Chapter 7
I didn’t know what I was doing, but I needed to be bold. I wanted to be a confident version of myself. I didn’t know much about this man or who he really was, which was really scary, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. He felt safe to me, like he was the reason I had so much trouble with dating before.
We walked silently in our own thoughts the entire way to my villa. I had chosen the huts over the water. The wind whisked through my curls, causing them to cover my face. I lifted my hand to move them, but his hand beat me to it. We held each other’s stare for what felt like an eternity, even though I knew it was just a moment.
His fingers were the hands of a man who used them often, and that was the way I liked my men. I smiled at the thought as he tucked my curls behind my ear. I inched closer to the warmth of his body, not wanting to give him the chance to pull away.
I needed him to know it was okay to feel what he felt because so was I. I didn’t want to think practically. I would worry about that tomorrow. I needed to feel the weight of him pressing into me as he sent my body to another time and space.
The word need was the only way I could describe the way I felt. I reached up and ran the tips of my fingers against his jawline. I expected him to tense at my touch because I noticed whenever we came into contact he would go rigid, almost like touch wasn’t something he felt often.
I reached up and placed my hand comfortably at the base of his neck as I stood on the tips of my toes. I tilted my head back, meeting him halfway, giving him the choice to leave if he wanted. Our eyes continued to communicate the desire we felt.
I knew the exact moment he threw caution to the wind. He bent down lower to close those few inches between us. I expected his kiss to be demanding and rough, but it was everything but that. His touch was soft, and his kiss was intoxicating. It was as if every second counted. The moment he slipped his tongue into my mouth, both arms involuntarily wrapped around his neck.
The urgency of the kiss picked up and that demand I had initially been searching for was now present. My back was now against the cold door to my room as the breeze continued to whistle around us. The thickness of his arousal could be felt against my thigh. If I was right, he was definitely toting something heavy, and I wanted all the smoke.
The clearing of someone’s throat caused us to stop. Brodrick looked over his shoulder, and I peered around him, only to see an older woman scowling at us with her husband waving apologetically.
“You two ought to be ashamed of yourselves! This is not a whorehouse—” she said, waving her finger.
“Maggie, bring your butt on and let this young couple be in love. Sorry, have a good night.” Her husband spoke up and pulled her arm.
She Immediately snatched it back and hit him with her purse, all while cursing him out in another language. Brodrick turned around to face me, and we continued to stare at one another for a brief moment before bursting out into laughter.
It had been so long since I was caught being fresh, as the older women called it back home. It was funny how, even as an adult, I could be embarrassed by doing something that grown folks did. It wasn’t like I was a child, but I definitely felt reduced to one in this moment.
He released his hold on me and took a few steps back. I wanted to invite him in, but I took that interruption as a sign to slow down, so I smiled, then turned around to place my key in the door. Once I got it open, I turned to look back at him. He was staring at me as if he was trying to figure out all the answers to the world.
“Can I entice you to go on the town tour with me tomorrow? We have to get up early though. It’s a boat ride into Viti Levu. Man, I hope I am saying that correctly. I’ll have to cover up a bit more than I did tonight, but I want to bring my friends and family back a few trinkets. I would really love it if you came,” I said.
The words tumbled out of my mouth quickly. I wrung my hands into the sides of my dress, hoping he took me up on my offer. If only he knew how much that took out of me to ask him, then he would have said yes seconds ago.
“If you really want me to be there, I’ll go,” he said.
I did a little dance, then remembered he was still standing in front of me. My cheeks warmed at the realization. Brodrick gave me a tight smile, then took a few steps forward to kiss me delicately against my lips.
I kept my eyes closed tightly as the feeling of him being near released its hold on me and my good sense. I opened my eyes to see him take a few steps back with his hands clasped behind his back with almost a boyish smile.
I stood in front of my open door, waiting, until I realized he was waiting for me to go inside before walking away. I didn’t know where this damn ditzy behavior was coming from, but it had to be his fault.
“Oh shoot, you’re waiting for me to go inside. My bad,” I said with a smile.
He laughed and shook his head before biting his lower lip.
“I don’t mind the view, but enjoy your night, Skye.”
I knew I was smiling way too big at this point, so I quickly walked into my room and closed the door behind me. I leaned against the door and played back the moments before we were interrupted. I was certain if that older woman who was hating hadn’t spoken up, he would’ve been knee deep in my guts. Funny thing is, I wouldn’t have minded.
I kicked off my sandals, then looked down at my phone to see texts from Chyna. I quickly sent her a text before I hopped in the shower.
Me: In case you wanted to know, I wasn’t stupid enough to go out with a sex trafficker or murder, and I am back in my room. Have a good trip because I sure am.
I tossed my phone onto the mattress, then made my way into the bathroom. I needed a shower or to take a bath desperately to release some of this damn tension that he had risen inside of me.
I decided to go with a bath. They had everything I could think of stocked in this room. I had even found a nice bath bomb and a set of bubbles. Once I could practically see a bit of steam coming from the water, I stripped, turned on some music with my phone since I had it on do not disturb, and slipped into the tub.
