by Black, Lena
“Alright, lovebirds, can we get going?” Chase chimes in, and Maya giggles.
“Yeah, yeah.” I murmur, rolling my eyes, and then finish my simple breakfast. I toss the peel and cup in the trash while Hunt and Chase pick up their backpacks and toss them over their shoulders then guide us to the front door.
“Bye…Have fun.” Vivian calls out. I wave to her as Hunt scoots me out. We walk out toward the small path but turn right to a second path practically hidden by foliage. Hunt leads the pack with Maya and me in the center and Chase trailing behind.
We walk and walk and then we walk some more. The trail has become steeper and rocky, having to climb at times. We hike for what feels like forever, however, the scenery is so breathtaking, it makes the trek bearable.
“I hate hiking,” Maya utters as she almost stumbles over a rock, but Chase catches her.
Hunt turns around to check on her. “You, okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just not the greatest at sweating or getting dirty.”
He laughs, glimpsing at me with a wicked smirk, and I know just what he’s thinking. “It’s well worth it. I promise.”
“God, I hope so,” she jokes, giggling.
About ten minutes later, we’re fighting our way through thick, green shrubbery, breaking free in front of the most spectacular waterfall pouring into a turquoise lagoon. It’s perfect.
“Hunt, this is the best one yet,” I say in awe. “But, I don’t have a…”
Before I can finish speaking, Damian pulls a handful of bathing suits out of his backpack. He hands them out and says, “Ladies, you can change over there.”
He points over to a huge boulder on the other side of the lagoon. We head over and change quickly, ready to get into the refreshing water and clean all this icky sweat off. When we come out from behind our natural changing room, Hunt is laying out a blanket while Chase grabs the food out of Damian’s bag.
We head back over to them, and I comment, “Nice spread.”
“I thought we should eat before going for a much deserved swim,” Hunt states.
“And much needed,” Maya retorts.
“I think that sounds great,” I comment, rubbing my stomach. “I’m starved.”
After we finish lunch, we get up and head to the lagoon. Readying to dip her toe in the water, Maya asks, “Do you think it’s cold?”
“There’s only one way to find out,” Chase answers, grabbing her into his arms and tossing them both into the crystal waters. She pops up shrieking and splashing him with water.
“You jerk,” she laughs out.
“Well,” I ask, “is it cold?”
“No, it’s great,” Chase assures, scooping up water and splashing it on his face.
I turn back to Damian with a huge grin.
“Feeling adventurous?” he asks with a wicked smirk.
“What do you have in mind, slick?”
He grabs my hand and leads me up to a cliff just off to the side of the waterfall. He releases my hand, vanishing into some thick bushes, and reappears leaping off the cliff into the water below with a large splash. I follow suit, getting a running start, and throw myself over. I soar through the air and curl my body up tight, coming down with a thunderous splash.
I swim to the surface and break free, taking in a large gulp of air. We swim through the waterfall, float about, splash, and play. We simply enjoy this little slice of heaven on earth.
Hunt and Chase go off to do some exploring while Maya and I hang back and catch rays from the high noon sun.
“So, what’s going on with you and Chase?” I finally ask after basking in the serene, rare silence. “Did you get everything settled between you two?”
“Yeah, we talked, and everything is great.” She sighs. “We’re just friends, Ellie. That’s all we’ll ever be.”
“From what you’ve told me about that night at the apartment, he seems to have feelings for you beyond friendship.”
“Yeah, but there is still the issue of his feelings toward you, feelings I can’t compete with.”
“You don’t have to. Chase and I had a nice chat the other day and he told me that he understands that we are over…as far as a relationship goes.”
“But, he still watches you all the time,” she states, sitting up and applying more sunscreen to her face and shoulders.
“He has to.” I rise and grab the bottle from her hands, doing the same. “Hunt asked him to watch over me.”
“Why? Because of the other night?” she asks with a creased brow and her head tilted slightly to the side.
“No, he’s been keeping an eye on me for months, when Banks wasn’t.”
Her eyes pop open. “Are you serious?”
