by Maida Malby
Her task accomplished, Krista surveyed the luxurious accommodations. His kubo was like hers, just bigger. It had all the necessary elements of a house—living room, dining room, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. It was probably twice the size of her apartment in Makati.
Correction, it was three times as big as her unit. Her kubo was the one that could fit two of her city home. The only resemblances this structure had to a traditional nipa hut were the thatched roof covering the building and the wooden support and beams. Everything else was modern and fancy, from the central air-conditioning system to the sleek appliances and high-tech glass windows.
Mutya, the Perlas hostess who brought her down to her cottage in a golf cart, had taken the scenic route and showed her around the resort. She pointed to this as the Maharlika Kubo where the owners usually stayed when they were in Boracay. The Royal Hut? Is Blake one of the partners of Perlas? She had to ask Maddie. Or better yet, she would ask the man himself later, during lunch.
Tucking her bare feet under her legs, Krista leaned back on the sofa and thought about her brilliant idea for the something extraordinary she would do for her thirtieth birthday.
Given that she was in a private island paradise with a super-sexy guy who was also turned on by her—yep, saw that bulge in his shorts—it didn’t require a genius to guess her decision. She would give in to the attraction between herself and Blake. She was going to allow Mr. CEO to seduce her into giving him her virginity.
Krista puffed out a deep breath. She knew her generous curves could incite lust in men. Hadn’t she endured inappropriate groping from her two previous blind dates because of her shape? She didn’t know what triggered her boss’s interest in her before, but his obvious physical response to her bikini-clad body was enough proof that her plan could work.
As he didn’t strike her as someone who wanted a long-term relationship, she was sure Blake would agree to a secret, no-strings-attached affair for one week. They could go back to simply being Mr. Ryan and Ms. Lopez when they returned to the city. Perhaps what happens in Boracay can stay in Boracay.
Nanay is going to freak out if she finds out. She brushed away the unwelcome thought. Her mother’s fears about Krista following in her footsteps had been the main reason Krista got fat, covered up her fair skin, and made herself unattractive. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.
While changing into the bikini, Krista had fully embraced the made-over version of herself that her friends aided in creating. After nearly thirty years of being an obedient daughter, responsible older sister, diligent student, steady worker, and supportive friend, now was the time to just be her. If being herself meant finally giving in to her repressed sensuality, so be it.
When she removed her glasses, let her hair down, and donned her itty-bitty bikini to go for her walk at the beach, Krista had literally shed the persona she’d worn since leaving college—that of a novice on her way to the nunnery. She smiled at how apt the comparison was. For too long she had undertaken the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience; not by choice, but by necessity.
No more, she promised herself. No more playing down my looks. No more shying away from romance. None of that Little Miss Planner shtick.
Not so little. She smirked, but she’d go with it. From now on, she would heed the line from a poem by Robert Herrick that was in one of her favorite movies, Dead Poets’ Society: “Gather ye rosebuds while ye may.” She giggled at how fitting the poem’s title was: “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time.”
Speaking of virgins, the person taking an inordinate amount of time in the shower was definitely not one. Krista had almost fallen flat on her face when she saw him emerge from the water. Whoa! Mr. Blake Ryan is hot! She knew he was immensely attractive in his suits, but shirtless he was sexy with a sizzling capital S.
He resembled the actor who played Superman in the movies, with similar curly black hair, blue eyes, and a dimple on his chin. The exception was her boss’s nose. It was slightly crooked, as if it had been broken in the past. And the body, hmm, the body was also like the actor’s, with well-muscled thighs, sculpted abs, and a golden chest sprinkled with dark hair that tapered into his swim shorts. Of course she drooled. She was only human, after all.
A knock on the cottage’s front door signaled the end of her daydreams. The food had arrived.
Putting on her sandals, she rushed to let the servers in. She led them outside to set up in the cabana by the pool. It might be rude, but if Blake isn’t out in five minutes, I'll start eating without him. He’s been in the shower for thirty minutes already. What could be taking so long? I can wash my hair faster than that.
