Chapter 6
Max
Early morning lightspills through the cabin windows, bathing the room in a warmth that feels like a gentle nudge from the universe. Stretching on the too-short-for-my-height couch, my muscles protest before settling into a state of alert relaxation. Ignoring the ache of spending the night bent at an unnatural angle, the rest is an unfamiliar sensation, this unhurried pace of life, so far removed from the constant buzz of Silicon Valley. There’s no urgent vibration of a phone or the demanding glare of a screen, no interruptions with software malfunctions—just the simple luxury of sunlight dancing across my eyelids, birds singing in the trees, and the quiet rustle of leaves outside.
I purposely stuffed my phone into the pocket of my suitcase last night before turning it in, so I wouldn’t be inclined to check my mail or messages. I wanted this first morning to start off right. And, judging by the way I feel, it has. It feels like a new beginning, where I can finally return to the person I used to be.
“Morning, sleepy head,”Emilee says, her soft voice cutting through the tranquility like a whisper meant only for me.
I roll my head to the side and spot my roommate standing at the small kitchen island, two mugs in her hands, steam rising like delicate tendrils reaching for the ceiling.
The sun highlights lighter strands of brown in her hair. Her eyes glimmer with shy excitement for what the day might bring. When I walked in and found her yesterday, dressed in nothing but a skimpy towel, my imagination went into overdrive, conjuring up all kinds of images of how I could spend my time while on the island.
A fling hadn’t been on the agenda when I stepped off the plane, especially not after Audrey. Still, I can’t deny the shot of desire that went straight to my cock at seeing Emilee. Especially when she got so feisty over the mix-up with our accommodations.
God knows I never would have taken the cabin myself. I would have slept in a hammock outside in trees if it came down to it. But testing her, pushing her buttons a little, watching how fired up she got, was fun. More fun than I’ve had in a fucking long time.
When I walked into the cabin and heard the shower running, I thought maybe I’d walked in on the cleaning staff. Seeing her walk out of that bedroom, wet hair, freshly scrubbed face, bare feet, gripping that towel so damn tight ignited an unforeseen fire within me. A flame I haven’t felt burning in far too long.
Taking in her appearance today, the way her fitted shirt clings to the contours of her body, paired with shorts that sculpt the sinewy grace of her legs, makes me hard. Each curve, each line of her body, seems to beckon, creating a bout of longing and lust, leaving me breathless. And inappropriately aroused.
I drop one hand over the blanket that’s covering my crotch and rise to a sitting position, bunching the cover in my lap to hide the evidence.
“It smells incredible.”I watch the corners of her lips curve into a smile and my heartbeat races.
She places the mug before me, the rich aroma of fresh-brewed coffee wafting up to tease me. “I found it in the cupboard. Only the best for our little island retreat.”
That is an understatement for the vast expanse of water surrounding us. Still, somehow, her words make the outside world feel intimate as if it were ours alone.
As she sits next to me, her knee brushes against mine, and like an ember given a gentle gust of wind, that fire erupts into a blaze. After our walk on the beach and dinner last evening, something has been smoldering between us. Quietly, until now.
“I almost forgot.”She jumps up and dashes back into the kitchenette, returning with a plate of food that she sets on the coffee table. “Try the pastries. Marika dropped them off earlier. I think it’s a peace offering.”
Leaning over to take one, I bite into a flaky Danish, the sweetness of fresh cherry filling and smooth cream cheese bursting on my tongue. “This is good,”I say.
Emilee retakes her seat beside me, bringing us inches closer, and my body notices how she smells, like apple blossoms. “Marika said only the best for their two guests, which I kind of like. It’s like we have the whole island and resort to ourselves—well, minus the workers, skeleton staff, and our friends.”
“I agree, it’s like our own private paradise.”I reach for a slice of fruit, holding her gaze as I deliberately slow my movements, savoring the taste as much as the moment.
She matches my slow pace with a methodical bite of her breakfast treat, her lips parting with a soft groan. “These are delicious.”
Every word, every look, every moment we spend together seems to bring us closer together. This easy, natural connection buzzes with the excitement of uncovering new ground—or maybe rediscovering the old one. I haven’t been this relaxed in years.
“Best decision I ever made, coming here,”I say, allowing a hint of vulnerability to affect my voice.
“Same.”Emilee’s easy smile lingers like the aftertaste of summer berries. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt this... relaxed. And it’s only been two nights.”
“How about we go swimming today? Get away from the construction noise and sawdust.”
Her eyes sparkle. “Yeah, that sounds like fun.”Her excitement is tangible, fueling those flames.
She finishes her coffee and more fruit. “Give me five minutes to change.”She rises with an effortless grace that makes my heart stumble.
“Make it ten, and I’ll prepare a beach bag. We can take the rest of this with us to snack on later.”I watch her disappear into the bedroom before heading to the bathroom myself. I peel off my shirt, and my thoughts gallop as fast as my pulse while I quickly splash water on my face and pits and brush my teeth after relieving myself.
