“It’s not important.” I jump again.
Lex glances down at me. “You wanna take your bikini top off and do that again?”
I pinch his nipple through his shirt. In one swift move he spins me around, pulling me into him with my back to his chest, arms pinned to my sides. His lips are at my ear. “Settle down, Anarchy Amie, why don’t you want me to see this?” He lowers the iPad so I can see myself on the small screen.
“I don’t know. It’s stupid. It’s just a hobby.” I cringe and avert my gaze, not wanting to see my own face reflected back at me with someone else watching, too. It makes me feel oddly exposed.
“Why is it stupid?” The video ends and my most recent tutorials appear on the screen. “How many of these are there? Holy shit, this one has a million views.”
“Some of them are a few years old.”
He releases me and takes a step back, his expression curious. “Why are you embarrassed about this?”
I can feel how hot my face is. “I don’t know. I don’t want to seem vain.” In social circles like ours, people love to be critical, and some of the negative comments are rather scathing in the feed below the videos.
“How would this make you seem vain?” He scrolls through the videos, clicking on one I made when my mom was sick while I was in college. It had taken a bit of convincing for her to let me make that video, but it was one of several in that series that garnered a lot of views. Lex’s eyes go wide as he watches. “This is your mom?”
I nod.
His voice is soft when he asks, “What kind of cancer?”
I swallow thickly, thinking about how scared I was when she finally told me. It had been at the end of my third year of college. I hadn’t been home in months and she’d encouraged me to stay in New York during the fall semester, citing trips and spa vacations. But when I finally came home for a visit at Christmas I realized she’d been keeping me away on purpose. She was in the middle of a course of radiation treatment. “Breast. We were really lucky to have caught it early. Stage two.”
“That’s good.” His words are genuine, as is the understanding look in his eyes.
“It was. They were able to perform a lumpectomy and remove it. She’s been cancer free since. She had all these holiday events while she was undergoing treatment. She didn’t want everyone to know, so I did her makeup. No one would’ve guessed there was anything wrong, which is what she wanted. She just didn’t want the focus to be on her illness, you know?”
Lex nods somberly, continuing to scroll through the series of videos. “I do. My mom would’ve loved these when she went through treatment.”
“I didn’t know Mimi had cancer.” Ruby had never mentioned it.
“It wasn’t something she broadcasted. You know how it is. She just sort of disappeared for a while. People suspected, but we kept it pretty quiet. It’s the reason behind the Halloween fundraiser.”
“She’s okay now though?”
Lex smiles. “She is. She’s a real fighter. She wasn’t as lucky as your mom, she had to have a mastectomy, but she had reconstructive surgery at the same time. Anyway, this is really incredible.”
I blush and look away, unable to manage the compliment. “They’re not all like that. Some of them are just Halloween makeup and how to be a sexy zombie, but that series was special. It was hard for my mom to be around people when all they wanted to do was be sympathetic. This made her feel normal.”
“What’s this one?” He taps the screen.
“We went to the cancer ward over the Christmas holidays and I did makeup for the terminal teens. We had to get waivers signed by the parents to make the video, but we raised something like seventy thousand dollars, so as hard as it was to see, it was totally worth it.” I wave my hand around in the air because talking about it makes me teary.
Lex sets the iPad on the lounge chair and takes my face between his palms. His expression steals my breath, something like reverence passes behind his eyes as he searches my face. “You’re an incredible woman, I hope you realize that.” I attempt to shake my head, but Lex keeps me still between his palms, thumbs stroking my cheeks. “Don’t argue with me, just say I know.”
I smile and whisper the words.
“Good girl.”
I shiver when he brushes his lips over mine, the sadness washing away, everything ceasing to exist except for him. All it takes from this man is a touch to melt me from the inside.
“So incredible.” I tip my head back when he tugs the end of my hair so he can nip along my jaw. “You taste like coffee and oranges,” he murmurs.
