Written in Stone

Warm sand trickled between my toes with each step along the deserted beach. Ed and I strolled hand-in-hand, easy conversation flowing between us, while the mid-morning January sun beat down on our bare shoulders, promising another hot afternoon.

Shifts at the turtle refuge meant our days started early, and we usually took advantage with a walk along the coast before retreating to the pool or air-conditioned house for the hot afternoons.

“He was called John, I think. Or Jonathan,” Ed was saying.

“He was your first friend and you can’t remember his name?” I tutted and shook my head in feigned disapproval.

“I was five. Cut me some slack.”

“Bet he remembers your name.”

“Hm, I bet. I was always part of bigger groups of friends, though. I didn’t have that small circle of people I was close to, and I think that’s why I fell out of touch with so many of them when my music took off. I didn’t trust their intentions, and some of them were resentful.”

“Probably because you weren’t close enough for them to be happy for you instead.”

“Probably.” Fingers tightening around mine, he tugged me towards the ocean, the coarse grains of dry sand replaced by damp, harder shoreline. “What about you?”

“My first friend was called Poppy. She lived next door to us. But then Mum and Dad split up and we moved.”

A wave washed over the tops of our feet, providing a refreshing splash of cool water before receding into the sea.

“Have you ever thought about moving back to your childhood town?” Ed asked.

“Childhood town, no. Scotland, occasionally. There are some beautiful areas. Mountains, lakes…”

“You’ve always said your creativity is better with a view.” He glanced across at me with a smile. “Or was that just an excuse to spend more time at my suite back in the days when you pretended we were just friends?”

“We were just friends.”

“Uh-huh…” His smile stretched into a cocky grin. “Friends who checked each other out when they thought they were being discreet.”

Nearly a year had passed since then, but I still refused to admit I’d been attracted to him right from the start. Hell knows his ego didn’t need the boost.

“It was less to do with your looks and more to do with you being famous.” I bumped him with my hip, but his solid body stayed on-course. “It’s weird seeing a celebrity in the flesh, you know. You have to keep staring at them.”

A low chuckle floated through the briny air between us, and then he released my hand, bent down, and tossed me over his shoulder in a Fireman’s Carry, so swift and effortless that it would have been sexy if it wasn’t annoying.

With one strong forearm wrapped around the back of my thighs, he charged into the sea. Salty water splashed my face as I hammered my fists against the tanned skin at the base of his spine.

“Don’t you dare drop me, you dick.”

“Admit you liked me, then.”

“Your ego is so fucking fragile considering you were literally named World’s Sexiest Man last year.”

A playful smack landed on my right butt cheek. “You know it’s not to do with my ego.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

His grip loosened, and gravity pulled me back over his shoulder until I was slipping down his naked chest, slick with suncream, sweat, and sea water. Not trusting that he’d catch me before I plunged into the sea, I clamped my legs around his waist and my arms behind his neck, clinging onto him like a koala to a tree.

Face to face, I nudged my nose against his. “You know I think you’re fucking hot.” I rolled my hips to grind against his abs. “Sexiest man in the world, and you’re mine.”

The corner of his mouth quirked up. “Damn straight, guapa. All yours. Only yours.”

And then he kissed me, under the hot Costa Rican sun, with nothing but miles of deserted beach around us.

“How’s paradise?” Faye lay in bed, phone held up above her, her face illuminated only by the brightness of her screen.

I looked away from our call and towards the French doors that led to a balcony overlooking the beach. From my spot on the bedroom sofa, I couldn’t see the sand, only stretches of turquoise water, glistening under the late afternoon sun.

“Idyllic,” I replied.

“Urgh. So fucking jealous. I can’t remember the last time I went on holiday.”

“You went to Amsterdam, like, three weeks ago.”

“That doesn’t count. It’s less than an hour away, and I was high fifty percent of the time.” She scrambled to sit upright, pushing her hair out of her face, and bit her lip. “Don’t mention that last part to Mum and Dad.”

“I won’t.”

“Besides, I was exaggerating. It wasn’t quite fifty. Probably more like thirty. Thirty-five tops.”

Smiling, I crossed my legs beneath me and pointed the AC remote at the unit to lower the temperature. Waves of icy air brushed my knees and chest.

“Speaking of parents,” I said. “When we all meet up next month, I’m going to introduce Ed as Ed, but you can’t go spreading that around.”

Faye tipped her head to the side, a curtain of dark hair falling across her face that she promptly swept behind an ear.

“Spreading what around, exactly?”

“That I call him Ed.”

Even through the pixelated FaceTime video, I saw the subtle twitch of her lips.

“That’s not exactly breaking news, Soph. Teddy is quite clearly not a real name.”

“Sure it is.”

“Uh, no. It’s not. It’s short for something. Like Theodor. Or Edward.”

A small pang pierced my heart as I recalled an almost identical conversation I’d had with Becca and Gabby when I’d first found out he went by Ed in private. Nearly a year ago now. I pushed that difficult memory aside. In a world that had become increasingly obsessed with our relationship, Ed needed the barrier that something as simple as a stage name provided.

