Two Weeks of Sin: A Billionaire & Virgin Romance

by Rye Hart

  “Yeah, after my wife died –”

  “Oh God, I'm sorry,” I said, my eyes wide, suddenly feeling very sorry for those unkind thoughts.

  “Yeah, she died about a year ago. Cancer,” he said, his eyes softening as he looked away from me.

  “I'm so, so sorry,” I said, now feeling terrible for thinking that something was wrong with him. “How long were you married?”

  “Ten years,” he said. “She was my everything, which is why I've done nothing but work since she died. I had no desire to enjoy life without her in it. But lately I started thinking that she wouldn't want me to live like that, which is why I booked this trip to begin with. But honestly, I almost cancelled it all. The idea of coming alone, well, it –”

  “Say no more,” I said.

  I pulled a tissue from my purse and handed it to him. He accepted it with a grateful smile and dabbed at the corners of his eyes.

  “Now I see why you wanted company,” I said softly. “But why me? Of all the people who would have given their left arm to be sitting right where I am?”

  He turned his beautiful, blue eyes toward me and smiled gently. “Because in all the months I'd been coming to the diner, you always were so happy and cheerful. You were always so kind to me. And I figured I needed a little of that in my life right now.”

  “And it was worth paying my father's debt for me to keep you company?”

  He nodded. “But honestly it was more than just that. I wanted to keep the diner open,” he said. “Where else would I stop in to eat during my travels? It seemed like a sound investment to me.”

  So, his intentions were good. I felt guilty for assuming the worst, but who wouldn't have in my place? It all still felt too good to be true though. Though my fears were somewhat eased, I was still a little cautious. I'd started the day ready to work, prepared to put in another long day at the diner with no hope of a break. And yet tonight, I was going to end the day curled up in a comfortable hotel room, having my every whim catered to.

  Was it any wonder if all felt so completely surreal?

  ***

  I was wrong about us staying in a hotel. I'd envisioned a Hilton or a Sheraton – some hotel chain you usually expect to stay in when you go on vacation. Instead when we pulled to a stop and Nico opened the limo door for me, I found myself staring directly at the beach. There was no hotel, no flock of tourists crowding the beach with their noise and litter. There was nothing but white sand and brilliant blue water before me.

  “Where are we?” I asked, thinking maybe he'd brought me the beach before stopping off at our resort.

  “See that bungalow out there on the water?” Nico said, pointing out into the sea. “That's where we'll be staying.”

  My jaw hit the ground and I very audibly gasped. We were staying on the water. Like, literally on the water, surrounded by the ocean and several yards from the shore with nothing but a wooden bridge between us and the sand.

  I looked over at Nico, still unable to comprehend exactly what I was seeing. I mean, I'd seen plenty of pictures of places like that, but there was always some part of me that supposed it was Photoshopped. As I looked at the gorgeous blue water surrounding the bungalow on the raised platform, I almost had to pinch myself.

  “Don't worry,” he said. “There are two bedrooms.”

  “Two bedrooms?” I muttered, still in shock that there was a bungalow out here in the middle of nowhere, and now he was telling me it had not one, but two bedrooms?

  “Daniel will bring the bags,” Nico said, motioning toward the driver. “Let's go see our lovely little abode, shall we?”

  He reached out for my hand, and I let him take it in his. We walked toward the water, and the closer we got, the larger the bungalow became. We crossed the bridge , and it made me a little nervous as it swayed and rolled with the ocean. As we stepped up on the walkway, my knees trembled a bit. Nico caught me, however, his strong hand holding onto my arm for support.

  “Careful,” he said. “The walkway gets a little wobbly because of the waves.”

  I looked out at the serene, crystal waves as they crashed upon the white sandy shore, and listened the seagulls crying over head. I stared at the water beneath us, amazed that it was so clear; clearer than I imagined ocean water to be. California had some pretty beaches, but nowhere was the sand and water so pure and clean as where we were standing.

  “Madeline always loved the beach,” Nico said softly. “It was her favorite place to be.”

