Below the Barrel (Saltwater Springs #2)

21. Koa | Tahiti, French Polynesia

TWENTY-ONE

KOA | TAHITI, FRENCH POLYNESIA

The sun barely rises over the horizon, casting a golden morning glow across the beach as we gather for morning yoga. The sky is painted in colours that would make you stop and take a breath, appreciating where you are. But all I can focus on is Maliah—directly in front of me, stretching her arms above her head in perfect form, her body moving like it’s made for this.

And damn, it’s distracting.

Her curves are on full display in those tight lavender leggings and that little matching sports bra, the one that hugs her in all the right places. Her blonde waves cascade down her back, catching the light of the sunrise like a halo, and I swear, every time she bends forward, my mind goes places it really shouldn’t.

Stop. Breathe, Koa.

This is supposed to be relaxing. Centring. A time to clear the mind and find peace. But how the hell am I supposed to find peace when she’s right there in front of me, moving like that? It doesn’t help that I haven’t had nearly enough sleep between the other night, still buzzing from the Ferris wheel kiss, and the eighteen-hour flight to Tahiti. And now here I am, fighting the urge to grab her, toss her over my shoulder, and march us straight back to our shared villa.

I glance up and catch one of the camera guys pointing his lens in our direction, reminding me that SurfFlix is still a thing. Great. I’m not only dealing with my own personal torment but doing it on camera. I can already imagine how they’ll cut this together—me trying to focus on yoga while clearly eye-fucking Maliah.

She shifts into another pose, this time a deep lunge, her body arching just enough to drive me out of my damn mind. My fingers twitch at my sides as I force my eyes to stay on the instructor, trying to focus on her gentle voice. It’s either that or give in to the primal urge to drag her out of here.

The instructor calls out another stretch, but it’s no use. I can barely keep up with the movements because all I can see, all I can think about, is her.

After yoga is finally over, I’m on a mission to get Maliah back to our villa as quickly as possible. My body’s still buzzing, and I’ve had enough of holding back for one morning. As we walk back, I reach for her hand, my mind already racing with the thought of taking her in the shower. The warmth of the water, her skin slick against mine—it’s almost enough to make me forget we’re not even alone yet.

But then, just as I’m about to suggest we make a detour to get back faster, one of the female surfers jogs up to us, eyeing me like I’m her next meal.

“Hey, you two! A bunch of us are hitting the jet skis this morning. You in?”

Maliah’s eyes light up like she’s a kid on Christmas. “Jet skis? I’ve never done that before! Sounds fun, right?” She’s practically bouncing on her toes as she looks up at me, excitement radiating from her, and just like that, I’m screwed.

I was about to suggest something a lot more…private, but how can I say no to her when she looks like that?

Still, there’s a feeling of hesitation in my chest, and it’s not just because I wanted some alone time. Off to the side, I see Charles standing near a group of surfers, glaring at me again like he’s ready to explode. His face is still bruised from the bar incident, the evidence of my punches clearly visible. He hasn’t said a word to me or Maliah since then, but he doesn’t have to. The way he’s been watching me says enough.

There’s a dangerous tension in the air whenever he’s around. I felt it from the moment I met him, and I can’t help but think it’s only a matter of time before he does something stupid to get revenge. For now, he hasn’t acted on it. He knows that if he escalates things, we both could be kicked off the tour, and neither of us wants that. Still, Charles gives me the impression that he isn’t the type to let things go.

“Jet skis sound awesome!” Maliah says, dragging me into this decision.

I grit my teeth and force a smile. “Yeah, sure, why not?” The words feel heavy in my mouth. I don’t want her anywhere near Charles, especially not in open water where things could get messy.

I glance back at Charles, who’s smirking now, like he’s already won something. I want to deck him again, but I can’t risk it. Not just because of the tour, but because if I lose my cool, Maliah’s the one who’ll end up hurt the most. So I agree, knowing damn well I’ll have to keep a close eye on her the entire time.

