by Frankie Love
“Mark has little respect for women,” I explain. “For hard work, for anything, really, that doesn’t come easy.”
She nods slowly. “I see. And you’re the opposite of that?”
I shrug, realizing that could sound conceited. “I’m not perfect, hell, not by a long shot, but I do have different values than him.” I run a hand over my jaw. “And you, do you have a sibling rivalry?”
She smiles, her dark hair looking as if it’s been tousled by the waves. God, I want to run my fingers through it. “No, I’m an only child. My mom raised me on her own. So it’s just been the two of us against the world.”
“That and your million followers.”
She laughs. “You looked at my Insta?”
“While I was waiting for the cab, and you went to the bathroom, yeah. Hell, after you showed me one picture at the bar, I needed to see more.”
The driver coughs loudly and Twila smiles, lowering her chin. Whispering, “Sorry,” my way.
A few minutes later, we’re getting out of the cab, and the music from the night club is pumping out on Main Street.
“So did you like what you saw?” she asks as we walk along the sidewalk. I reach for her hand, and when she laces her fingers with mine, I stop walking, turning to face her. I swear, being by her side is giving me the most intense feeling of my life. I feel strong, powerful. Like I could fucking fight off demons, slay dragons, take on anything to protect her honor.
She inhales, dipping her chin, but I lift it with the crook of my finger. “I loved what I saw,” I tell her. Meaning it. God, her photos were stunning. A bikini-clad beauty on the beach. My cock twitched at each image as I quickly scrolled through. “But it wasn’t the pictures that had me at hello.”
“No?” Her pink tongue darts from her mouth, licking her lips. Looking so damn sweet.
I shake my head. “No. It was the captions.”
Your worth has nothing to do with your weight.
Life’s too short to be unkind to yourself.
Your body, your rules.
“Yeah?” she asks. “Some guys get intimidated by my choices.”
“I’m not some guys.” I run a hand over her back, and she steps in. Close enough to kiss.
“No, you’re not, are you?”
“I had this friend, Adeline, back in college. She was so funny and smart, and beautiful.” I shake my head. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this.”
“It’s okay, I want to hear it.”
“She was so lovely. The kind of person that always remembered to call her mom and would help you study for midterms. Anyways, she was all those things, yet she hated herself. Her skin. She couldn’t see what everyone else saw. And so when I looked at your pictures, it made me wish Addie could have seen them. Maybe they would have meant something to her.”
“Could have?”
“She took her life our senior year.” I run a hand through my hair. “Fuck, this got heavy. But I have a feeling you don’t shy away from the dark.”
“Oh God, Tanner. I’m so sorry.” Twila wraps her arms around me, and I pull her in tight.
“It was five years ago,” I say. “I’ve grieved the loss, you know, but sometimes…”
“Sometimes you remember.” Twila looks up at me with a sweet smile, and eyes that are so blue, so beautiful, that I swear I can see straight through them. Straight to her heart. It’s good. And pure. And sweet.
“It’s nice to remember,” I say.
Twila bites her bottom lip as we step from the embrace. “Do you really like dancing? Like, love it?”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Truthfully, I’m a terrible dancer.”
“Me too.” She laughs. “Xander doesn’t understand why he has a best friend who can’t keep rhythm, but if you don’t mind… maybe we could go to my favorite place on the island instead of a noisy, sweaty dance club. It’s my secret spot.”
“You’re asking if I’d rather go somewhere alone with you instead of sharing you with a hundred sweaty strangers?”
She takes my hand. “Yeah, you in?”
“I’m in,” I say. “But first…”
I lean down, my mouth on hers, and hell, it feels surreal. To be standing on an island paradise with a woman like Twila in my arms. Her lips are soft, sweet, and she smells like coconuts and salty air. Like a deep-sea dive and damn, I wanna get lost in her waters.
When she steps back, her clear blue eyes are darker. “Tanner,” she whispers, pressing her fingers to her lips. “That was my first kiss.”
I shake my head in disbelief. “Oh, God, I had no idea.”
She smiles up at me though, a flicker of want on her face. “I think it’s time we get to that private spot I was talking about.”
Taking my hand, she runs laughing down the cobblestone street, pulling me into the night.
4
Twila
It’s a bit of a walk, but with Tanner’s hand in mine, I don’t mind being out in the dark at night.
“I have to stop here first,” I say in front of my house. “I live here with my mom.”
It’s a small beach bungalow, and it has been in our family for several generations. It could use some repairs, but it’s cozy. Painted teal blue and white, it matches the ocean.
“Stay here,” I tell him. “Give me a second.”
My mom has a late shift tonight at the hotel, and I leave her a note on the table.
Out for my birthday. Be home tomorrow. Don’t wait up. XO Twila
Then I grab a bag and toss in a few blankets, a bottle of white wine, and some plastic glasses. Then I look in the mirror, running a hand over my hair, considering the bra and panties I have on.
After that kiss, I know I want more. Everything. I’ve waited so damn long for this part of my life to start — one look at Tanner and I knew he was something different. Someone special. When he looked in my eyes, I knew he saw me. The real me. And he liked what he saw. Maybe even loved it. A man who doesn’t shy away from the hard things is what I’ve always wanted. I want a man who understands pain, loss — who looks to find beauty in even the hardest to understand spaces.