  I assumed Madeline was his wife, and feeling for him, I squeezed his hand gently. “I'm sorry she can't be here with you,” I said.

  “Thank you. But you are here,” he said, raising my hand to kiss the back of it. “And that's all that matters right now. She would have wanted me to enjoy myself, and I'm going to make sure that I do, that we do.”

  “Madeline was a lucky woman,” I said, staring into his eyes, which reminded me of the water beneath my feet.

  Nico's cheeks flushed a little, then he looked away. We continued walking to the bungalow, and I couldn't stop drinking in our surroundings. I'd never been in a place with such natural beauty and it left me in utter awe.

  “I actually bought this property for Madeline,” he said, his voice tinged with nostalgia. “But we never made it out here. The cancer struck fast and hard. We unfortunately, never had a chance to travel again once the diagnosis was given.”

  I had no words to offer him, and the more I heard about him and his wife, the more it made sense that he didn't want to come all this way alone. I imagined it had to be hard to be on a property you'd bought for a wife who'd never had the chance to see it.

  Even though he explained it briefly , I still didn't understand what made him choose me. I was nothing special; just an ordinary girl working in a diner, struggling to help her father make ends meet. We were lower middle-class, if even that. The diner was all we had, and without Nico's help, we'd have had nothing at all.

  I wasn't on his level. He was completely out of my league and I had no idea why he'd choose somebody who quite obviously lacked the class and refinement of the women I was sure he was used to spending his time around.

  We reached the bungalow and Nico opened the door, holding it open for me. The moment I stepped inside, my eyes grew wide. I turned in circles in the middle of the living room staring at the place I'd be calling home for the next few days. It was nicer than any apartment I had ever lived in, or even dreamed of visiting.

  We had walked right into a living area with a couch and love seat, both clean and white. A very large flat panel TV was mounted on the wall, but that wasn't where my gaze fell. No, my eyes immediately went to the wall-to-wall window that opened up to a patio where all you could see was water. Nothing but crystal blue ocean as far as the eye could see.

  Who needed a TV when you could watch the gentle waves swelling and rolling beneath your bungalow all day? Out on the patio, I noticed there was a hot tub and a massive hammock that could easily fit two or more people.

  A kitchen was set off to one side of the main room. It was a small kitchen, but was furnished with high-end appliances – all stainless steel. There was a wine fridge, because of course you'd want wine in your own tropical paradise, along with a mini bar stocked with rows of fancy liquors whose names I couldn't even pronounce. Off to the side of the kitchen was a dining area with a small wooden table and bench seats. It had sliding glass doors that also opened to a small deck that overlooked the sea beyond.

  “Nice, isn't it?” Nico said, following me through as I took the tour.

  “Very nice,” I said. “Amazing, actually.”

  There were two small, but nicely decorated bedrooms, both with views of the ocean through giant floor-to-ceiling windows. My room opened up to the patio, so I could slip outside whenever I'd like or open up the sliding glass doors and let the waves sing me to sleep. Nico was clearly giving me the nicer of the two rooms.

  We each had a bathroom, and mine was fitting for the master suite. It
had a large jacuzzi style tub and large shower with seating. I was most definitely in the lap of luxury.

  “I have no words,” I said. “This is nicer than anything I've ever seen before. Anything I've ever imagined before, quite honestly.”

  Nico laughed and kissed the back of my hand again. “I'm just glad you like it, Sophia. You deserve to be happy and enjoy the finer things in life.”

  I deserve to be happy? No one – and I mean no one, not even my father – had ever uttered such a phrase to me before. It was such a foreign concept that I'd honestly never even thought about it. Happiness was a luxury that I couldn't afford, so I'd always been content to just do what needed to be done and take the small pleasures in life where I found them.

  But happy? Did I really deserve this? What had I done to deserve all of this? After all, if it hadn't been for my father's gambling debt, I wouldn't even be there. So, to think that I deserved it was something of a stretch.