We board our jet skis after changing into our swimwear, and I try to hide that I’m not exactly in the best mood. I’m wound up so tight I’m pretty sure I could snap, and now, instead of relieving some of that tension back at the villa, we’re out here on jet skis.

Great .

“No life jackets?” I ask.

“Come on, we practically live in the ocean. We don’t need those,” Charles calls out, as if I was speaking to him.

Everyone starts revving their engines, ready to take off, but when Maliah tries hers, nothing happens. She frowns, giving the thing a few more tries, but it’s dead.

I pull up beside her, shaking my head with a grin I can’t help. “Looks like you’re riding with me. Hop on.”

She doesn’t hesitate, hopping on the back of my jet ski, wrapping her arms around me. I can’t lie, having her pressed against me like this helps my mood a little. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all.

“Why don’t you steer?” I suggest.

Her eyes light up and she quickly shuffles herself so that she’s sitting in front of me instead. We take off, speeding over the water, her laughter filling the air as we zoom around, weaving between the others. It’s exhilarating, the way she leans into the ride, throwing herself into every turn. It takes the edge off.

But after a few minutes, I spot something. A cove, hidden just behind a rocky outcrop, barely noticeable unless you’re really paying attention. My mind clicks into gear.

“Let me take over for a second,” I say as I steer us towards the cove, aiming for that narrow gap between the rocks.

As we slip inside, the whole world changes. We’re surrounded by this secret cave beach, with an open top where the sun filters through, reflecting off the water. It’s like we’ve stumbled into a hidden paradise.

Maliah looks around, wide-eyed, taking it all in. “Wow…this place is unreal,” she whispers.

And all I think is, yeah , and we’re here alone .

I pull the jet ski to a slow stop, letting it bob gently in the water as we sit in this hidden spot. The cave is quiet, except for the faint echoes of waves lapping against the rocks. The sunlight streams in from above, casting a warm glow across everything; especially her.

Maliah’s still staring around in awe, but I can’t take my eyes off her. My body is still buzzing from the morning, from having her ass in my face the entire yoga session, and being this close to her now? It’s a test of every bit of restraint I have.

I shift, and her gaze snaps back to me. Our eyes lock, and something flickers between us, that familiar electricity crackling to life. I see it in her eyes too, she’s feeling it.

“You’re driving me crazy; you know that?” I murmur, leaning in closer, my hands finding their way to her hips, fingers curling into her skin.

She doesn’t pull away. Instead, she turns herself on the jet ski so that she’s facing me and lets out a soft laugh, but it’s breathless, and I know she feels it, too. “Am I?”

Before she can say anything else, I crash my lips onto hers, gripping her tighter as the heat ignites. She gasps into my mouth, her hands coming up to my chest, but she doesn’t push me away—she pulls me closer.

Without breaking the kiss, I slide my hands down her body, tugging at her bikini bottoms, and she shifts on the jet ski, letting me strip them off. My head spins from the feel of her, how soft she is, how much I want her right now. Her breath is ragged against my lips, her nails digging into my back as I push her onto my lap, her legs straddling me.

“Right here?” she whispers, but there’s no hesitation in her voice.

I smirk, grabbing her hips as I settle her right where I want her. “Right here.”

With a quick movement, I slide her down, a low groan escaping both of us as she sinks fully onto me. The sensation is overwhelming—her warmth, her tightness, the intimacy of being so deep inside her in this hidden cave. It’s almost too much, but I don’t stop. I guide her movements, letting her ride me slowly as the jet ski rocks beneath us.

Her moans fill the cave, echoing off the walls, and it drives me insane. I grip her tighter, pushing deeper, faster, until she’s gasping and clutching onto me like I’m her lifeline. Every thrust, every movement brings us closer, and I can feel her body tensing, shaking as she nears the edge.

“Come for me,” I growl, my voice rough with need.