It doesn’t matter what panties I have on, what bra — if Tanner wants to be with me, he won’t care either.
So I lock the door and leave the house, not exactly sure where the night will go, but opening my heart to any and all possibilities.
“So what’s in the bag?” he asks, taking my hand in his.
“Blankets and booze.” I lift my eyebrows. “Ready?”
He chuckles. “Absolutely.”
I lead him behind the house down a well-worn path that leads to the jungle. We make our way past palm trees and vines, and I push open an iron gate.
He looks around in amazement, taking in the tropical flowers bathed in moonlight, the stone benches that have been here for centuries. There’s a small stone structure where I’ve camped out hundreds of nights over the years. There is a loud crash of water as it falls from the ten-foot-high waterfall into a glittering body of water. “What is this place?”
“It’s my secret garden,” I tell him, locking the gate behind us. “Legend has it this is the island’s fountain of youth.”
He smiles. “And is it?”
I laugh. “I think it just keeps people young at heart if they swim in it.”
“Well, hell, let’s jump in.”
Slipping off my flip-flops, I tell him I’m in. I pull off my sundress and consider what to leave on. This is all new territory.
He pushes off his shorts and pulls off his button-up, and he turns to look at me. “We can skinny dip… or we can not. You pick, birthday girl.”
With Xander and our crew of friends, I’ve skinny dipped tons of times, racing into the ocean after a night of drinking or dancing, or a bonfire — but there is never any sexual tension in those encounters. With my friends, I don’t hold back.
And I don’t want to hold back with Tanner either.
“What are you waiting for?” I uncl
asp my bra, ease my panties past my hips and run through the jungle floor toward the pond. Stepping over stones, I laugh, the warmth of the summer night cooler than the relentless heat of the day. The weather feels perfect, and so does Tanner — this moment could never be captured by an Instagram post. It’s too big for a picture. My whole heart feels alive as we jump into the water.
I come up for air, a smile on my face, naked and fully aware of how naked Tanner is too. He swims toward me, his arms wrapping around mine. My breasts bob in the water and I lick my lips in anticipation. Longing for another kiss.
His mouth meets mine and we kiss in the water, his cock brushing against my skin. My breasts against his chest. I feel deliciously sexy and utterly desired.
And God, I desire him too.
The night is magic, the full moon casting a glow on the water, and I pull away from him, swimming to the waterfall, standing on a rock and running my hands through my hair, over my face, to keep the water at bay.
“God, you look insane,” Tanner tells me, swimming closer. “So fucking beautiful. Like an island princess.”
My body is hot under his intense gaze, but I don’t look away — I meet his stare. “You like all of me?” I’m naked before this chiseled man, and he looks at me as if he wants to lick every inch of my skin.
“Every single bit,” he growls, climbing up on the rock, his cock hard between his legs, and I want to run my hands over him the way he’s running his hands over me. He squeezes my breasts, kissing them, then my nipples. “God, your tits are fucking perfect, Twila.” His tongue circles my nipples, his cock pressing against me harder now, and my pussy craves more.
I’m so wet for him, for this — what’s to come. “I don’t want to be a virgin come morning,” I tell him.
“Good, because I’m planning on making you mine.”
I moan as his hand slips between my legs, my pussy wet as his fingers enter me, and I gasp, the pleasure both new and intoxicating.
“I don’t want you to slip on this rock, baby,” he tells me. “How about we find somewhere to lie down?”
I nod. “The stone building, it has pillows and a mattress. We can go there.”
He cups my cheeks with his hand, kissing me again, his hand on my ass as he draws me closer. My whole body is hot with want, and he must understand my growing need.
He takes my hand, his other hand on my curvy hip, and helps me past the waterfall, toward solid ground. I grab my tote bag and he picks up our clothes and shoes before we run toward my old clubhouse.
“This place is seriously incredible,” he says as I spread out the clean blankets, then root around an old wooden crate for a battery-operated lantern.
I click it on and hang it from a hook in the ceiling. It’s not very bright, but it sheds enough light for me to untwist the cap from the wine bottle and pour us glasses.
“Cheers,” I say, handing him one and reaching for a blanket to drape around my body as we sit down on the mattress. I am suddenly very aware of how utterly naked we are. His cock… in the lamplight… it looks huge. I bite my bottom lip, a pulse of want rising within me.
“You don’t have to cover yourself,” Tanner says. “I love the way you look naked.”
I take a sip of the wine, letting his words wash over me. “I like the way you look naked too.”
He takes a drink of his wine, then takes both our cups, setting them on the small table next to the bed. “Did you used to sleep out here as a kid?” he asks.
“I was too scared of the dark… I used to pretend this was my fort. When I got older though, I would. Eventually I dragged this old matters out here with my friend Xander’s help. We must have camped out here a hundred times.”
“So I’m not the first boy you’ve share this bed with?” Tanner asks with a smile. “Must admit to being jealous about that.”