  “So, tell me, Sophia,” Nico said. “What would you like to do first? The island is yours to explore.”

  What did I want to do? In that moment, I wanted to kiss Nico for everything he'd done, and for being so sweet to me. But I bit my lip and held onto that thought. We were just friends. He wasn't expecting anything – and I didn't think he even wanted anything like that from me, anyway. He seemed content to just enjoy a little companionship, and I was perfectly fine with that.

  So, I remarked, “I'd love to go for a swim, if that's okay?”

  “That's more than okay,” he said with a chuckle. “It sounds like an amazing idea.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  I quickly changed out of my regular clothes and into my one-piece swimsuit. Even though it was fairly modest, I still felt incredibly self-conscious as I looked in the mirror. My dark brown hair was pulled back from my face and I wasn't wearing any makeup.

  I was plain, ordinary. I looked like a girl who worked at a diner – not someone who should be hanging out on a nearly private island with a handsome billionaire. My one-piece hugged my body, showcasing my curves – something I'd only begun to accept about myself.

  I wasn't some glamorous bikini model or super gorgeous A-list actress, the type of woman somebody like Nico would be expected to be with. I wasn’t unattractive, but I wasn’t stunning either. I had to admit though, that even though I’d been afraid that Nico would demand sex for his favor, I was a little disappointed that he only thought of us as friends. It was completely ridiculous on my part; I couldn’t have it both ways.

  I found myself wondering what it might be like to be in Nico’s arms or his bed. Would he be a gentle lover, or would he take what he wanted and not care if I enjoyed myself? The thought of it all left me flushed.

  I felt bad the moment I thought about it though. He was married, and he still loved her. She was gone, but I didn't want to replace her. It was a tough spot to be in, and perhaps Nico wasn't quite ready to move on anyway. Maybe that’s why he chose me instead of some model-type. I was someone who wouldn’t tempt him.

  Wrapping a towel around my waist, I walked out of my private bathroom and through the sliding glass doors in my room, out onto the back deck. Nico was already out there, lounging on the hammock in nothing but swim trunks. My eyes fell on his perfect six-pack abs. I moved my gaze up his body and admired his toned chest and strong arms as well. He obviously worked out, and there I was with a slightly rounded belly and thighs thicker than I liked them to be.

  Working at the diner didn't give me much time, or energy, to work out, so I was a little chunkier than I would have preferred being.

  But as my gaze traveled up his body, finally falling on his face, I flushed when I saw that he was smiling back at me. His eyes weren't on my chest or my hips – they were staring deep into my eyes. I couldn't help but smile back at him. If he'd noticed me checking him out, he didn't give it away. Still, my face felt warm all the same.

  “Ready to go for a swim?” he asked, sitting up.

  I swear it was like he was moving in slow motion as I watched his abs move when he stood up from the hammock and walked over to me. So dreamy, like something out of a magazine, or a cheesy romance movie.

  “Yes,” I said, feeling my cheeks flush as my mind filled with very improper thoughts. “All ready.”

  “Wanna jump in with me?” he asked.

  “Jump in? How deep is it?”

  “I don't know, but it's deep enough to go for a dive,” he said, walking to the edge of the patio.

  He stared down into the water, and I walked to the edge and joined him. You could see all the way to the bottom, the water was that clear and pristine.

  “It's probably cold too,” he said. “But personally, I like diving right in and getting the shock over with. It usually feels so good after that.”

  The idea of diving right in to unfamiliar waters scared me, a bit. But Nico was beside me and made me feel safe. If he was willing to do it, I didn't want to chicken out. I nodded, biting my lip and looked into his eyes.

  “Okay, let's do it,” I said, a nervous flutter in my belly.

  “One... two...” Nico took my hand in his and I held it tight. “Three!”

  On three, we both jumped high into the air and came down in the water, which was cold but oh so refreshing, and I went under. At first, I panicked – not having much experience in ocean waters – but Nico pulled me above water, his hands on my waist.

  “I’ve got you,” he said, reassuring me as I took a deep breath. “You can swim, can't you?”

