Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Hill
Australia is fucking beautiful. Rich lands, pretty beaches, beautiful people. If I didn’t think stepping out of my front door would kill me, I’d want to move here.
Just this morning, a big ass snake slithered in front of the door of our villa like it owned the place. I mean, it does, but fuck, warn a guy before almost crawling over my foot.
Other than the anaconda that wanted to eat me alive, it’s an ideal place to live.
The photoshoot for this sunglasses ad—where Menace is shirtless, his gorgeous muscles and tattoos flashing in the sun—is on one of the quieter beaches that was rented out for the day. A few people have stopped by to see what all the fuss is about, but they leave before too long.
I’m careful to stay hidden, though I could always use the excuse that I’m press and I’m covering the photoshoot. But I don’t want gossip and salacious photos to pop up on tabloid sites when we’re just trying to enjoy our time in a new location.
It’s fun watching Menace model. He always seems to be smiling when we’re together, but when the camera is aimed at him, there’s not an ounce of happiness in him. I kinda like the contrast in his attitude. Makes me feel like he’s saving up all his joy for me, no matter how small the crumb.
He also looks good as fuck half naked with oil all over his skin. I’m not even paying attention to the fucking sunglasses.
The weather is nice and the wind is blowing, so while Menace poses and adjusts his eyewear, I play back the interview so I can compose it into a coherent article that will have donations for Menace’s charity rolling in.
I love how vulnerable he was when he answered my questions.
He’d already told me most of what I asked, but hearing the emotion he spoke with when he thought about his mother and how she was murdered, it broke something in me.
He might be a hard-ass, a model with a reputation for being tough, and he might be a cold-blooded killer, but he’s still hurting from losing his mother.
I wish I could have met her. If she raised Menace to be the man he is—even with the killing—she must have been an exceptional woman. He’s doing a lot to honor her memory, a far cry from what I’d do for my shitty parents.
I’m finishing up my first draft of the article when the photographer calls to wrap up the shoot and Menace makes his way over to me.
He stops just before touching me, though his hands twitch at his sides.
I asked him to keep what we have private for now, at least until the article comes out so people will be more interested in what he had to say than our relationship.
“How’d I do?” he asks, pulling on an extremely ugly floral shirt one of his assistants hands him.
Pulling off my reading glasses, I give him a saccharine smile while saying, “I will not stroke your ego, Mr. Grant.”
“Nah,” he says, bending to my ear. “You’re better at stroking everything else.”
Snorting, I push him away so I can stand, grabbing my bag when he gives me some space. “Where to next, Mr. Grant?”
After we leave the beach, we go back to the villa and shower so Menace can wash the excess oil from his body. I help clean him up and Menace dicks me down against the shower wall for my troubles.
He fucks like a god and if all it takes is to get a little messy trying to scrub oil off him, who am I to turn down the assignment?
We’re still a little jet-lagged, so we grab a nap before whatever Menace has planned for tonight. I’m not sure where he’s taking me, but as long as it’s quiet and private, I’m all for it.
When we wake, Menace is half on top of me, like he wants to make sure I won’t leave. Smiling, I wrap my arms around him, kissing along his cheek and neck.
How did I get so lucky to have this man not only want to be with a plain James like me, but to be my perfect match? I’ve dated men that were good looking—a ten if you will—but they could never know my secret. There was always a disconnect between us, a bridge that could never be crossed.
Now that I don’t have to worry about that anymore, I’m afraid Menace Grant will be mine forever.
“What are you thinking about?” he asks in a sleep drenched voice.
My smile widens as I say, “That you’re stuck with me.”
“Oh yeah?” he asks as he turns to me. “What makes you think I would ever let you go?”
He adjusts himself between my legs, grinning down at me like I’m some kind of prize and not the other way around.
“When you looked at me at that charity event, you belonged to me. Before you even know who I was. Now that you do,” he says, bending down to kiss me, “you might as well start making our wedding plans.”
I bark a laugh and wrap my legs around him. “Nothing big, Mr. Grant. I’m a low-key kind of man.”
He plays along with my joking scenario. “So, five hundred guests max?”
“I think one thousand would be enough. But not a person more.”
Menace laughs in that baritone I love so much. “Okay, I’ll get my manager on it.” He reaches over to grab his phone, checking the time. “Come on. We have somewhere to be in thirty minutes.”
