Chapter 18
eighteen
. . .
HONOR
“Tell me something about you. Something most people don't know,” I said to Blake as we strolled through the township.
We’d opted out of group activities again today, instead choosing to spend the day together alone, experiencing the local culture. I’d apologize profusely to his family when we eventually turned up to share a meal with them again. But for now, I was content to have the big, broody billionaire all to myself.
Blake paused, mulling over my question. His arm was wrapped around my shoulders, holding me to his side as we walked, and I loved it. Loved being close to him. Loved feeling protected. Loved the possessiveness of the gesture.
“I secretly love pineapple on pizza.”
I came to a sudden stop, tugging him to a halt with me, refusing to let his arm slide from my shoulders.
I gagged. “Oh god, I can’t believe I slept with you.”
His brow quirked, the hint of an amused smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. I loved that teasing smile that was so Blake, determined not to give too much away. The only thing I loved more was when he threw back his head and laughed at something I said. Blake didn’t let go often, so when he did, those laughs felt hard won.
“Slept with me?” he queried, turning to face me, and sliding his arms around my waist. He rested his chin against my hair, voice dropping low. “Is that what you call choking on my cock or moaning my name while you came for the fourth time last night?”
My whole body flushed at the reminder.
God, why had we left the hotel? I wanted to strip him down and mount him right now.
I rolled my eyes, trying to play it off like I wasn't burning up from the inside out at his words, and he smiled down at me, clearly pleased with himself. I moved to start walking, his arm coming around my shoulders again and his going around my waist.
“I mean it. I want to know something about you most people don’t.”
He was silent for another moment.
“I hate being the center of attention.”
I tilted my head up to look at him. “Don’t you command boardrooms and dominate keynote speeches regularly as part of your job as real estate boss of the planet?”
He rumbled a laugh. “Haven’t quite conquered the planet yet. But yes, I have to do those things, but I don’t enjoy it like everyone thinks.”
We strolled down the aisles of a local market, eyeing the different stalls and dodging the chaos of bodies. “I was always a more reserved kid. Spencer and Hudson were the outgoing ones, I was just kind of there, hanging out in the background and I liked it that way.”
The sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm red and orange hue over the bustling market. The scent of grilled seafood and spices mingled with the salty sea breeze, making my mouth water.
I leaned into Blake as we walked, enjoying the easy warmth and connection of the moment.
We paused in front of a stall with a woman selling fresh mangoes. The vendor, an older woman with a face lined with years of sun and hard work, beamed at them.
“Would you like to try, sir? Madam?” She held out a perfectly ripe mango, sliced and ready to eat.
We both took a piece, my eyes widening at the sweet, juicy flavor that burst inside my mouth.
“Oh my god,” I said on a moan, Blake’s gaze locked on mine as he fought a smile.
Those were the same sounds I’d been making for the past three days, only it had been his head between my legs or his cock pulsing inside me that had wrung them out of me, not the perfect summer fruit.
Out of the corner of my eye, the woman’s grin stretched across her face at my response.
Blake cleared his throat, tearing his gaze from me and turning back to her. “We’ll take four please.”
She nodded and bagged them up, accepting Blake’s money and handing them over. She tried to offer him change, but he waved her away with a polite smile and a murmured “For you. Please, keep it.”
She nodded gratefully and Blake’s arm came around my shoulder again as we wandered through the market.
“Antigua is gorgeous,” I said, taking in our surroundings. Beautiful, ornate old buildings towered in the distance painted a sunlight yellow or bright summer peach, and all around us were centuries old buildings in every color lining the cobblestone street.
“The people are pretty great too,” Blake added.
It was true. Everyone we’d encountered throughout the afternoon had been friendly and welcoming, the perfect hosts for our time in Antigua.
“Maybe I’m finally understanding why so many people talk about ‘vacation mode’.”
I smiled up at him. “Is Mr. Serious finally learning how to relax and let loose?”
His arm tightened around me. “I get any more relaxed and I’ll be dead.”
Vacation Blake was so different to the man I’d boarded the plane with. He was open, relaxed, and unexpectedly sweet.
We moved on, stopping at a food stall where the rich aromas of jerk chicken wafted in the air. Blake ordered a plate for us to share, and we found a small table to sit at under strings of exposed bulbs in the setting sun. Our knees brushed under the table as we ate from the same plate in a picture of couple-dom.
“This is incredible,” I said between forkfuls, savoring every bite of the spicy and smoky chicken.
“Seems on top of great people, they know how to do food around here too.” Blake watched me with a mix of amusement and pride. “You’ve got some sauce—” He reached over, wiping a smudge from the corner of my mouth with his thumb. The gesture was so gentle, so intimate, that it sent a shiver down my spine.
Our eyes met, and Blake lifted the finger he’d just used to wipe the sauce from my skin and sucked it into his mouth.
The whole thing was weirdly erotic and worked for me.
Smiling to himself with satisfaction at my no- doubt- drooling stare, Blake got to his feet, strolling over to a nearby drinks stall.
His ass looked incredible in his tailored navy shorts, his muscular legs looking all kinds of hot. Everything about him was hot, from the hair on his head to his taut calves.
My god, I was falling for this man. Badly.
Blake returned with two glasses of Antiguan rum, the rich amber liquid gleaming in the low light.
“They say Antiguan rum is pretty potent,” Blake said, placing a glass in front of me.
I lifted it with a slow smile, biting my lip. “Looks like tonight is about to be even more fun than the past few days.”
His eyes glazed with palpable want, and we clinked our glasses together, each taking a sip.
Two glasses of Antiguan rum and a couple of hours later, the market had quieted down, the stalls closing up for the night.
I was slightly buzzed but Blake seemed the same as always—perfectly in control.
He slipped his arm around my waist as we walked back to the car that would take us back to the hotel, the cool night air kissing our skin.
“Thank you for today,” I said quietly, resting my head against his shoulder. “Thank you for the past three days. And for the whole trip, really.”
He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “I should be the one thanking you. For being here with me. For coming on this trip. For saving me from myself.”
That last part hung between us, neither of us saying anything.
I lifted my head, and without having to utter a word, his arm tightened around me and his mouth dropped to mine.
I sighed against his lips, happy as I could ever remember being.
This day had been more than just fun.
It felt like the start of something real.