“Whatever,” I said. “Teddy for public. Ed for private. Got it?”

She rolled her eyes. “Sure. I’ll try my very best not to fuck up and expose him to the world.”

“Thanks,” I said, ignoring her attitude. “And on the subject of…”

I paused as the man in question strolled into the room, wearing nothing but a pair of baggy shorts. Oblivious to my video call with Faye, he carried on past me towards the bedside table.

“Have you seen a plug adapter anywhere?” he asked.

“I’m using one at the moment,” I replied. “Just need enough charge to finish my call with Faye, then you can have it.”

His eyes darted up from the bed and landed on my phone. Grimacing, he snatched a shirt that was lying on the duvet and dragged it over his head.

“Sorry, Faye,” he said. “Didn’t mean to barge in.”

“Don’t get dressed on my account.” She flashed him a flirty smile, which he humoured with a soft laugh.

I angled the phone so Ed fell out of shot. “If you want to stare at my boyfriend topless, do it on Google.”

“That’s what your sister used to do,” Ed told Faye, squeezing my shoulder. He then pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. “Going for a run with Mark. Be back in an hour.”

Somehow Ed and Mark had the stamina for runs every other evening to keep up with their fitness regimes, but the idea of exercise in this level of heat didn’t appeal to me. Lazy walks on the beach was my limit, and I’d miss that when we eventually returned to the UK.

“Mark?” Faye’s eyes lit up. “My Mark?”

Ed froze mid-turn, then swivelled back towards the phone. “Your Mark?”

“Faye has a thing for Mark,” I said.

“Huh.” A slow smile spread across his face. “That’s something else you’ve got in common with your sister, then. Clearly your taste in men runs in the family.”

I flushed while Faye cackled. With a final squeeze of my shoulder, Ed left the room.

Faye sighed. “That boy is so hot.”

“I know. And he’s all mine.”

“You’re so fucking lucky. Tell me, is he as polite in the bedroom as he is out of it? I bet he’s not. I bet he’s a fucking animal, isn’t he. All the quiet, nice ones are.”

“Not discussing that with you.”

“Why not?”

“Because you’re my sister.”

I wasn’t going to even mention that my lips were sealed with an NDA. That would only pique her curiosity more, like there was something to hide. And let’s face it, there was. Teddy Stone in the bedroom was a different person, but I liked being only one of a few who had the privilege of knowing that.

“Technically I’m your half-sister.” She threw me a grin to show she was only teasing. “So give me half the details?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Why are you being such a prude? Bet you talk to your friends about it. Are we not friends anymore?”

Her guilt-tripping didn’t faze me. “We’re family. I thought you were dating someone, anyway? Why are you thirsting over my boyfriend if you’ve got one of your own?”

“It’s not serious. Very casual.”

I chuckled. “Does he know that?”

“Yes. He’s cool with it.”

When it came to dating, Faye’s interest didn’t last long. Maybe we’d had that in common, too. In between Mike and Ed, I’d avoided relationships. It was partly self-preservation, and while Faye would claim her excuse was just boredom, I knew she’d been hurt in the past too.

Our conversation shifted onto family, and before I knew it, an hour had passed and Ed had returned from his run. He stumbled into the bedroom panting, bronzed muscles shining with sweat, and I quickly decided that Faye and I had spent enough time talking.

“Did he win?” I asked, standing up to stretch my legs once I’d ended the call.

Ed shot me a filthy look. “I’ll get him one day.”

He clasped his hands to his hips and tipped his head back as he caught his breath.

“Don’t beat yourself up,” I said. “He’s fit.”

“Come over here and say that.” The underlying dare sent a thrill down my spine.

“Maybe once you’ve showered.”

“Thought you liked me hot and sweaty.”

“Only if I’m hot and sweaty too.”

The corner of his mouth tugged upwards. “That can be arranged.”

Long-legged strides devoured the distance between us, and before I’d had time to escape, he’d swept an arm around my waist and yanked me into the hard muscles of his body.

“I might not be able to beat Mark,” he said down my ear, “but I’d take you on any day.”

I wriggled in his firm embrace, trying and failing to prise his arm away from pinning me against him. Since I apparently couldn’t beat him through strength, I resorted to words.

“Maybe I want to try someone with more stamina. Bet Mark could go for hours…”

His arm tightened around my stomach, a dark chuckle hot against my ear.

“Why don’t you ask him, then?” Amusement dripped from his tone. “And if he indulges you, I’ll give you a hall pass.”

I spluttered with laughter, not knowing what was more ridiculous: the idea of me taking that dare seriously, or Ed being fine with it.

“Bullshit.” I twisted in his arms and tilted my head back to look up at him. “Your jealousy would never allow it.”

“I don’t get jealous.”

We both knew he was only taunting me with this because it would never ever happen. It was an easy win for him. But I didn’t like easy wins.

“Fine,” I said with a sweet smile. “I’ll put on my best underwear for him tonight. They’re still coming to dinner, aren’t they?”

Ed’s eyes twinkled. “They are.”

“Excellent. Can’t wait.”