A/N I apologize for the lack of updates, I have had an extremely busy month! I hope this is worth the wait and Happy Valentines Day!

Chapter 25: Sun-kissed shore

'You see, like a great woman once said, 'what's past is prologue my dear, the world awaits.'

Silent falls.

And remains there for a very long time.

Tris POV

I ponder in the reflection of the mirrored glass of the skyscraper. My face is fresh yet my eyes scream tiredness, and my body shouts for rest. Despite this, I forcefully glaze upwards, tilting my aching neck towards the building. It's a line of pure shimmering glass. The sun shines above us, making the clean windows glisten even more.

I see the reflection of my boots on the white marbled tiled floor first, then, the opened space area. The white light flows through the transparent glass windows straight through the circular space that is filled with blue sofas and creative furniture. Splashing across the walls are beautiful modern art that I have never seen before in my life. The security guards, Richard and Daniel look at home here, walking in front of us and leading the way. Our squad follows with wide eyes.

We reach a large brass elevator with an ancient feel to it, with an arrow at the top that indicator the floors; an odd contrast to the rest of the building. The elevator dings and the doors slide open and even though I don't see Tobias reaction, I can feel it. The elevator is circular, with a black marble floor and in front is a large elegant circular glass panel, bottom to top with the view of the opened space area we have just walked past that is quickly becoming smaller by the second as the elevator increases upwards. I turn my back to it. It goes without saying that Tobias quickly detaches his eyes away way before my mind even registered the glass.

The elevator dings again at the designated floor and we walk with the demeanour of robots. Richard and Daniel knock on a white door twice then enter the room, leaving us to stand outside. On the front of expensive white oak door, in polished metal it says Leader Lewin Nicholas-Collins.

Her voice is smooth. Yet demanding and instructive at the same time. Her tone is pleasant yet seeking information. 'So, how long are you planning on staying here?' Leader Lewin Nicholas-Collins asks, her blues eyes shining and her blonde hair pulled into a ponytail. She wears an expensive navy suit that shows off her grand authority. Her office is neat, bright and tidy.

'We are not sure.' Tobias replies. 'We have been sent by our government to find someone. His name is George. George Wu.'

'There are many George's here.' She sternly looks towards me then back to a young man who leans on the edge of the window, arms crossed. The colours of his clothes intrigue me. His sharply tailored trousers and waistcoat is beige while he wears a light blue shirt underneath with his sleeves rolled up and a plain navy blue tie. His dark brown hair is neatly groomed and he looks young. He must be in his 20s. His appearance is casual yet formal. My thoughts are cut off by leader Nicholas-Collins voice.

'Very well. You may stay here for as long as you may like. We will arrange a hotel for you as I'm sure you are terribly tired.'

'That would be much appreciated,' I reply. 'Thank you.'

'You two men,' leader Nicholas-Collins points towards the two security guards.

'Daniel and Richard ma'am.'

She nods. 'You two are to escort Tris and Four and their friends to the Grand Tower Hotel.'

'Yes Ma'am,'

'Four, we shall contact our agents to try and find this George Wu, but we can't promise anything.'

'Yes I understand. Thank you.'

The man wearing the beige waistcoat and trousers catches my eye, a smile on his face, but Tobias stiffens, walking closer towards me and placing a hand firmly on my back, as we walked out of the office. It's something about his appearance that makes me intrigued. My thoughts linger on him and Leader Lewin Nicholas-Collins all the way until my feet reach the cool pavements outside.

Tobias opens the door to our hotel room, slipping in and out a plastic room key to grant us entrance. Outside the room, the freshly painted modern hotel corridor is long and narrow. To the far left is a dark wooden table with a blue and white vase on top of it. The door clicks and Tobias and I make our way inside. I gasp when I see it.

As if everything else is a blur, I spot the long line of pure shimmering blue first, then the spectacular hotel suite. The long double-glazed glass panels open up onto a large balcony portraying a view of the mesmerizing, light blue in some places then a darker blue the further along you go, ocean. It's breath-taking and something I have never seen before.

