Chapter 46
MELODY
Iwoke up on our last full day in Tahiti with a sense of dread sitting heavy in my stomach.
Tomorrow, we’d be heading back to reality. Back to New York. Back to responsibilities and pressures and all the things we had left behind. I had no idea what awaited us. What awaited him. I still had my old life, but Austin’s future wasn’t a guarantee.
I didn’t want to go.
“What’s wrong?” Austin asked, his voice still rough with sleep. He was propped up on one elbow, looking down at me with concern.
“It’s our last day.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want to leave.”
He kissed my forehead. “Then we’ll come back. We’ll come back as many times as you want.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.” He grinned. “We’re going to make today so good that you’ll have enough memories to last until we can get back here.”
“And how are we going to do that?”
“Jet skis, baby girl. We’re starting with jet skis.”
We were supposed to do jet skis yesterday but ended up snorkeling most of the day. I realized snorkeling was my new favorite hobby. The yacht had anchored in a few different places, each with different ecosystems for us to explore.
“After breakfast,” I said. “I’m starving.”
“Because you passed out after barely eating dinner,” he teased.
I laughed. “It was a busy day.”
I stretched, cat-like, against the sheets. Austin’s hand was already on my hip, thumb tracing idle circles that made me shiver despite the warm Tahiti air.
“Breakfast can wait,” he murmured, voice sleep-rough and dangerous.
I rolled over to face him, nose brushing his. “If we skip it again, Claire will start leaving trays outside the door like we’re shut-ins.”
He grinned, wicked and slow. “Let her. I don’t mind being shut in with you.”
I laughed, pushing at his chest. “Up. I want coffee that isn’t delivered by someone who’s seen us both naked.”
“It was one time,” he teased.
I scowled at him. “One time too many.”
Two days ago, Claire thought we had left the yacht. We hadn’t. We were naked. In the shower. Austin in all his chivalry had stood in front of me to shield my body while exposing his. And Claire had gotten an eyeful.
And yeah, it pissed me off that she stood there for far longer than was necessary. I understood why she stared at him. He was gorgeous, and when he was naked, it was like looking at a Greek god.
He caught my wrist, pressing a kiss to the inside of my palm. “Fine. But we’re showering together. Conservation.”
“That’s not how conservation works.”
“Tell that to the rainforest.”
We ended up in the glass-walled shower anyway, water sluicing over us. I reached for the shampoo, but he took the bottle first, working the lather through my hair with the same focus he’d used last night when his mouth was between my thighs. My knees threatened to betray me.
“You’re doing this on purpose,” I accused.
“Doing what?” He stepped closer, suds sliding down his chest, over the ridges of muscle I’d licked salt from yesterday on the beach.
“You know what,” I murmured.
His laugh was low, hands sliding to my waist. “Is it working?”
I tilted my head, letting the water rinse away the soap. “Ask me after I’ve had espresso.”
We toweled off in a tangle—him rubbing my back, me stealing glances at the cut of his hipbone disappearing into the low-slung towel. I slicked on body oil that smelled like coconut and watched his eyes track every sweep of my palms over my thighs.
I slipped into the new bikini I bought on a shopping adventure into one of the small towns we visited yesterday.
I wasn’t big on bikinis but Austin insisted on it.
And I liked the way he looked at me. Austin watched me from the doorway, shirt half-buttoned, hair still damp and curling at the ends. He looked soft and touchable and mine.
“You’re staring again,” I teased and slid on a white sundress over the bikini.
“Can’t help it. You look like you belong on a postcard I’d never send because I’d want to keep you private.”
I crossed the room, rising on my toes to kiss the corner of his mouth. “Then you’d better keep me close, Bancroft.”
His arm snaked around my waist, pulling me flush. “Plan on it.”
We finally emerged onto the deck holding hands, hair still damp, skin glowing.
Claire set down a tray of fresh papaya and croissants with a knowing smile. “Good morning. Coffee’s hot.”
Austin tugged me into the chair beside him, fingers threading through mine. “Thank you, Claire.”
“Can I get you two anything else?”
“This is perfect,” I answered.
We enjoyed our meal, hiding under the umbrella.
I was doing my best to avoid getting sunburned.
The first couple of days had left me pink but Austin was dedicated to keeping my skin hydrated with lots and lots of aloe and various lotions rubbed in throughout the day.
And usually, those rubdowns ended up in sex.
An hour later, after breakfast and a thorough application of sunscreen, Marco was showing us the jet skis. I’d never been on one before. We’d been talking about getting on one all week, but now that we were actually doing it, I was a little nervous.
“You sure about this?” I asked Austin, who was already settled on his jet ski like he’d been born on one.
“Completely sure. Come on, you can ride with me.” He patted the seat behind him. “Come on. Trust me.”
I was so grateful not to be in charge of my own fate as I climbed onto his, wrapping my arms around his waist. He felt solid and warm and safe.
“Go slow,” I told him.
He chuckled. “Baby girl, you know me. Slow? Come on. You’re safe. I’ve got you.”
I sighed. “Fine.”
“Hold on tight,” he said.
“How tight?”
“Tighter than that.”
I squeezed him as tight as I could. He laughed, then hit the throttle.
We shot forward across the water. I screamed, half terror, half exhilaration. The wind whipped my hair back, salt spray hit my face, and we were flying.
Austin navigated us through the waves with expert precision, occasionally hitting them at angles that launched us into the air for heart-stopping seconds. Every time we landed, I squealed and held on tighter. I could feel him laughing. He was absolutely loving this.
I was, too, much to my surprise.
“You okay back there?” he shouted over the engine.
“This is insane!”
“Good insane?”
“The best insane!”