“That’s because someone sent me to be pampered today.” I’m glad for the change of topic, I don’t want to think about sad things right now. I just want to enjoy this time with Lex while I have it.
He skims along my collarbone, and follows the contour of my breast. My nipples harden with the simple touch, then tighten further when he grazes one with his thumb. He moves in closer, until his chest comes flush with mine, and his roaming hands finds the center of my back, thumbs smoothing down my spine until he reached the waist of my bikini bottoms.
“You enjoyed yourself, then?”
“Immensely.” I run my palms over his chest, his gentleness sparking need. I don’t know if we have enough time before dinner to enjoy each other, and waiting until after dessert seems like unnecessary torture.
“Good. I’m glad.” He’s still looking at me intently, eyes traveling over my face. I wish he was kissing me again, with tongue this time. “What was your favorite part?”
“The flowers, the dress, and you here, right now.”
His smile widens. “I meant the spa services.”
“Oh, right. The massage was nice. Everything was, actually.” I palm the back of his neck and tug.
He resists slightly, that smile still playing on his lips. “Not interested in conversation anymore?”
“That’s what dinner’s for, isn’t it?” I slide the screen door open and step inside the bungalow, pulling him along with me. The clock to my right indicates it’s just seven. We have plenty of time for pre-dinner sex. I pull the tie at my neck, and the one between my shoulder blades. My bikini top falls between us at our feet. “I thought maybe I could be your appetizer.”
“Did you now?”
I tug the ones at my hips and the bottoms join my top on the floor. His erection strains against his pressed khakis. “I wouldn’t want you to be uncomfortable through dinner.”
“That’s very considerate of you.”
I palm him through his pants. “That’s me, Miss Considerate.”
Lex runs his hands down my sides and cups my ass. His lips glide along my shoulder, teeth nipping at my neck until he reaches my ear. “I was very distracted during my meetings this afternoon.”
I free the clasp on his belt. “Oh? What was the issue?”
“I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
“What kind of things were you thinking about?”
“About the ways I want to have you, about the hours I had to wait before I could touch you again. Kiss you”—his mouth descends on mine as he walks us further into the room, but not in the direction of the bed—“fuck you.” Lex spins me around and bends me over the back of the couch. His warm palm travels down my back. “Here is okay?”
“Anywhere is fine, as long as your plan is to get inside me.”
His hands move to my ass, staying there for a moment before he slips one between my legs. I clutch the back of the couch as he eases two fingers inside me. I’m already wet, but he plays with me, teases, strokes, and caresses until my knees are weak and I’m shaking with the promise of release. The rip of the condom follows and then he’s pushing inside, groaning as his hips come flush with my ass. “I promise I’ll take my time with you later.”
His shirt appears beside me, and then his chest is flush against my back. Trailing gentle fingers down my arm he lifts my hand and wraps it around the back of his neck. I need the other one to keep my balanc
e, so I’m unable to rub my throbbing, needy clit. I moan when he grabs my hip and rolls his own. He’s deep, the head of his cock hitting the same magic spot with every thrust. I shudder and he chuckles.
“Fuck, Amie, all day.” He shifts his hips back and pushes in slowly, lips still at my ear. “All I could think about was being inside you.” Another deep thrust. “About those sexy, sweet sounds you make when I fuck you.”
I groan at the grind of his hips against my ass.
As he straightens I rise with him. His hand moves down the outside of my thigh and he lifts my leg, setting my knee on the back of the couch, spreading me wider, changing the angle so he goes even deeper.
“You know what I thought about the most?” His fingers drift slowly over my hip until they rest above the crest of my pelvis, so close to where I need them.
I shake my head, the word please falls from my lips almost like a plea.
“How much I love the sound of you coming for me.”
His fingers dip low and he rubs slow, soft circles. It’s more than enough, almost too much, and I whimper his name, the sensation electrifying, overwhelming.