Her head falls back, eyes squeezing shut as she cries out, her body trembling with her release. The sight of her falling apart on top of me, the sound of her calling my name, sends me over the edge. With a few more hard thrusts, I come too, gripping her tightly as the intensity of it crashes through me.

For a moment, the world is still, just the two of us breathing hard, tangled together on the jet ski, the water gently lapping at our legs.

I press a kiss to her shoulder, still catching my breath. “We should probably head back before someone comes looking for us.” I give her a lazy grin. “Though I don’t mind staying here a little longer.”

She laughs softly, leaning into me. The noise from behind catches both our attention, and my body tenses as I look up, spotting Charles riding his jet ski into the cave. His cocky smirk and the dangerous energy in his movements send a surge of fury through me.

Maliah yelps, startled, scrambling to pull her bikini bottoms back on, while I do my best to shield her. My jaw clenches as I quickly tuck myself back into my shorts, not breaking eye contact with him for a second. Charles grins, clearly enjoying himself, his eyes narrowing in on Maliah.

“Real classy, Maliah,” he says, his thick accent dripping with sarcasm and venom. “Throwing yourself at half the guys on this tour. Such a slut.”

Her body stiffens, and I feel the hurt radiating. It ignites something fierce inside of me, and I turn towards Charles, my jaw clenched, rage boiling just beneath the surface.

“Shut your mouth,” I growl, keeping my voice low but firm. “If you even think about ruining her reputation, I’ll make sure you’re behind bars for sexual assault.” I meet his gaze, my expression hard. “Don’t forget what you did. It’ll only take one call.”

Charles blinks, and for a second, I see the doubt flash in his eyes. The smirk falters just enough for me to know I’ve got him. He straightens up, revving his engine a little, like he’s trying to regain control of the situation.

“Yeah, right,” he mutters, trying to act tough, but there’s no real confidence behind it. His eyes flick to Maliah again, but he quickly looks away when I lean forward slightly, my hands gripping the jet ski handles tighter.

“You think I’m lying?” I say, voice calm but threatening. “Go ahead. Blink in her direction one more time, and I’ll make the call. You know what you did, you really think I won’t follow through?”

His smirk fades completely now. He knows he’s cornered, that what I’m saying isn’t bullshit. He gives a half-hearted scoff, more out of trying to save face than anything else.

“Whatever,” he grumbles, revving his jet ski harder now, clearly uncomfortable. He starts backing out of the cave, shooting me a final glare over his shoulder. “You two have fun while it lasts.”

The moment he’s gone, the tension in the air seems to lift, but I’m still seething, watching the last ripples of his wake as he disappears out of sight. I take a deep breath and turn back to Maliah, who’s hastily adjusting her bikini, her expression shaken but composed.

I reach out, brushing my thumb gently along her arm. “You okay?” I ask softly.

She nods, her lips pressing together in a tight line. “I’m fine.”

She’s quiet, too quiet, and I hate it. “Princess,” I say gently, wrapping my arms around her waist, pulling her closer to try and give her some sense of comfort. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

She doesn’t answer me right away, but I feel her shift a little, her body tense under my touch. After a long pause, she finally speaks, “What if he’s right?”

Her voice is quiet, almost lost under the echo of the water lapping against the cave walls.

“Right about what?” I ask, pressing a kiss to the back of her neck.

“About us,” she admits, her voice shaky. “About…this. He said ‘have fun while it lasts.’ What if it doesn’t last, again, Koa? What if we’re pretending this is more than it is?”

I feel a flicker of frustration, not at her, but at myself. This doubt she has is my fault, for destroying the trust she had for me years ago. I tighten my grip around her, pulling her even closer to me.

“Don’t let him get in your head like that.”

She leans back into me, but I can tell the doubt is still there, gnawing at her. Torturing her. “But we’ve never said what this is between us, Koa. And maybe it’s not anything. Maybe he’s right and this…whatever we’re doing…won’t last.”