Clad in navy blue swim trunks, I examine my reflection in the mirror. Today feels different, like a line drawn on the sand. I can go back home and pick up exactly where things left off—at work, with Audrey, hating what I’ve become. Or, I can dig deep for the man I used to be, bring him back to the surface, start over, and be happier. I don’t know what that means for everything else in my life, but I’ll figure that out as I go. I only have to focus on here and now. Adjusting the drawstring, I wonder how much of myself I will reveal to Emilee.
Audrey initially fell for the man I used to be, but as soon as she found out I had money and big plans, she devised a strategy to take me farther, with her at my side, of course. She wanted a lavish lifestyle and people to look at her when she walked into a room, the Beaumont name, and the wealth and reputation that comes with it. She never understood that my family, and at one time me, preferred an understated version of that story. We didn’t need to be seen to make a difference.
Emilee emerges from the bedroom; the vibrant floral pattern of her bathing suit peeks from under a snug shirt and a gauzy wrap, and like yesterday, the sight sends another jolt through me—visceral, undeniable. Her hair is tucked behind her ears, and her cheeks and the bridge of her nose are pink from where the sun kissed them yesterday. She embodies everything I didn’t even know I yearned for. She takes my breath away.
“All set?”I manage to ask, my voice steady but slightly rusty.
She slips into a pair of flip-flops. “Beach ready.”
“Sunscreen, towels, snacks, and water.”I list, ticking items off as I pack them into the cooler beach bag Marika provided. “Am I missing anything?”
“Only your sense of adventure.”Her tone is teasing, but her touch is gentle as she helps adjust the bag on my shoulder. Her fingers brush against my skin, sending sparks across my nerves.
“Trust me, it’s all here.”My insides twist with the sweet torment of her proximity.
“Then let’s hit the sand.”There’s an energy in the air that almost has me grabbing her by the waist, hauling her against me, and kissing her. But considering we just met, that, like the hard-on from earlier, would be inappropriate.
As we step outside, a gentle breeze entices us to hurry as it strokes over our skin. The warmth of the morning sun and the rich fragrance of tropical flowers that seem to bloom with unabashed passion along the walking path to the beach pull us closer to our destination. A pair of hummingbirds flit among the blossoms, their wings a blur of momentum and color. Emilee’s delighted gasp at the sight is music to my ears.
“Look at them go,”she says, her voice filled with wonder.
“Nature’s little winged marvels.”
We stroll side by side, listening to the cadence of the waves as they hit shore. Crystal-clear water laps gently at the shoreline, an invitation impossible to refuse.
“Race you to the beach?”
“You’re on.”I grin and let her have a head start, captivated more by the joy in her movement than any desire to win. It’s a sight to behold.
Beyond her, the clean white sand and crystal-clear water lapping gently at the shoreline, is an invitation impossible to refuse. We spread out our fluffy turquoise striped towels bearing the Tranquil Bay logo, each movement choreographed as though we’ve done this together a thousand times.
“Would you mind?”Emilee holds the sunscreen toward me, the question hanging between us.
“Of course not.”My fingers brush against hers as I close them around the tube of lotion.
Kicking off her flip-flops, she removes her wrap and shirt, drops them off to the side, and then spins around, presenting her back to me.
“Max?”
Shell shocked might be a good description as I stand there, my gaze traveling up and down her body, taking in the curve of her shoulders, her slim waist, andthe strings of her bikini cutting across the middle of her back. Her perfectly heart-shaped ass is covered in a small piece of pink material covered in white daisies with green leaves.
“Max, are you okay?”
“Uh, yeah, sorry.”I squirt the sunscreen into my palm, and the stakes of our interaction rise swiftly, along with my erection. “Tell me if my hands are too cold,”I warn as I spread the coconut-smelling lotion across her back. Her muscles relax under my touch, and I fight to maintain my composure as warmth radiates from her body to mine. Every touch of my fingers against her smooth skin is a test of self-control, and I’m failing miserably.
“Perfect,”she murmurs, rotating her shoulders.
Oh, fuck, me.
Does she feel the current charging the air between us?
“All done.”My voice sounds a few octaves lower to my ears.
“Thanks.”She turns and takes the bottle from me, my eyes instantly dropping to zero in on her breasts, doing their best to spill from her bikini top. “Your turn.”
I spin around fast, yanking my shirt over my head. Like I did with the blanket earlier, I squish it into a ball, wrinkling it beyond repair but holding it in front of me, the only tool I have available. I feel like a fucking teenager.
It doesn’t take her long to work the sunscreen into my skin, but every inch of flesh the palm of her hand slides over tingles like I’ve been zapped by lightning.
Then I get to watch as she rubs the sweet-smelling stuff on her arms, face, the curve of her neck, and then her legs, one sexy long limb at a time. Her movements are efficient, yet there is a nimbleness to them that leaves me entranced and my lips itching to trail a wet path up those same legs to the back of her knee, to her inner thigh, and higher...
When she finishes, I accept the bottle to apply to the rest of my body while surreptitiously hiding my arousal... again.
“Ready for a swim?”I ask, wishfully hoping the water is ice cold.