Chapter thirteen
I woke the next morningcompletely wrapped up in Nathan’s arms. For once, I didn’t have to try and detangle myself before he woke up. Instead, I snuggled in closer, enjoying the feel of his warm body against my own. Nathan woke and kissed me lightly on the forehead then he wrapped his arms tighter around me.
“Morning darling. Did you sleep well?” Nathan asked, his voice still husky with sleep.
“I did. I was exhausted.”
Nathan smiled knowingly and nuzzled my cheek. “Me too, but it was well worth it. You’re well worth the lack of sleep.”
“What’s the plan for today? We should probably get out of bed,” I claimed, but I didn’t really care if we did or not.
Nathan leaned up on one elbow and looked down at me. “If that’s what you want. The day is yours, we can do whatever you want.”
“Really?” I asked surprised.
“Sure. What would you like to do?”
I thought for a moment. I had an idea to help make myself more irresistible to Nathan. “Let’s go shopping,” I said excitedly.
Nathan laughed. “Shopping it is.”
We got up and had breakfast in our room, then went down to Honolulu’s main street, right adjacent to Waikiki beach, where the street was lined with shops. Nathan let me lead the way and he followed me from shop to shop. While I had my passport, I still didn’t know where my purse was, so he brought me whatever my heart desired.
I suspected that maybe Nathan felt by letting me spend some of his money it would make up for the way he had gotten me to come and live with him and for making me give up my life the way he did. I really did believe him when he said that he hadn’t expected me to say yes, or to actually stay, but when I did, he couldn’t let me go. Maybe he realised that he wanted me in his life and now he felt guilty. Wanting me in his life was not the same as loving me though, I was convinced of that as we walked into another shop.
I picked up a short black dress and took it into the changeroom. It wasn’t something I’d normally wear, but I wanted a dress that was going to get a reaction out of Nathan. I wanted to be sexy for a change, feel sexy. I slipped it over my head and looked at myself in the mirror. This dress would cause a lot of men to have a reaction, I thought as I turned to see the back view in the mirror. The tight dress clung lovingly to every curve of my body, making me look like a seductress. It was exactly what I wanted. But would I be game enough to wear it in public?
I took the dress back off, handed it to the shop assistant and told her to ring it up. If Nathan wanted a physical relationship, then he was going to get his money’s worth when he saw me in this dress, even more so when he saw the lacey black thong I planned to wear underneath.
When I felt I could shop no more, we walked back to the hotel. We took our purchases up to our room and decided to go and sit on the beach and watch the sun go down.
“This is really nice,” I remarked as I relaxed back in a lounge chair on the sand. A waiter had just brought us both pina coladas in carved out pineapples. Definitely not a drink I thought Nathan would indulge in, but he had left the ordering up to me.
Nathan nodded in agreement and he reached over to softly stroke my hand. “I could definitely get used to this.” He leaned over further and ran his long fingers right up my arm to stroke my cheek. He loved to touch me. It didn’t seem to matter where we were, just as long as he could feel my skin under his fingertips. He’d been giving me little touches all day despite his no PDA rule.
“You seem like a different person today, very relaxed,” I commented.
“I feel relaxed.” He smiled lazily. “Although I could be exhausted. For someone who doesn’t do much shopping, you sure gave it a good go today.”
I smiled. “You won’t be complaining once you see some of the things I brought.”
Nathan stroked my arms again, this time lightly grazing my breast. My body reacted to him immediately. “Maybe you should come and show me now,” Nathan replied huskily. I desperately wanted to feel more of his skin under my fingertips. Wanting to feel parts of him I couldn’t feel in public.
We raced up to our room where I put on some of my new purchases for Nathan. He spent the rest of the afternoon taking everything back off me.
***
“I’VE BOOKED US A CATAMARANtonight to take us out on the water for dinner,” Nathan said as he and I were sitting on the balcony together enjoying a glass of wine.
I was feeling completely at ease having just spent two hours showing Nathan my new look wardrobe, or more so taking off my new wardrobe.
“Sounds good. What time does it leave?” I asked as I took a sip of the fruity wine.
