Chapter 10 #2
“How many people have you slept with?” I finally blurted out, crossing my arms as if I needed protection from his answer.
But he didn’t answer. He just reached over, brought a shot to his mouth, and down went the golden liquid. Well okay, then.
“My number isn’t relevant to this.” He motioned back and forth between us. Apparently, there was a this?
Reed tapped his empty shot glass on the table. “Guess I’m going to have to find a question you won’t answer now. You’ve got to catch up.”
I lifted a cocky brow at him. Challenge accepted. There was nothing but boring answers over here.
“What’s your number?”
“Three.” I grabbed a nugget and bit into it with a smirk.
“Craziest place you’ve had sex?”
“Baseball dugout.” I didn’t even flinch, grabbing another nugget.
He gazed at my lips before tossing out another question. “Have you ever been in love?”
I froze mid-bite. Huh. I supposed that was another boring answer: No.
He watched me intently, his eyes roaming my face. Could I answer? Yes. Did the answer mean anything? No. But something about it made me hesitate. Without giving it more thought, I grabbed a shot and threw it back with a shrug.
Curiosity crossed his features, and he stared as I licked the burning taste from my lips.
“What? I was tired of questions and needed to catch up.” I took a sip of my juice to wash out the taste of tequila, and my body shuddered as the liquid ran down my throat.
He grinned. “Even?”
I nodded. “Even.”
“Eat?”
“Yes, please.”
With childlike glee, we ate our mac ’n’ cheese and chicken nuggets.
Around us, the bar had gotten rowdier. People chanting, throwing their bodies around sloppily, dark corners being filled with alcohol-induced lust. We opted to head to the boat taxi, our whirlwind day leaving us exhausted.
Our ride back to the port was nearly silent.
Only a few others sat with us while the noise from the beach faded.
As we exited the taxi onto the dock where we began the excursion, someone tapped on my shoulder. I turned to find Maren and Floyd. “We just wanted to tell you both how much we enjoyed your company on this trip.”
Confused, I sifted through our interactions with them but came up short aside from our introductions and a few mutual laughs.
“While the others were… odd,” Floyd continued, “we just adored seeing a couple like you. It reminds us of how in love we were at your age, practically living in our own bubble.”
I half expected the word nest.
Reed shook Floyd’s hand politely, then pulled me closer. “She’s a keeper, for sure.”
I blushed and smiled into his grasp, and something in me almost believed that keeping me was in his plans.
Rather than walk toward the end of the dock where our tender boat would take us back to the cruise ship, Reed turned us in the opposite direction, back toward land. We reached the busy street of Port Camino, thronging with sidewalk vendors and bars.
A gorgeous marble fountain stole my attention, and Reed led us right to it before suggesting we sit. The splashes felt good against my skin, refreshing from the balmy air. Nightlife energy surrounded us, but I felt like we were in our own special bubble as he tugged me against his side.
“This day was so much more than I could have ever imagined.” He breathed the words into my hair.
I nodded, leaning into him further, waiting—hoping—to hear more.
“Is it a cheesy Chad moment if I say I’d like to see you again?” Hooking his thumb under my chin, he sucked in the gasp that escaped me. His lips grazed mine, light and tentative. We shared a breath as he glanced from my mouth to my eyes.
Reed lifted my chin, and my eyes fluttered shut as he pressed harder into my lips, his tongue sneaking out to play.
The voices around us and the lapping fountain bubbles faded the moment his hand slid around the nape of my neck, pulling me into him.
His heavy breath drove my need further, our lips hungrier now.
The scruff along his jaw sent sparks down my arms as I cupped his face.
His moan traveled through me while our tongues dipped and explored.
I smiled against his lips, the feeling so unreal.
His own chuckle rumbled into me, and our kiss went from steamy and lust filled to gleeful.
We pulled back and both let out little laughs.
“That was…” He paused, and my mind filled in the blank.
Addicting.
Butterflies flapped in my stomach as he brushed a knuckle over my cheek. “Something I’d like to do again and again.”
I nodded and leaned into his touch, angling myself to meet his lips once more. My hands smoothed from his chest to his shoulders as our lips grazed and his thumb brushed over my jaw.
Cheers from a few yards away pierced into our moment. Pop goes the bubble.
Whoops and the clickety-clack of four sets of heels on pavement made their way to us.
“Cici! We couldn’t find you.”
I was tackled by Kennedy, nearly tipping us both over into the fountain. She smelled like she was the one who had just attended a tequila-tasting bar.
Darcy, Lucy, and Jenn approached. “Looks like you were in good hands,” Darcy called out.
“Really good hands.” Jenn winked and glanced at Reed.
The ladies swooped and tugged on my arm, and Jenn slurred, “We’re going to Cabo Wabo to get blow jobs and pink pussies. Bring your boy toy.”
“They’re shots at this famous bar,” Lucy explained. “You know all the best alcohol is named after sexual favors.”
I sighed. “You guys are so far ahead of me. I’ll just be the DD.”
“Cici has a car?” Kennedy screeched from her spot on my lap, nearly collapsing on Reed.
Darcy smacked her hand against her head. “No blow jobs for this one.”
She nodded toward Kennedy, whose head was now flopped against mine while she whispered in my ear, “You don’t have a car?”
I patted her head. “No, sweetie, I do not.”
Reed chuckled next to me.
Darcy grabbed my hand and pulled, nearly knocking Kennedy into Reed. “Let’s go!”
Aiming a longing look at Reed, I stood. I came here to celebrate with my girls. But I didn’t want to end our day, especially like this. I wanted the end to be… endless. Endless hand-holding, endless kissing, and maybe more.
He slid to my side, avoiding swerving bodies and yanking arms before he kissed my cheek. “Go have fun. Be safe.”
“Ooh,” Kennedy squealed, and flung herself at Darcy, whisper-slurring to her.
Reed stood up straight, placed a chaste kiss on my lips, and pulled the straps tighter on his camera bag. He began to pull away from our clump of chaos, then called out over his shoulder, “You girls have fun. Return her”—he gestured toward me—“in one piece. I’d like to keep her.”
All I could do was swoon and stare as he walked down the dock, heading back to the ship.
Behind me, Darcy and Kennedy cackled. I turned in time to catch them doing their secret mission handshake.