Holiday Home (A Harem Fantasy #5)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Casuals

R ather than getting his nicest set of clothes out of his suitcase, Liam instead grabbed another set similar to what he’d worn yesterday. Victoria, wearing nothing but the towel she’d used to dry off her skin, watched him do so. He was in a slight hurry; he’d spent more time basking in the shower with her than he probably should have. Nor had she been responsible enough to remind him of his previously made plans. Hopefully, Avril wouldn’t be too annoyed that he was running late.

“This is partly your fault,” he grunted toward the tall, voluptuous beauty. He felt like there was a kernel of amusement in her eye, growing as she watched him hurriedly dress himself.

“I don’t see how,” she replied cooly.

“Yes, you do.”

“You’re the man whose intent on being involved with four women,” Victoria said. “If you want to keep the wrinkles smoothed out, you’ll need to be good at time management.”

He glared at her, which allowed him to confirm it. Yes, she was amused by how he was rushing about. She hadn’t chastised him, not really. Her words rang true, anyway. He wanted them all. So, he’d need to ensure his time was evenly distributed.

That didn’t mean he had to admit Victoria was right, however.

“I’m still saying you’re partially at fault. You distracted me.”

“I am distracting,” Victoria said, unapologetic.

And then she dropped the towel around her body.

Mostly dressed, just needing to throw on a shirt, which he had in his hands, Liam gawked. How couldn’t he? When a woman as stunning as Victoria bared herself in front of him, everything else melted away.

Would she have done this if he’d been heading to dinner with Tess? Maybe. With Anna? Probably not. But Victoria and Avril had a more… unique relationship going on. They’d nearly become in-laws. Even though that was a decade in the past, they stayed close. Like sisters, almost.

But not like sisters, Liam thought, beginning to salivate about a possible future opportunity. He wondered if Victoria would allow it. He didn’t wonder about Avril. If given the chance, he knew she’d happily begin swirling her tongue over whichever of Victoria’s nipples he didn’t claim.

Liam instinctively began drifting towards Victoria. It was what she clearly wanted. A little more attention before he went off to dinner. She’d gone so long without it, and now—

A finger went up, stopping him in his tracks. Victoria smiled softly, speaking such cruel words afterward.

“Time management, Liam. Stay focused.”

He glared at her. “That’s evil.”

“A necessary one,” Victoria said. “I’ll be here when you return. Waiting.”

She imbued that final word with a sultry note, and Liam swallowed. Anticipation nearly ripped him apart, but he just barely reined in his lust. Breathing in, then exhaling, he moved in and kissed Victoria. She allowed that.

“You better be,” he said, then was off.

But he had one more delay ahead of him, as he was soon to discover. Avril was going to be pissed.

Leaving behind one gorgeous professor, Liam soon came across the other one. Leaning on the railing surrounding her deck, Tess smiled and waved him over as he trotted by. He could see the resort from where he was, and he imagined Avril sitting inside, tapping her fingers impatiently while waiting for her easily distracted date to arrive.

Making a promise to make it up to her, Liam deviated toward the beautiful brunette calling for him.

Her smile was as radiant as ever, and she also appeared to have showered. At the same time as he’d been getting the best titfuck of his life from her colleague. Another hopeful opportunity involving two gorgeous women made his heart race. Before the day was up, he’d probably have envisioned every combination possible.

“Hi, Tess. I don’t know if it’ll be safe for me to stay and chat too long.”

Tess chuckled. “Avril’s only just headed off, so you’re only a minute or two behind. I was surprised when she didn’t throw on her nice dress, but I see you’re also in the know about her change of plans.”

Liam nodded, having thrown his shirt on while jogging on the sand. “She’s decreed that our nice dinner will be on the trip's final day. She said it was only fair for her to have the last one.”

“I suppose it is, especially after how she helped us out yesterday,” Tess said, glancing amusedly toward the resort.

Liam nodded again.

“You’re probably wondering why I flagged you down,” Tess said.

“Sure am,” he admitted.

“Well, it’s to play a role that I know Avril has played many times,” Tess explained. “After you two finish your dinner, this bure will be waiting for you both. That’s Avril’s intention, obviously.”

“Okay,” Liam said, though he expected more.

“Therefore, I intend to… add something to your experience—a small way of paying Avril back.” Tess gestured with a thumb over her shoulder. “When you two come back and get busy, you should convince her to shut her eyes for a little while. When that happens, you should check beneath her pillow—the one farthest on the right. I trust you’ll figure out what to do from there.”

Liam pursed his lips in curiosity. “Give me a hint about what I should expect to find?”

“No,” Tess said, smiling. “Just know that Avril knows about it, having brought it on the trip herself. But she won’t know that I’ve placed it under her pillow. Thus, you should ensure she shuts her eyes before you uncover it.”

“Alright,” Liam said. As this was Tess, he didn’t worry about being misled. He trusted her implicitly. Whatever she was scheming, he knew she believed it would enhance things for him and Avril. “Under the pillow on the right.”

