running from?

Chapter 1: The Spark on the Shore

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