10

The sun was barely creeping over the horizon, casting soft gold streaks across the white hotel sheets. The air was warm, heavy with ocean humidity.

Y/N stirred beneath the blankets, her limbs tangled with Rodrick's, their bodies still pressed close from the night before.

He was shirtless - obviously.

His fingers traced lazy circles along her bare thigh, smirking when she squirmed.

"You always sleep like this?" he murmured against her neck. "Half-naked and wrapped around me like you missed me in your dreams?"

Y/N chuckled, voice still thick with sleep. "I don't think I even dreamt. You wore me out."

Rodrick bit down gently on her shoulder, lips hot against her skin.

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

She turned toward him, eyes half-lidded, voice low. "It's not. But if you keep touching me like that, I'm gonna need round two before breakfast."

His hand slid lower. "What's stopping you?"

She let out a breathless laugh, leaning into his mouth.

Knock knock knock.

They both froze.

Another knock, this time louder.

"Y/N?" came Sam's familiar voice through the door. "You up? I need to show you this insane rash I got from the coral. It's, like, glowing."

Y/N's eyes widened.

Rodrick raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

She shoved at his chest. "Under the blanket. Now."

"What, there?" He nodded toward between her legs, mouth twitching.

"Yes, there. Move!"

Grinning like a menace, Rodrick slid down and under the covers just as Y/N scrambled upright, pulling the blanket over her chest as-

Sam swung the door open.

He walked in holding a water bottle and his phone. "Dude, I think I'm turning into a sea creature or something."

Y/N forced a smile, struggling to keep a straight face as Rodrick's head settled exactly where it shouldn't be.

"Oh, that's... crazy," she said, voice strangled.

Sam squinted. "You okay? You look flushed."

"I'm fine!" she squeaked. "Just-hot. It's warm."

Rodrick's breath was not helping.

Neither was his hand that slid slowly up her thigh under the sheets.

She slapped his arm. Hard.

Sam looked around. "Is Rodrick in here? I swear I heard his voice earlier."

Y/N's smile cracked. "What? Rodrick? No. Definitely not. He left like, years ago"

Sam stared at her for a second, brow furrowed. Then he shrugged. "You're acting weird. Probably just hungover."

He walked to the window, showing off the rash on his ankle. "Okay but seriously, does this look infected-?"

Rodrick accidentally breathed against her inner thigh.

Y/N's soul left her body.

"YES!" she yelped. "Totally infected. Get that looked at. Immediately."

Sam blinked. "You didn't even-"

"Go!" she snapped. "Now! Before it spreads!"

Sam backed out, holding up his hands. "Damn, okay. Mood swing central. Feel better."

The door clicked shut.

Silence.

Then Y/N flung back the blanket and glared at the boy between her legs.

"What the hell was that!?"

Rodrick looked up, smirking. "Multitasking."

"Are you trying to kill me?"

"Not yet."

She smacked a pillow over his head.

Later that morning, Rodrick strolled out of the room in last night's clothes, hair messy, grinning like a man with secrets.

Unfortunately, Heather saw him.

She froze in the hallway. "Were you just in her room?"

Rodrick didn't even try to lie. "Yup."

Heather's face darkened. "Wow. So she spread her legs and you're suddenly whipped?"

Rodrick's jaw tensed. "Don't talk about her like that."

She blinked. "Oh my God. You actually like her."

He didn't answer.

Didn't need to.

Heather's voice dropped to venom. "She's going to wreck you. You're not boyfriend material. You're barely human material."

Rodrick stepped in closer, smirk fading.

"If I'm such a mess, what's that say about you - wanting someone like me?"

Heather paled.

Rodrick turned and walked away.

~Meanwhile, Felix~

Felix cornered Y/N at lunch.

"You've been weird lately," he said. "Is everything okay?"

Y/N blinked. "Define 'weird.'"

"You're smiling a lot. And wearing Rodrick's hoodie."

She looked down.

Damn it.

"I just grabbed the wrong one," she lied.

Felix stared at her.

"Y/N."

"What?"

"If Rodrick Heffley lays a hand on you-"

She cut him off. "I can handle myself."

Felix didn't look convinced. But he didn't push it.

Yet.

That night, Y/N found Rodrick on the balcony outside their room, shirtless again, hair damp from a late-night swim.

He looked at her, smirk soft. "We're playing a dangerous game, sunshine."

Y/N leaned beside him, brushing her fingers against his.

"Good thing I like danger."