Chapter 10
Maddox draped his armover the back of Ciara’s chair as they waited for the performer to take to the stage. Today’s surprise had been a gamble, but he was glad that he’d taken it. Spending time with her today had cemented the fact for him that their attraction wasn’t a fluke. They had just as much fun outside of the bedroom together as they did in it.
She’d relaxed enough today to show him a side of her he hadn’t seen in all the time he’d known her. He could only imagine what was left to discover. Probably just as much as she still needed to learn about him. Either way, he looked forward to the discovery in a way that he felt about anything in a while.
His attention returned to the stage when the lights dimmed. The production turned out to be their rendition of Aladdin. It was entertaining enough to make him laugh. Ciara shocked him by singing along to a few of the songs. They were not lyrics he expected her to know.
Unfortunately, the show ended sooner than he’d wanted it to. He pushed to his feet as the light came on and extended his hand to her.
“Where to next?” she asked as she took it.
He led her toward the exit. “How about a stroll on the beach before heading back to my room?”
“Sounds good,” she murmured as she fell in step beside him.
There were still a few fellow resort guests out as they walked together along the shore. He led them in the direction of the melodic music he heard playing. They eventually came upon a small group of musicians playing
The beat was slow and melodic. Impulsively, he pulled Ciara toward the small dancefloor. Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Really?” she asked.
He nodded. “Why not?”
After a few seconds of hesitation, she allowed him to pull her into his embrace. She rested her head on his chest as they swayed together. The song ended and blended into another.
Ciara lifted her head to look at him with a smile. He lowered his head and pressed his lips briefly to hers.
“Tell me something about you. Something that very few people know about you,” he requested.
She looked away from him briefly but kept moving with him to the beat of the music. Finally, she exhaled softly.
“I really look forward to the week that we spend together every year. When I’m home, it feels like I have the world’s weight on my shoulders. Here, I can leave all of that behind. It’s one of the reasons why I’m so hesitant to pursue anything more permanent. Relationships are hard. Long-distance ones can cause even more stress.”
“It sounds like you are busy trying to find all of the reasons we can’t be together instead of ones we can and should be,” he countered.
She shook her head. “It’s not like that. Truly, it’s not. You just caught me off guard with the request. I guess it’s because of the way that we met. The things you are hard set against are usually not things that people change their minds about.”
“That may be in some situations. However, in others, people evolve as their lives do. We all can do that.”
One corner of her mouth curved upward. “I know. Give me credit. I’m opening my mind to the idea. I’m going with the flow. This is progress.”
He laughed. “Yes, it is. I was certain that you would figure out a way to avoid me for the rest of the trip if you had to.”
“It’s not too late,” she teased.
He squeezed her waist, causing her to grunt.
“There you go showing off all those muscles,” she taunted.
He chuckled before his expression turned serious. “I really like you, Ciara.”
“I like you, too,” she murmured.
“I’m glad.”
She lowered her head to his chest again, and they continued to move to the music. After one more slow song, the band decided to switch it up and transitioned into a more upbeat song. When Ciara went to pull away, he stopped her.
“What’s the rush?” he asked.
“I don’t think you have the moves for this song?” she said around a chuckle.
“Is that a challenge?”
She shook her head. “Just stating the facts.”
“Give it a try before you jump to that conclusion.”
She studied him for a few seconds before nodding. “Okay then. Show me your best moves.”
Instead of responding, he pulled her closer and began to move again. Her eyes widened in surprise before she started to move with him. Halfway through the song, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss.
It didn’t take him long to realize that they needed to go back to his room before they gave the people around them a show they were not ready for.
He cupped the back of her neck as he pulled back. “I think it’s time to go.”
“I agree,” she replied with a wide smile.
He gripped her hand in his and walked in the direction of his room. Thankfully, it didn’t take long.
“Let’s freshen up a little,” she suggested as they entered the room.
He wasn’t sure he’d be able to join her in the bathroom without things going further than a quick shower. It wouldn’t be their first time.
She stopped to pick up her tote bag off the sofa. He chuckled when she put it down on the bed before pulling out her shower cap. While he’d dated women of other races before Ciara, none of them had been comfortable enough to put on a shower cap in front of him. She’d definitely schooled him on etiquette when it came to her hair. That’s why he really had been contrite earlier when he realized that in his excitement to plan something out of the norm for them to do, he hadn’t taken that into consideration. But the fact that she’d just gone along with it spoke volumes.
The excitement he’d seen in her expression as they swam with the fish and sea turtles was something he’d never forget.
This woman did something to him that he just couldn’t name. He wasn’t sure he’d want to give it one if he could. They only had a few more days together. He wanted to make it as difficult as possible to walk away from him this week.
Because he knew, without doubt, he wouldn’t be able to.