2. NICK
“Lucky for you I had an extra pair,” my twin brother Dan said, motioning toward the outlandish, bright-colored printed shorts I now had on with my plain white button-down.
“You always carry plenty of clothes wherever you go.”
“Yeah, of course. You never know when I may suddenly need a change of wardrobe for additional footage.”
“Right.”
Grinning, Dan said, “Well, I knew they’d look great on you.”
“Are you kidding me?” I asked with disbelief. These shorts were certainly his style, not mine.
Dan let out a laugh before grabbing two beers from a passing waiter and handing one to me. “Just drink and enjoy bro.”
“If it weren’t for that clumsy girl…” I began to mumble, remembering the reason why I had to change into these shorts from the jeans I’d been wearing earlier. A flash of her innocent blue-gray eyes widening came to mind. I remembered the bright pink lipstick on her perfectly shaped lips and the way some strands of her light brown hair fell over the smooth, supple skin at the top of her breasts. A slight portion of her cleavage was showing, and it was enough to make any man go crazy, especially since it belonged to the most gorgeous face I had ever seen in the entire place.
“Was she beautiful?” he asked teasingly. He’d been the one to coax me into coming to this party, after all because he said I needed to meet new people. He’s always been worried about my workaholic ways, though I was certainly fine being the way I was.
I shrugged. “I guess.” I didn’t want to give him any ideas.
“She might have spilled her drink on purpose, so you’d notice her,” Dan suggested, chuckling. “Women these days can do such crazy things.”
I scoffed. “Well, I did notice her. So, I’m definitely staying out of her path.”
“Come on, man! She could be fun!” He flashed his characteristic grin and draped an arm around my shoulder. “Come on, Nick. It’s a beach party, not a board meeting. Live a little!”
I sighed in exasperation. Dan and I might be identical twins, but we were the exact opposite in many ways. Fun for me meant making winning deals and million-dollar investments that resulted in high profits. For him, it was all about partying and getting more followers on social media.
My phone rang. Dan attempted to snatch it from my hands, but I was quick to answer, giving him a warning look to back off. He threw up his hands in defeat. “Suit yourself,” he said before sauntering away.
I was relieved. It was my assistant who was calling. “Yes, Catherine?”
“I’m sorry to be bothering you at this time…” she began over the phone, then proceeded to inform me of an important matter about one of our recent property acquisitions.
“Catherine, what’s the status of the coastal development project?” I asked, straining to hear her voice. I moved toward the deck where it was a bit quieter.
She replied, “Well, Mr. Hale, the project is proceeding smoothly, but there are some potential concerns. It seems there may be some environmental repercussions to consider.”
I gave a sigh, considering the financial opportunities the project presented and remembering my meeting with the local authorities in that area. “Yes, I remember what they said about the potential risks. Damage to coral reefs and habitat disruption? Water pollution, definitely. However, developers face such challenges all the time. You know how important it is for us to maximize our return on investment. We can’t afford to slow down now. As long as everything’s legal, we can work on reducing the impact later on. Just give the green light to go ahead with the development.”
“Right away, sir.”
I nodded, knowing very well that I could count on her. Catherine was a middle-aged woman who’d dedicated the last eight years of her life to our company, and she was very diligent and reliable.
“Thanks for calling. I’ll be at the office early tomorrow. I’m about to head home now.”
“You don’t care about the damage your project will cause to the environment?!” a shocked female voice suddenly exclaimed from behind me. When I turned around, I couldn’t believe my luck. It was that woman again.
She was taken aback when she recognized me. But I could tell that the alcohol in her system was probably making her confront me. “You!” she cried out, pointing an accusing finger at me. “I can’t believe it. People have admired you, and yet you’re just after the money, aren’t you?”
My irritation flared, and I couldn’t help but respond defensively. “Who are you to make judgments about me and my business? You don’t know the full story.”
She stepped closer, her expression fiery. I felt my body heat up and my heart skip a beat. She retorted, “I heard enough to see that you’re willing to put financial gain ahead of the environment. It’s selfish and irresponsible, and the repercussions might be grave! Don’t you even care about the people and animals that can get affected?”
I simply scoffed and shook my head in disbelief, not wanting to further the argument. This was a waste of time. So, I turned around and began walking away, wanting to put some distance between us. But she followed, unrelenting in her determination.
“Wait!” she cried out. “Don’t you dare turn your back on me!”
She was being impossible, and I felt that it could somehow be because of how much she’d had to drink tonight. She did not appear drunk yet, though.
“Miss, this is the real world, not your idealistic dreams,” I snapped, glancing behind me as we walked on a narrower part of the deck where there were no more people. “We need progress and development to thrive.”
The loud music and chatter could still be heard but were a bit faint here.
The gorgeous young woman remained firm as she grabbed my arm and stared me down, not backing down an inch. The gentle graze of her fingertips against my skin sent a jolt of electricity through my body, making every nerve ending come alive. It was as if a dormant fire had been ignited, awakening a warmth that spread from the point of contact, slowly curling up my spine.
“But at what cost?” she demanded, her blue-gray eyes flashing angrily. “We have to consider the long-term consequences of our actions! It’s not just about making a quick buck.”
