Maximo's POV

It was our fifth day in Boracay, and honestly, it still felt like a dream. Kai and I had fallen into such a perfect routine here—beach, sun, endless laughter—but today was something different. We had a whole day planned for island hopping. It was supposed to be just us, with no distractions, a time to just enjoy each other's company away from the usual hustle of military life.

Well, that plan didn't exactly work out as expected.

As we settled onto the boat, I noticed two guys chatting nearby. They looked like they were in the middle of some heated conversation, but as soon as one of them caught my eye, his gaze softened, and he gave me a quick nod of acknowledgment. Kai, of course, was completely oblivious as he leaned back against the boat's railing, enjoying the view of the horizon.

"Hey, we're heading to the same islands?" the guy closest to us asked, his voice smooth but laced with an obvious curiosity.

I turned to face him, sizing him up for a second. He was tall, dark hair a little messy from the wind, but he had this undeniable aura of confidence about him—like he didn't need to try hard to get attention. "Looks like it," I replied, my voice polite but a little guarded. I wasn't sure why, but something about this guy made me a bit more cautious.

"I'm Liam Marinez..call me Liam," the guy said, offering a friendly smile, "and this is Finn."

He gestured to the other guy, who was standing off to the side, his arms crossed over his chest. Finn had a certain coolness to him, almost like he didn't care about anyone's opinion, but his eyes were soft when they landed on Kai. He seemed to notice the connection we had, or maybe it was just my own possessiveness showing.

Liam's smile turned a bit more playful as he looked between Kai and me, and I couldn't help but feel a little... territorial. It wasn't that I was bothered, but it was just natural for me to want to keep Kai close, especially around strangers.

"Nice to meet you," I said, my tone friendly but firm. "I'm Maximo, and this is Kai."

Liam raised an eyebrow at the way I introduced us, but didn't say anything, instead stepping a little closer to the edge of the boat, hands on the rail, his gaze fixed on the open sea. "Island hopping, huh? Looks like it's going to be a fun day. Maybe we can join up. It's always better with company."

Kai looked over at me, giving me that grin of his, the one that made my heart race. "What do you think, Max? We can always use more company."

I wasn't entirely sure. But before I could say anything, Liam stepped in again, this time with a soft laugh. "I promise we're not that much trouble. Finn's a bit of a loner, but I'm a good influence."

Finn looked up at us, his lips curving into a small, knowing smile. "I'm Finn Vega. Just Finn. Nice to meet you."

Liam greeted us with a warm, easy smile, already exuding that relaxed vibe that came with island life. He had that charm about him—charming but not overbearing. Finn, on the other hand, was quieter but his sharp gaze caught mine, sizing me up the way a fellow soldier would. He nodded at me, and I could tell he wasn't a fan of small talk. His energy reminded me of how I usually felt around people—wary, but with an edge of protection.

Before I knew it, we were chatting, and the group of us quickly fell into a casual rhythm. We made our way to the first island, all of us eager for a day of adventure and fun.

As we boarded the boat to start our island adventure, I was focused on making sure everything was in order. I adjusted Kai's life vest, checked the bags to make sure we had sunscreen, towels, and drinks. I was the ever-caring boyfriend, making sure nothing went wrong, and that Kai had everything he needed. He gave me a look, half-exasperated, half-amused, as I was organizing everything down to the last detail.

"Max, relax. We've been on this trip for five days now. We're not in the military right now," Kai said with a laugh, nudging me playfully.

I grinned at him but didn't let up. He knew I couldn't help it. I just liked making sure we were taken care of, especially when it came to him.

As soon as the boat pulled into the shore, I could feel the excitement building. Kai didn't waste a second and dashed off the boat, heading straight for the sandy beach. His energy was always contagious, and before I knew it, I was running after him. We barely made it a few steps when Liam and Finn caught up with us, ready to explore.

The first stop was a snorkel spot near a small island. The water was crystal clear, and fish darted around us in every color imaginable. As we put on our snorkel gear, I found myself pulling Kai close one last time, making sure he was good to go. His laugh as I tugged him in for a quick kiss was everything I needed to get through the day.

"This is amazing!" Kai yelled, popping his head out of the water after we both dove in.

"I know. You're so distracted by the fish that you forgot I'm here," I teased, wrapping my arm around his waist to keep him close.

Kai gave me that smirk, his eyes twinkling. "You're the one who can't stop touching me, Max. I'm not complaining though."

The playful banter between us was easy, effortless, but I noticed Liam and Finn weren't far behind. Liam, as expected, was all smiles, but he kept his arm around Finn's waist as they swam together. The way Liam looked at Finn—protective, possessive in a subtle way—made me realize how similar we were. It was the same with me and Kai.

After an hour of snorkeling, we made our way to the next island, where we had a little beach barbecue planned. As the boat rocked gently on the waves, I couldn't help but stare at Kai, his wet hair slicked back, eyes gleaming with joy. There was something about him that made everything feel better, made everything feel more... alive.

On the island, we were served freshly grilled seafood, and there was laughter and music in the background. As we settled onto the beach, the sun shining overhead, I found myself drifting into a rare moment of peace, just soaking in the moment with Kai by my side.

The four of us ate together, sharing stories and jokes, with Kai's laugh echoing around us. Every now and then, I would catch Finn and Liam exchanging knowing glances, the same way Kai and I did. We were just two couples out on an adventure, sharing this beautiful experience.