I feel a little tug on my hand from Tobias and I realize I am still standing at the door, my mouth hanging open. He smiles and so do I. My eyes linger to the rest of the room, and my mouth reopens, gobsmacked. I come out of my trance when I hear the room door shut.

The floor is of bright white marble that sparkles against the light and is cool against my hot feet. Still standing by the door, I notice there is a small corridor where to my left and right the walls are grazed with a closet to hand coats and sparkly clean mirrors. I pull my jacket off and place it in the small built in wardrobe along with my shoes. Tobias does the same. With my feet ever so carefully touching the floor, I move closer towards the suite. The suite is an L shape.

A beautifully carved yet modern square of dark wooden desk stands in front of me with a bright white oversized lampshade on it, and neatly tucked away, beside it, is a comfortable looking white chair. However it does not stop there, the long and large grey sofa which is in the centre of the room with its back facing the wall, is shaped in a semi-circle where the left side of it is attached to the modern desk. There is an oval shaped white coffee table in the middle and another white chair with a footstall near the window. Long beige curtains frame the clean glass that leads onto a balcony. In front of the sofa lies a large slab of marble wall with an integrate design on it that looks like branches of trees that reflect from the light, it reaches the ceiling and the floor however there is a gap between the other wall, leaving an open spaced area where you can walk through to the next room . Hanging on that wall is a giant 80 inch TV. The other walls are grazed with beautiful pieces of art.

Tobias and I walk pass the wall that contains the TV and towards the dining area. On the opposite wall of the TV lies a sleek modern black cooker and a couple of black and white granite counters. In the middle of the divided room is a black and white island with barstools and a fresh Lilly's sitting on top in a glass vase. To the left of the flowers is a wine-rack with a bottle of red and white. Surrounding us is kitchen appliances and a fridge. To the left of the island is a small neat dining table that seats four.

'How did we get so lucky?' I ask Tobias as he leans against the counter of the kitchen.

'I have no idea, this place is amazing!' He tugs on my arm and pulls me close.

He kisses my forehead. 'I can't believe we find out about this now.' I sigh.

'Me too, come on the grand tour is not finished!' I say causing a chuckle from him.

We walk pass the dining table and we open a door to the bedroom. Another gasps escapes my lips.

A huge king sized bed, propped up by what looks like millions of mattresses and duvets lines the back of the room in the purposefully romantic dimly lit room. The floor has changed and is now a darker marble. The massive bed is filled with a luxurious white duvet and black cushions. The headboard of the bed is hanged on the wall and is black cushion. To the sides are bedside tables with large oversized black and shiny metal lamps. The rest of the room is quite simple and I glaze over to the opposite side of the room and I notice a large wall with frosty opaque glass from top to floor, with a door next to it. I practically run to the door and open it to find a beautiful expensive looking bathroom with a Jacuzzi bath and a walk in shower with a square head. Two beautiful sinks next to each other and luxurious towels and soaps and a toilet.

I run back to Tobias who is slowly taking everything in like I am. 'Oh my gosh!' I scream. I jump into his arms and he holds me by my thighs. 'This place is so beautiful! Have you seen the bathroom?' I exclaim.

He laughs. 'Yeah, it's really nice.' I roll my eyes at his use of vocabulary. I kiss him quickly but then my eyes zoom to my left and I get a better idea.

I sprint for the bed and jump on it and land with a small poof. I then proceed to turn around so my back is on the duvet. Tobias laughs and joins me, plummeting onto the bed.

'I'm so thankful we can just relax!' I say, my hands moving across the duvet.

'This is so soft. I thought our bed was nice. This is just… wow.' Tobias exclaims.

'I never want to leave!'

'Me too,' he chuckles. He turns to face me and I turn on my side so that I am facing him, with my feet dangling off the side and my head resting on my palm. 'Not so bad after all?' I smirk. He nods.

My eyes gaze to his then his collarbone; where I boldly place my hand along his shoulder and trace a line gently along his arm.

'Come here.' He tugs me quickly and pulls me close to him, my face inches from his.

