Chapter Twenty-Nine
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Eugene might have gone a bit overboard, but he desperately wanted to show Natalie a good time. They could have driven. It was only a three-and-a-half-hour drive, but he wanted to maximize their time in Miami, so he figured flying was the best way to go. And sure, chartering a plane was probably a bit much, but he knew a pilot who said he was flying a family down for the weekend, and they had two extra seats, so the cost wasn’t bad at all. Plus they were able to avoid the crowds and potential delays, which made it totally worth it.
Eugene grabbed their luggage from the pilot, and then tipped him an extra hundred. “See you Sunday morning, okay?”
“You got it. Thanks.”
“This was so unnecessary,” Natalie said once they headed to the rental car counter. “You know I don’t need all these bells and whistles, Eugene.”
He turned to Natalie. “But think of all the hassle we avoided by doing it this way. Besides, in the end, it didn’t cost that much extra. So just enjoy it, okay?”
“Fine. I will enjoy.”
He leaned into her, and she gave a little laugh. The last thing he wanted was to upset her, so he was glad her mood could change so quickly.
They got the car and headed out onto the freeway, driving into Miami.
“It’s so beautiful here,” Natalie said as Eugene exited the highway. “And the views of the ocean are spectacular.”
When he pulled into the entrance to their hotel, she gasped and turned to face him. “Here? Really?”
“I figured if we were going to stay in Miami, we might as well get some beach time.”
The valet came and got their luggage, put it on a cart, and then Eugene handed over the keys to the rental while they went inside and checked in at the registration desk.
They took the elevator and Eugene slipped the card against the lock and opened the door.
“Oh. My. God.”
Eugene seconded Natalie’s comment. “That’s a hell of a view, isn’t it?” He laid their luggage down and walked through the room with her to the balcony, drew the door open, and stared out at the beautiful blue waters of the Atlantic.
“Wow. That’s just incredible.” She turned to him. “Thank you for this, Eugene. It’s exactly what I didn’t know I needed.”
Her statement hit him like a warm squeeze to his heart. He didn’t know how to react, so he gave her an easy smile. “It’ll be fun, right? And we have tickets to the afternoon game tomorrow.”
“Perfect.”
“Which means it’s warm, the sun is out, and we need to head to the water.”
“I agree.”
While Natalie was in the bathroom, Eugene grabbed his board shorts and changed into those along with a sleeveless tee. He dug out his sandals and slipped into them, then fished the sunscreen out of his bag. Now all he had to do was find his sunglasses and he’d be ready.
“Okay,” Natalie said as she came out of the bathroom. “I’ve got a bag packed with my hat along with sunscreen, sunglasses, and lip balm. Oh, and a book to read. Is there anything else you want to put in it?”
All he could do was gape at her because she stood there staring at him, no doubt waiting for him to answer, but he was pretty sure he swallowed his tongue. She wore a red bikini that showed off her incredible curves, her long, long legs, and the swell of her breasts.
“You look so fucking hot.”
She opened her mouth to say something, closed her mouth, then frowned and said, “Really?”
He stepped toward her and slid his arm around her waist, tugging her against him. “Oh yeah. Sure you want to go down to the pool?”
“I absolutely want to go to the pool. But just to let you know, I could get used to compliments like that, so thank you.” She pressed her mouth to his, but only briefly.
Damn.
They headed downstairs and outside, and he had to admit, it was pretty perfect. The pool area was large and the staff accommodating as they found chairs to sit in and ordered drinks. Eugene ordered a beer and Natalie ordered a vodka with pineapple juice.
He looked over at her and she shrugged. “I feel tropical.”
“Tropical, huh? I guess our next trip should be to Hawaii. Maybe Jamaica?”
“Right. With all that spare time I have.”
“Hey, you’ve got to make the time to indulge yourself.”
She drew her sunglasses down her nose. “Uh-huh. Tell me that once you have a couple of kids.”
“You make a valid point. However, if I may counterpoint, you don’t have the kids all the time.”
“But—”
He held his hand up. “I wasn’t done. Or, we could take the kids with us somewhere. I’m sure they’d enjoy a nice vacation, too.”
“Oh, and you can take all this time off?”
“Geez, you’re a buzzkill,” Eugene said with a wink.
She laughed. “I’m a parent. It’s my job to be a realist.”
He leaned over and trailed his finger up her arm. “It’s okay to live a little, too, Natalie. Have some fun. Figure out a way to inject some joy into the daily drudge, ya know?”
