Chapter 15
Sunlight soaked into Viv’s skin as she waited for Duke to dry off and get dressed into something other than one of the three swimsuits he’d been sporting for today’s shoot.
Positioned directly across from her lay a stunning waterfall that had played as Duke’s backdrop for the last two hours.
Like yesterday, he’d risen to the occasion and performed beyond his call of duty. This time by jumping off a cliff and plunging into the water with a joyous shout.
Also like yesterday, he had a few costars in the shoot with him. Not animals this time—rather, two of Rico’s top fashion models, also sporting the designer’s swimwear.
The bikini-clad duo was all over Duke, of course, but to Viv’s satisfaction, he didn’t indulge them too much. He simply let them grope his chest and dote on him as Zee had instructed while keeping that smoldering gaze or confident grin aimed at the lens.
Every once in a while, he’d drift a look Viv’s way and send her heart skittering out of beat. Once, he even called out to her from the cliff before jumping. “This one’s for you, Vivi!”
Her reaction to the gesture put her right back in time. A swooning schoolgirl who couldn’t help but blush at his attention.
“See you guys later,” Zee called as he carried his equipment away. His assistant followed behind, tripods and collapsible stands in hand.
“See you tomorrow,” Viv called out.
Rico Shimwah had left just moments ago. Viv hoped he’d take the women he brought to the sitting with him, but no such luck.
At least she knew Duke would be all hers after this. Viv would ask him a few lingering interview questions during lunch, and then the two planned to hit the zip-lines Duke had told her about yesterday.
Tomorrow, after the photo shoot in the vineyard, they’d have more of the same.
A delicious thrill chased through her body at the idea of spending so much time with Duke. She wanted more of him. More fascinating conversation. More spontaneous laughter. More hypnotic kisses that put kisses by any other man to shame.
A trill of laughter lifted over the breeze as Viv packed up her things. She glanced up in time to see Duke, accompanied by the two models, heading her way.
“She won’t mind,” one said under her breath. It was the redhead who’d taken a liking to running a hand through Duke’s hair during the shoot. The woman caught eyes with Viv. “You don’t mind if we catch lunch with you, do you?”
“Yeah,” the blonde chimed in. “Tell Duke that it’s fine if we join you. We need to eat too.”
Viv shifted her gaze to Duke in time to catch the subtle shake of his head. The two women casing him at either side like trophies looked back to Viv as well.
A hot knot of jealousy rolled through her gut. She was supposed to be the bad guy in all this? Tell the ladies sorry, but they weren’t invited? She didn’t think so.
“Of course it’s fine,” she said, reaching her hand to the redhead first. “Hi, I’m Verit?.”
“Sasha,” the woman said.
“And I’m Pom,” the blonde said, reaching for a handshake next. “So you’re the one interviewing Duke?”
“Yes. Where are you two from?” Viv started walking in the direction of the group as the two women came on either side of her. The new position left Duke slightly out of the equation but it wouldn’t last for long.
Viv listened to stories of how each of the girls started their modeling career as they made their way to the restaurant. At lunch, Duke pulled out a chair for each lady, saving Viv for last, where he sat down beside her.
Viv had been careful to not give anything away while Zee and Rico were at the shoot. She assumed it wouldn’t matter much if they started dating publicly shortly after the article, but before it came out was another story.
That very thought ran through her mind when Duke reached out and trailed a hand along the back of her arm. The table had been cleared, and the group was just waiting for the check, something Duke offered to cover.
“So what’s next?” Pom asked. “We are in Costa Rica for some pura vida.”
Viv looked to Duke. “Actually,” he said, “this is where Vivi and I have to say goodbye. We’ve got a prior commitment.”
A wave of warmth settled over her. Thank heavens he hadn’t invited them to go zip-lining. If he had, Viv might have bowed out of the activity altogether.
“Did you just call her Vivi?” Sasha asked.
“It’s just a nickname,” Viv said with a shrug, turning her gaze to Pom next. “It was a pleasure meeting you two and hearing about your journey into modeling. It’s always inspiring to see the way talent and persistence pays off.”
And she’d meant it too. According to their story, each woman had overcome their fair share of rejection and failures before making it big.
But the truth was, Viv wouldn’t be sad to see them go off and find their own adventure. Without Duke.
“You were way too nice to those guys,” Duke mumbled once they said their goodbyes.
She and Duke were headed along the walkway outside the restaurant. According to Duke, the tram leading to the zip-line booths were within walking distance.
“Just because they’re two beautiful women, I’m supposed to be…not nice?” she challenged.
Duke grinned and shook his head. “No, you were supposed to be not nice because they had their hands all over me. They were treating me like a piece of meat all day.”
