Guilty Pleasures

by Deborah Fletcher Mello

  “Now, Sarai has done a fair amount of traveling so she doesn’t necessarily subscribe to the traditional roles that are ingrained in the culture but she would never disrespect or dishonor her father, whether she agrees with his views or not. There is a strict moral code here. Sex before marriage is a no-no and if a ‘good’ girl has sex with you then she’s saying she expects to be your last sexual conquest and you’ll be marrying her. Usually by then she’s introduced you to her family and wedding preparations are already under way.”

  “I do plan to marry her. I love her and she knows it,” Alexander said emphatically. “That’s one of the reasons I made this trip, to get her father’s blessing.”

  “Hey, you don’t need to tell me. I know how you feel about Sarai and I know that she loves you too! I’m sure she’ll sneak over to spend some quality time with you when she can. Just be mindful of what you say or do with her in public and watch the off-color jokes around Thai women. That’s not acceptable either. I learned that one the hard way!”

  Alexander took it all in. He looked perplexed, confusion washing over his expression. “So what do I need to do for her father to accept me? Because I’m not losing her.”

  “Follow her lead. When she feels it’s appropriate she’ll take you to her father and announce your intentions. When that happens you’ll need to be ready to negotiate her bride price.”

  “Bride price?”

  Zachary laughed. “They do that dowry thing over here, man! It’s called a sin sod. You have to pay Pop off for having raised her well. It also shows that you can take care of her financially. And since Sarai’s college educated you’re going to have to pay a pretty price so don’t go low-balling the old guy!”

  Alexander sighed, a full grin pulling at his lips. “Can you at least drink here? Because I need one!”

  Zachary pointed him toward the refrigerator. “I keep it loaded with beer for when I’m in the pool.”

  “You have a pool?”

  His twin grinned. “Hell, yeah!”

  * * *

  The soaking pool was a ceramic work of art, the hand-painted tiles depicting everything that was important to Zachary. It sat off the edge of the home’s patio in a private courtyard, surrounded by lush vegetation and tall trees. The water was soft and buoyant and heated to a warm hundred and two degrees.

  The two brothers sat in deep conversation, both savoring bottles of Singha beer as they relaxed beneath the wet blanket that flowed around them. Dusk had turned to dark, the space lit by the bright underwater pool lights and flickering strings of miniature bulbs strung through the trees.

  It had been a long day for them both, and the casual moment was much needed. Both men were enjoying their time together, reveling in the level of comfort and balance that now marked their relationship. They had promised each other that after a good night’s sleep, Zachary would go back to training and Alexander would resume pushing him to work harder.

  Both jumped when Sarai’s sweet voice sounded unexpectedly from the sliding doors behind them. “Hi,” she said as she slightly waved a hand in their direction. “I knocked but you didn’t hear me.”

  Alexander leapt from the pool. He reached for a towel resting on a lawn chair, swiping at the moisture that dampened his skin. He practically raced to her side. “You left me,” he said as he leaned to kiss her mouth. The embrace was deep and passionate as their lips moved in perfect sync.

  Pulling herself from him, Sarai took a deep inhale of air; then she stepped back, putting distance between them. She stole a quick glance over her shoulder, anxiety washing over her expression.

  Zachary had jumped with his brother, following close on the man’s heels. “Where’s your father?” he asked her as he wrapped an oversized beach towel around his waist.

  She gestured toward the front of the home. “Prasong stopped to ask him something about the class schedules. I think he walked back down to the office but I know he won’t be long.”

  Zachary nodded. “I’ll go run interference,” he said, giving the duo a wink of his eye. “You two do what you do but make it quick. Gamon’s not going to be mad at me because you can’t keep your hands off each other!”

  Sarai smiled and blew him a kiss. “Thank you,” she mouthed as she stepped back into Alexander’s arms. She kissed him again, blowing a soft sigh over his lips.

  “I missed you,” he said, when they finally came up for another breath of air.

  “I missed you more. And I’m so sorry. My father has gone into overprotective mode!”

  “It’s okay. I get it. At least I did once my brother explained it to me.”

  “It’s just our way here.” She tightened the hold she had around his waist, her hands clasped together against the small of his back.

  He chuckled softly. “You could have warned a brother!”

  Sarai laughed with him. “I’m sorry. I should have, but I’m so used to how it is here that I never really thought about it. But I’m sure you will be able to handle whatever is thrown at you.”

  “So, when are we going to tell your father that we’re getting married?” Alexander questioned.

  Sarai met the look he was giving her with one of her own. “Married?”

  He nodded. “This isn’t how I imagined proposing to you but since things are done a little differently here, I just needed to put it out there so that we don’t have any misunderstandings.”

  Her eyes shifted back and forth as she reflected on his comment. “We’ve never talked about marriage,” she said. “I wasn’t sure that was something you wanted with me.”

  He chuckled softly. “I love you, Sarai. Of course I would want that with you. I don’t want it with anyone else.”

  Sarai fell into Alexander’s deep stare. His eyes were cool, his blue stare consuming. She pressed her mouth to his a second time, savoring the sweetness of his touch. Before she could respond further, there was a rustle of noise in the house, Zachary calling his brother’s name.

