Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Sebastian
A fter an entire day of Darcy taking control and trying to get me to see how things roll on the other side of the tracks —her words, not mine—I had to admit, the day rivaled some of the best times I’d ever had.
I loved her energy, her presence, and most of all, I loved her laugh and how her eyes ignited like gemstones when she smiled. We’d pulled back on the booze before and during snorkeling for obvious reasons, but the joyous energy from our Fear Factor lunch delicacies had remained.
I was now on a mission to keep this newfound sense of happiness and freedom I’d surprisingly found. It felt like I’d jumped off the ledge of where life had a stronghold tightened around my neck, and now, I was no longer merely surviving. I was full-on thriving. It was the best feeling in the world, and I would do everything in my power to keep this rush of good emotions charged up.
“How am I supposed to enjoy swimming in the pool if I have to see your gorgeous ass over there lounging in a bathing suit?” I questioned Darcy as soon as I completed a couple dozen laps in the pool. I’d been trying to work out the sensations I knew could not come into play, which were all the sexually related things that’d been crossing my mind about the gorgeous woman.
She pulled down her turquoise-rimmed sunglasses and grinned. “I’m in a one-piece, and I’m hardly showing any skin, so get your mind out of the gutter,” she said after I swam up to the side of the pool to chat with her.
“What are you reading?” I asked, nodding my head toward the e-reading device she held.
“Why does it matter?”
“Because it’s hot out, and the pool feels amazing. After snorkeling in the ocean, I figured you’d want to take a dip in the pool?”
“I planned on going for a swim, but you beat me to it with your record-breaking Olympic trial laps.”
“Well, I would have waited until later to get my laps in if I knew your sexy ass wanted to use the pool, too.”
“Very cute,” she said with a hint of annoyance. “You’re using all these flirty words on me, but you’d better keep swimming to keep any sexual ideas out of your head because it’s not going to happen, bud.”
“How could you tell I was sexually frustrated after having to watch you smack on dead grasshoppers all afternoon?” I teased.
“Well, it’s tough for me, too,” she tried to act annoyed. “I was so turned on watching you snorkel, stopping every three seconds to check above the water for a dorsal fin because you were terrified Jaws was coming after you.”
I could tell she was trying to put up a front with me and continue our charade of acting like we weren’t remotely attracted to each other or bonded from our afternoon together today. I could see through the imaginary barrier she was putting up and knew she was at least a little more comfortable in my presence.
“Ah,” I answered with a smirk. “Well, someone had to keep an eye out and protect you as you swam everywhere as if sharks don’t hang out in Mexico.” I saw her roll her eyes and thought to change the subject because I didn’t want any barriers to come up between us again. “Listen, beautiful,” I said genuinely, “get in the pool. I feel horrible for being in here while you’re out in the hot sun. I know it’s not an Olympic-sized pool, but there is room for two.”
“There’s also room for two in that king-sized bed, but we’re not sharing that.”
“You are so goddamn stubborn,” I said.
“This stubbornness helps me keep my head on my shoulders,” she retorted. “Besides, I think I’ll just jump in the shower and get ready for dinner. What time are we meeting everyone?”
“In three hours. We’ll be dining at a five-star restaurant tonight, so you can wear the stunning red dress from last night if you prefer,” I said, swimming over to climb out of the pool.
“Well, I appreciate you giving me your permission,” she answered in her usual challenging tone.
As she turned to walk away, I walked toward her and gently took her arm, forcing her to stop and turn to look at me.
“Good God,” she said, nearly stumbling into my dripping wet bare chest. “Put some clothes on before you grab a lady.”
I smiled as she fumbled over her words, pulling on her sunglasses and turning to look out at the ocean. I brought my finger to her chin and gently pulled her sunglasses from her face.
“Your eyes are so beautiful. You shouldn’t hide them behind sunglasses,” I said.
“Well, it’s probably best I do,” she said, her cheeks flushing red.
It was a complete turn-on to see that none of her usual combative barriers were working. Something had changed between us today. I still wasn’t certain what it was, but I didn’t want the appeal to dissolve.
“I told you I would kiss you when I was sober, and I am.”
