Chapter Ten
Ryan
The jet's engines hum as we climb aboard, our bodies weary but our spirits soaring. Rene and I help all the ladies get up the stairs, and we provide the same courtesy to the men who have arthritis or bad knees. Yes, Au Naturel is a full-service resort.
"Looks like Suva did a number on you lot." Rene grins and winks. "But it's the good kind of exhaustion, eh?"
I settle into my seat, stealing a glance at Meredith from across the aisle. Her cheeks are flushed, and she clutches her oversized purse close. I know what's hidden inside, and the mere thought of it makes my dick begin to rouse. But as we take off, my mind wanders to all the possibilities that little toy represents. I imagine Meredith's soft skin and the hungry noises she makes. But exhaustion falls over me like a lead blanket, and I know we're both too spent for any adventures tonight.
Back at the resort, we part ways with lingering backward gazes.
Meredith blows me a kiss. "Sweet dreams, Ryan."
I watch her retreating figure until she disappears into her bungalow.
Hours later, I leave my bungalow and slip out into the night. Why? Because Meredith texted me: Come to the beach now—and be naked. The moon hangs low, casting silver light across the resort grounds as I race toward my destination. When I approach the main trail, I finally ditch my T-shirt and shorts. I move quietly, acutely of every twig and leaf beneath my feet. A secret rendezvous in the dead of night is crazy, but can't deny I'm itching to find out what Meredith has in mind.
I halt at the trail's end, letting myself catch my breath.
The beach stretches before me, a pale ribbon in the darkness.
And there she is.
Meredith stands at the water's edge, her curvy silhouette etched against the shimmering ocean. My breath catches. She's a vision, wild and free, her hair dancing in the sea breeze.
As I draw closer, I feel my heart beating faster. This feels forbidden, exhilarating. For a moment, I forget about my past, about the weight I carry. Here, now, there's only Meredith and the promise of the night ahead.
"Well, well, look who's right on time," Meredith says. "I was starting to think you might stand me up."
"And miss out on a moonlit rendezvous? Not a chance."
She steps closer, and I drink in the sight of her. The moonlight caresses her curves, casting a silvery glow on her skin. She reaches out to trace a fingertip along my jawline. "You know, Ryan, I'm glad that serious face of yours wasn't permanent. You have a beautiful smile."
I catch her hand in mine, pressing a kiss to her palm. "You brought out my lighter side. I didn't know I could feel this...light. As if a weight has been lifted."
"Well, I intend to bring out a lot more than that tonight."
"In what ways?"
She nods toward a blanket spread out on the sand. "Why don't we get more comfortable and find out?"
As we settle onto the blanket, the rhythmic lapping of waves on the shore provides a sensual soundtrack.
"Close your eyes," she whispers.
I comply, helpless to resist her, and my other senses begin to heighten in the darkness. I feel something soft brush against my wrists—silk, I realize. My breath hitches as Meredith gently binds my hands.
She brushes her fingers over my cheek. "Is this okay?"
"Yeah, it's more than okay." But I'm somewhat surprised by how much I trust her. "I like this. Keep going."
"Glad you said that," she whispers into my year. "Because after what you did to me in Fiji, turnabout is fair play."
I feel Meredith's fingers trail down my chest, caught in a whirlwind of emotions—exhilaration, apprehension, and a deep-seated need I can't quite name. The silk scarf around my wrists is both a tether and a release, challenging everything I thought I knew about myself.
"You're thinking too hard," Meredith tells me. "Let go, Ryan. I've got you."
I swallow hard, fighting against years of carefully constructed walls. "It's not that easy."
She pulls back, and I swear I can feel her gaze on me even with my eyes closed. "Why not, sweetie?"
"I'm...not used to this. Being vulnerable." The single word—vulnerable—seems alien to me.
Meredith cups my cheek with her hand. "Open your eyes, Ryan."
I obey, and the tenderness I see in her gaze nearly undoes me.
"We'll go as slow as you need," she assures me. "But I want you to know something. Your vulnerability? It's beautiful."
Something shifts inside me at her words. I lean into her touch, allowing myself to truly let go for the first time in years. "You're different, Mer."
"Good different?"
"Definitely good. You seem...freer."
"I feel freer," she admits. "Being here, with you, it's awakening things inside me that I didn't even know existed."
"I know exactly what you mean."
While she lays her hands on me in the gentlest way, I'm struck by how attentive Meredith is to my reactions. Every touch, every kiss is carefully calibrated to my responses. She pushes my boundaries with exquisite care, always asking me how I feel, always making sure I'm comfortable. As we lose ourselves in each other under the starlit sky of Heirani Motu, I realize that for the first time in years, I am truly, blissfully alive.
Once it's over, we lie tangled together on the blanket, our breathing slowly returning to normal. The stars twinkle above us, a silent audience to our intimacy. Meredith's head rests on my chest, and I absently run my fingers through her hair.
"That was...life-altering, Mer. I know that sounds dumb, but it's how I feel."
"It was the same for me. What we just did was beautiful."
I tip my head back to take in the full panorama of the night sky, feeling more at peace than I have in a long time. "I never expected this when I came here."
"What do you mean?" Meredith props herself up on one elbow to look at me.
I hesitate, weighing my words carefully. "I came here to escape, to hide from my past. But with you...I find myself wanting to open up, to share things I've kept locked away for so long."
"I'd like that, Ryan. I want to know you—all of you."
As the first light of dawn breaks over the horizon, we reluctantly part ways. I steal one last kiss before slipping back to my bungalow, my heart feeling lighter than it's been in years.
The next day, I'm helping Marley set up for a morning yoga class when I spot Meredith across the lawn. She's chatting with a group of guests, smiling and laughing. Our eyes meet briefly, and my heart suddenly beats faster.
"Are you sleeping standing up, boss?" Emilio's voice breaks through my reverie. "Or are you planning on starting this class sometime soon? Marley's waiting for your thumbs-up."
I clear my throat, tearing my gaze away from Meredith. "Right, sorry. Go ahead, Marley."
She turns toward the guests gathered on the lawn, each standing on a yoga mat. "Let's begin with some deep breathing exercises..."
Throughout the day, Meredith and I dance around each other, stealing glances and "accidental" touches. During lunch, she brushes past my table, her hand ghosting over my shoulder.
"Oops, sorry about that." She winks, but her tone is anything but apologetic.
I struggle to keep my expression neutral. "No problem at all, Ms. Hayes."
Later, in the privacy of my bungalow, I sink onto the bed, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. As much as I loved last night and our little game this morning, I'm beginning to feel the old anxieties creeping in again.
Because I still haven't told her about my past.
"What are you doing, moron?" I mutter to myself, running a hand through my hair.
I can't deny the pull I feel toward Meredith. It's more than just physical attraction. It's a connection I've never experienced before. She sees past my carefully constructed facade, challenging me to be vulnerable in ways that both terrify and exhilarate me.
But as I gaze out at the stunning Heirani Motu sunset, reality crashes in. This is a vacation fling, nothing more. In a week, Meredith will leave, and I'll still be here, trapped by my past and my responsibilities.
"You're playing with fire," I warn myself. Yet even as I speak the words, I know I'm already burning.