'I love you,' I whisper, brushing my nose along his.

'I love you more.' He replies.

He closes the gap between us quickly. My hands trail up into his hair while his wrap sideways around my hips. I spring up and pull my leg over his waist to get better access as his lips gently mould into mine. We continue like this for a few more minutes, enjoying the company of one another. I pull away from his face.

'I'm going to go in the shower and get change.' I state.

'Okay, I'll unpack our bags.' He replies, smiling. My hands are still placed both sides of his shoulders and I'm still straddling his waist. I can't seem to drag myself away from him. We are in a different world together.

I finally break free from my trance and with a smirk on my face I pull away from him, moving my backside along his crouch to make his eyes go wide. I then tiptoe away from him. I can feel his piercing eyes stare into my back as I walk closer and closer towards the luxurious bathroom.

Tobias POV

What a place. As I sit, my back firmly pressed into the soft mattress, I watch bewildered as Tris walks away from me towards the bathroom. I'm still staring even once she has entered the bathroom. The light switches on inside and my eyes go wide when I see what happens next.

A shadow forms from the frosty glass and I see Tris. I see her figure bend down to take her trousers off and come back up. I see her walk forward, presumably towards the sink. When she returns and I hear the shower get turned on I see her shadow take off all her clothes. From where I sit I can only see her sideways, but I can still see the outline of her defined figure. Much to my disappointment, she then proceeds to walk towards the steamy hot dripping water and soon the shadow runs away.

Her figure is still imprinted in my mind. I know I should have looked away but I couldn't, it was if my eyes were glued. I hear a vague sound but I ignore it, still in a trance.

'Tobias!' Tris exclaims. My head looks up to hers and notice she is standing in a towel, her body dripping from water.

'Yeah?' I ask still dazed.

'I have been trying to get your attention for ages! The shower is free.'

'Well if you wanted to get my attention, all you needed to do was slip off that towel.' I smirk.

'Wow, you're hilarious.' She says sarcastically, 'now go!'

'Yes ma'am!' I say and she pushes me towards the bathroom.

I enter the bathroom, my mind still hypnotised. Knowing that if I stand under a certain light I will form a shadow, I stay clear from it. I then proceed to let the hot water drain away my worries.

I find Tris relaxing on the balcony. She is wearing a mid-thigh length beige shorts and a plain black top, her knees are bent as she stands, resting against the glass. Her arms are hanging over the balcony. She is gazing off in the distance, towards the deep blue ocean and swimming pool beneath. Our balcony is very large, with two doubled sized sunbed chairs and an outside table as well as a small gate that when opened continues towards a larger platform where a shared Jacuzzi is.

I open the transparent glass door and walk towards Tris, she turns her head slightly at me, her hair blowing from the slight wind, and then returns her gaze back to the sea. She looks deep in thought. I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her back close towards me front, nuzzling my chin in my chest.

'What are you thinking about?' I whisper in her ear and kiss the side of her neck.

She smiles as I continue to kiss up long her neck, but when I see that she doesn't respond I break away. I stand beside her, my eyes drifting to the sea and back at her.

'This place.' She says after a while although it comes as a whisper. 'This is what I am thinking about. And how all this was here, all these resources yet no one helped us, when Chicago was at war, or had food shortages. And what are we supposed to say when we go back? Isn't this supposed to be a secret? How can we not tell everyone this? I just don't understand.'

'I wish I could answer those questions.' I reply. She nods slowly. 'But for now why don't we make the most of it?'

'I guess you're right.' She smiles, a seductive look in her eye. She wraps her arm around my neck and brings her lips up to mine slowly, teasing me. I push down harder and my hands wrap around her hair then neck. I grab hold of her smooth thighs and wrap her legs around my waist, not letting go of our kiss. She smiles into the kiss and holds onto me tighter as I lean down and place her on the double sunbed. We continue to make out, my hands roaming her body until I hear a booming sound.

'Hey hey hey! Break it up, no PDA outside!' Zeke shouts. Oh Zeke, how I could kill you right now.