“I suppose you’re right.” She stared out over the water, and he’d give anything to know what was going on in her head. Hopefully all good things, but he couldn’t project his feelings onto Natalie. She was right in that they didn’t live the same kind of lives. She had responsibilities that he didn’t. He could come and go as he pleased, whereas she couldn’t. He needed to keep reminding himself of that.
They were different in a lot of ways as far as lifestyle.
But she was here with him now, and that made him feel good. All he could do was try and show her a good time.
And maybe forget about real life for a little while.
· · ·
Natalie was admittedly slightly buzzed and extremely relaxed. Who wouldn’t be, sitting under the shade of her oversize umbrella, enjoying the pool and that spectacular view of the ocean?
She could get used to this. Ocean breezes, cocktails at the wave of her hand, and a gorgeous man asleep on the lounge chair next to her. She rolled over to give herself a better look at Eugene.
He lay on his stomach, his board shorts riding low on his back, sweat pooling there. She let her gaze roam along his upper back and broad shoulders, wanting to reach out and trace all that lean muscle, but she didn’t want to disturb him while he was sleeping. Instead, she continued her visual appraisal of him, moving up to his strong jaw, straight nose, and wow, it was really too bad she couldn’t see his amazing eyes, currently hidden behind his sunglasses. But at least she could watch the way his dark, thick hair blew in the breeze.
“You’re ogling,” he said, not even moving.
Taking a deep breath, she sighed. “I was.”
He rose up and swung his legs over the chaise, drawing his sunglasses off. “Ready for a walk and a dip in the ocean?”
“Absolutely.”
When he stood, his shorts rode low on his hips, showcasing that dip that she’d love to explore further—with her tongue. Instead, she put on her hat and took his hand. They strolled along the water’s edge, the waves lapping at their feet.
“Makes you want to live in a place like this, doesn’t it?” he asked.
“Miami? It’s very nice. And the ocean breeze is unparalleled. But Orlando is my home, where my kids were born. I’ve spent my whole life there.”
He stopped, turned to face her. “Haven’t you ever thought about living somewhere else?”
“Honestly? No, I haven’t. I like where I live, Eugene.”
“Hmm. Okay.”
They resumed walking, and thoughts of that conversation stuck. Did he think she was boring because she never wanted to live anywhere else?
“What about you?” she asked. “I know your family lives in the San Francisco area, so that’s your home. You plan to stay there?”
He shrugged. “Home is wherever I decide to make it, and family is always just a plane ride away. I mean, Linc’s made his home here, and he’s happy about it. My other brother, Warren, and his husband, Joe, are settled in California and don’t intend to leave. But me? I don’t know. I think I could live anywhere.”
“Of course. That makes sense.” It suddenly felt like a rock had settled in her stomach, though she didn’t know why. Where Eugene lived shouldn’t make any difference to her. It wasn’t like they were in a long-term relationship. This was nothing more than a temporary hookup.
He slipped his arm around her waist. “But I do like Orlando. I could see sticking around there awhile. I did buy a house, you know.”
She smiled at him. “Yes, I’m aware.”
He backed her toward the waves, the water slowly climbing up her legs. “And this incredible designer is making it kick-ass awesome.”
She reached for his arms so the waves wouldn’t knock her over. “Will you write ‘kick-ass awesome’ in your review of my design services?”
“You bet.” He leaned in and kissed her, his lips coasting over hers, teasing and tasting.
She was aware they were in public and that explained his gentle kiss. But she wanted so much more. What was it about Eugene that made her crave such deep passion? It wasn’t like she’d never experienced hot sex before. Though maybe not the kind she’d had with Eugene. Or maybe it was just her reaction to this particular man. He brought out so many feelings in her, and she had to admit, there were feelings she’d never had. Excitement, overwhelming passion, and a sense of fun she’d never experienced before.
So much for this being just a temporary hookup. She was fooling herself if she didn’t recognize it for what it was. She was starting to have feelings.
Ugh. Feelings. So complicated.
That needed to stop.
When the water covered them up to her chest, he grabbed her butt cheeks and hauled her up. She wrapped her legs around him and rode the waves. Rode him.
Oh, but she didn’t want it to stop. She pushed against him and he slipped his hand between them. Their gazes met and it didn’t matter to her where they were, only what she wanted.
The sounds of laughter close by jolted her. She dropped her legs, and Eugene let go of her. In an attempt to cool her heated libido, she swam away from him, letting the water and the distance cool her down.
She walked out of the surf and turned to look for Eugene. He followed a minute or two later, and just looking at him walking out of the water like some kind of wet merman god ignited that spark of desire all over again. She swallowed and lifted her chin, determined not to be affected.
“How about something cold to drink?” he asked.
She cleared her throat. “Yes. Cold. That would be great.”