I move closer to him, setting my hand on his chest, making my intention crystal clear. “I suppose he was the first boy — but Tanner, you’re the only man.”
5
Tanner
Her beauty takes my breath away, and her innocence has me craving all of her curves, but her laughter, her confidence, makes me want to stay by her side for all time. Forever.
She is the whole fucking package and more.
“Fuck, I want you,” I tell her, holding the back of her head and pulling her close for a kiss.
“Good, because you can have me.”
“You’re a virgin, giving yourself to me… I don’t feel worthy.”
“It was my birthday wish. That this year would be better than my last. And last year was pretty amazing. But already I have a feeling this is going to top it.”
“Damn, I hope so.”
I lay her down on her back and push open her knees, needing to see her sweet center. “Fuck,” I groan, inhaling her pussy, my tongue longing to lick her up and down. “I need to taste you.”
She drops her knees open wider, offering herself to me, and I won’t ask again — she’s already told me she wants this. Needs this. And so does my cock. It’s hard as steel, wanting to fill her tight virgin hole, and as I begin to lick her up and down, that cock of mine grows rigid.
“I’m so hard for you,” I tell her between licks. But my mouth is greedier than my cock and I want to pleasure my curvy girl until she is undone.
She moans under me as I flick her clit with my tongue, and I love the sound of her pleasure as I get her off. I move my mouth up and down her, then add a finger at her wet entrance. “I need to get you ready, baby. Understand?”
“Oh God,” she whimpers, squirming beneath me, a smile on her face as she grabs hold of the blanket, her ass lifting as the pleasure intensifies. Her core on fire, her body lit, and God, it makes me feel good. Getting her off is all I care about.
“You like that, baby?” I ask, knowing full well that she does.
“I love it,” she sighs. “Don’t stop, Tanner. Ever.”
“It will get even better,” I promise, adding a second finger to her slit, and her moans become cries, the mounting orgasm pulsing around my fingers. My cock throbs, knowing soon it will be buried in her sweet hole, humming with pleasure as we both get off.
“Oh Tanner…” Her eyes open. Meeting mine, I see fear flash in them. I lean down, pausing the finger fucking of her perfect pussy.
“Are you okay?” I stroke her cheek, brushing her wavy hair from her face.
“No, don’t stop. It’s just… so good… this feels… Oh God. God… Oh God.”
“You’ve never…”
She shakes her head, her fingers circling my wrist as I keep playing with her sweet hole, making her come hard against my hand.
“Never… never… oh God, yes. Yes, ohhh…” Her cries turn to moans, turn to whimpers as her deep and primal need is finally being satiated. By me. God, that feels fucking good.
“Oh baby, you looked so fucking hot when you came.”
“I did?” she asks, looking so damn sweet when she says it. Innocence dripping from her mouth, same as her cunt.
“You did. You looked like a little princess, being deflowered by her king.”
“You’re my king?” she asks.
I nod, my mouth an inch from hers as I lean over her exquisite body. “So long as you’ll have me.”
“Then in that case, I don’t wanna be a princess,” she says, reaching her hand to my cock, stroking me with apprehension, but also with excitement. “I want to be your queen.”
I grin. “Fuck, you’re my queen, all right.” I kiss her hard, our need palpable as our bodies move together, as one, rolling on the mattress.
I lean over her. “I don’t want to hurt you,” I say, kissing her cheek. “But God, I want to be inside of you.”
“I’ve waited my whole life for you, don’t make me wait any longer.”
I kiss her softly, then ease my cock into her tight pussy. Her arms wrap around me and she buries her face in my shoulder as I begin to slowly fill her up.
“You okay
, baby?” I ask, pausing every few seconds, wanting to check in and make sure she is all right. My queen.
“I’m good because you have me.”
“I won’t let go.” And as I say it, I know just how true those words are. I will not let her go. Ever. Hell, I don’t see how I could leave this island without her.
I fill her up, our bodies joining as one, and she gasps, the intensity overwhelming her. I know my cock is big, and her sweet virgin cunt so damn tight — but this is about more than the fuck itself. It’s about the way this moment is changing us both. Forever.
My cock moves deep inside her, and her legs wrap around me. I massage her sweet tits as we rock, my cock pumping deep in the one and only woman where it belongs.
“Oh, Tanner,” she cries, her orgasm causing her to shudder, to shake. She’s panting as I take her, and I hold onto her.
“It’s okay, I’m here, love. I got you.”
She nods, the release crashing through her body. My cock is so damn ready and I lace my fingers with hers, pining her hand over head as I thrust inside her sweet channel, coming and making her mine.
6
Twila
In the morning, I wake to the chirping of birds and sunlight streaming through the slats in the ceiling. Tanner has his arm draped around me. He’s still asleep, and I bask in the moment, wanting to hold onto it for as long as possible.
I just had the best night of my life. Tanner not only made me feel wanted and beautiful, he made me feel good. So good.
The blanket covers us both and I nestle closer to him, knowing soon enough I’m going to need to get up and face real life.
Real life being the fact that Tanner is a tourist and I’m a local — not going back to the mainland.