***
The cold shower wasn’t working. Blake leaned back on the marbled tiles of the shower enclosure and took his swollen cock in hand. Imagining Krista’s pouty lips opening wide and taking his length into her mouth made him harden more. He pictured himself filling his hands with her full breasts while she sucked him, and that was all it took to make him blow his load on the walls of the shower. Pathetic!
He turned the knob to change the spray to warm and rinsed off, scolding himself for going off like a teenager with his first girl. He hadn’t resorted to giving himself a hand job since he was in high school. This seduction better be quick, otherwise I might develop carpal tunnel syndrome.
Stepping out of the shower, he reached for the towel to dry himself. Krista’s blushes and the way she stared at his chest suggested there was a reciprocal attraction there. He just had to fan the flames, and they would burn up the sheets soon enough.
After donning another t-shirt-and-shorts ensemble—his uniform whenever he was at the island—Blake left the bedroom to join Krista in the garden. He paused by the door feeling a twinge of disappointment when he saw she had rearranged her sarong to fashion it into a halter dress that covered her whole torso and upper legs. On second thought, maybe it was better not to get aroused while eating lunch.
He approached on bare feet. As he got closer, he was alarmed by her pose—elbow on the table, chin propped in her hand, and mouth turned down at the corners. “Is anything wrong?”
She dropped her hand to the table. “I didn’t bring money with me, so I couldn’t give the waiters a tip.” The oversight clearly distressed her.
He sat across from her, relieved that it was nothing serious. “Don’t worry about it. The office will put the charge on my account, and I’ll make sure the staff is compensated.”
Blake was impressed by Krista’s thoughtful consideration of the waitstaff. Many people deemed those in the service industry to be of lower class. None of his former dates were as kind.
“Be that as it may, I still feel guilty. I got their names. I hope to see them again at dinner or some other time during the week, so I can make it up to them.”
“I’m sure they’ll appreciate it. Come on, let’s eat,” he invited, lifting the covers off the platters and immediately digging into his lunch.
He had taken a liking to Filipino food, finding it tasty and flavorful. Well, except for balut, the fertilized duck embryo the locals ate direct from the shell. Yuck. The chicken and pork adobo—the Philippines’ unofficial national dish—was one of his favorites, along with the roasted pig lechon and stir-fried rice noodles pancit bihon.
Krista tucked into her meal with gusto, leaving Blake enthralled by the way she puckered her lips after taking a sip of the broth from her sour sinigang soup. He had to mentally shake himself to pay attention to his own food.
“Hmm, sarap!” The garlic saltiness of the adobo sauce and the perfect tenderness of the meat hit his taste buds and made him groan in satisfaction.
“You can speak Tagalog?” Krista referred to the most commonly spoken language in Metro Manila.
“Konti lang. Only a little. I know enough to order food, greet people, not get lost when I travel, and to know when somebody is talking about me.” He joked, “Hindi ako pwedeng ibenta.” No one could sell him out.
She laughed at his jest. “Gal
ing! How long have you been here?”
“Five years last July. I was supposed to stay for three years, but I fell in love with the country and the people, and I decided to extend my contract. The Philippine office has the hardest-working employees in the whole company. And the most beautiful women in the world are here,” he declared, pointing at her with his spoon. He had learned early on to eat with spoon and fork instead of the American fork-and-knife combination.
“That’s a long time. How come you haven’t married any of these beautiful Filipinas you mentioned?” she teased, her eyes on his ringless left hand. She paused in her eating and leaned back, awaiting his response.
He put down his utensils and mimicked her pose. “The honest answer is I wasn’t ready. It’s a cliché to be sure, but I’ve been enjoying the lifestyle of the single, unencumbered bachelor so much, I was reluctant to give it up.” That’s been true in the past. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.
“What about you? How come you’re not Mrs. Somebody yet?” Of course, he knew she was single from Maddie. It couldn’t hurt to hear it directly from Krista. He also wanted to find out her relationship history.
