Aloha Fantasy

by Devon Vaughn Archer

  Danica’s legs came up high across Boyd’s back as she arched, wanting to practically meld their slickened bodies as he propelled himself mightily into her, causing Danica to scream with shameless delight. Oh, how wonderful it was to experience such a delightful coming together of their bodies, matching the sexual harmony of their minds. She didn’t want him to stop the maddening torment that had overtaken her entire being. Nor would she let up from squeezing his erection inside her, knowing how much this heightened his pleasure to match her own.

  Boyd cupped Danica’s breasts beneath his rock-hard body, massaging and stimulating the nipples, which were taut and tender to his touch. Her breathing quickened, as did his, while they continued to make love and tap into each other’s need to be together in sexual harmony.

  Danica’s fingernails ran across Boyd’s back and she felt him jump, but she couldn’t help herself, so overpowering was the moment as she started to climax. The cloud nine had her seeing stars and beyond. Her natural contractions around his erection seemed to enhance his deep thrusts and she positioned her body to receive him triumphantly.

  Boyd’s orgasm was out of this world as he braced his hands on the bed and went at Danica like the man she had totally possessed, fighting for every ounce of her goodness and their total satisfaction. They shook and sighed, kissed and licked, came up and down, laughed and sang while coming together as one.

  Danica clung to her handsome lover for the waning seconds of what may have been the most intense of their lovemaking yet. By the time his hot body fell atop hers with the satisfaction complete, she knew definitively what had already been clear to her for some time: she was in love with Boyd and simply could not live without him. His actions left no doubt in her mind that he felt the same way.

  In the process of her reverie and coming back down to earth, Danica barely heard the tender and poignant words that came from Boyd’s mouth, “Happy birthday, baby…”

  * * *

  The next day Danica sat in front of her computer with Boyd beside her as Ashlyn’s face came onto the screen.

  She smiled brightly. “Aloha to two of my favorite people. So glad to speak to you both at the same time.”

  “I think the time had come,” Boyd told her, grinning, with an arm around Danica’s shoulders. He was proud to illustrate that they were a couple to the one who had gotten the ball rolling.

  “Yes, I believe so,” Ashlyn agreed.

  “We probably should have done this a long time ago,” remarked Danica, feeling comfortable with Boyd’s protective arm around her and Ashlyn looking on happily, no doubt rightfully taking credit for turning them into a couple.

  “Better late than never.” Ashlyn chuckled. “Although my guess is that it’s never too late where it concerns you two lovebirds.”

  “I like the sound of that,” Boyd said.

  “You would,” his sister teased him.

  Danica watched her animated motions. “You seem quite peppy.”

  “That’s because I am,” Ashlyn said. “And for a very good reason, which is why I wanted to speak with you two.” She paused dramatically. “Hunter asked me to move in with him and I said yes!”

  “Wow!” The word sprang from Danica’s mouth, so excited was she for her two friends, who seemed to be right in step with her and Boyd. “So you two really are serious about this?”

  “Very serious!” Ashlyn brought her thin brows together. “We’re in love and don’t want to be apart, certainly not such a long distance as between here and Hawaii.”

  Boyd could relate, as he had no desire to be separated from Danica for any length of time. They had come up with a plan to rectify that possibility when he’d decided to accompany her to Chicago to help her pack before they headed back to the Big Island together.

  He was happy for Ashlyn and Hunter in general. But the big brother part of him could hardly imagine his younger sister no longer part of the Hawaiian landscape, even if he saw this coming. He still wanted to talk face-to-face with Hunter so he could feel comfortable with this arrangement.

  “What about the house here?” Boyd asked Ashlyn curiously. “Are you planning to hold on to it for a rainy day or—”

  “Actually that’s the other thing I wanted to talk to you about,” she began, sipping from a glass of wine. “I know you’re just as hung up on each other as we are.”

  “You think?” Danica teased and then leaned her head onto Boyd’s chest as a show of affection, eager to share her own wonderful news.

  “It’s pretty obvious. I also happen to know that you’d like to keep the romance going while living in Hawaii rather than here. Am I right?”

  “Yes,” Danica answered, wondering where this was going as she glanced at Boyd, whose eyes were just as glued to Ashlyn’s face.

  “It’s true,” Boyd conceded, sensing that his sister had something up her sleeve. He hoped it was as insightful as her trading places idea, so long as he and Danica remained in one place at the same time.

  “Well, I’ve come up with the perfect solution to all your problems,” Ashlyn said. “At least where it concerns living arrangements. Knowing how much you just love my place, Danica, I’d like to sell my half of the house to you without breaking the bank. That way you and Boyd will co-own it and the rest will be up to you on what you choose to do to make the most of your situation.”

  “Are you serious?” Danica asked.

  “Never been more serious,” Ashlyn said. “Don’t get me wrong, I love my house and the great history it has for my family. But it’s just a house, albeit a gorgeous one. Some things are more important in life. One of these things is being with someone you truly feel you’re meant to be with. That’s how Hunter and I feel about each other. His life is here and I want to share it and have fun in my new life away from Hawaii. Fortunately my job allows me the flexibility to make such a transition without missing a beat. So what do you say…?”

