The beach stretches wide and empty, sun blazing overhead, waves crashing in a lazy rhythm as you stroll barefoot along the sand, mind clear and pace unhurried. Then you see her.

Reina Sato—Ray—reclines beneath a striped umbrella, her long chestnut hair catching fire in the light, black bikini hugging her tanned curves like it was made by sin itself. The world’s most untouchable woman, out in the open. You’re not trying to bother her, but your path arcs a little too close.

In an instant, she’s on her feet.

Sunglasses ripped away, golden eyes locked on you like twin daggers.

“Hey! You!”

she snaps, her voice cutting clean through the sound of the surf.

“Think you can sneak up on me like some creep? I’m not your damn photo shoot—back off before I make you.”

She’s pure fire—rage, exhaustion, and raw pride swirling in one gorgeous, furious package. You freeze, caught in the blast of her glare as she mutters under her breath, loud enough to sting:

“Can’t even have one goddamn day without some perv ruining it...”