Page 88 of Filthy Dirty Dom
For the next half hour, as Alex and Leslie cleaned, their laughter filled the kitchen. He told more stories about his past, all of them light or funny, and Leslie appreciated his willingness to share some parts of his past, even if they were only the good ones.
The rhythm of their work soon matched the rhythm of their conversation, creating a comforting sense of harmony. At one point, Leslie stumbled over a small mound of flour on the floor, but before she could fall, Alex was there. His arms wrapped around her waist, steadying her.
"Be careful," he said gently, a hint of concern in his eyes.
"I will be," she promised, her heart pounding in her chest. Their gazes held for a moment longer before they returned to their task.
After they were done cleaning and cooking, Leslie and Alex made their way to the beach, still clad in their tees and shorts. They’d told Renee they’d be back in ten minutes for lunch. Alex had suggested taking a quick dip in the water before heading upstairs to change, and since Alex hadn’t been in water since they’re arrived, she’d readily agreed.
When they got outside, however, the sky overhead was a grim shade of gray, the usual sunny paradise replaced by a dreary, almost ominous cloud cover. Yet, despite the dull weather, the beach retained its mesmerizing charm, the vast sea stretching out into the horizon like a melancholic painting.
The remnants of their impromptu flour fight still clung to them. Smears of flour dusted their hair and clothes, with small white clouds puffing up with every step they took towards the surf.
Alex was the first to reach the water, wading in until he was ankle deep, the sea lapping at his feet. He glanced over his shoulder, a devilish grin stretching across his face as he beckoned for Leslie to join him.
"Squeamish, are you?" he teased, raising an eyebrow as she hesitated at the edge of the water.
"Definitely not," Leslie shot back, puffing up her chest in mock defiance. She took a deep breath, the salty tang of the sea filling her lungs before she charged forward, a small yelp escaping her lips as the cold water hit her.
“Where did the warm go?” she asked, goosebumps springing up over her arms.
“It’s plenty warm in here. You’re just being a wuss today,” he teased.
“Really?” With a wicked grin, Leslie bent down, scooping up a handful of water before splashing it in his direction, a triumphant grin spreading across her face. But it was short-lived as he lunged towards her, his own wave of seawater drenching her.
Their laughter rang out as they splashed one another, the result of rinsing away the flour on their clothes ancillary to the lightheartedness they were still feeling. Their soaked clothes stuck to their bodies as the cold sea water soaked them. Suddenly, a low rumble echoed overhead, the gray sky darkening even further as thunder rolled in the distance.
Before they could react, the heavens opened, a downpour of rain splashing against the surface of the sea, the droplets merging with the salty water. The suddenness of it brought a surprised laugh out of Leslie, the rain plastering her hair to her head as she looked up at the stormy sky.
38
The island was bathed in an otherworldly glow as lightning streaked across the sky, casting elongated shadows along the sandy beach. .
"Is this what they call tropical weather?" Leslie shouted over the sudden downpour, grinning widely.
"Welcome to paradise!" Alex said. “We should head back in.”
Suddenly, Leslie couldn’t resist—she’d been having so much fun playing in the kitchen and splashing in the water with Alex. She’d never seen him so carefree, enjoying nature without having to worry about darker things, and she didn’t want that to end so she backed away from Alex.
“I’ll race you!”
“Hey!” Alex’s surprised shout was no match for the peals of laughter that burst out of Leslie as she took off in a sprint. He recovered quickly and gave chase.
He ran behind her as she pumped her arms and legs, her movements a flurry of energy. Her gleeful laughter mixed with the rumbling thunder created a pleasing soundtrack for their rain-soaked adventure.
With a burst of speed, Alex caught up to her, and she knew he’d been holding back his full speed. Before she could even squeal in surprise, he’d swept her into his arms.
“Gotcha!” he crowed, his tone filled with triumph.
She shrieked in feigned outrage, her hands flailing. “Cheater! You cheated, Alex!”
With a snort, he adjusted his grip on her, hoisting her up higher in his arms. “Did not. You just underestimated my speed, Sunshine.”
“Oh, I’ll show you speed,” she threatened.
In reply, Alex merely winked and altered their course. “You’ll have to catch me first,” he challenged, a spark of playful defiance in his eyes.
“And where do you think you’re going?” she asked, squinting through the rain to try and figure out their destination.