Viv chuckled, unable to contain the smile at her lips. “They were doing their job. They got paid to touch you.” She snuggled into him, wrapped her hands around his bicep, and rested her head on his arm. “I’m doing it for free.”
“Yeah, but I’m still waiting for you to play with my hair the way she did.”
Viv stopped walking briefly, turned to face him, and grinned at the sheepish look in his blue eyes.
“You want me to do this?” She reached up then, ran a hand through his thick, dark hair.
Duke closed his eyes and made a purring sound as she repeated the action. As playful as the gesture might be, Viv saw goosebumps spread over the tan surface of his toned arms.
A small thrill shot through her. She liked knowing that it felt good to him. “Geez, you have nice hair,” she admitted as the length slipped between her fingers.
“Think I should grow out the man bun again? Pom says I should.”
When she didn’t answer right away, Duke pried an eye open to look at her.
She shrugged. “I like both,” she said as they started walking once more. “With and without.”
“I think I’m…partly trying to punish myself for what I did with the whole wedding show. It was a big sacrifice to cut it off like I did. And when everything turned out so well for both Kat and Zander, it was hard to feel too bad about it.
“But then I start to feel even worse because I don’t have guilt over it. I don’t know, the whole thing makes me…tired.”
Viv nodded, but remained mostly silent as they made their way to line up at the trams. His muscles had tensed up at the topic, but she could feel the effects of it in other ways too.
The word tired seemed to encompass it all.
A heaviness that threatened to sink his spirits, forcing him into a state of shame.
And suddenly, Viv wanted very badly to ease him of the burden he’d been carrying. To let him know that he wasn’t a bad guy after all. He was actually a very incredible man from what she’d seen so far.
The line moved up, and so did Viv and Duke, just as their tram halted to a stop. The door retracted just enough to let them inside the small space, then closed behind them.
Duke, seeming to sense there were even less spectators than there’d been a moment ago, slipped his fingers through hers and encouraged her to stand at the corner of the cab where they could look over the view as they traveled up the hill.
“Wow,” she breathed, taking in the gorgeous view of lush leaves in every shade of green. A bright macaw soared over the treetops as the tram rose higher.
“Vivi,” he said in a whisper. “Thanks for giving me a chance. And for…seeing me better than most people do.”
That warmth and affection she felt for him pulled at her once more. “It’s been…I’ve really enjoyed it too,” she said, inching further into the corner to face him. A thought came to her, one she almost tried to bury, but she brought it to light instead. She’d promised to be intentional, after all.
It was pertaining to a relationship outside of the island, the likelihood of making things work back in LA.
She couldn’t pretend that the chances were high, but despite that, Viv planned to give in to the moments all the same.
She didn’t want to sell herself short, to give up something beautiful, all because it might end soon.
Besides, no relationship came with a guarantee.
She recalled the flower she’d seen out the window, the one with a tear in its petal, but it didn’t worry her as it had before. Viv wasn’t a helpless hibiscus—flower-fragile and petal-thin—she was tough, sensible, and able to weather the storms life brought her way.
That determination set in just as Duke’s hands moved to her waist. She tuned in to the wonderful feel as his warm palms wrapped around her hips. He gave them a tight squeeze.
Viv leaned her back against the glass and looked up at him. She wasn’t sure how they were still so strong, the feelings she had for Duke. The connection they’d shared clear back then was—after spending a few days together—stronger than ever.
Duke brought his cheek to hers and teased her skin with the short scruff along his jaw.
Now the goosebumps were surfacing over her skin, accented by the thrill rushing through her at the feel of his touch. She pulled in a shallow breath.
“Between you and me,” he mumbled against her skin, “I’m pretty crazy about you.”
A new dose of heat rushed through her tummy. She glanced up as he pulled back to square a look at her. Yes, there was that connection. Unlike anything she’d known outside of Duke.
Silently then, he lowered his head and pressed his heavenly lips to hers in a full, lingering kiss.
Yes. A rush of pleasure ripped through her.
He kissed her again, slow and sensual, mastering the perfect balance of give and take.
A long, drawn out taste here.
A gentle caressing nudge there.
Each touch offering a new wave of bliss.
He cradled her face with his palm, and a soft whimper fell from her lips. There was power in his kiss. A force that made Viv feel strong and weak all at once. Every move invited her response, like a dance. One Viv wished would never end.
Yet all too soon, the moving cab came to a screeching halt. The doors creaked open. And Duke let out a sigh against her lips. She felt him smile then.
“It’s time,” he said, taking hold of her hand. He lifted it ceremoniously and helped her exit the cab. Sure, her feet were on solid ground, but her head was caught in the dream state of that incredible kiss.
Duke gave her hand a squeeze as he lifted his brows. “You ready to fly through a rainforest?”