The past seven days had flown by. I never expected to have fun on this trip. What I wanted to do was wallow in self-pity because I’d been forced to come here. Only, Thorn changed all of that. He’d made me step outside the box and do things I normally wouldn’t have done on a good day, let alone on this trip. Thinking back, I was a selfish brat when it came to the generosity of my boss. Who could say that they had an all-expense paid trip to an exotic island by their employer? Not many.

As I sat on the bed with the sheet around my body, I stared over at a peaceful, sleeping Thorn. He looked so handsome laying there with his hand over his rippled stomach. I had to capture this moment. Leaning over, I grabbed my phone and snapped a few pictures to remember him by. His body was now even more tanned than the day I first met him from all our time spent outdoors. He made sure I never had time to think about work or even attempt to check an email. He forbid it, and for some reason, I complied. He had that type of essence that poured off him and commanded that you listened. I didn’t know how else to word it, but I didn’t mind giving up the ranks for the time being. He’d made unwinding so much more fun than I would’ve accomplished alone on this trip. On several occasions, I asked if he wanted me to let him be so he could enjoy the trip he’d set out to have, but he brushed that notion off like I hadn’t even spoken a word and kept on making more and more plans for us to explore. And boy did we explore. I was still sore in places I didn’t know could be sore as I sat here and continued to stare at him.

I let the memories flow through my mind of all that we’d done together. The night at the bar when we met. Feeding the stingrays and sharks. Snorkeling. Walking around the small town and exploring. Laying out on the beach and the random touches that followed. The karaoke night where he shocked me by knowing all the dance moves and lyrics to Uptown Funk. The many nights where he worshiped me and my body. All of these memories flashed through my mind in quick succession. But that’s all they could be. Memories.

I would cherish our time together. Memories that I would never forget were experienced here. He made me see how special life was and how important it was to take time and enjoy the world around me. Only, I couldn’t give him his last request. He wanted me to take a later flight out today since we were both headed in the same direction. Only I thought it was best to cut ties and go our separate ways. After all, this was just supposed to be fun while we were here. I didn’t expect anything past these seven days, and I didn’t want him to either.

Last night was a night I would never forget. The way he cherished me. Worshiped my body with so much conviction I never wanted our time together to end. Repeatedly, he gave us both pleasure until we were spent and gasping for air. We collapsed onto the bed and sought each other out, letting sleep claim us mere moments after we covered ourselves with the blanket.

My cheeks flushed at the memory of everything he’d done to my body. The positions he had me in. The moans he elicited from me. Everything was so out of the norm for me last night, that I didn’t even know how that could’ve been me in the room, but that was Thorn. He made it feel effortless to do things outside of my comfort zone. Things I’m sure I’d never do again.

Getting up, I let the sheet fall from my body and quietly walked to the other side of the room to get dressed. The boat would be at the dock in an hour, and I couldn’t miss my opportunity to get back to the mainland and catch my flight.

After I pulled on my flight attire, I picked up my bags and carried them to the door. Taking one extra moment, I turned back toward the bed where Thorn continued to sleep unaware. I had so much to thank him for. But those thanks would have to remain hidden. He brought me to life and for that alone, I’d never forget him. I was going back to California a new woman. With new priorities. Ones I planned to implement as soon as I landed and returned to my apartment. I was also going back completely in love with a man that I’d never be able to have.

“Goodbye, Thorn,” I whispered before I slid open the door just enough so I could slip through undetected and made my way down the wooden planked dock. I never even got his real name. Another regret I’d go home with. But it was better that way. I couldn’t Google him and find him later. I was better off only knowing him as Thorn. Just as he was better off only knowing me as Lily. We didn’t share personal details like where we lived or worked, only information that was irrelevant. But part of me wondered what everyone else called him in the professional world and how that name would sound coming off my lips. I guess I’d never know.