“Soon, we should get up and get ready,” Nathan smiled sheepishly. “Unless you want to cancel and go to bed early with me tonight?”
I laughed. “We have to eat.” I smiled cheekily. “You’ll need the energy for later.”
Nathan grinned. “Alright, let’s go.”
We got ready and walked down to the beach where a private catamaran was waiting for us on the shore. Nathan held my hand as he helped me aboard and pulled out my chair at the small table set up on the deck for the two of us.
“This was a great idea, Nathan,” I marvelled as the boat sailed over the water. “It’s absolutely beautiful. I’ve never done anything like this before.”
A man in a chef’s hat brought us out a seafood platter and put it on the table between us. Nathan helped himself to a piece of calamari and smiled at me.
“I enjoy how this sort of stuff makes you smile. Most of the women I’ve been with don’t appreciate this type of thing. It’s almost like they just expect it.”
“Really? Why do you want to spend your time with women like that?” I questioned, although I already knew the answer.
“They’ve always met other needs of mine.”
I shook my head, pushing down my jealously, but didn’t respond. I didn’t want to get in to an argument with Nathan when I was enjoying myself so much.
I’ve always loved being out on the water and the setting tonight was so romantic, I couldn’t help but get a little caught up in the moment. It was the most romantic thing I had ever done. The water, the moonlight, the champagne, and of course Nathan looking unbelievably handsome and smiling at me with that charming smile. I was beginning to fall so hard for Nathan, I didn’t know if I could keep up this carefree woman act.
It surprised me more and more that I even wanted to be in a relationship with a man like Nathan. He was rude, arrogant, and a total womanizer, yet he showed me glimpses, like tonight, of what a wonderful man he could be if he dropped the tough guy act and I fell hard for him every time he did.
“What are you thinking about, Rose? You have a look in your eyes,” Nathan asked softly.
“Nothing important,” I replied, forcing a smile.
If Nathan knew I was lying, he didn’t press it any further. Instead we finished off the seafood platter and walked over to the side of the boat to watch the turtles swimming around in the water below us.
“Oh wow. Nathan, there’s one, look!” I exclaimed excitedly, pointing to a giant turtle. I grabbed Nathan on the arm in excitement.
Nathan didn’t even look towards the water, his eyes were on me. I was really enjoying myself and I guess he could tell. I think I was amusing him.
“Have I told you before how beautiful you are?” Nathan asked, turning me to face him.
“Maybe just once or twice,” I smiled up at him.
“You really are, Rose. I enjoy being in your company, even when we argue you make me feel alive. I haven’t really been living my life the last few years,” Nathan said and I noted the sadness in his voice.
“Why? What happened to you?”
Nathan went to say something, but I could see him change his mind. “It doesn’t matter. How about we go back to shore and I take you up to our suite and show you how alive you make me feel?” Nathan’s voice was mischievous as he slid his hand from my back to rest on my bottom.
I smiled. “I was thinking the exact same thing.”
***
THREE DAYS LATER, NATHANand I were lying by the pool, relaxing in the last of the afternoon sun like we had every afternoon for the past three days. It had been a fantastic few days. We’d shopped, swam, and had sex whenever the mood took us.
Our conversation’s had been light and our only arguments had been over who would get the last prawn in the seafood platter we had for dinner.
I had become his perfect mistress. Even though Nathan claimed I wasn’t his mistress anymore, I felt that without a relationship, that’s exactly what I was. I was learning how to please Nathan in every way and I had become more confident with my own body and Nathan’s. I was enjoying being able to have some power over Nathan too, because I knew he wanted me and enjoyed my body. I realised I could use it to get just about whatever I wanted from him. Including the last prawn.
I knew it was harmless fun and as long as I didn’t think about love and commitment. Nathan and I had an exciting and pleasurable time together.
Nathan turned to me and sighed. “Only one day to go.”
I could hear the disappointment in his voice. “I know, then back to reality.”
He sat up and kissed me lightly on the lips. “Let’s not think about it now. Come on, let’s go out to dinner.”