He keeps his fingers clamped over my clit as the orgasm starts to wane, and that’s when the real fucking commences. I tighten my grip on the back of his neck as he pounds into me, his hot breath on my shoulder as he says things like, “so fucking good” and “nothing feels better than this” and “so sexy.”
When he comes he bites my shoulder and slaps my clit, causing me to jerk in his arms and come again.
Once we’re both capable of doing more than moaning and breathing, he sets my foot back on the floor and I drop my hand from his neck, bracing myself on the couch as he eases out.
I turn and use the back rest to support my ass, my knees weak from the orgasm. “Well, that’s one way to work up an appetite.”
Lex cups my cheek in his palm and plants a soft kiss on my lips. “You’re my favorite appetizer. I’d have you before every meal if I could.”
While he disposes of the condom, I retrieve my dress from the closet. It has an open back, making a bra impossible. I’m sure that was intentional. Lex helps me step into it. “I think you should forgo panties,” he says as the fabric slides over my hips.
“So you have easier access?”
His grin is devious mischief. “I was going to say to avoid panty lines, but that’s another good reason.”
Putting on a pair of open-toed flats, I grab my purse and follow Lex outside. Instead of heading for one of the resort restaurants, Lex takes me to the beach where a table for two is set up on the sand. Strings of lights flicker, reflecting off the water as the sun falls to touch the horizon; pale blue streaks with light purple, pink, and orange mix into the watercolor palette. It’s gorgeously romantic.
I pull out my phone and snap a few pictures of the view. My smile feels suddenly wooden as I swing around, camera poised to take a picture of Lex. A pang of sadness makes my heart ache for what could’ve been. What would’ve happened if I hadn’t accepted Armstrong’s invitation to dance, if I’d waited for Lex to bring that drink back? Would this be our honeymoon instead?
If Armstrong hadn’t cheated on me, would he have thought to organize a special moonlight dinner on a private beach? Would he schedule a spa day for me, fuck me over the side of the couch? Would he have ever been ravenous for me? Had he ever been? I feel like I already have the answer to that.
Lex’s smile is soft and easy as his fingers circle my wrist. “Just enjoy it for what it is, Amie.”
I don’t want to ruin the moment with sadness over things that can’t be. He turns me around to face the view. Pale blue water darkens along with the setting sun. He wraps his arms around my waist and hugs me from behind, his strong, solid body grounding me in the present. I lift my phone and snap a panorama of shots, hoping to preserve this feeling in the images I collect while I’m with him.
I want to flip it on him and take a selfie, but that would make this too real, so I just appreciate his arms around me and his cheek against mine.
“How were your meetings today?” I ask once we’re settled at the table, glasses of champagne poured and appetizers, of the actual consumable variety, set between us.
“Other than being highly distracted, they were informative.”
I prop my chin on my fist. “Is it okay to ask you to elaborate?”
Lex leans back in his chair. “Of course. It’s not exactly riveting stuff if you’re not involved in the hotel industry, so when you start falling asleep, feel free to throw things at me and I’ll shut up about it.”
“I’m sure it’s far from boring.”
Lex shrugs. “I find it interesting, but it’s my job, so that’s probably part of it. I’m here because we have four resorts and one of them isn’t performing as well as the others. The ratings are down over the past twelve months and it’s my job to find a way to bring them back up.”
“Is it this property?” I can’t see how. This is perfect vacation spot, nothing like real life.
Lex shakes his head. “It’s down the beach a ways, at a slightly more affordable location, well, more affordable for here. I’ll need to stay there for a while later in the month. This is our best performing resort on the island, and it’s my favorite, so I chose to stay here first.”
“What makes this one your favorite?”
“Well, other than the obvious.” His gaze roams over me. “It’s romantic without being overly honeymoon driven. The view is spectacular, the accommodations are grand, but comfortable. Plus the nightlife is accessible and exciting.”