  They both took a step back from each other, hands dropping to their sides just seconds before Zachary and Gamon stepped through the door. Alexander turned, noting the look her father shot in his direction.

  “What’s up?” Alexander answered, shifting his eyes toward his twin.

  Zachary winked. “I was just telling Gamon about your gym and the technology system you have in place to track everything. We’re constantly having issues with the schedules around here. I think we might want to give it a try.”

  “I actually have the program on my laptop. If I can get Wi-Fi here I’d be delighted to show it to you.”

  Gamon gave Alexander a quick nod as he crossed his arms over his chest. He shot his daughter a look, saying something in Thai that Alexander didn’t understand. Zachary laughed out loud, and Sarai blushed profusely, her face turning a deep shade of crimson. Alexander looked from one to the other. “What?”

  “My father fancies himself to be somewhat of a comedian,” she said, her eyes rolling skyward.

  Gamon’s expression was blank as he repeated what he’d said in English. “You don’t look smart enough to know technology. Your head is shaped like that basketball you play games with.”

  Zachary laughed again, the chortle rising from deep in his midsection.

  Sarai’s eyes widened. “Father!”

  “Do not ‘father’ me! This one might look like his brother, all brawn and no brains, but he is definitely his father’s son!” There was a hint of hostility in the man’s tone despite his efforts to make a joke out of the exchange.

  Zachary tried to lighten the moment by laughing it off. “Brawn and no brain!”

  Alexander shook his head. “I think he was talking about you too, Z!”

  Zachary pounded a fist to his chest as he caught his breath. He said something in Thai, and Gamon nodded.

  He shot his brother a look. “I told him not to worry. That you are very smart. That you’re going to surprise him.” As he eased past his brother’s side, still chuckling over the amu
sement, his voice dropped to a low whisper. “And, boy, is he in for a surprise!”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Alexander was weaving and bobbing inside a fight ring as one of Revolution’s best trainers schooled him on Muay Thai, or Thai boxing. The national sport of Thailand, Muay Thai is a form of close combat where the entire body is used as a weapon. It was only one of the martial arts techniques his brother employed when fighting. Zachary was also proficient in Korean hapkido, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and karate. Alexander caught himself trying to keep pace with his twin as he improved his own proficiency in the martial arts.

  Since arriving in Thailand, Zachary and Sarai had fallen easily back into their respective routines. Alexander had spent the first part of the week working with his brother’s team to continue his preparation for his big match. In Boulder, Zachary had strengthened his endurance and brushed up on his boxing skills. He’d also regained the discipline he needed to keep him on top of his game. The trainers at Revolution were now fine-tuning his brother’s skills, ensuring that he only brought his very best to the title championship. With much help from friends and family, the man was now in full-scale athlete mode.

  Sarai was somewhat of a cause célèbre in her own right. The former Miss Thailand had quite a following of fans and admirers throughout Phuket. She was also a renowned asset to his brother’s business, her opinion highly regarded by all the staff. She picked up where she’d left off, managing the facility without skipping a beat. Alexander was duly impressed.

  Despite their best efforts, there was no alone time that didn’t come without some challenges. Gamon watched his daughter like a hawk, and Alexander marveled at how he was able to perform his own duties and know where she was every minute. Unlike the facility at Champs, Revolution had no nooks and crannies where they could step out of sight to steal a kiss and a tickle. Revolution was wide open and totally exposed. Everyone saw what everyone else was doing, and there were few secrets that could be hidden. Despite his best efforts to relax into that, Alexander found it difficult to have Sarai so close and not be able to love on her the way he wanted. Having to temper the emotion he felt for her was proving to be more of a challenge than he had bargained for.

  His opponent suddenly swept his legs from beneath him, and he landed hard on the padded floor. The landing snatched him from the reverie he’d been lost in, knocking the air from his lungs. His body hit the floor with a gut-wrenching grunt that echoed around the open-air arena. Everyone turned to stare as he rolled onto his back, sprawled flat, his legs and arms extended. He heaved air, sucking in oxygen as he struggled to catch his breath. When he finally had his breathing under control, he opened his eyes to find Sarai and his brother staring down at him. His brother was grinning with amusement. Sarai’s smile widened with relief.

  “That really looked like it hurt,” the beautiful woman said, her eyes dancing with his.

  He smiled up at her. “It didn’t feel good.”

  Zachary laughed. “When you get it right that’s how it’s supposed to work for the other guy!” He extended a hand to help him to his feet.

  “I think that means I’ve got a little more work to do.” Alexander brushed the dust from his knees and chest. “And you really like doing this for a living?”

  “Best thing they ever invented,” Zachary answered, still grinning. “It should be a sin and a crime to make a living kicking ass and taking names!”

  Alexander shook his head, still trying to dislodge the clouds from between his ears. “I think you like this a touch too much.”

  Sarai giggled as she pressed a small palm to his broad back. “Why don’t I walk you over to the medical room and have the doctor take a look at you.” Her brow was raised as she eyed him. “Just to make sure you didn’t get a concussion or something.”