I ask and poke and prod, but Menace won’t tell me where we’re going, just that I’ll enjoy it.
I take his word for it since he’s been to Australia before.
I’ve always wanted to come, but the long flight and high cost always deterred me.
Now that I’m here, I’ll let Menace show me all the best places and fun things to do.
Once we’re dressed, he calls for a car and they drive us down the coast, beautiful sand and gorgeous waves breezing past us.
“It’s lovely here,” I murmur as I look out the window. “Kinda makes you forget about the fucking spiders and dingoes and snakes and shit.”
Menace chuckles. “Yeah, I don’t love that aspect of this place. But I don’t mind visiting from time to time.”
“Can I come back with you?”
“You’ll come everywhere with me, little psycho. Anywhere you want.”
I grin as our car pulls up to the entrance of a beach, candles illuminating a walkway. “When did you do all this?”
He gives me a look. “I might be a lot of things, Hill, but I’m not romantic or clever. I paid a service.”
“This is romantic though,” I say, pulling him behind me.
“I’ve never had anyone do something like—” I gasp when I reach the end of the walkway and look around at the beachside picnic Menace has set up for us.
The warm night air makes everything look otherworldly.
The sound of the lapping waves is like music, a treat to my ears.
“Menace,” I breathe. “This is…thank you.”
He wraps his arms around me from behind, planting a kiss on my neck. “There’s more where this came from, little psycho. I plan to give you the fucking world.”
Turning my head, I kiss him deeply, my heart hammering in my chest. If he keeps doing shit like this, I’ll fall for him faster than I already am.
But I’ll keep a lid on that until…fuck, I don’t know how long. Long enough for it not to seem so fucking insane that I’m falling in love with him.
Menace pulls me over to the blanket and we have a seat. He opens the baskets set up and pulls out our dinner and I smile as I watch him arrange everything.
Before we eat, he pours me a glass of champagne then hands me the flute. When he has one for himself, he holds his glass in the air and says, “To our first vacation together. May we have many more.”
I tap my glass to his and we drink deeply.
“There’s another surprise waiting for you at the end of this date,” he says cryptically.
“Is it dick?” I ask, bouncing my eyebrows.
“No, you fucking horn dog,” he chuckles. “Are you just using me for my body?”
Shaking my head, I put a hand over my chest as if I’m offended. “Of course not…your pretty face is also a bonus.”
He laughs and we enjoy each other’s company as we eat.
I’ve never had anyone do something this amazing for me. It’s not anything big or flashy, just something that is my speed. No people, no crowds. Just me and the man I’m falling for.
“Thank you for this, Menace,” I say, pushing back unexpected tears. Ugh, being emotional fucking sucks. “It’s…perfect.”
“I figured it was something you’d like. After our axe throwing, seeing how you were out of your shell with it just being the two of us…
At the charity event, I watched you. You were all clammed up around a lot of people, like you didn’t want to be around anyone.
So, I took a gamble with the axe throwing and when that paid off, I knew I’d figured you out. ”
I thought I’d put up a good front around crowds, pretending they didn’t bother me. But it looks like Menace saw more of me than anyone else.
Nope, not gonna fucking cry.
“You most certainly did,” I say in a tight voice. “Now I have to figure out how to spoil you.”
He gives me a deep, searching look, one that makes my insides feel all mushy.
“Your presence spoils me, Hill. After so long being alone, of not sharing my true self with anyone, it gets tiring, exhausting. Not knowing who I can trust, who will keep my secret. Then you came along and finally let me be me. You’ve already given me more than I thought I’d get.
For that, I’ll give you anything you want. ”
Smiling, I say, “All I want is you, Menace.”
“Well, what do you know,” he says, crawling over to me and taking my chin between his thumb and forefinger, “you have me, little psycho.”
“Where are we going?” I ask Menace as he pulls me behind him. Our feet sink in the soft sand, the warmth making my skin tingle.
“Shh,” he answers, dropping his voice. “We have to be quiet. This is the second part of your surprise.”
I giggle silently as we duck behind some bushes. Now that he’s so close to me, I whisper, “Where are we going?”
“There’s a house about twenty yards from here. A woman lives there. A very wealthy woman. Wanna know how she got that wealth?”
I shrug, not really a fan of pop quizzes, but having fun with this one. “Uh…real estate? That’s a big market here, right?”