Chapter 2

The humidity of the evening had thickened, turning the air inside the indoor water park into a warm, heavy blanket that clung to my skin. We had spent the last few hours drifting through the lazy river, our limbs tangled in the slow, hypnotic current, but now the crowd had thinned slightly, the manic energy of the day settling into a more languid, sensual hum. I followed him off the main thoroughfare, past the echoing splash of the wave pool where a few remaining tourists were still laughing at the artificial swells, and into a semi-private alcove near the edge of the main event space. It was a designated "quiet zone," a corner tucked behind a cluster of oversized, fake tropical ferns and high-backed lounge chairs upholstered in white vinyl that squeaked softly when we sat. He pulled me down onto the plush seat, his hand resting possessively on the small of my back, guiding me into the space between his spread knees. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, a stark contrast to the cool, chlorinated breeze that drifted in from the open-air vents above. I was still wearing the damp tank top I’d emerged from the