  “Yes, of course,” I said.

  Honestly though, my swimming skills were very basic. I'd learned when I was a kid, in a pool, but it had been years since I'd put that skill to use. I could keep my head above water, but I was by no means going to be swimming laps anytime in the near future.

  Nico let me go, and for a second, I panicked, afraid I'd go under again, but I managed to keep my head above crystal-clear water. I was surprised to feel a twinge of sadness when he'd let me go – there was a part of me wanted his arms back around me, holding me up. I liked the way his hands had felt on me as he'd held me with those strong, chiseled arms. I felt safe, secure, like nothing bad would ever happen to me as long as he held me tight.

  Neither one of us said a word for a long time, we just relaxed in the water and watched as the sun began to set in the distance. The sky was filled with hues of purple, orange and red, which was gorgeous set against the brilliant blue waters. We were several yards from the beach, but you could hear the water crashing into the shore as well as the pilings below our bungalow.

  “Beautiful, isn't it?” I said, feeling at peace for the first time in my life.

  When Nico didn't answer, I looked over at him and caught him staring at me, not the sunset that had captured my gaze.

  He smiled and quickly looked away. “Yes, yes, it is.”

  For a brief second, I swore he was talking about me. I felt a blush creep up my neck and settle in my cheeks. Could he really have been talking about me? I wanted to let myself believe that he was.

  The water started getting chilly, but I was reluctant to get out just yet.

  “Your lips are turning blue,” Nico said. “Let's dry off and get ready for dinner.”

  We swam back to the bungalow and climbed out. He offered me his hand to help me out. I took it, and he lifted me out of the water like I weighed nothing at all. I was standing, in front of him, his hands on me to steady me and our eyes met.

  “Thank you for everything,” I said. “Thank you.”

  “No, thank you, Sophia,” he said.

  His face was so close to mine and the way he looked at me made the butterflies in my stomach swarm. I so badly wanted to reach out and to stroke his face, to kiss his lips. All of this was so new to me, these feelings of attraction and the desire to be with someone. If only he'd kiss me first, I thought. Then all my dreams would come true and I'd have to wonder if perhaps, I wasn't in some fairy tale instead of real life.

  I closed my eyes
and hoped he'd take the hint, but instead, he took my hand and walked me into the bungalow, and the moment passed.

  “We're going to eat in town,” he said. “It's a few miles away, but I hear the restaurant is amazing.”

  “I can't wait,” I said softly. “What should I wear?”

  “Anything you're comfortable in” he said.

  “A sundress, maybe?”

  “That would be perfect,” he said. “I'll ask Daniel to be here in about half an hour. That should give us time to shower and get dressed, right?”

  I pictured Nico in the shower, with water running over his naked, hard body, and felt myself blushing once more.

  “Yes, that should be fine,” I said.

  God knew, I needed a shower – a cold one to get those thoughts out of my head. I shouldn't have been thinking like that. It made me feel so dirty and wrong. I rushed into my private bathroom, turned on the ice-cold water and cooled myself down as best I could.

  This was going to be a long vacation if I didn't get my libido under control.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “A friend of mine suggested this place,” Nico told me as we ate fresh seafood at a small, local place.

  There were no tourists besides us. The place was filled with locals, just out enjoying their dinners alongside us. The restaurant was quaint, charming, and the food was to die for.

  “He insisted it's the best seafood in the Pacific,” Nico said.

  “I believe it,” I said, biting into the shrimp on my skewer. “It's delicious.”

  He looked pleased as he poured me another glass of wine. “I'm glad you like it, Sophia. Only the best for you.”

  The wine was already getting to my head a little bit, and I was tipsy, which wasn't a good thing, given how sexy I found Nico. Even worse was the sudden realization that I wanted him – badly. I was a virgin and inexperienced when it came to men, but I wasn't a shut in. I wasn't some silly girl with a silly notion about waiting for marriage. I knew about desire and sex. And I knew that someday, it would happen for me,when I found the time and the right guy.