Chapter 49
JOSIE
I lie back on the lounge as the hot, inviting Mediterranean sun hits my face and I surrender to the blissful belief that I am in paradise. I mean, that’s not too hard to imagine, because I think I might actually be in paradise here on the terrace beside the most gorgeous lake in the world.
I’m nearly naked as I lie in the sun. I’m just in my bikini. I’m never willing to show off this much bare skin in public. Crystal River isn’t known for being the best place to get a tan, but I guess that when you’re in Italy...
Yeah, when you’re in Rome and all that.
No one can see me. No one can judge my body. I’m free to just be... me.
This truly is paradise.
I double-check check my bikini is still fitting me and nothing unexpected has slipped out, and then I really roll back into the lounge and close my eyes. The only sound is the gentle lapping of the lake’s waves on the shore and the peaceful chatter of nature in the far distance.
I can’t believe I’m here...
I feel so lucky. So damn lucky.
Victor planned all this. He hired that nice car. He rented this amazing villa. He drove us here.
Look, no one has ever come close to spoiling me like this before. There’s a part of me that doesn’t want to accept all this, but Victor actively wants me to relax and enjoy it all. He keeps telling me not to worry about money or anything else.
I’m old enough to realize when something is too good to turn down.
Someone approaching on the terrace brings me back to reality. I know it’s the famous actor because there is literally no one else around for miles.
“Hello, Victor,” I say with my eyes still leisurely shut.
I hear his dark, low chuckle as he gets closer.
“Working hard, Josie?” he asks.
“Always.”
“You’re going to burn if you stay in the sun.”
I open my eyes. He’s standing above me looking tall and imposing. It’s that Penmayne height and physique.
“Maybe I should put on some sun lotion, then,” I say, glancing around for my bottle. I’m sure I brought it out here...
But I can’t find it.
Victor lifts up a bottle and waves it in front of me.
“Don’t worry,” he says quietly. “I’ve brought my own.”
“Thanks,” I say, stretching for it. But the man pulls back.
“Here, let me apply it for you.”
“You’re going to rub it in?” I ask him, my voice trembling.
“I can get to all those hard-to-reach places,” he tells me. “The places you can’t reach.”
Oh.
What’s going on?
“You sure?” I ask him. “I don’t want you going out of your way...”
“I’m sure, Josie. Now turn around and let me have access to your back.”
I do as he says.
I can’t see him anymore, but his shadow pulls over me. Now he’s really imposing.
And then I feel his touch. Cold from the lotion and pressure from the strength of Victor's press onto my bare skin. A force of strength. A shiver of something flies through me. My head immediately relaxes. I get all gooey inside.
His fingers trace along my back. Slowly. Sensually. He’s rubbing the lotion in, but it also seems like he really wants to touch me all over. I can practically feel his desire.
Does he know what he’s doing to me? Does he know it’s so animalistic? Does he know how my body is responding to his simple touch?
And then, his hands leave my body. I find myself aching for him.
Damn it, Josie.
“There,” the warm growl of his voice says in my ear. “All done for you. You’re nice and oiled up.”
I sigh and gradually begin to sit up.
“Thanks, Victor.”
But when I open my eyes, he is already gone.
I sunbathe on the villa terrace for the rest of the afternoon until it’s time for dinner. As I stand up and look out over the lake, I see Victor far away in the distance – swimming in the crystal-clear waters.
Those long athletic strides of his... He’s so fit, that’s for sure. He’s a man in full command of his body and isn’t afraid of anyone else knowing.
I smile to myself. That’s the billionaire who just rubbed lotion into my back. That’s the man who has taken me here. That’s the actor who bought me flowers and chocolate.
He’s not the playboy that the media make him out to be. He’s so much more.
Victor cooks dinner for the both of us. As with everything the man does, it’s gorgeous. He’s really put effort into this.
He wants to take care of me.
“Thank you for everything, Victor,” I say to him after I’ve eaten the gorgeous food he’s prepared. Like everything, Victor is amazing at cooking. There’s nothing he can’t do.
The man sitting opposite me, his face illuminated by candlelight, simply winks back.
“No problem, Josie. I’ve not had a proper vacation in years. Staying here, with you, feels good.”
We aren’t playing around anymore. We aren’t putting up a fa?ade for the paparazzi. Even though our relationship is fake, we still like each other.
“I’ve never had a man make me dinner before,” I whisper.
“Your ex-husband never did?”
“No.”
“Never?”
“Never.”
“Oh.”
My ex. The man who called me a bitch...
Something is welling up inside me. A whole mix of emotions. A dangerous cocktail.
“Excuse me,” I whisper to Victor, getting up before I even finish speaking. I want to get away from here.
I want to get away from all this... niceness.
I rush to the bedroom, feeling sick.
I close the door, and I finally let myself go. I start to cry. All the emotions are coming up at once. I sit down on the bed as tears pour down from me.
I don’t want Victor to hear all this.
But I can hear he’s already at the door. I can’t blame him – I just got up and ran from the dinner table. He’s checking up on me.
Yeah. It’s all too... nice.
“Josie?”
“Please go away,” I bark at the door between sobs.
But then the door opens, and in comes Victor. He doesn’t act surprised at my crying, instead he simply, and silently takes a seat next to me on the bed.
No words need to be spoken between us.
And he reaches out and holds me in his strong arms.
And I really let myself go. I cry and I cry and I cry.
And Victor holds me through all of this.
And then, when the tears subside, I look up at the handsome man.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“No need to thank me,” he replies.
Our faces are so close. Our lips are nearly touching.
And then they do.
I don’t know who kisses who, but we both continue it. We both refuse to stop. We both kiss each other.
And it feels so fucking good.
Wow.
This is really happening. I’ve forgotten why I was crying. Somehow this is all I’ve wanted, and I didn’t even know until it happened.
This is paradise.
We stop kissing and we just simply stare at each other for a very long time. We’re both paralyzed by what just happened.
“Maybe we should just keep that between ourselves,” I say softly.
“Yes,” Victor replies. “Let’s.”