Tris quickly pulls away from me and straightens her hair and top while Uriah, Marlene, Christina, Will and Shauna come round the corner of the shared platform outside and nearer to our gate.

'Hey guys,' Tris waves her hand.

'Wow Tris, loving the make out hair!' Christina laughs. As a result Tris blushes and straightens her hair more.

I unlock the gate to let them all into our balcony.

'We have been round each other rooms but we haven't checked out yours yet!' Christina squeals.

'Be my guest-' Tris starts but it subsequently cut off from Christina already entering the room.

That's when I hear a very high pitched scream.

None other than Christina.

Everyone runs for the door and Tris is the first through the door and to ask what is the matter.

'What's wrong?' Tris exclaims.

'Oh,' Christina inhales, 'my god!' She shouts. Your room is so much nicer than ours!' That's when the rest of the squad tumble into our room and gawk at the interior. All of them have their mouths wide open.

'How come you get the nicest room?' Uriah whines, wondering around the living area.

'They are the leaders of this mission; they should be able to have the nicest room Uri.' Marlene replies.

Tris walks over to Marlene, Shauna Christina and Uriah in the kitchen while I stay where I am in front of the TV.

'Bloody hell, that's a nice TV. Our TV is slightly smaller I think 65 inch but still massive compared to the screens in Dauntless. Have you seen the definition?' Zeke asks.

'No, I haven't turned it on yet.' I fiddle around with the TV on the marble wall but find no way of turning it on. 'Where is the controller thing?' I ask.

'Oh, it's called a remote.' Zeke wonders over towards the white oval coffee table and proceeds to pick up a long black remote control with fancy buttons on it.

'What do they all do?' I ask about the remote completely uneducated about this whole thing.

'Oh, you press this button.' He takes the remote from me and presses a red button that says 'on/off.'

Simultaneously, the previously black screen comes to life. The quality is unbelievable, I feel like I am actually in the screen. The contents of the TV baffles me, it's some sort of game with helmets and padding- definitely not Dauntless like, and a ball over a large field. On the side of the screen it says: 'American football.'

'American football,' I hear Zeke say under his breath. Us lads except Uriah who is still talking to the girls but is quickly approaching us at the sound of the TV jump onto the couch.

'What are you watching?' Christina asks sitting down next to Will who is leaning forward studying the game.

'American football,' I say, my eyes glued to the screen.

'And that is?' Christina questions.

'It's some sort of sport,' Will says, his eyes still attached to the TV.

The girls begin to watch but I don't believe they are interested as much as we are, so I notice out of the corner of my eye Tris, Christina and Marlene leave to the bedroom. Shauna she seems to like it so she stays.

About 40 minutes later at the end of this 'American Football' game which we have quickly learnt the rules of, the girls walk back into the living room.

'Why don't we go for a walk? Go along the beach and get something to eat?' Tris suggests trying to get us boys' attention.

I drag my eyes away from the screen and I feel as if I have been slapped in the face. Tris stands there in a long black beach dress with a slip up one leg and zigzag straps at the back, leaving her shoulders bare. She has placed a bit of makeup to define her face but nothing extreme. She looks stunning. Then I realize I am staring at her and she is staring, wide eyed back at me, gesturing I should do something.

I jump up from my seat. 'Oh yeah,' I scratch the back of my neck. 'We should go get something to eat.'

'And walk along the beach.' Tris reinstates her eyes on me.

'Okay guys, you should go back to your rooms and change, meet for dinner in half an hour in the reception?'

Everyone agrees and starts piling out of our room, the boys still watching the TV. After Christina who is the last to leave goes through the glass door to the balcony, Tris walks towards the glass and draws the curtains closed, making sure no one can see in.

She turns back to me, hands on hips. 'Where were we?' she asks, a sparkle in her eyes.

'Oh, I think I know.' I lean in closer to her, grinning and wrap my hands around her waist and pull her towards me into a delicate yet forceful emotion fuelled kiss.

'You look beautiful,' I whisper into her ear as I trace a line from her knee to her waist with my hand.