  The offer was one Danica could only have dreamed about a month ago. Now she was suddenly looking at what could well be the opportunity of a lifetime. Then she remembered Boyd had made her an even better offer. Living with him anywhere was better than nowhere.

  Still, owning a piece of paradise had its rewards that went beyond cost and other considerations…

  “I could put my loft on the market and, between that, a small inheritance and my savings, be able to afford half of your gorgeous property,” Danica suggested, and peeked at Boyd, whose face was tense. “But your brother and I—”

  “You might have discussed this with me first before blindsiding me with this latest plan of yours!” Boyd spoke curtly, removing his arm from Danica’s shoulder.

  Ashlyn frowned. “Excuse me, but what was there to discuss? I thought you’d be pleased that I would give up my share of the house to Danica so you two could do something special with it.”

  “That’s not the point,” he said, trying to keep his emotions in check but failing miserably.

  “What is the point?” Danica asked, meeting his eyes.

  “The point is we agreed that if she were ever to sell, it would be to me.” Boyd took a deep breath. “I already made tentative plans to put the house up for sale should I ever get full ownership.”

  “I’m not sure I want you to sell the house outright,” Ashlyn told him bluntly. “It’s part of our heritage. I was hoping to keep it in the family for generations to come.”

  “So that’s why you’ve offered half of it to Danica?” he questioned, knowing how it must have come across.

  “That’s different. She’s your girlfriend and, I assumed, someone you’re planning to make a life with.”

  Danica thought the same thing. But she understood his perspective—sort of, anyway. She wasn’t officially part of his family, even if they almost seemed like husband and wife.

&n
bsp; “I am looking to make a life with her,” Boyd said, shifting uncomfortably. “As a matter of fact, I’ve asked Danica to move in with me.”

  “Really?” Ashlyn’s eyes widened. She turned to Danica. “And did you accept?”

  Danica sighed. “Yes, I did say I’d move in with your brother, but—”

  “So you two are following the same path as me and Hunter,” Ashlyn cut in, smiling. “Congratulations!”

  “Mahalo,” Danica said, knowing they had both played key roles in making her dreams come true. But there was still the matter at hand. One Boyd seemed to have taken a hard line on. Could she soften him up? Or should she even try, given that his house was just as exquisite and would be very comfortable to live in. But it would still be his house and not theirs.

  “You could always sell your house,” Ashlyn suggested to Boyd, as though reading Danica’s mind. “And you and Danica could take over our house. That way you wouldn’t have to carry the load for two properties or sell the place that was passed down to us. And I’d always have a place to come home to.”

  Boyd felt all eyes were on him as Ashlyn had put him on the spot. He wasn’t very happy about that. The last thing he wanted to do was complicate things between him and Danica unnecessarily. Nor did he wish to cause friction in his relationship with his sister. But, he reminded himself, he couldn’t base practical decisions on emotional attachments.

  “I like my house and see no reason to sell it,” he said stubbornly. “Now, our house is a different story. With a new nearby condominium development in the works that could make traffic a nightmare and even take away some of the spectacular views, it makes no sense to hold on to past memories—wonderful as they were—just for the sake of it. If you’ve decided to move to greener pastures, Ashlyn, I think it’s in both our best interests to put the house on the market. I can buy you out, freeing you from further obligation, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

  Ashlyn frowned, clearly not sold on his reasoning. “I have a better idea,” she said with a catch to her voice. “If my plan to sell half the house to Danica isn’t right for either of you, why don’t I buy your half of the house you obviously have no desire to hold on to. I’m sure that Hunter and I can offer you a fair price and we can make it our summer home.”

  “You’re joking, right?” Boyd glared at the screen, though he had already considered this might come up. Was this Hunter’s idea, anticipating the scenario might present itself?

  “Do you see me laughing?” Ashlyn moved closer. “You’re my big brother and I love you, but it’s not only up to you to decide the future of our house. If you’re so intent on selling it for a profit, then it’s only fair that you sell to me and I will preserve it to the best of my ability.”

  “It’s not about profit, per se,” he insisted. “Yes, the house is probably at its peak value right now. But there are some very good charities that could benefit from that.”

  “There’s other ways to give to charity than selling the house that’s as much a part of us as the island itself. I’ll let you think about it.” She turned to Danica. “Whatever happens, I sincerely hope you and Boyd are as happy as Hunter and I fully intend to be.”

  Danica gulped as her friend bid them goodbye, then she was at a loss for words when the screen went blank. She met Boyd’s eyes. “That was interesting.”

  He sat back, feeling as though Ashlyn had turned the tables and put him on the defensive. “I’m sorry about that. Didn’t mean to put you in the middle of a family squabble.”

  “Excuse me, but it was Ashlyn who offered to sell me her half of this house, not you.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Not sure I do,” she countered. “You’ve asked me to move in with you, but you don’t consider me family? Sleeping together and living together is pretty damned close, don’t you think?”

  Boyd swallowed hard, realizing he had messed up in his presentation, if not his intent. “I didn’t mean it that way.”