She picked up her coconut juice in a half-shell and after a fortifying sip, rejoined, “No one has ever asked.” She fiddled with her straw and looked everywhere but at him.
No one? As in she’s never had a boyfriend? “No way! Are these Pinoy men so blind that they can’t see the treasure you are? You’re remarkably attractive, exceptionally smart, and very sexy.”
“Yes way!” She grinned at his outburst. “Too tall, too clever, and before today, too frumpy—yep, that’s me.” She crossed her arms over her chest and challenged him. “Don’t tell me you actually liked my boxy pantsuits. I won’t believe you.”
“No, but seeing you out of them made it all worthwhile in the end,” he retorted, revealing his desire for her in his heated gaze. Step one, done. Time for step two.
Chapter Four
Halik [ha-leek], n. – kiss.
“Oh.” Krista uncrossed her arms and reached for a glass of water, her mouth suddenly dry at hearing those provocative words. She jolted when instead of the cool glass, her hand brushed against warm flesh. Blake’s hand captured hers. He drew circles in the middle of her palm with his thumb, sending her pulse skittering.
There it is! She had only felt that electricity a few times, each instance generated by him. It first happened when they shook hands after she got the job. The next time, he had unexpectedly joined a meeting and sat close—much too close—beside her. The last time was this morning when he appeared on her doorstep.
In all those encounters she had recoiled, retreated like the coward she was. This time she would not draw back. She would face this connection head on. Krista raised her chin and met his gaze, letting him see her acquiescence.
Without releasing her hand, Blake stood up and pulled her to her feet. “Krista, you must know that I’m attracted to you. And I think—check that—I am certain you feel the same way about me. Our chemistry is off the charts. What do you say we explore this thing between us while we’re here in Boracay, and see where it leads?” He cupped her face tenderly and lightly pressed his thumb over her lower lip. His blue eyes darkened with desire.
“Blake, I … I want that, too. But I have a confession to make,” she said huskily. “I’ve never done this.” It was important to be honest with him about her inexperience. If it was going to turn him off, she needed to know before they went any further.
Braced for disappointment, she still felt a sense of loss when he removed his hand from her face. Only to shiver a heartbeat later when he raised her arms to rest on his shoulders.
“Never done what, sweetheart?” One of his hands played lightly with her hair while the other rested at the small of her back. He pulled her close until her suddenly tight nipples touched his shirt-clad chest. His touch was feather light but firm.
“All of it. I’ve never been kissed. Never been touched,” she whispered.
If it was possible, his gaze heated more at her confession of innocence.
“Well, Krista, darling,” he said seductively as he drew her closer in his embrace, “I hope you’re a good student, because I will teach you all you need to know about kissing and about touching.”
Her eyes closed at the unfamiliar feelings that bombarded her senses. Mixed in was relief. He was not repelled. He still wanted her.
“Open your eyes, love. I want you to never forget who gave you your first kiss, or touched you for the first time,” he commanded gently. With heavy lids she opened her eyes, then widened them in confusion when his head came down and his lips landed on her forehead.
He let out a laugh at the disappointed expression on her face. “Relax, sweetheart,” he kissed the tip of her nose, then both cheeks. “This won’t hurt,” he whispered in her ear. “You may even like it.”
Gentle as the breeze that wafted in the early afternoon air, his kiss at the curve of her neck made her shiver in response. Then, after a seemingly endless pause, he finally touched his lips to hers.
The kiss was soft at first, his lips tracing the shape of her mouth as if he was committing it to memory. And warm, oh so warm. Then, with his tongue seeking entry, and the hand caressing her face aiding in his request to let him in, she yielded and opened her mouth. She felt the heat slam into her whole being. She couldn’t help herself; she had to disobey him and close her eyes. The sensations overwhelmed her.
Tightening her hold on him, she boldly touched her tongue to his. He groaned and deepened the kiss, his tongue tangling with hers. Her breasts plumped up more, her nipples distended. Down below, dampness seeped through her bikini bottoms.