  Zachary laughed. “Yeah, why don’t you two go do that? I need to talk to Gamon and I think he’s checking new students into the residences.”

  “Make sure he collects all the paperwork and that he waits for it to be filled out. He doesn’t like to wait.” Sarai’s bright smile radiated as she seemed to have a silent conversation with her friend.

  As she and Alexander headed to the other side of the courtyard, Zachary gave them a wink of his eye and then he broke into a full gallop, running in the opposite direction.

  Inside the gym facility, she led Alexander down a corridor, past the administrative offices, to the end of the building. She knocked on the door to the medical room, and when no one answered she used her key to unlock it. They stepped inside, and with a quick glance behind them, she closed and locked the entrance.

  Before she could blink, Alexander swept her into his arms and captured her mouth with his own. He folded his body around hers as he kissed her, the embrace possessive and protective. His heart suddenly ached, emotion flooding his spirit. Sarai was feeling it as well as she began to shake, tears pressing hot against her thick lashes.

  Their kisses were fervent and eager, and if anyone had walked in neither could have stopped. Neither would have been able to let go, the intensity of the feelings sweeping between them like a floodgate gone awry.

  “God, I’ve missed you,” Alexander finally muttered, his face pressed into her hair as he inhaled the scent of her floral shampoo.

  She nodded. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t think it would be like this. I just . . . I . . . I don’t know what to say.”

  He brushed a lock of hair from her face, easing it out of her eyes. His fingers lightly swept the length of her face. “Say you’re ready to tell your father.”

  “I am ready,” she said softly. “I just don’t know if he is.” Sarai pulled herself from Alexander’s arms and took a step back. “I’m scared he won’t accept you. It would break my heart if he does not give us his blessing.”

  Alexander paused for a moment to think about the culture and the people he’d experienced since his arrival. Thais were very class conscious, and wealth and status were important to them. He had quickly discovered that he and his brother were an anomaly of sorts. Thais loved Americans, and they were fascinated with black Americans, not often seeing them visit the tropical paradise. What little racism he’d witnessed had been shown toward other Thais with darker skin tones, who were seen as being lower on the social ladder. Dark skin suggested that you were a laborer or perhaps a farmer who worked outside. Lighter skin tones were viewed as signs that you worked inside and were better educated. Skin whitening and lightening products were big business in Thailand.

  He’d met a few Thais who’d commented openly about his skin color, but it had never been offensive, just the Thai way of political incorrectness. It would have been seen as rude elsewhere, but in Thailand it was more of a childlike attitude toward things. They made casual conversation about color, weight, and things Westerners would have been offended by. But Alexander still had to ask the question.

  “Because I’m black?”

  She shook her head. “Because you’re not Thai.”

  Alexander took a deep inhale of air, holding the warm breath deep in his lungs. When he finally released the breath he’d been holding, it felt like a lifetime had passed between them. He shook his head. “What do you want to do, Sarai?”

  She closed her eyes and took her own breath. “I just need a little more time. He’s getting to know you and he likes you and I think . . .”

  Alexander shook his head as he stalled her comment. He held a hand up, and frustration furrowed his brow. “This isn’t going to work for me. I understand it’s a cultural issue but we’re adults. I love you, Sarai! Hiding how I feel about you feels foreign to me. It’s not who I am. I didn’t even do this mess in grade school and I dated some girls I didn’t want anyone to know about! So if we have a relationship, then we’re going to have a relationship no matter where we are in the world. Or we’re not going to have a relationship at all.”

  Sarai moved against him, pressing her body back against his. Her tears finally fell, raining over the round of her cheeks.
“Alex, I love you, too. I love you more than you will ever know. But he’s my father and I need him to love you and me together if we’re going to have any kind of future.”

  The silence between them grew full and thick. Alexander wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close, his hands sweeping up and down the length of her back. He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. When he met her somber gaze, a wave of resolve settled over his spirit.

  “If I were Thai and we were interested in each other, what would be our courting ritual? How do you all date over here?”

  She smiled. “Our first date would be a group affair. I’d invite friends or maybe someone in my family to join us. We’d go to dinner, nothing overly expensive but nice. It would almost be like an interview so they could check you out. They’d ask a lot of questions and you would let them.”

  Alexander nodded. “So I have to have their approval to date you?”

  “They need to like you, yes.”

  “And our dates after that? Once I’ve been approved? Will we still need a chaperone?”

  Sarai smiled. “No. We can go out alone after that.”

  “And then?”

  “And then I will tell my father that you are the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. I will tell him that I love you and I will get his approval.”

  “And then we’ll be engaged?”

  She laughed. “Then you’ll have to go ask my father for his permission. Here, that’s called pamanhikan. But first you’ll have to go buy me a necklace. Something really nice. It’s called the thong mun, or engagement gold.”

  “Really nice like just gold nice or really nice like gold and diamonds nice?”

  “Definitely gold. Diamonds are optional. You’ll know it when you see it. When you come to our home you should bring a well-respected friend with you, preferably Thai, who can tell him about your good character. You should also bring pictures of your family, your house, whatever will show him what your life is like back in the States. After that you’ll propose with the necklace and you’ll tell my father how much you love me and why you want to be with me.”