“Well, you might be sober, but I need to be drunk for that to happen,” she argued.
“That can be arranged. I’ll call Ricardo immediately and ask him to start serving cocktails.”
The energy was thick between us, and I felt like I was floating on a fucking cloud of ecstasy. It was surreal, liberating, and revitalizing all at once.
“I can’t do this, Sebastian,” she said, frustrated.
“I don’t want to force you to do anything. I just want to kiss you,” I assured her.
She sucked in a breath when my eyes went to her lips, yearning to taste them. I licked mine, hungry and thirsty for the taste of her, while my thumb gently traced her bottom lip, exploring how tender and soft it was, even though she held a firm expression.
“I won’t hurt you,” I promised, knowing that must’ve been her concern. “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do,” my hand drifted over to her neck, feeling her pulse going a hundred miles an hour, “but your heart tells me you want me to.”
She let out a breath, and my eyes studied hers. There was no way I would hurt her or do anything that she was uncomfortable with.
“How long has it been for you?” I asked, aware that I’d dropped all sense of propriety.
“Huh?” she answered, seemingly as drunk on this moment as I was.
“Since you’ve been with someone. For me, it’s been well over a year.”
“Damn,” she said breathlessly, “that’s…that’s a?—”
“A very long time,” I answered, knowing she was shocked at my revelation. “And you?”
“It’s been a long…” she paused. “No, wait. I’m not doing this with you. We can’t do this, Sebastian.”
“I know,” I answered.
Before I knew it, Darcy’s hands ran up my sides and onto my back, prompting me to absently moan softly in response to how amazing it felt to have a woman’s hands pressing into my back, wanting me again. I couldn’t remember the last time I responded this way to anyone.
I purposefully reached my hands into her hair, gripping it gently at the roots and tilting her head back, giving me full access to her perfect neck. I captured the base of her throat with my lips, hearing her moan in response as her hands went over my ass, pulling my hardening dick into her waist.
Fuck, this feels incredible , I thought while I groaned again, her stomach moving in a way to examine my hardness and size. My lips found hers in a state of urgency and hunger. I cocked my head to the side, my tongue searching for hers in the act of possessive desire for more.
Both of us seemed to moan and whimper in a strong desire for craving and wanting more. And as I indulged in the seductive way she answered my kiss, my tongue pleading for more of her, my phone rang. And then hers did.
As if someone pulled the fire alarm to startle us out of this moment, we jerked away. It was like someone had flipped on the lights, and our brains returned safely to our bodies.
“Shit,” she and I said in unison.
“Who is calling?” I said, frustrated and pissed that our phones were doing everything but sounding off an Emergency Broadcast System alert.
“Natalia,” she said, answering her phone with confusion.
“Jake?” I answered my phone, wondering why Jim’s brother was calling with the same confusion.
“Look behind you, horn dog,” Jake said. Nat must’ve said the same thing to Darcy because we both turned and looked out simultaneously.
The group I now wished I’d never invited to Mexico stood just beyond where our infinity pool was situated to overlook the shoreline, watching us for God knows how long.
Darcy seemed to thank the gods our cock-blocking friends had shown up, and I stood there glaring at the sorry fuckers I’d invited to join us on our trip.
“Fucking—”
“You’re not fucking anyone or anything until you get down here and give us all a hug,” Jake laughed. “Oh, never mind. Darcy’s opening the gate. We’re all coming up.”
He hung up, and I couldn’t help but smile and laugh, knowing this was most likely a blessing in disguise. I wished I hadn’t shared how long it’d been since I’d had sex, though. That was a detail that didn’t bother me when I expected to get laid immediately afterward, but now, with everyone’s arrival a day early , I only had myself to blame.
Oh, well, c’est la vie . Everything was fine, and the last thing I needed was to admit that eating grasshoppers, larvae, and fungus had turned me into a man who wanted to get laid, and not just by anyone, but by the first woman to put a smile on my face and bring an edge of carefree excitement into my life.
Maybe I was glad for the interruption, and after seeing Darcy and Natalia linked arm-in-arm, I could tell Darcy was also grateful for it.
Well, fuck it. At least I got my kiss. That should be enough.