Tess nodded. “Make the most of this opportunity, Liam. I’m certain you will.”

She waved him off, though he at least climbed up the stairs and kissed her, same as he had Victoria, before departing. With her watching him, her words echoing in his mind, he hastened down the beach. He halfway expected to run into Anna, completing the trifecta of women looking to distract him from making it to Avril on time, though it was not to be. He made it to the resort, saw the attached restaurant, and soon saw his companion for tonight’s dinner. And for the sex afterward.

Even though Tess had confirmed that she was only a couple of minutes ahead of him, she still acted like he’d left her waiting for fifteen to twenty minutes. She’d claimed a corner table, one of many that sat under the restaurant’s enormous wood and thatch awning. When she saw him, she made a show of scowling and pointing violently at the seat across from her, the only one at their small, square table.

He rolled his eyes, smiled, and walked over to join her.

“Hi,” he said as he pulled his chair out.

Still playing the part of an annoyed girlfriend, Avril narrowed her eyes. “Your punctuality needs work.”

“In fact, I was lectured about that by a very responsible professor only a few minutes ago.”

“So, you’re saying you were late because you were being lectured about being late?”

“Ironic, isn’t it?” Liam said, grinning.

“You’re an idiot,” Avril said, waving a dismissive hand at him. She collected her drink—she’d already gotten them both something to sip on—and tasted it.

“ Your idiot?” Liam asked.

“Obviously,” Avril said. “At this point, I’m attached; I couldn’t give you away to another owner.”

“Thanks, Big Sis,” Liam said, picking up the menu sitting on his half of the table.

Avril snorted again.

It wasn’t more than a minute before their server, seeing that he’d arrived, maneuvered over to them. A plump woman with a warm smile, she took their requests for appetizers, then bustled away to get the chefs to begin making them.

Obviously, they weren’t alone in the restaurant. At this time of night, dinner beckoned. So, other vacationing groups were in sight, including a larger group currently walking up. The restaurant wasn’t large; he and Avril were all of four steps from the bar and just over twice that from the nearest lounging chair by the resort’s unique pool. A half-wall separated the dining area from the poolside lounge, which their table—most of them, in fact—sat right beside. This setup offered the restaurant’s patrons a beautiful view of the pool, beach, and ocean.

Thanks to this open-air style, it made for a relaxed, balmy atmosphere. Both literally and figuratively, as the temperature cooled as the sun drooped in the sky. Shadows stretched toward them, especially from the palm trees planted around the pool. The ends of those had already nearly reached the half-wall, and they’d likely creep up it while he and Avril dined.

“Pretty beautiful sight,” Liam commented, eying a splash of orange and gold shimmering upon the pool.

“Understatement of the year,” Avril said.

He shrugged and smiled. “I’ve seen better.”

“I bet you have,” Avril snorted. “Ten minutes ago?”

“Then, yeah,” he admitted. “But you’re more beautiful than a Fijian sunset, too, and I’m looking at you right now.”

Avril’s lips curled. Not in her usual maverick way, not even in a cocky way, where he would have expected a witty agreement. She did agree, of course. The last thing Avril lacked was confidence. She also had no taste for false acts of modesty.

“That beautiful, huh?” she asked.

“That beautiful,” he confirmed. “Makes me wonder if I’ll swoon when I see you on our final night here.”

Avril chuckled and leaned in. So did he. “If you do, you might wake up to a very annoyed version of me. Ruining my evening plans by passing out.”

“I’ll do my best to stay conscious. Do you want us to come back here for it, or?”

“There’s a romantic beach dinner we can set up,” Avril said, then eyed him suspiciously. “But I’m gonna guess you already know about it.”

He admitted it with a nod.

“Who?”

“Tess.”

“Figures.”

“I can learn some lessons tomorrow, maybe make use of what I learn then for our romantic evening.”

“You better. I want to be the one in danger of swooning.”

Liam couldn’t ever see Avril swooning. Shock slid off her like ice on ice; she was never down for the count for more than a few seconds. She had a very different kind of poise than Victoria did, but he supposed they were about equal in terms of effectiveness.

Still…

“I’ll do my best to make it as romantic as possible,” he promised. “You deserve nothing less.”

“I do, don’t I?”

He could see that response in the gleam of her verdant eyes. And yes, she did. He’d have nodded had she spoken those words. However, to his surprise, she opted to say something else. Something more earnest.

“It’ll lead to some unforgettable memories, I’m sure.”

He still nodded, agreeing with those words too. “That’s the hope. Today, too. Tomorrow. The next day.”

Avril hit him with a dazzling smile, and it was enough to launch his heart into his throat. Their waitress started back their way, appetizers in hand, ready to ask after what main courses they’d like to try tonight. Liam didn’t notice. Even Avril, who did, still had one more arrow to deliver to his heart.

“I’m looking forward to them all, Liam.”