'It'll wait,' she says, turning again, trying to follow the sound of his voice. 'You know, I bet this place has all sorts of -- mermaids and sea monsters and whatnot.'

Because it's not paradise, she has to remind herself. Ace made it very clear, this place is dangerous. The distance between them seems less like a good idea, now that she thinks about it, and she closes it, doing her level best not to crowd him. It's hard enough not to imagine his wet skin under her palms, or what it might taste like to lick the salt water from just beneath his jaw.

Just keep swimming, Alex.