I can’t help the low growl of frustration that escapes me. She’s questioning us because of him, because of me, and it’s pissing me off. But I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself before I answer.

“It’s not just anything,” I say firmly, my lips brushing her ear. “This is real. I don’t care about what Charles thinks or anyone else for that matter. All I know is I want you, you have me, and I’m not going anywhere.”

She’s silent for a moment, and I feel her tense again, her hands gripping the handlebars tighter. “But how do you know? We’ve been through so much already, and…what if it’s not enough?”

Her voice cracks a little, and it makes my chest tighten. I press my forehead against her shoulder, taking a deep breath. “Because I know what I feel for you, Mal. I know this is more than just a fling. I don’t care about labels or what people think. I’m not going anywhere. You’ve got to trust me.”

She shifts slightly, turning her head just enough to glance back at me. “But what if?—”

“No what-ifs,” I cut her off, my voice more certain this time. “I’m here. I’m not leaving. Not again.”

She’s quiet for a few more seconds, her gaze dropping to her hands. I can see the internal battle playing out in her mind, the doubt that Charles planted. But slowly, I feel her body start to relax against mine. Her hands loosen their grip on the jet ski, and she lets out a shaky breath.

“I just don’t want to lose you again,” she whispers.

“You won't,” I promise, my arms wrapped around her tighter. “I’m right here, Mal. We’re not letting some French asshole like Charles decide what we have. We’re good.”

She’s still for a beat longer before she gives a small nod, her back finally softening against me, her trust starting to seep back in. “Okay,” she says quietly.

I breathe a little easier, relieved to feel her tension fading. I kiss the top of her head and nudge her gently. “Are you ready to get out of here?”

She hesitates for a moment but then nods, turning the engine back on. “Yeah…let’s get out of here.”

As we pull out of the cave and back into the open ocean, I feel her settle into me, her body relaxed against mine. It feels different now—like maybe, just maybe, she’s starting to trust this, to trust us again.

It’s later in the day and we’re wandering through the bustling marketplace, the sun beating down on the brightly coloured stalls. The scent of tropical fruits and salty sea air mix together as vendors call out to us trying to lure us to their stands. Maliah's been talking about getting her hands on soursop since we arrived, something about how rare it is back home, and now we're on a mission to find it.

I watch her move through the crowd, her excitement bubbling over every time she spots something new. She's always been like this—curious, open, taking in every little detail. It's one of the things I love most about her.

As we pass by a jewelry shop, I notice her slow down. She’s staring at a necklace in the display case—a delicate set of pearls, the matching earrings gleaming in the sunlight. She doesn't say anything, just stands there for a moment, admiring the way the light dances off the smooth surfaces.

“Pretty, huh?” I ask, stepping up beside her.

She looks up at me, her cheeks flushing a little. “Yeah…I’ve never owned anything like that before.”

I glance back at the pearl set before returning my attention to her. “C’mon, let’s find that fruit you’ve been dreaming about.”

We continue walking through the market, passing by stalls selling all kinds of things. Handmade jewelry, woven baskets, fresh seafood. It’s not long before I spot the spiky, green soursop she’s been searching for.

“Hey, Mal,” I call out, waving her over. “Found it.”

She hurries over, her eyes lighting up the second she sees the fruit in my hand. “Oh my god, you found it!” She practically snatches it out of my hand, grinning from ear to ear.

I can’t hold back my smile too, satisfied by the way her happiness seems to radiate in waves. She looks up at me, holding the fruit close to her chest like she’s found gold.

We start walking back through the market, her arm linked with mine while the other holds her bag of fruit. I’m happy to see her smiling, completely in her element. I glance at the pearl shop, memorizing where it is as we pass, before glancing back at her with a feeling of contentment. The simplicity of this moment makes everything else fade away until it’s just us.

Just Koa and Maliah.