8
Charlotte
Caleb’s brown eyes pierce mine and his nostrils flare ever so slightly. I’ve never had a man look at me like I’m his favorite dessert on the menu. The look releases a jarful of butterflies in my belly, and it’s both exciting and terrifying. After last night, I know he’s capable of stirring repressed emotions, and it terrifies me how quickly we’ve become so comfortable with each other.
I take another bite of my dinner, but my appetite fled with my reserve when Caleb suggested we might be swimming naked in the ocean. I’m not sure how I feel about that. Could I really take my clothes off on a beach where anyone could walk upon us? I couldn’t.
But maybe ‘Opposite Charlotte’ could.
“Are you finished?”
I nod and push my plate forward. “Yes.”
He stands and extends his hand to me. I accept it, relishing his fingers over mine, his thumb rubbing across my skin. In three short days, the gesture is familiar to me already and my body reacts instinctively. Whether he realizes he’s doing it or not, isn’t something I’m going to delve deeper into now.
The sound of the waves lapping against the shore is louder at night, perhaps because there’s hardly anyone around. Most people are drinking at the bar or lounging in the lobby listening to the violinist.
We’re the only ones on the beach right now. There’s not a soul walking along this stretch of sand for miles.
Despite the water being the most vibrant shade of blue during the day, it is still and black at night. “I don’t think I can go in there. There could be jellyfish or seaweed, and if anything touches my legs, I swear I’ll scream so loud the receptionists at the front desk will hear me.”
Caleb covers his laugh with his hand. The splattering of hair on his forearm is still pleasantly visible through the darkness. The moonlight is strong and hits his face like the white screen in a dark movie theatre.
Caleb could be an actor, at least he definitely looks like one. Perfectly straight, white teeth, well-dressed, body honed like he lifts weights in a gym for hours. My fifteen-minute YouTube videos are the closest thing to exercise I’ve done in a decade. Although I've taken Sage’s Yoga classes, I usually sign up for the relaxation ones.
“Fine. Suit yourself, but I’m going in.”
“You are?” I ask, incredulously.
“Everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime swimming in the ocean at night. ”
“I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. I’m sure I’ll die peacefully one day not knowing what dark ocean water feels like.”
This time, he doesn’t hide his smile. “Do what you want, Charlotte. But I’m going in.”
He unbuttons the first button of his shirt, and his fingers move quickly to uncover the others. The moonlight hits his chest at the perfect angle that I swear he planned this moment.
Next, he unzips the front of his pants, and I nearly roll my eyes when I realize he isn’t wearing any briefs.
“Are you serious?”
“It’s hot and I’m wearing long pants. Besides, I wouldn’t mind if you wore no underwear one night. It would drive me crazy knowing you were naked beneath your flimsy clothes.”
Shockingly, I think about doing just that tomorrow night, but the distraction doesn’t last long as a naked Caleb is now standing in front of me.
God, he’s beautiful.
I swallow, but it’s difficult since my throat is quite dry. He’s barely been out in the sun since arriving, yet he has a tan-line. He probably vacations often or has a pool at home. Maybe he even lives in L.A. or some place warm .
With no other words to convince me, Caleb marches into the ocean, raises his arms above his head, arches forward and dives right in.
I jump back, avoiding the splash, and watch the water ripple toward me in a circular pattern. In the next moment, he breaks the surface, whipping his hair back and running his hands over his face to wipe away the water.
It's like watching a cologne commercial live.
Except there’s no one else here but us.
He swims forward, keeping his head up to look at me. “The water’s nice and warm, Charlotte.”
I dip a toe to the water’s edge and jump back. “Liar. No, it’s not.”
“It is if you dive in. I promise you.”
“I don’t believe you,” I shout as he swims away from me.
It’s dark all around us and suddenly I feel very alone on the shore.
I purse my lips, considering my options. I could wait here all by myself until Caleb returns. I could leave him here and go get a drink at the bar. Or I could take off my clothes and join him.
I shake my head. I can’t believe I’m considering the third option. But I don’t want to leave, and I don’t want to wait here alone.
I look around again, checking that there’s no one nearby. Quickly, I pull the sundress over my head, unhook my bra, and wiggle out of my panties all in less than three seconds. Crossing my arms over my chest, I run into the ocean.
“Shit, shit, shit,” I curse as I trample in. Caleb’s smile stretches across his face, and he dives forward, swimming quickly toward me.
Despite my anxiety, the water isn’t cold, it’s quite pleasant. I still have goosebumps all over, but that’s more from the breeze than the water.
I pull the hair tie from my wrist and wrap my hair in a topknot. Caleb reaches me and stands up quickly, splashing water onto my chest.
“I can’t believe you did it.”
My chest is heaving. “Neither can I.”
He places his large hand over my collarbone, and it covers nearly the top part of my chest. I shiver, but I’m not cold.
