Holiday Home (A Harem Fantasy #5)

Chapter Four

Bula

O nce the easternmost islands came into view, which the pilots reported over the intercom, everyone looked out their nearest window. Far beneath them, though closer with each passing second, five lucky passengers could see gorgeous islands interspersed across the Pacific waters darting by. Most were uninhabited, covered in lush greenery, with barely any shoreline to speak of. Some looked like they were maybe a few hundred feet from one side to the other, while others might have been only ten paces from one side to the other. They saw dozens as they headed for Viti Levu.

For one reason or another, their plane had angled around to bring them in from the south. Therefore, Fiji’s largest island rolled out to the east, with dawn fully cracking over the distant horizon a few minutes before. Looking across the entire expanse of mountainous terrain and tropical forests, he saw a paradise. Aware that they now counted touchdown in minutes, his excitement started steadily building. Once they finally approached the airport and began heading down, he was nearly trembling from it.

He wasn’t alone. No one, not even Victoria, could conceal their burgeoning anticipation. It was infectious within the cabin. They’d finally arrived. Their first minute, their first hour, their first day, their whole week—all awaited.

Avril was in complete control of things after they finally landed. As soon as they were out the plane door and interacting with customs, she dotted every I and crossed every T without a single hiccup. They received an incredibly warm welcome at customs as they handed over filled-out arrival cards. After checking the necessary boxes, they were allowed to exchange—some more than others—some of their money for Fijian dollars. That was when Liam discovered that the Fijians had a seven-dollar bill, which he and others stowed away as their first trip souvenirs.

Avril also picked up a set of car keys at customs, having apparently called ahead and solved the situation regarding their transport. After going through all the necessary steps to be released into Nadi, they were free to go. Following Avril’s confident gait, at just after six-thirty on April 1 st , the five of them said a proper hello to the islands of Fiji.

More specifically, they said hello to the rented car waiting for them. Nadi, at least the city proper, was a few miles to the south. With about fifty thousand residents calling it home, it was certainly no sprawling metropolis, no urban sprawl like Honolulu. Mountains, including the extinct Mount Tomanivi volcano, ridged the east, presiding over the entire island’s center. From his research, Liam knew that almost every city or town on the island of six hundred thousand resided along the coast and that a single major road crawled across the entire island’s perimeter.

That meant a substantial amount of driving, assuming they wanted to visit multiple places on Viti Levu. For now, they started by piling their luggage into the ample space provided by the van Avril had rented. After, they followed suit, with Avril taking the wheel and Victoria taking the passenger seat. That left Liam, Tess, and Anna to share the back.

“Please don’t forget that they drive on the left side of the road here,” Anna said, which implied to Liam that Avril might have done that in the past.

“I know, I know,” Avril said.

Then they were off, driving southward. Liam made sure to get his gawking in before becoming a pedestrian, in the way of locals who didn’t need to stop and stare at every riveting sight. The island was vibrant with greenery, including palm trees sprouting plentifully at the not-so-distant coastline. They passed through small clusters of civilization during the drive, passing homes and businesses, with many of the latter consisting of hotels and other tourist attractions. But then they’d break free again, like pushing through a hanging sheet on the line, once again surrounded by a brief expanse of untouched nature.

It was pretty much a straight shot to Nadi Market, which Anna had correctly assumed they’d get to visit. Avril made precisely one turn, and then there it was. It was an enormous farmer’s market, having just opened when they pulled in and parked. A massive metal roof hung high above rows and rows and rows of produce, flowers, and other wares, which they reached after entering a small overhang and taking some steps down into the main market thoroughfare.

Unsurprisingly, when five fresh-faced tourists stepped out of their van, especially with four of them vying to be considered the most beautiful thing on the island, attention gathered around them. Some other early arriving customers were already walking the aisles, looking through piles of ginger, mangoes, and watermelon. Looking at much of the produce, Liam had an amusing epiphany. Here, the seasonal fruits were just about to start heading out of season. Back in the States, with spring inbound, they were just beginning to come into season.

For all the attention that Avril and the others received, it never escalated into anything uncomfortable. The signs here were all in English, offering prices over the various items for sale. Whenever there wasn’t one, or whenever Anna or someone inquired about something they were looking to get, they received polite information, suggestions, or directions. With how large it was, everyone eventually spread out, making decisions about what their first proper purchase in Fiji would be.

With Liam currently on his own, he perused the market without much haste. He didn’t have any pressing produce to pick up for himself, but he figured he could see what the others got, then try and fill any gaps. Dozens of large fans hanging from the thick poles supporting the ceiling buzzed overhead, not yet too needed. While it’d been warm since they arrived, it was still early. However, he hoped it did climb into the eighties as the forecast had promised.

He very much wanted the weather to be on his side so that he could see some sights he knew would last for a lifetime.

“Need some coconuts for your massage oil?” Tess asked, coming up from behind and tapping him on his elbow.

He followed her nod, which led to a pyramid pile of coconuts. The sign sprouting up nearby listed them as only costing three Fijian dollars. He assumed that was a good deal, remembering that the US dollar was slightly over twice as strong as its Fijian counterpart. Of course, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d bought a coconut, so he didn’t have much history to base that assumption on.

“I don’t know if I’m quite ready to start making homemade massage oil,” Liam admitted, smiling at the beautiful brunette. “I’m not even sure how to extract what I’d need. Do I just break open the coconut, stick something in it, and drain it? Is coconut massage oil even made from coconuts?”

“It is,” Tess confirmed, chuckling and walking beside him as they moved around semi-aimlessly.

“Well, I’ve got some already-made oil to go. I brought along some other kinds too.”

“Oh?” Tess asked, eyes moving from a pile of bananas to him. “What other kinds?”

“You’ll have to wait and find out.”

“When I’m feeling it on my skin?”

“Exactly,” he said, smiling warmly.

“I cannot wait.” She glanced toward Victoria and Avril, who were investigating offerings of guava and papaya as they listened to a woman doing her best to entice them. “I think I’m not alone in that. You really impressed the others on the plane.”

“That was the idea,” Liam said, fondly remembering how Victoria and Anna had watched him massage Tess.

“It was a pretty bold one,” Tess noted lightly. “Though it certainly seems to have paid off.”

“That’s what I’m trying to be, at least on this trip. I’m also a little tired of not being allowed to kiss you when the others are around.”

Tess raised an eyebrow. Her lips creased at the corners, too. “It’s bothering you?”

“More and more with each passing day,” Liam admitted.

Briefly silent, Tess brought her arms behind her back, fingers tapping against her wrists. “Well,” she eventually said, holding his gaze hostage with the beauteousness of her eyes, “my lips are right here.”

They were. And they were so soft, so full, so enticing. At the same time as Liam made his decision, Victoria and Avril made their purchases and began moving away. Not necessarily so far away that he and Tess were no longer in their peripherals. Of course, Liam could have waited a few more seconds, allowing both pairings to add a little distance.

Actually, he couldn’t have. He couldn’t have waited a second longer.

He kissed Tess, and she kissed him back. It was maybe a second or two long, hardly anything to write home about, but that wasn’t the point. He kissed her, and she kissed him. Liam didn’t feel a single iota of trepidation about who might see, and some people definitely saw. When their kiss ended, another tourist, a woman who looked to be around Tess’s age, blinked rapidly at what she’d just witnessed and looked away. Liam noticed her, but Tess didn’t. Tess was busy beaming at him, suffusing her smile with so much love and affection as to be blinding.

“I know I’m going to love being on this trip with you,” she whispered.

Made dumb and mute by the brilliance of that heavenly smile, Liam could only nod in agreement.