They rinsed the salt water off at the entrance to their hotel property, then made their way to their cabana. This time Natalie ordered a sparkling water and Eugene did the same. Once they dried off and reapplied sunscreen, they sat and sipped their drinks.
Eugene’s phone pinged. He picked it up, frowned, then set it down.
“Do you need to check emails or make a call or something?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No. It can wait.”
“Eugene. If it’s important you should deal with it.”
He looked over at her and smiled. “You’re important, and I know how to prioritize my time.”
“Just know I’m fine if you have work to do.”
“I do have work to do. Just not today. Or tomorrow. I cleared my schedule and my staff is handling everything that needs to be handled. They send me updates on things I need to know about. That’s what that message was. There’s nothing urgent, okay?”
She sighed. “Okay.”
“Do you think I’m slacking or something?”
She reached over and laid her hand on his arm. “No, it’s nothing like that. It’s just…”
She looked out over the water. “This is so different from my life with Sean. Everything with him was work first, family second. He thought his job was the most important thing in the world. He attended conferences and dinners, constantly working to make contacts that would build his business. In the beginning, I understood that it was necessary to build his practice. But after he was established, it continued. It was almost as if…”
She couldn’t finish the sentence because that thought had lingered in her mind for years.
“Almost as if what?”
Turning to look at him, she said, “Almost as if he was more interested in his work than he was in the kids, or in me.”
“And was that true?”
This time, she didn’t hesitate. “Yes. It was one of the main reasons I divorced him.”
“You and your kids shouldn’t come in second to anything or anyone.”
Her heart squeezed. “Thank you. That was my thought, too. That your partner and your kids should always be put first. Sure, sometimes work has to take priority, and I get that.”
“I get that, too. But it shouldn’t be all the time. If it is, then there’s something wrong.”
“Yes.” She loved that Eugene understood, that he didn’t think she was being unreasonable, which was what Sean had told her when she tried to explain she and the kids needed more of his time. They’d argued constantly about it, and she’d finally realized that they were never going to see eye to eye on something she considered so important. She could never make him see that being with his children was vital to his relationship with them. She wasn’t sure he’d figured that out even now. But she had no control over that. So instead, she was determined to be enough for them. Plus they had her mom and Paul, and Hazel and Linc. And the kids seemed happy, which was all that mattered.
After they got warm, they took a quick swim in the pool to cool down, then dried off. They put on shirts and cover-ups and headed into the restaurant for a bite to eat.
Natalie got a lovely shrimp salad, and Eugene had a turkey sandwich. They sipped lemonade and iced tea while they ate. She was so relaxed but also had trouble pushing aside the guilt about not being at work or with her kids and her dog.
“I feel like I should be working, or at home with my kids,” she said. “This is very decadent.”
“Sometimes a break is good for you. Refreshes you for both work and parenting. Though I’m just guessing on the parenting thing.”
He had a point. “I don’t disagree.”
“What would you do if you were suddenly rich?” he asked.
She swallowed a delectable bite of shrimp, then paused. “Oh. Interesting question. I don’t know. Pay off the house, put money away for the kids, donate some to several of my favorite charities, and then…well, I don’t know. Probably put the rest away.”
“You wouldn’t upgrade your lifestyle in any way?” he asked. “You know. Trendy car, huge house, fancy clothes, and the like?”
She shrugged. “I’m pretty happy with my life the way it is. I can’t think of anything else I want or need.”
“That’s boring. Reach for the stars and dream big here, Natalie. Tell me what you’d do if money were no object.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe an SUV so I’d have more room for all my design stuff, plus all the kids’ things.”
He waited, and when she didn’t say anything else he asked, “And?”
“And what? I don’t lack for anything, Eugene. I have a nice house that has plenty of space for me and the kids. We’re not hurting financially. Sean has set up a college fund for both the children. I have a job I love. We’re good.”
“Huh. Okay, then. You just want a bigger car.”
She laughed. “Pretty much. Maybe a designer purse. Always wanted one of those.”
“There you go. Something big just for yourself.”
“And what about you? What would you do?”
“Oh, well. Huge house. Like seven or eight bedrooms, five or six bathrooms. But also a state-of-the-art game room that’s on its own level with lots of room for various play.”
“Of course.”
“Hey, I not only design, I also play. It gets my creative juices flowing, ya know?”
“Sure. But an entire level?”
“Yeah. It allows me to stretch out, especially with VR.”
She frowned. “VR?”
“Virtual reality.” He stared at her. “You and I need to play.”
She slid her hand over his. “Indeed we do.”
He took in a breath. “Yeah, we definitely need to do that, but also, I need to broaden your gaming horizons.”