I slowly descended into it, letting the heat from the water knead my muscles. I couldn’t remember the last time I took a bubble bath with music playing and the lights low. My hair was in a loose bun at the top of head. I laid back against the pillow set for the tub and closed my eyes.
I smiled as visions of him played through my mind. All I could see were his hands holding me in place, the biting of his lower lip, and the sound of his deep smooth voice. A moan slipped between my lips as I lifted my right leg over the side of the tub.
Slowly, my index finger traveled from between my lush breasts, while my free hand gripped the left breast. Quickly, my index finger had made its way down the valley of my stomach, past my belly button, to my honey pot. I took the tip of my finger and made a light circle around my clit as another moan slipped past my lips.
The more I picked up my pace, the faster my heart beat, the slower my breaths came, and the intensity of my orgasm built up. The tension was too much as my moans got erratic.
I kept my eyes closed. All I could hear was his voice telling me to orgasm now and how much he wished he could taste every drop of my essence. It was almost as if he was in the room. I continued to follow his instructions as an orgasm so intense stopped my hands from moving entirely. My toes curled against the bottom of tub, and I moaned aloud.
I couldn’t open my eyes even if I tried. It was as if my orgasm took the function of my eyes and movement of my body away. His voice was clear as day as he said, “I love a woman who knows how to take direction.”
I felt as if I was about to dose off before I finally could peel my eyes open. I looked straight ahead and, of course, I was the only person in here. All I could see was the breeze from my curtains at my side door blowing wildly.
This man had to have a special brand of something to have me feeling like he was physically here. I laughed to myself as I grabbed my sponge and washed my body so I could get in the bed to prepare for the next day. I couldn’t wait to be in his presence again.
THE NEXT DAY
I woke up to a few texts from Chyna apologizing, but I wasn’t ready to respond. I was tired of having to hold in how I truly felt for the sake of looking selfish and entitled. Clearly, those same concerns never plagued her when she said whatever she wanted to me. I was getting tired of trying to keep the peace with everyone around me. That was the point of this trip and to learn to choose myself, to make decisions solely for myself and no one else. I was happy to say I had been doing that and this was the most alive I felt in years. I wasn’t just existing for the sake of everyone around me.
Today, I decided to wear a pair of floral loose fitted pants with an orange button down top I tied at my midsection. I made sure no skin could be seen, but it was still cute. I kept my hair in the cute wash and go curls I had been sporting since I been here. I planned to buy a sarong when I went into the lobby of the resort. According to the research I had done, the townspeople preferred people to be dressed modestly. They also liked it when people wore the sarong, and I didn’t want to disrespect anyone’s culture.
Now that they had told us the story of the princess legend, I wanted to see those flowers for myself. I truly thought it was so sad, but passionate. I guess that was the game of love. To love and lose. I couldn’t imagine getting the love I fought so hard for, only to have to let it go.
I stepped away from the mirror, then left my room, making sure to lock it up before heading for the lobby. I stopped by the gift shop the moment I made it down there and sifted through the racks. I almost had a second mind to allow them to offer me a sarong to wear.
“You know it’s not customary to buy things before going into town, right?”
I practically jumped out of my skin. I looked over my shoulder to see Brodrick leaning against the rack of clothes behind me. He had a pair of cargo shorts and a collared shirt on. He looked so good in it too. I watched as his eyes scanned me from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet before meeting my eyes again.
“You almost gave me a heart attack. To be such a big guy, you’re really light on your feet,” I told him while gripping my chest to cut through some of the tension.
He chuckled and stuffed his hands into his pockets.
“I’ve been told that before, but it wasn’t my intention to scare you. I just saw you from across the lobby and figured I would speak,” he replied.
I waved him off and then turned back around to continue looking through the racks.
“You think it’s necessary for me to buy a sarong for town?” I asked, looking back in his direction.
“It’s not required, so I wouldn’t worry about it. They might even have better choices in town to bring back home,” he said.
I nodded, agreeing with his logic, so I placed the few things I was still holding onto back on the rack, then followed him out of the store. We walked over to the reception desk and stood with the others who I assumed to be going on the boat as well into town. Just as I was getting ready to speak, one of the workers walked out and made an announcement.
“Looks like we have everyone. If you can all follow me outside, and we will get you on the shuttle. Have fun in town!”
I smiled as Brodrick looked down at me, then back up to follow the few others going into town as well. Once we were settled on the shuttle, I noticed he had chosen a seat at the back of the bus. I turned to face him once the shuttle driver closed the door and pulled away from the resort.
“Are you ready for the time of your life?” I asked with a wide smile.
Brodrick seemed to be slightly preoccupied with making sure the driver was handling this shuttle correctly, but he took a moment to look down at me and smiled with a nod. I had plans on wearing down all his guards. I wanted to know who was behind the man sitting beside me. I didn’t know why it mattered so much, when there was a possibility we would never see each other again.
But I had to know more.