He took us in wide circles, showing off a little and proving he had done this more than a few times. I laughed until my cheeks hurt. This was freedom. This was joy. This was exactly what I needed on our last day.
After a particularly impressive jump, Austin slowed down, bringing us to a gentle stop in the middle of the crystalline water. The yacht was visible in the distance, but we were essentially alone.
He turned around carefully on the seat to face me. “Hi.”
“Hi.” I was breathless and grinning like an idiot. “That was amazing.”
“You’re amazing.” He cupped my face and kissed me, soft and sweet and tasting like salt water.
When he pulled back, I was smiling so hard my face hurt.
He kissed me a few more times before he turned back around to start the jet ski again, but in the process of shifting his weight, he lost his balance. And fell right off into the water.
I watched him go over the side in slow motion, my brain taking a second to process what had just happened. Then he surfaced, sputtering and laughing. I started laughing too.
“Oh my god, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” He treaded water, grinning up at me. “Just maintaining my dignity.”
“You literally just fell off a jet ski.”
“I was distracted by your beauty.”
“Sure you were.” I looked down at the controls. “So, um, how do I drive this thing?”
“Melody, don’t you dare.”
But I’d already figured out the throttle. The jet ski shot forward, leaving Austin behind. I let out a whoop of victory.
“Melody!” I heard him shout behind me. “Come back here!”
I circled around, getting the hang of the controls, feeling powerful and free. When I came back toward him, I slowed down, pulling up beside him.
“Need a rescue?” I asked sweetly.
“You’re terrible.”
“I’m amazing. You just said so. I’m your heroine in shining armor.”
He grabbed the side of the jet ski, hauling himself up, water streaming off his body. And damn, he looked good wet.
“That was mutiny,” he said, settling back into the driver’s seat.
“That was karma for all the times you’ve teased me.”
“Fair point.” He pulled me against his back again. “But now I’m going to go twice as fast.”
“Don’t you dare.”
He did dare.
At one point, Marco brought out the other jet ski and challenged us to a race. Austin’s competitive side came out immediately, and we lost spectacularly, but laughed the entire time.
After jet skiing, we tried the inflatable slide. The massive thing the crew set up from the top deck down into the water. I went down first, screaming the whole way. Austin followed, somehow making it look graceful.
We broke for lunch—fresh seafood and tropical fruit served on the sun deck. I couldn’t help but think how normal this had all become. A week ago, this would have felt impossible. Now it just felt like life.
Our life.
After lunch, we moved to the sun deck to tan, stretching out on cushioned loungers side by side. The sun was warm without being too much. The gentle rocking of the yacht was hypnotic.
“We should talk about going home,” Austin said after a while.
I’d been avoiding this conversation, but he was right. We needed to talk about it.
“Okay. What about it?”
“My father and Cash—they don’t think we’re serious. They think this is still a stunt. Still the arrangement we started with.”
I thought about that. About Armand’s skeptical expression at that first dinner. And Cash’s obvious disapproval.
And I realized I didn’t care.
“Let them think what they want,” I said.
Austin turned his head to look at me. “Really?”
“Really. I’m done caring what other people think.
Especially people who don’t actually know us.
Who don’t know our relationship.” I reached for his hand.
“Caring what everyone thinks has always been my kryptonite. It’s why that whole Femme Curve thing hurt so bad.
It’s why I let public opinion control so much of my life. ”
“And now?”
“I’m choosing to be happy instead of trying to make everyone else happy.” I squeezed his hand. “I am happy, Austin. Really, genuinely happy. And I’m not going to let anyone’s judgment ruin that.”
His smile was slow and brilliant. “You have no idea how good it is to hear you say that.”
“I mean it. Every word.”
He sat up, swinging his legs over the side of his lounger to face me. “Me too. I’m happy too. Happier than I’ve ever been.” His dark eyes held mine. “And I think I’d regret it if we left this boat tomorrow without me asking you an important question.”
My heart started beating faster. “And what question is that?”
He took both my hands in his. “Melody Stephens, will you be my girlfriend?”
I blinked. “Your girlfriend?”
“My real girlfriend. Not for the cameras. Not for New York. Not to prove anything to my family or restore your reputation or any of that shit we started with.” He brought my hands to his lips. “Just for us. For real. Will you go steady with me?”
“Did you just say, ‘go steady’?”
“I’m trying to be romantic here.”
“It’s very sweet. Very 1950s.”
“I’m a sweet guy.”
“Yes,” I said, laughing. “Yes, I’ll be your girlfriend.”
He pulled me onto his lounger. I straddled him, both of us grinning like idiots.
“Yeah?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“Say it again.”
“I’ll be your girlfriend, Austin Bancroft.”
“One more time.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“And you love it.”
I did. God help me, I really did.
He kissed me then, deep and claiming, his hands sliding up my sides. I melted into him. I wasn’t sure how I was going to survive not spending every waking and sleeping moment with him.
When we broke apart, both breathing hard, his eyes were dark with desire. “We should go back to our room,” he said.
“We should stay up here and enjoy the sun.”
His hand slid down to cup my ass and squeeze. He pulled my lower body against his erection. “We could enjoy each other.”
“Austin, the crew.”
“The crew knows to give us privacy.”
“But we’re right out here in the open.”
He kissed me again, cutting off my protests. And God, I couldn’t think when he kissed me like that. Couldn’t remember why we should stop.
“Say yes,” he murmured against my lips.
“Yes.”
He stood, lifting me with him, and carried me toward the stairs leading to our stateroom. I laughed, wrapping my legs around his waist, not caring who saw us.
We were official now.
Tomorrow it would be back to reality.
But right now, on our last day in paradise, we had this.