“Completely,” I reply, gesturing my finger for her to turn her back to me. “Bree and Keira told me, but I heard Hunt talking with Chase awhile back about keeping an extra close eye on me. It’s because of Dante’s reappearance lately.”
“Have you asked him?” she inquires, turning away from me so I can add more sunscreen to her back.
“Yes, he’s told me about a few things that have been going on, slowly but surely. He’s still keeping me in the dark about certain things,” I say as if it’s normal for your boyfriend to keep things from you.
“Doesn’t it bother you?” She glances at me over her newly golden shoulder.
“It does a little, but I’m realizing that he will tell me everything I want to know in his own time, when he feels it’s right…I trust him,” I say these last words in a way that stuns even me. I trust him. “We were supposed to talk more, yesterday, but he distracted me.”
I finish rubbing the white goop into her skin and she turns back to me with a huge grin on her glowing face.
“Distracted you, huh?” She wiggles her eyebrows in an insinuating manner. “How exactly did he distract you, Ellie?”
“Shut up!” I yelp, playfully pushing at her shoulder. “You know how.”
“Is he any good in bed? We know he likes it kinky.”
“Maya! Gross!” I place my hands over my face and shake my head quickly.
“Come on,” she whines, tapping my knee, “you’ve never had a problem telling me before.”
I sigh and roll my eyes. “He’s the best lover I’ve ever had. He’s a master in bed, in all he does, but when it comes to the art of sex, he’s an artist.”
“Holy hell…That’s hot!”
“Yeah, he’s really beyond words.”
“What about…?” she starts to ask, shifting her head from side-to-side, unable to get out what she wants to know so desperately.
“Chase?”
“Yeah, what was he like?”
“I think this is something you should find out firsthand, but let’s just say, you won’t be disappointed.”
We talk until the boys come back a little while later, and Chase suggests to Maya, “I think I’m going to head back to the house, give these two sometime alone. Would you like to tag along?”
She grins broadly up at him and extends a hand, which he snatches and hauls her up. He doesn’t let go.
I smile at her and she returns a radiant one right back at me. She’s practically glowing. The air of pride as she clutches to him is heartwarming.
“Have fun,” I reply with a smirk.
“Thanks,” Chase replies with a grin, shaking his head. He leads Maya toward the path and calls out, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do…Oh, right.”
Hunt and I laugh as they disappear into the jungle.
“Would you like to take a swim with me?” Damian asks, holding his big hand out to me.
“I would,” I reply, jumping up and taking it in mine. We walk into the water, which now feels cool against my newly golden skin. Once we’re chest deep, we sink our bodies in and dunk our heads under. I open my eyes and find Hunt smiling at me through the crystal water.
We grasp onto each other and pop back up, staring deeply into the other’s eyes. “I love you, Gabrielle, so very much.”
We kiss tenderly, his hand placed gently on the back of my head.
He parts from my lips and leans his forehead into mine, taking a deep breath. “I need to talk to you about what’s been going on lately,” he utters, pulling away completely.
“Yes, please, I want to know everything.”
“As you know, I haven’t been entirely honest about the reason I brought you here...”
“Dante,” I murmur, wrapping my arms about his neck.
“Yes.” He slinks his about my waist.
“Gabrielle, there’s more…When I told you that those phone calls and meetings with Banks were about work, I wasn’t lying, however…”
“You weren’t entirely honest, right?” I ask, wiping a bead of water away from his brow.
“No, I wasn’t…Dante managed to steal a substantial amount of money from my company, and it’s left us strapped.”
“What’s substantial?”
“It’s enough to put thousands of jobs on the line.”
“What does that mean in cents and dollars, Damian, how much?”
He wipes his hand over his mouth, removing excess water. “A little over one point five.”
“Million?” I ask, confused.
“Billion,” he corrects me.
“What?! A bill...” I try to comprehend how much money that is in my head as we bob about the shallows of the lagoon.
“Staggering, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I reply, shaking my head slowly as if in an entranced state. “How did he manage…Where is it? Can you get it back?”