'Thank you.' She breathlessly says back as I continue to kiss her. Then she does something indescribable.

She pulls back, still enough that we are still touching, and grabs my hand. A shy smile placed on her face she runs across the living room, dragging me along and passes the kitchen and reaches the bedroom door. Tris turns her back so she is facing me and not the door and she grins.

'What are you doing?' I ask, a grin forming on my lips as well. She turns her wrists so she is still facing me but is unlocking the door.

The door clicks and it swings open and she begins to pull me inside. My heart is pumping all over the place and my stomach is fluttering with nerves.

'This feels more private.' She whispers as she replaces her hands beside my head and kisses me near the entrance of the door. This makes my smile wider even more. I twist her so that her back is facing the door and with a slight force, I push her up against it. Both my palms are pushed flat on the cool metal door beside her head, trapping her.

I lean back slightly. 'Why all of a sudden?'

Her sexy grin fades a little bit. 'New city and all,' she trails off. 'I mean I didn't want to go anywhere. But if you don't want to continue then-'

'Are you kidding?' I ask, searching her face as she looks down. My hands are still leaning against the door. I tilt her chin with my finger.

'Did you just ask me if I wanted to stop making out with the sexiest, most beautiful women I have ever met?'

She blushes, biting her lips.

'I love it when you blush,' I whisper as I kiss her cheek. She blushes redder, 'and when you bite your lips.' I kiss the other cheek.

I kiss her slowly for a few minutes until I hear a soft vibrating sound in my pocket. It's my phone.

'Hello. Who is this?' I ask pulling out my phone and answering.

'Hey man its Zeke. We will be down in 5 to go out and eat.'

'Yeah okay. We will be ready.' I reply and hang up.

'Are you ready to go?' I ask Tris. She nods.

'Let me just get my bag.'

She grabs her purse, coat and fixes her hair while I get my wallet, phone and key card and then I grab hold of her hand and walk out of our dream hotel apartment and down towards the elevator.

It is a late summer evening, aligned with warm air and a faint buzz of chattering and music in the distance. The squad and I sit at beautifully decorated, cosy and delicious-food smelling restaurant just to the left of the beach. The walls are made of carved wood, layered to make it look old. The lights hang above as if they are a part of a cabin yet they shine bright on our table that is pleasantly presented with plates and cutlery for eight. There is a murmur of conversation around the table.

'How are you feeling?' I ask Tris. She looks away from staring at the table and brings her eyes up to mine.

'I'm fine thank you. Hungry.' She laughs.

'Me too,' I smile, 'I'm looking forward to this.' I nod towards the table.

She smiles and places her hand in mine under the table. It is then we are interrupted by the waiter. Before I see the food I notice Uriah's face light up then I smell the mouth-watering sizzling food.

I feel like I haven't eaten in days. And in a way I haven't-not properly.

Quickly, the sizzling steaks we ordered are quickly demolished and we continue to talk lightly. After several rounds of non-alcoholic drinks the waiter comes back and says the food is on the hotel we are staying at and we are extremely grateful considering we don't have any money on us- they call it 'dollars' here. We decide to walk along the beach.

The wind blows Tris' black beach dress slightly; there is a split in the leg that shows of her thighs, as we walk in a group down the beach. Tris and I are a little bit further than the rest who keep stopping to admire the shells or something.

The sound of the tranquil waves kissing the shoreline lulls me into a trance. The usually red and orange sun is slowly leaving the horizon, leaving a long line of deep pinks and purples. I take Tris' hand and slowly bring her down to sit on the sand filled berm near the sea, in a secluded area away from everyone else. I move my head as I stretch my feet deeper into the wet sand.

'Tell me what you are thinking,' I ask.

'How are we supposed to stay here Tobias?' she whispers. 'How are we supposed to consider this normal? How are we going to get through this?'

'We will,' I whisper, taking both her hands and kissing them. 'Together.'

It is then when I stopped to think of the realities of life: the beauties and the tragedies. The way the beach tide kisses the shore only to recede back and crash mere seconds later.