6. Diana
Diana
After unpacking my suitcase, I lay down to rest by turning on the television for about an hour. When my phone interrupts by buzzing on the side table, I open my phone to see a message from Jessica.
Jessica: Did you make it okay?
Me: Yes. Now how to figure out how to relax.
Jessica: If anyone can do it, you can.
Me: Any suggestions?
Jessica: Nope, I'm all out. I don't think I've ever relaxed before.
Me: This is my first time. Maybe I'll go out and get a drink?
Jessica: A drink will help, and a place on the beach.
Me: That does sound divine. Listening to the ocean with a margarita in my hand.
Jessica: I'll be dreaming about that too.
Me: I'm going to do it.
Jessica: Good Luck!
Me: Thanks. I'll tell you how it goes tomorrow.
Closing out of my messages, I place my phone back in my bag, ready to go down and order a drink. Taking a deep breath, I open the door to my hotel room and before I know it, I'm sitting at a bar outside, the wind in my hair.
Hypnotized by the view of the ocean as it comes into shore, I'm interrupted, "What can I get you to drink?"
"I'll take a margarita," I reply without even looking at him.
I look out at the ocean and begin to think about what it might be like if I decided basketball wasn't for me.
A family running into the water as a small person giggles feeling the sand between their tiny toes.
A handsome man that comes and scoops up the little toddler, giving me a huge grin.
Of course the man in this fantasy is the one I saw earlier today, which is ridiculous because I don't know him.
My drink is placed in front of me. As I take a sip, the lime dances on my taste buds and I murmur, "Mmm...that's good.”
"Sam makes the best drinks," a man with a deep sexy voice on my left replies.
"I'll have to put that to the test," I say turning toward him.
The moment our eyes meet for the second time today I'm awe struck by the beauty of this man. He's grinning at me with the most perfect smile I've ever seen. If he wasn't sitting right in front of me, I would've thought that I conjured up this man instead of him being real.
"You won't be disappointed. I'm Luca. What's your name?"
"You don't know who I am?" I ask pulling my brows in. Does he not recognize me?
"Should I know who you are?" he asks me, looking confused.
I mean, the bell hop from earlier did, but maybe he doesn't watch woman's basketball?
Actually, that's probably it. Professional women's basketball is barely popular in the US.
I doubt anyone watches it down here in Mexico.
The idea that he doesn't know who I am fills me with confidence because I like the idea that he wants me for me, not because of how famous I am.
"I'm Diana," I say breathlessly. Why does my voice sound so sensual? I've just met this man.
"Diana. My goddess," he whispers.
The way his warm breath feels against my skin, the way he's looking at me as if he's going to devour me, causes goosebumps to spread across my body and my nipples to harden. I've never wanted someone so much before, but that is where it needs to stop.
The tension between us fills the room. As we look into each other's eyes, neither of us seem to be able to look away. Both of us seem to be waiting for the other to move first.
"Luca. Luca," someone yells from across the room, breaking the tension between us.
Luca looks away first, his gaze moving toward the man calling him. He raises his hand, acknowledging him then turns back toward me. "I came here to meet some of my co-workers for happy hour, would you like to join us?"
I blink at his question. Is he asking me to hang out with him and his friends?
"Excuse me?" I ask, shaking my head. "You don't want me there."
"Yes. I want you to come with me and have drinks with my co-workers," he repeats.
"Do you work here at the resort?"
"I do." He answers but doesn't elaborate.
"What do you do?"
"I'm a lifeguard.”
Looking over at the most handsome man I’ve ever laid eyes on I realize how young he looks, which has the thoughts in my head turning, “And how old are you?”
“I’m twenty-three. Come on, goddess, join me." He replies.
“No. I’m too old for you,” I mutter taking another huge sip of my margarita.
“You’re not too old for me. Just come join me over there. It will be fun,” he pleads, giving me puppy dog eyes.
I stare at him trying to figure out if he's serious but before I can reply no, I find myself saying, "Sure. I would love to."
Glancing down I notice I’ve drank most of my margarita already.
Luca grabs Sam’s attention, “Can I get a beer, and she’ll have another margarita.
” I let out a deep breath and follow him toward the table that everyone is sitting at.