“Oh wow, I’m not much of a gamer, Eugene. Unless it’s Ms.Pac-Man . And I’m not into playing war games or racing cars.”
“First, Ms.Pac-Man is a classic, awesome game. But you know what, there’s a lot more to gaming these days than war or racing. Virtual reality can take you places you can only dream about.”
She leaned back in her chair. “Really. Do tell.”
“Mmm, it’s better if I show you. Which I will when we get back home.”
Sliding her fork onto her finished salad plate, she batted her lashes at him. “In the meantime, how about some actual reality?”
His eyes sparked. “I could go for that.”
They finished up their meal and headed upstairs to their room. Once again she was struck by the unbelievable opulence. And that view was something she could get used to. She laid her bag on the chair and walked through the door to the balcony.
Even as high up as they were, she could still hear the crash of the waves. There was something so calming about watching the waves roll toward the shore, then back out to sea. Maybe she should have listed a house with an incredible view of the ocean as one of her must-haves should she ever become rich. Might as well go big, right?
A pair of warm arms wrapped around her as Eugene pulled her back against his chest.
“Hell of a view.”
“It lulls me,” she said. “Watching the water is so incredibly relaxing. All my tension seems to just disappear.”
“Tense, huh?” He slid his hands up her arms to her shoulders and inward, massaging the tight knots that had seemed to take up permanent residence.
She raised her shoulders, leaning into the pressure of his fingers, the way he instinctively seemed to know where the tight knots were.
After a few minutes of him working on her shoulder and neck muscles, she felt soft. Melty. Needy in a much more elemental way. She pressed her butt against him, and he obviously felt the same need judging from the hard ridge of his erection pushing back against her.
He lifted her cover-up over her hips, sliding his fingers into her bikini bottom. She gasped, a shock of pleasure shooting throughout, then looked around to see if anyone was watching.
But who could be? They had a corner unit and no hotel across from them. Unless someone was on a boat with a telescope—highly doubtful—then no one could see. And right now, with Eugene’s fingers sliding gently across her clit, she wasn’t sure she’d even care. All she cared about was getting to her release, and Eugene was going to take her there.
After withdrawing his fingers, much to her disappointment, he flipped her around to face him, took her mouth in a blistering kiss, then slipped his hand inside her bikini once again, relentlessly stroking her sex until she gasped against his mouth.
“Oh,” she whispered. “Yes, please.”
“Come for me,” he said, his voice deep, guttural, as if his need was as great as hers. “Come on.”
She could barely catch her breath as she drew ever closer to orgasm.
And then she burst, crying out and shaking all over as her climax tore through every part of her. Eugene held her up when her legs trembled from the waves of pleasure crashing into her body.
She’d barely had time to settle before he turned her around, bent her over the chair in front of her, and jerked her bikini bottom off. She heard the tearing of the condom wrapper, and then he slid inside of her.
Her body pulsed and tightened around his cock, and she swore she could come again right then. But Eugene held still, waiting for her to adjust.
“Give it to me,” she said, shocked by her demanding behavior.
But he only laughed, a gruff rumble before he began to drive into her, giving her a pleasure so deep it made her shiver all over. With each thrust, she grew ever closer to release. And when he gripped her hips and let out a low groan, she reached for her clit and began to rub, because she wanted to go with him.
“Fuck,” he said, moving faster, and harder. So did she, and that was all it took for her to fall into orgasm, her body pulsing around his shaft. He pinned his hips to her and shuddered, and she held on while they both released.
Eugene pulled her up and wrapped his arm around her, turning her to give her a deep, tongue-filled kiss that stirred her, despite just experiencing two mind-blowing orgasms. They made their way back to the bedroom, where she undressed and stumbled into the shower to wash off. She wrapped up in the fluffy bathrobe.
“I’m going to grab us something to drink,” Eugene said.
“Sounds great.” Natalie climbed onto the bed and sank into the comfortable softness of the covers. Eugene came back a short while later and cuddled up behind her.
When she woke, the sun had set. The room was dark and all she heard was Eugene’s soft breathing against her neck. Reluctantly, she got up to use the bathroom. When she came out, he was awake and lying on his back, smiling at her.
“Good nap,” he said.
She climbed onto the bed and lay down next to him. “Excellent nap.”
He rolled over to face her. “You ready to go out for dinner?”
“Mmm. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty comfortable here. How do you feel about pizza in bed?”
“I feel pretty good about it. How do you feel about pepperoni?”
She scrunched her nose. “How do you feel about sausage and mushroom?”
He did the same thing with his face. “I feel like we’re about to have our first argument.”
She laughed. “Okay, then. Let the fight begin.”