“Come,” he says and pulls me deeper into the sea. When the water becomes too deep, Caleb lifts me effortlessly and I wrap my legs around his waist. The water bobs at my breasts but I’m engrossed by the rivulets that stream down his temples and jaw.
He moves his face closer, and I shut my eyes. It’s dark all around us, but I can taste the ocean on his lips. The saltiness is delicious, and I lap it up with my tongue. I lick his lips, his rough jawline and the top of his cheek where the skin is softer.
“Mmm,” he growls.
Caleb pulls his body away, but only enough to make room to place himself at my entrance. I press against him, wrapping my arms around his neck for leverage.
My head falls back at the pleasure of him inside me again. Like his touch, this has become shockingly familiar in a short period of time.
The water makes my movements easier, and I rock on top of him fervently and effortlessly. He plants his legs on the sandy ground and arches his back as I ride him like a jet ski, bouncing up and down in the rough waters.
We both come fast and hard, and I fall backwards, floating on my back afterwards. The sky is pitch black, with thousands of stars above us. The moon is still high and bright, and I follow it as I let the water lap across my body. My core still spasms and the warm water lapping against my clit prolongs the sensations.
“You look like a mermaid from a teenage dream. Only, I don’t think I could have ever imagined anyone like you.”
I don’t ask him what that means. It doesn’t matter since this won’t last more than a few more days. But I will enjoy every second of it while I’m here .
Caleb drops his body next to me and we’re both floating in the ocean while we come down from our climax. I close my eyes and listen to the waves lapping. It’s muffled by the water and my heart beating loudly in my chest. I’ve never been so aware of my body, my breathing, or my feelings before. I’ve never had a chance to, I guess. It feels… strange… yet empowering.
Caleb quickly stands up, puts his hands underneath my back and pulls me to his chest, turning us away from the shore.
“What—”
There are voices behind me and they’re growing nearer. “Do you think the Jenkins will have us over for the Fourth of July this year? I know we said we weren’t—”
“Oh, my God,” I whisper into Caleb’s chest.
“Shh. They’re almost past us.”
“I don’t know. Maybe,” says a distant, bored male voice.
“I swear, you don’t think about these things like I do. George, what is that in the water?”
“Shit,” Caleb says harshly in my ear.
“Oh. Oh, ha,” he chuckles. “I think, uh, we should keep walking, dear.”
“Is that… Are they…”
“Yup. Just keep walking.”
“Well, I’ve never. ”
“I know, dear. Don’t I know it,” he grumbles.
The man’s irritated voice cracks me up and I can’t stop the giggle. Caleb’s chest shakes as he tries to cover his own laughter, but we both burst out laughing despite our best attempts.
The woman throws us a disgusted look over her shoulder, and I cover my mouth to smother another laugh. Her husband pulls her away quickly with an arm over her shoulder and once they’re at a safe distance, Caleb grabs my hand, and we run back to shore.
I’m laughing so hard tears are streaming down my face, but they’re lost as I’m dripping from the ocean. “Quick,” I say. “Before they come back.”
“Oh, I don’t think she’s ever going to walk the beach at night again.”
“Did you see how she looked at you?” I ask. “Oh, she’s coming back for seconds. I don’t believe that fake outrage at all.”
Caleb throws me a rolled-up towel from one of the beach loungers and I quickly dry off my body before throwing my clothes back on.
By the time we walk back onto the boardwalk, I’m completely dry and grinning from ear to ear. “What’s next?” I ask.
Caleb rests both hands on his hips and shakes his head. “I think we both need a drink.”
“I agree. ”
We walk hand in hand to the lobby bar where there’s a small crowd drinking and listening to jazz music. “Let’s keep walking,” I say. “This isn’t fitting my vibe right now.”
Caleb raises his eyebrow. “Your vibe?”
“Yes. I feel reckless and spontaneous. I can’t remember the last time I felt this way and I may never feel it again, so let’s keep going until I find a bar that matches my energy.”
“I think I know what you’re looking for. Follow me.”
Caleb walks by the front desk as we pass security and the valet. We leave the resort behind and quickly find ourselves on the busy hotel and restaurant strip. The vibe here is different from the five-star resort and Zen atmosphere behind us. The music is pumping, blasting from the speakers to the walkways, and the people gathered at the bars aren’t wearing dresses or tailored pants but jeans and T-shirts instead. I think one woman is still in her bathing suit.
“This is exactly what I’m looking for. Let’s go in here.”
The loud music reverberates against my chest, and I feel like I’m in college again, before I had Charlie. The lights are low and there are round tables and people in chairs scattered throughout. A waitress maneuvers through the crowd, placing pitchers of beer and fruity drinks on the tables.
“What will you have?”
I spot a red and orange drink with a pink umbrella, and point to it. “I’ll have that one.”
Caleb presses through the crowd and reaches the bar. He shouts something to the bartender, but I still can’t hear him over the music.