We ended the afternoon with some beach volleyball. I could tell Liam was competitive from the way he held his posture and the intense way he stared at the ball. But it was Finn who had the stronger arm, and I had to admit, he was good. I had my own competitive streak, but I wasn't going to let that spoil my fun. So, instead of pushing too hard, I took every chance I could to pull Kai close or crack a joke at Liam's expense.

It wasn't about winning—it was about being here with Kai. About feeling that lightness, that sense of freedom, even if just for a little while.

"You're not bad at this," Kai teased, grinning at me after I managed to score a point for our team.

I winked at him, "I told you I had my moments. Maybe I'll show you more later."

He rolled his eyes, but I could see the sparkle in his gaze—the one that told me he was in this, with me, fully.

As the sun began to set, we all sat on the beach, the golden light reflecting off the water, creating a perfect scene. It felt like everything was in place. I was in the moment, and for the first time in a while, I could see the future unfolding before me in a way that made sense. Kai was here, with me, and no matter what happened after this, I knew that we'd always have these moments together.

"Babe, let's take a walk," Kai whispered suddenly, his hand slipping into mine. "I just want to talk."

I nodded, squeezing his hand. "Anything you want, love."

The night had settled in, and the stars above us shone brighter than I'd ever seen. The moonlight reflected off the water, creating a soft, almost ethereal glow. It felt like the world had slowed down just for us, and for the first time in a long while, everything felt perfect. Just Kai and me—alone on this island, with no distractions, no duties, no military orders.

After our walk on the beach, we rejoined Liam and Finn, who were now sitting by a bonfire. The warmth of the fire was a welcome contrast to the cool breeze, and I couldn't help but notice how relaxed everyone seemed. They had their own quiet bond—something similar to what Kai and I shared. Even though we had only known Liam and Finn for a short while, there was a connection. It was like we were all soldiers together in this strange, yet peaceful, battle of love and life.

I glanced over at Kai, his hand still tightly clasped in mine. He had a small smile on his face as he watched the flames dance in the fire. His hair was still damp from the water, but he didn't seem to mind. I could feel the warmth of his body next to mine, his presence like a beacon pulling me in, making me forget everything else.

"You're quiet tonight," I said softly, my thumb rubbing circles on the back of his hand.

He looked up at me, those hazel eyes of his soft with affection. "Just thinking," he said, his voice low, almost like a secret. "This... this feels too good to be true. Us... here. Together."

I leaned in closer, my breath warm against his ear as I whispered, "It's not a dream, love. This is real. And I'm not going anywhere."

He shivered, but not from the cold. His gaze met mine, and I could see the vulnerability there. The trust. It was something I hadn't seen from him before, and it made my heart ache with love and protectiveness.

"I know," he said quietly. "I'm just... not used to this. To you. To feeling like this."

I smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "Then let me get you used to it, love."

The word slipped out, and as soon as I said it, I could feel my heart race. I wasn't sure if it was the environment or the moment, but I couldn't deny it anymore. I wanted him. I needed him, and I wanted to let him know that in every way possible.

Kai's lips parted slightly, his cheeks flushing as he looked at me. "I love the way you call me love" he said, his voice teasing but warm.

I chuckled, my chest swelling with pride at how easy it was to make him smile. "I'm not calling you that just for fun. You're my guy, Kai. Always."

Kai's fingers tightened around mine, and I could see the genuine happiness in his eyes. It made everything—the mission, the long days, the uncertainty—all worth it.

Liam and Finn exchanged amused glances, obviously aware of the shift in the air between us. Finn raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a smirk.

"You two are way too cute," Liam said, laughing as he nudged Finn. "But seriously, enjoy the moment. You guys deserve it."

I glanced over at the couple, the connection between them just as strong as ours. Liam's possessiveness towards Finn was evident, just like mine for Kai. It was a kind of silent understanding between the two of us—two men who had found their person and weren't letting go. Not ever.

"Same goes for you two," I said with a grin, giving Finn a playful nod. "You're not leaving each other's side, huh?"

Liam laughed. "Not a chance. But enough about us. What's next for you two? Gonna sit here all night or...?"

I turned my gaze back to Kai, and that's when I saw it—the playful glint in his eyes, the smirk forming on his lips. He leaned in closer, his voice just above a whisper. "How about we skip the rest of the evening and go somewhere a little more... private?"

My pulse quickened at the suggestion, the hunger in his voice making my chest tighten. I wasn't going to pass up an opportunity like this, not when Kai was looking at me like that.

"Lead the way, love," I said, standing up and pulling him with me.

Finn gave us an amused look, clearly knowing exactly where we were headed. Liam just shook his head, still smiling.

"You two are unbelievable," Liam muttered, but there was no real annoyance in his voice. Just acceptance.

As Kai and I walked away from the group, I could feel the heat between us building. The connection was undeniable, and we both knew what we wanted. This moment was ours—uninterrupted, undisturbed.

We made our way back to our beachfront villa, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, the soft moonlight guiding our path. The second we stepped inside, Kai turned to me with a mischievous smile, his hand slipping behind my neck, pulling me closer.

"Take me," he said, his voice thick with desire.

I didn't waste any more time. My lips crashed into his, my hands instantly finding their way to his waist. Kai responded just as eagerly, his body melting into mine. There was no hesitation, no uncertainty. We knew what we wanted, and it was each other—completely.

With a small grunt, I lifted him off his feet, carrying him to the bed, unable to keep my hands off him for another second. The world outside faded away—the beach, the stars, the sounds of laughter—until it was just the two of us, lost in each other.

"You're mine, love," I muttered between kisses, my hands exploring every inch of him.

"Always, babe," he whispered back, his breath hot against my skin. "Always."