I agree with everything he’s said. “So what’s the other resort missing?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. It’s almost an exact copy of this resort, only more budget friendly. I’m heading there tomorrow to review services and sit down with management so I have comparative data for analysis.”
“That makes sense.” I focus on my champagne flute. “So you’ll be gone all day?” I fight a cringe at how disappointed I sound.
“You could come with me. If you’d like.”
I lift my gaze, uncertain if this is him just being nice, or worse, feeling sorry for me. “I don’t want to interfere with your meetings.”
“It would actually be quite helpful to have a female perspective. I can book you in for a couple of spa treatments, since that seems to be an area that needs work, and you can compare them.”
“Um . . . okay, I could do that.”
“Great.”
God his smile is beautiful.
Halfway through dinner my phone starts buzzing. Anxiety makes my mouth dry. I don’t want it to be Armstrong, ruining a perfect evening, so I ignore it. When it starts again seconds after it stopped, I check to make sure it’s not an emergency.
“Everything okay?” Lex’s concern mirrors my own.
My anxiety dissipates when I see the name on the screen. “It’s Ruby.”
Lex taps on the edge of the table. “When was the last time you talked to her?”
I know what he’s asking without saying it aloud. “I messaged yesterday to tell her I’m fine and I’d switched hotels. I planned to call today, but then I had all these appointments, and this dinner, so . . .” My throat feels tight like the words want to stay inside. This is a necessary conversation. We’re living in this bubble together and this is how it must remain. I motion between us. “I won’t say anything to her about this.”
Lex nods and traces the edge of his cutlery. “Will that be hard for you? To keep this from her?”
Ruby and I tell each other almost everything, but this is different. “I don’t want to put her in a precarious position. Would you tell Bane?”
Lex barks out a laugh. “We don’t share that kind of information.” He reaches across the table and takes my hand. “I don’t want to make this situation more difficult for you. I’m happy to be a distraction for you while you’re here, if that’s what you want me to be.”
“Is tha
t what this is all about?” I gesture to our surroundings.
His smile is warm. “You deserve all the best things, and I can give you a few of them, so that’s what I’m trying to do. If it’s too much just tell me, but I’m willing to give you whatever you want while you’re here with me.”
“What do you want?” I don’t know why I’m asking this. Clearly he wants to get laid, just like I do. This suaveness is innate. No wonder women fall all over themselves to go out with him.
Lifting my hand, he kisses my knuckles. “To enjoy this time I have with you.”
I should feel relief, not disappointment, especially considering I’m still technically married. “We’ll just keep it between us,” I whisper as he bites the tip of my pinkie.
“You’ll be my favorite secret.” His eyes burn, but sadness tints his words with the same shadows cast by the waning sun.
Fourteen: Complicated
Lexington
The morning following dinner on the beach Amie and I head to the sister resort via jeep. Her hair is pulled up in a messy bun, her face is makeup-free apart from some clear lip gloss that tastes like artificial grapes. I’ve kissed it off three times already.
It isn’t hard to convince myself that bringing her along is smart and will be beneficial for research purposes. She’s the perfect person to compare spa services between hotels. She’s also gorgeous, alluring, and charming. She’ll have the staff eating out of her hand.
While I meet with the hotel manager I send her off for a morning of pampering. We reconvene at lunch to discuss what she liked best between the two resorts with the spa and hotel managers. The ambiance is better at the other hotel, but the services are on par. She’s eloquent and intelligent as she reviews the spa menu and makes suggested tweaks.
If I weren’t sleeping with her I’d poach her for my team. She has an excellent mind for marketing and management. I doubt she’s being used to her full potential over at Moorehead. What makes her stand apart is that she not only sees the flaws in a plan, but she can then find a workable solution. And as predicted, every single person in the room, male and female, has fallen completely in love with her by the time we come up with what seems to be a viable strategy for minor renovations to the hotel spa and revamping the services offered, including makeup prep for evening events.
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