Nathan and I went up to our suite and took a shower together. Nathan got dressed and went and sat out in the sitting room to send a few e-mails. I took my time getting ready. We’d decided to go out to a restaurant tonight, instead of the one in the hotel, which we’d ended up doing most nights so we could get back to our room as quickly as possible.
I did my hair in a high, loose bun, letting a few soft strands hang around my face. I carefully did my make-up the way my mother had taught me many years ago as she got ready for their monthly dinner parties. I slipped my tight black dress over my head, the one Nathan had brought a few days earlier, and smoothed it down over my curvy frame. I put on some gold bangles and gold hoop earrings and completed the look with high black stilettos.
I looked at myself in the mirror. I didn’t recognise the person staring back at me. The old Rose would never have even looked at a dress like this in the stores let alone wear it. I certainly looked like I could be a man’s mistress.
I was trying so hard to be everything Nathan expected and wanted me to be, even without the deal. But there was still that nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach of wanting more every time I was near him.
I put of another coat of lipstick and pushed those thoughts aside. I made my way out into the sitting room and walked slowly towards Nathan. He looked up and his mouth opened in a surprised ‘O’. He stared at me for a moment then he seemed to come to his senses.
“Rose, you look all grown-up and very, very sexy.” Nathan’s voice came out husky. I could tell he was surprised by how I looked. I sure didn’t look like the sweet, innocent Rose he knew. I felt like a seductress.
“You wanted a mistress, Nathan, you got one,” I teased, stepping closer. I reached up and nibbled lightly on his ear. I heard him groan softly. Nathan went to wrap his arms around me, but I stepped out of his reach.
“No way Mister, you’re taking me out to dinner first,” I smiled. “Then you can have dessert.”
Nathan groaned again and reached out to grab me, but I playfully slapped his hand away.
“Fine,” he answered. “But I’m absolutely having a second helping of dessert tonight.”
I smiled and raised an eyebrow. I grabbed my purse and Nathan led me down to the lobby where we got in a taxi and were taken to a restaurant in the main part of town.
A waiter led us to a small table in a quiet corner of the restaurant. We were given menus and were told another waiter would be over shortly to take our order.
“Aloha,” said a deep male voice a few minutes later.
I looked up from my menu and into the eyes of a gorgeous young Hawaiian man. He was about my age, with dark tanned skin, dark curly hair and dark eyes that were smiley and friendly, and completely focused on me.
“Aloha,” I replied happily. I glanced at Nathan and saw him frown at me.
An idea popped into my head. I had a plan to see if Nathan really did have any feelings for me. I had to do it now before we got back home and Nathan got back into his life and his old ways. The last few days he’d started to let his guard down around me and I wanted to test if his feelings for me had changed at all.
“How can I help you today?” the waiter asked. He shot a glance at Nathan, then turned his full attention back to me.
“What do you recommend?” I asked, flashing a flirty smile. I could see Nathan’s eyes begin to darken.
“Well, today the chef has a special of tender chicken breast, covered in a light Hawaiian pineapple sauce, served with a crisp green salad and spicy seasoned potato wedges.” He winked at me. “That’s my favourite.”
“Well then, I’ll have to try that.” I smiled my brightest smile.
“And for your husband?” The waiter asked, briefly turning to Nathan.
I laughed and winked at the waiter. “He’s not my husband. We’re not even a couple.” I looked at Nathan and raised an eyebrow at him, daring him to object.
“I’ll have the fish in white wine sauce,” Nathan muttered, hardly glancing at the waiter.
“Good choice, Sir,” the waiter smiled again at me and walked out to the kitchen.
“What the hell was that? Were you flirting with him?” Nathan growled. He had that ice-cold look in his eyes, a look I hadn’t seen in a while.
I raised my chin. I wasn’t going to let him intimidate me. “So what if I was?”
“Because you’re mine, that’s why.” He was furious. His eyes had turned a shade of brown so dark they were almost black.
“I thought we were over all that mistress stuff? Anyway, even if you did own my body, you can never own my mind. I will like whoever I want,” I taunted. “You only want me for the sex anyway, you’ll still get what you want.”
“You will not behave like that in front of me again, Rose.” Nathan’s eyes were black ice and his tone was so angry I almost chickened out of what I was about to say next.