The dance floor is filled with bodies pressed closely together and hands caressing backsides underneath dresses. It reminds me of the scene in Dirty Dancing when Baby meets Johnny while carrying watermelons. I oddly feel as out of place as her, so when Caleb returns with my drink, I take a long sip and smile as the cool beverage runs down my throat.
“Mmm, that tastes good. Thank you.”
Caleb takes a sip of his beer from the bottle and looks around the room. “I don’t see a table that’s free.”
“I’m okay standing and watching the crowd.”
We’re both interrupted by a couple swaying back and forth. His face is between her breasts and she’s pressing the back of his head as though she means to push him through her blouse.
“I’ve never seen anything like this, not even in college,” I say. “Usually, people take it upstairs.”
“I don’t think they mind people watching them.”
In fact, the woman catches my eye and winks at me with a smile. I can’t help but smile back and nod toward her. “You get it, girl. ”
I take another long sip of my drink and it’s almost half done.
“Easy. I saw him pour a lot of vodka and tequila in that.”
“It’s delicious,” I say. “Can you get me another one?”
He raises a brow, but then smiles and turns back to the bar. I finish my drink by the time he returns and drop the empty glass onto the tray that passes by as I dance on the spot along with the music.
Caleb wraps his hand along my waist and sways his body next to mine. With my drink raised, I mimic the movement of his hips as we grind and dance. The moves are enticing, and my body reacts as though he’s stroking me with his fingers instead of just dancing with me.
Sweat builds at the back of my neck and I forget about the straw and drink half of the slushy cocktail in one gulp. I squeeze my eyes shut as I wait for the brain-freeze to pass.
“I hope you can hold your alcohol,” he whispers, “otherwise I’m carrying you back to the hotel.”
“Is that such a bad thing?”
“Not at all.”
By the time the song ends, I’ve finished my drink, and the DJ plays a new song.
My eyes open wide, and I slam the empty cup onto a nearby table. Turning to Caleb, I shout, “This is my jam! ”
“What?”
“This is my song. I would run onto the dance floor whenever this song came on in college.”
“Well, then let’s go.”
I rush onto the dance floor and immediately jump into the choreography of the music video. If someone had asked me what the moves were, I wouldn’t have been able to tell them. But my body remembers them. Caleb’s smiling at me. At least my dancing didn’t scare him.
A woman runs across the room and joins me. She knows the moves, too. We laugh as we dance in sync.
Halfway through the song, a third woman grabs both of our hands and pulls us toward the bar. She climbs onto the stool and puts one leg on top of the bar.
“Oh, no,” I say, shaking my head and waving my hands. “I’m not going up there.”
“Come on! That’s how they do it in the video.”
The other woman joins her, and they both reach down and grab my arms. I could have fought them off, I really could have, but I remembered what Jane said, and figured this would be my one and only chance to ‘Coyote Ugly’ on a bar.
The room erupts into cheers and whistles and I’m laughing, too. Caleb is smiling from cheek to cheek, holding his beer up to salute us .
My heart is ready to jump out of my chest, but I finish the dance to the last steps and take a bow.
Caleb stretches out his arms and I fall forward as he lifts me up. Swinging me around, I laugh and cover my face in his neck. “That was amazing,” he says. “So fucking hot.”
“I can’t believe I did that.”
“You did it, baby. That was better than the original video.”
My blood’s pumping and I don’t want to stop dancing. “I want to keep going.” I rush onto the dance floor and look over my shoulder to see if Caleb will join me.
Surprisingly, Caleb follows me onto the dance floor, and I lift my arms in the air and bounce on my toes to the music. Caleb’s movements are slower but still in rhythm. He watches me, and my heart races at the intensity of his stare. I turn my back to him, lifting my hair from my neck to cool myself down, but Caleb’s lips are on me and suddenly it's like someone’s lit a fire between us. My whole body burns at his touch, and he doesn’t disappoint me for long as his fingers caress my hips and my stomach. I grind my bottom to his hips, and he presses me against him.
Closing my eyes, I lose myself to the music and the moment, mesmerized by the sound of his heart beating .
His hands move along to the rhythm but with every caress they move up along my body, up the side of my breasts, between the valley of my cleavage, until his hands are caressing my neck. He pulls me in for a kiss and I forget about everyone and everything around me. I’m lost in the moment and the aura of this man.
“Let’s go back to the hotel,” I whisper, my voice unfamiliar to my ears. It’s throaty and lustful. I’ve never spoken this way to anyone before. It’s sexy and I like how it makes me feel. I like the power it has over him when his eyes burn brighter, and he nods once before kissing me gently on the lips.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
We walk back to the hotel, and I catch a reflection of myself in the window of a restaurant. My smile, my eyes, my straight posture, it’s me, but it’s not. It’s as though I don’t recognize this carefree person whose biggest dilemma the past few days has been which cocktail should I order. I know the bills, the job, the rent, it's all waiting for me back home. But for a little while longer, I get to be ‘Carefree Charlotte’.