He places our drinks down on the table before he pulls out a chair and then looks over at me and whispers, "For you, my goddess. "
"Thank you," I reply to him as I sit down. My mind races because I can't recall a time when someone has ever done something so kind for me. Which probably says more about me than him, but I could get used to it if I stayed around here too long.
He sits down next to me, placing his arm on the back of my chair, getting comfortable. Taking a sip of my drink, I listen as he talks to the man across from us. "How was the rest of your day on the beach, Gael?"
"Easy. Nothing happened. Who is this?" the man who Luca called Gael asks, giving me an easy smile.
Luca's arm moves from the back of the chair to my shoulders. "Diana."
"Nice to meet you," Gael says, placing his hand out.
I can feel Luca tense up when I place my hand into Gael's.
"Nice to meet you," I say as I watch Gael pull my hand up to his mouth.
Right before he presses his lips to mine, Luca's hand pushes my hand away from Gael's face.
"Don't you dare," Luca snaps at Gael.
My eyes are bouncing between the two of them, wondering what the hell is happening. Gael is laughing, but Luca doesn't seem to think it's very funny because he just stares him down. After a moment, Gael shrugs his shoulders. "I was just trying to be charming."
"Be charming with someone else," Luca snaps.
Gael puts his hands up in surrender. "Okay, I get it. Won't happen again."
"Good." But Luca doesn't stay sitting any longer. He gets up, his face softening as he looks at me. "Would you like to go for a walk, Diana?"
"I would love to," I reply, pushing my chair out.
Luca places his hand out and I place mine into his. We walk away from the table and head toward the beach.
We pause at the edge of the resort. I slip my shoes off and reach down to grab my sandals. The sun is starting to set, painting the sky a beautiful array of colors. I'm not sure I've ever seen anything like this, or maybe it's that I've never taken the time to appreciate it.
We walk in silence along the shore. The sand feels soft between my toes, and I love it. I just take in the moment. The sound of the ocean fills my ears when Luca squeezes my hand, pulling my attention to him and out of my head.
Before I know it, I'm blurting out, "It must be fun to work at a resort like this."
"It can be," he mutters.
"What do you love about your job?" I ask him.
"I love being outside and helping people," he says and I can see in his eyes that he is telling the truth, but there’s a hint of something else too.
"But you don't want to stay a lifeguard?" I ask cautiously, a little nervous that I might be reading him all wrong.
"No. I want to open my own relaxation center. What about you? What do you do?" he asks.
"I play basketball. But I'm not sure how much longer I can. That's why I'm here—to rest my back and figure out if I want to keep playing after my injury," I say, shrugging my shoulders.
"You have time," he mutters, stopping us in our tracks. The breeze wraps around us and it feels as if we're in another world while simultaneously staring into each other's eyes.
His hand comes up and he pushes back a stray strand of hair behind my ear when he whispers, "You are so beautiful. Can I kiss you?"
"Yes," I mutter back, but I don't have time to think about what I agreed to before his soft lips are on mine.
Electricity runs through me and all I can do is lean into the feeling, my arms wrapping around his neck as his hands grip my back, pulling me into him.
My nipples press against the front of my dress, rubbing against the soft fabric and making the moment even more intense.
I've never been this turned on before. Every molecule in my body feels as if I’m simultaneously drowning and on fire.
I pull away from him, my chest heaving. I bend over, placing my hands on my knees, trying to fill my lungs with air once again.
"Diana?" Luca calls my name.
I straighten up and look into his eyes, seeing a look of concern in them. "Sorry. This is just so intense. I've never felt anything like this before."
Luca doesn't say anything as he takes a step toward me, his hand sliding around the nape of my neck. He bends down giving me a kiss on my cheek before slowly moving down my neck, leaving a trail of fire behind him.
He mutters against my skin, "Me either. It's meant to be."
I go to open my mouth to respond, but at that moment he slips down the strap of my dress, kissing my shoulder and across my collar bone. I only had one thought in my head when he hits right above my breasts, and that thought was feeling those lips all over my body.
"That's right, surrender to me," he says as I melt into him.
"Luca, we can't. Not here," I mumble, glad that I seem to still be somewhat aware.
If someone found us and photographs us, that would not be good. He pauses then stands back up to his full height. The moment his lips are not on my body, it suddenly feels cold.
"You're right," he says, looking around the beach area. "Come on."
He holds out his hand to me and I don't hesitate. I place my hand into his, never feeling safer than I do right now.