  “So what did you mean?” Danica was challenging him even though she didn’t really need to have it spelled out.

  “Only that I wish Ashlyn had spoken to me first about this before throwing out her ideas and making us both a little uncomfortable.”

  “She was only doing what she thought was best for all parties concerned,” Danica said in her friend’s defense. “Obviously Ashlyn believed you just might be interested in co-owning a house with me. Guess she was wrong.”

  Boyd’s brows knitted. “I’m not against owning a home together,” he insisted. He saw it as a serious step toward a loving commitment, which was exactly what he wanted with her.

  Danica raised a brow. “Just not this one?”

  He ran a hand across his mouth. “We already talked about you moving into my house. And you agreed.”

  “I know.”

  “So what seems to be the problem?” he asked snappily.

  “There is no problem,” she told him. “Except that it was before Ashlyn offered to sell me her half of this house. You know how much I love staying in it. Owning a piece of it would give me the sense of belonging I haven’t truly had since my parents died, leaving me with no family support system. I could never have that living where I would basically be a tenant.”

  He met her eyes. “Like my house?”

  “Yes,” Danica told him, much as she hated to admit it. “I have my place in Chicago and I’m willing to sell it to move here to be with you. But that doesn’t mean I want to give up carrying my own weight.”

  “I don’t want to own you,” Boyd clarified. “You’re free to carry your own weight—what little there is, relatively speaking—in any capacity you like on the island. But that doesn’t mean it has to be splitting ownership of this house.”

  “So you won’t even at least think about it?” she pressed, as the notion of going fifty-fifty on a house—this one—was beginning to grow on her. “Or is it simply your way or no way that we’re talking about here?”

  He chuckled humorlessly. “That’s not fair, Danica. I never said it was my way or no way. I would have been perfectly willing to relocate to Chicago, but from everything I gathered, you preferred to live in Hawaii. Living in the same house without any legality thrown into the mix seemed like a perfect solution to keep us together. Having Ashlyn sell you her half of this house was never part of the plan.”

  Boyd wondered if he had come on too strong. Could any of this end up being a deal breaker? Or would cooler heads prevail at end of the day? He found it ironic that though it was Ashlyn who had brought them together, she could also possibly be responsible for tearing them apart. He hoped that wasn’t the case.

  “You’re right,” Danica conceded. “It wasn’t part of the plan. But now that your sister put it out on the table, why not sell your half of the property to Ashlyn and Hunter, if you’re totally against her selling it to me?” She didn’t want to pit brother against sister, not to mention cause any friction between Boyd and Hunter. It seemed, though, that there might not be any way to avoid it, no matter how this turned out.

  “It’s not that I’m totally against it, per se,” he felt the need to put out there. “I want you to understand that this isn’t personal, but a business and altruistic choice. I know people who will snatch this house up in a flash. I owe it to myself to pursue all options.”

  “Is this really about being philanthropic?” she had to ask. “Or more about lining your pockets with more money?”

  Boyd’s nostrils flared and he stood up, peering down at her. “What do you think…?”

  Danica gulped. Maybe she shouldn’t have thrown that at him. The man was clearly well-to-do, given everything she knew about him. He obviously was not driven by a need for cash. “I’m just saying that I fail to see why you are so locked into selling something that obviously means a grea
t deal to Ashlyn.”

  His brows knitted. “Such a great deal that she’s willing to part with it—or her portion of it?”

  “She already explained that,” Danica said, feeling as though they were going around in circles. “If you and I were co-owners, the theory is that she’d never truly be giving it up, and she would always have a place to come back to.”

  “Yeah, right.” Boyd rolled his eyes. “Sounds more like this Hunter dude would have a place to hang his hat. For all I know, this entire thing was his idea, anticipating my response so he could just swoop in and lay claim to one of the most valuable pieces of property in Hilo.”

  “Will you listen to yourself?” Danica shot to her feet and gave him the benefit of an angry glare. “That’s totally ridiculous!”

  “Is it?” Boyd stood his ground, even if he knew his case was weak at best.

  “Damned right, it is. Give Ashlyn some credit for choosing someone with integrity to be with. And don’t insult me by implying that I would introduce her to a shark who only wanted to use her to acquire real estate in Hawaii.”

  “I never said that about you or Ashlyn.”

  “You might as well have,” Danica retorted, wondering now if she knew Boyd at all. Or, more importantly, if he knew her. “Hunter is a very successful man and could easily afford to buy a house in Hawaii if he wanted to live here or have as a summer home. How dare you suggest his relationship with Ashlyn is based on anything other than a mutual admiration and commitment to each other!”

  “I’m sorry,” Boyd said lamely. He reached out to touch her face, but she turned away. He wished he could take back the part about Hunter. But it was too late for that. He had to try anyhow. “Why don’t we just forget I said that and move on?”

  “I’m not sure we can.” Danica looked up at his face. “I get it that you don’t want to share a house with me unless it’s on your terms. But making absurd insinuations is something I didn’t expect from you.”

  “I never said I was perfect,” he countered.

  “I never wanted you to be perfect.”