She lowered her arms from his neck, intending to lift his shirt so she could touch him, but his hands stopped her. He broke off the kiss, raised their joined hands to his chest, and rested his forehead on hers. He was breathing heavily.
Swaying on her feet, Krista asked in bewilderment, “Why did you stop?”
“Baby, if we don’t stop right now, I’ll carry you back inside and we’ll be doing more than what you’re ready for.”
He moved his hips against her stomach, making her feel the hardness between his thighs. “Make no mistake, I want to make love to you. I want to kiss you all over and worship you from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. But you have to be ready, and although it kills me to say this, I don’t think you are.”
God. Why does he have to be so honorable? And so right? Damn it. It was only a couple of hours ago that she’d decided on this course of action. She was truly taking to heart this seizing the moment motto.
Krista took a deep breath, then gently withdrew from his hold. Thankful that her weak knees held firm, she regarded him. He wasn’t lying. The veins on his neck stood out, and his muscles were rigid. He was really keeping a tight rein on his self-control.
Looking up at him, she admitted, “You’re right, Blake. I’m not ready right now. It’s too soon. Too fast.” He nodded, appearing regretful.
“Like I said, I’m open to exploring our attraction to each other while we’re here in Boracay. I agree with you about our chemistry.” She paused to gauge his reaction.
“And that’s why this morning, I decided to give up my virginity.” His eyes grew huge. “I’m giving it to you.” She shook her head when he started to speak. “But, not yet, not right this minute.”
“Sometime this week, hopefully?” His tone was light, teasing.
“Maybe.” She smiled at him. “Maybe not.” She laughed when he groaned.
Stepping back to evade him as he looked about to take her back in his arms, she bumped into the table and saw the remnants of their lunch. Looking for a distraction, Krista started clearing up the dishes.
“Just leave them there. I’ll call the staff to take them away later.” At her sudden frown, he declared, “If I promise to double their tip to make up for not getting one earlier, will you stop cleaning up, please?” He drew out the
last word in exasperation.
His aggrieved tone made her grin. “You, Mr. Ryan, are lazy.”
“Darn right I am!” he proudly proclaimed. They both laughed at the untruthful boast. “What are your plans for this afternoon?”
“I want a nap. All that glorious food is making me sleepy. I should also check in with my family and friends. They might think I’m at the bottom of the ocean right now, since I haven’t called to tell them I arrived safely.”
She bent to pick up her sandals from under the table where she had kicked them during lunch. When she straightened, she caught him staring at her butt, an arrested look on his face. She reached up to kiss his cheek, surprising herself with how comfortable she felt, showing him physical affection. “Thanks for lunch. Will I see you at dinner?”
“Yes, I’ll knock on your door at five thirty, and we’ll take a short tour around the resort before we eat. It’s seafood-feast night. Bring your appetite.”
“You know it. I love seafood,” she enthused. Krista turned towards the path and trilled, “See you later, alligator!”
“After a while, crocodile,” he quipped right back, smiling.
***
Blake stared absently at the space she had occupied, the echo of her laughter still ringing in his ears. Holy crap, a virgin! He pulled up a chair and plunked himself down. Everything he knew about Krista pointed to her inexperience. Still, the confirmation staggered him. Have I ever found a virgin this desirable? He didn't have to think hard. Never. He had purposely avoided them.
He removed his shirt and leaned back on the chair, chuckling at how Krista’s allegation of his laziness was proven true. In his defense, he was on vacation, and wasn’t the whole point of it to rest and relax?
Blake had lost his own virginity at fifteen to his older brother’s high school girlfriend. Summer, the Broadway-star-wannabe, had wanted to make Aidan jealous. Angry at his plan to join the air force after graduation, she’d arranged to have him find her in Blake’s room, to teach Aidan a lesson on how he’d be losing out. It didn’t work; even at seventeen, the oldest Ryan son could be a right bastard whenever he chose. Aidan was mildly amused at finding them together. He broke up with her right there and then.