I gritted my teeth, torn between my desire to walk away and the magnetic pull of her unwavering gaze. It was infuriating how she challenged me, making me question my own values. I couldn’t deny that her passion and integrity were captivating, even if they stoked the fire of my frustration.
“Well?” she probed in a challenging manner, stepping closer and placing her hands on her waist.
Instinctively, I took a few steps toward her, too, though I didn’t know what to do or say anymore. This was the first time a woman had ever dared to speak to me like that. And to my surprise, I could feel something stirring in my groin. I could sense an intense heat spreading throughout my core, making my heart pound against my ribcage.
My eyes were zeroing in on the velvety skin of her neck, chest, and shoulders. It was as if time had stood still. Then suddenly, one of the thin straps of her dress fell to the side, causing my hormones to rage.
Her chest was now heaving, making her breasts look even more tempting. I gazed into her eyes, feeling like I was swimming in a blue-gray ocean. When the wind blew a strand over her face, I found myself brushing it away and tucking it behind her ear. Every touch between us was filled with powerful sensations that seemed to reverberate across my body.
She froze for a while. My mind was telling me to walk away now, but my body and my heart couldn’t make me.
Then she recovered from the shock of the touch and began hissing, “Just because you’re wealthy and famous and powerful doesn’t mean—”
I put a finger on her lips, making her stop abruptly. I wasn’t sure what came over me then. I usually didn’t act on impulse or let myself get carried away. But at that moment, feeling the softness and moisture of her lips on my finger, I simply went with my instincts. I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around her waist, pressing my lips against hers.
She did not push me away. I felt her kissing me back with the same passion as if both of us had been waiting for this to happen. I felt her hands coiling behind my neck, arousing me further.
It was dark where we were standing, and both of us quickly got lost in the heat and passion, oblivious to our surroundings.
Our tongues eventually united, triggering more erotic sensations as they twisted and rubbed against each other. I pulled her closer and felt the fullness of her breasts crushing against the lower part of my bulky chest. Her hands had moved down the sides of my neck and slid toward my chest. I kissed her with more intensity before gliding down to shower her neck with kisses.
We stumbled backward, and I felt my back leaning against a door that must have been ajar. It swung open without warning, making me lose my balance and forcing us both to tumble to the ground in an entangled heap.
With our arms and legs around one another, I felt myself hardening, getting filled with a strong desire to have her for the evening.
At first, we stared at each other in shock and wanting. Our lustful sides won, causing us to kiss again as we clawed at each other’s clothes. She was unbuttoning my shorts; I was pulling down the straps of her dress. She was taking off my polo as my fingers crawled up her inner thigh and tugged at her underwear.
It was dark, but her face was illuminated by the moonlight streaming through a gap between the curtains.
She’s so fucking beautiful. Gorgeous like a goddess not of this world. And tonight, she is going to be mine.
We were on the floor, naked and full of uninhibited desire. Luckily, there was some sort of carpet beneath us that cushioned our bodies. I didn’t even give a damn whose room this was or if anyone would suddenly walk inside. At that very moment, all I wanted was to kiss every inch of her stunning body and to feel my rock-hard cock penetrating her entrance and filling her completely.
With my fingers, I felt for her sweet spot, circling, teasing, stroking. She moaned repeatedly, which gratified me. I let my tongue roll over each nipple before sucking them, eager to please this woman who was a stranger to me, and yet, had captivated me. My lips, tongue, and hands worked their wonders, multiplying her lust and gratification. Meanwhile, my cock rubbed against her hip. I relished every contact, sliding it nearer and nearer the wetness between her legs.
The suspense was killing us both. But I held back, making her climax with my fingers, allowing her to take pleasure in the few seconds of orgasm that enveloped her body. She trembled beneath me as a series of deep-throat moans escaped her lips.
That’s when I pulled her up with me toward the bed. I sat on the edge and placed her on top of me in a straddling position, pushing her down as I met her halfway. I felt my cock slipping inside, her wetness lubricating the path as I filled her completely.
I haven’t felt this in a long time. It was so damn good.
Her nakedness in front of me lifted me to greater heights of intense desire. I licked her breasts as I continued to shove inside her repeatedly, lifting my ass off the bed, and my hands guided her hips.
Soon, we were lying on the bed with her on top, grinding her body against mine. Then we rolled to the side, exchanging positions. I took her legs and planted them firmly on my shoulders, giving me a good view of her sexiness and youthful glow. I rammed against her, not being gentle anymore, as my fingers played with the top of her slit. I could sense her growing desire and the erotic gratification that engulfed both of us.
I went faster, deeper. Our rapid breaths blend into one. Our moans of pleasure became louder and stronger, but we didn’t care. All that mattered was the pleasure that kept on climbing higher and higher.
Until finally, I exploded. I felt my body shaking uncontrollably. She let out a little scream, indicating that she’d reached her peak again.
Several knocks came on the door from the inside of the house. Before I knew it, we were both getting dressed in a hurry. She was wide-eyed, and her hair was disheveled. She scampered away through the door we’d gone into before I could get her name.
“Hello?!” The voice behind the door made me run out too. I didn’t want anyone finding out about this one-night stand either.