“We don’t know how he got it, or where he hid it. There is no way of getting it back if it’s in an offshore account. It would be impossible,” he answers, scooping water up in his hand and slicking his hair back.
“What are you going to do, Damian?” I ask with evident alarm in my voice. “You can’t let people go, not in this economy.”
“I know I can’t, which is why I met with a good friend a while back. We’re working out a deal now.”
“So, everything is going to work out?”
“Yes, I have everything under control, which is why I didn’t want to tell you about it. I knew you would worry if you knew, and it seemed pointless for both of us to panic.”
“So, Dante is after us.”
“No, I think he’s just trying to intimidate us.”
“How do you know…? It’s not as if we are dealing with a rational person. He threatened your life, and if what he told me about Nicholas is true, we shouldn’t underestimate the fact that he may do it again. I don’t want to lose you, Damian.”
He stops us and takes me into his arms tenderly, gripping the nape of my neck, holding me in place.
“You won’t lose me, Gabrielle. I’m right where I intend to stay.” He shifts some strands out of my face and pets my cheek with his thumb. “Promise me you won’t stress out about this. Banks, Chase, and I will keep you safe, angel.”
“Is this what you discussed with him in the kitchen that night Dante broke into my apartment?”
“Yes,” he says with a nod.
“If you think he’s just trying to scare us, why do you think I need protection?” I tilt my head to the side.
“It’s a precaution, gorgeous. Just because there is a small chance of some natural disaster occurring, it doesn’t mean you don’t prepare for the possibility.”
“I suppose you’re right, but…”
“Elle, please, don’t worry about anything, that’s my job. Let me take care of you, angel.” He sweeps his finger along the side of my face and kisses me softly on the forehead.
“Ok, I trust you.”
I tilt my head forward, kissing him softly on the cheek. He grins sweetly at me, eyes scanning my face, and comes in for a leisurely oral caress. He wraps his sculpted arms about my waist, moving us through the shade-cooled water toward the falls until they pummel us, beating down on the tops of our heads and shoulders.
I break my lips away from his, laughing, and lift my hands above my head in an attempt to stop the turbulent water. I scream and giggle while Hunt laughs uproariously, taking pleasure in torturing his girlfriend. I push at him, trying desperately to get away, but, as usual, his grasp is welded about me.
He finally pulls me out, grinning like an idiot, and I playfully spit water right in his face. The grin disappears from his lips and his eyes grow large. I can’t tell whether he’s mad or not. Then, the grin bursts back onto his face as he falls back into the water, taking my shrieking ass with him.
We play, splash, swim, and lie out naked in the sun. It’s a picture-perfect afternoon in paradise.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Fool’s Paradise
After our long talk and some fun in the sun, we head back to the house. Hunt has some things to check in on back in the city, so I head down to the beach where everyone has gathered.
“She’s back,” Keira announces my arrival, alerting everyone else. They turn around, grinning huge, glowing smiles at me. Maya, Aubrey, and Keira leap up off their lounges and run toward me.
“Well?” they ask in unison.
“Well, what?” I inquire with confusion.
They glimpse down quickly and clam up instantly.
Maya chimes in, but she sounds weird. “Well…how did your talk go?”
“It was fine. Thanks?”
“That’s great,” she says, avoiding eye contact with me.
“Weirdos,” I reply, shaking my head at them with a big grin spreading my cheeks broadly. “I’m going to go for a walk and clear my head.”
“Do you want company?” Aubrey asks, rubbing my shoulder.
“No, I really need time alone to figure some things out…If Hunt comes searching for me, just tell him I won’t be too long.”
I head down the beach, taking my sneakers off to feel the sand under my feet. The warm breeze dances off the surf, wafting over me in thick, misty gushes. The skies are vast and blue with monstrous, fluffy, white clouds drifting lazily across it. The waters are clear and calm, tempting me to immerse myself in its soothing depths.
I glance back toward the house but it’s no longer visible. I walk toward the alluring water, stripping myself down to the flesh, and dive in. The feel of the velvety water touching every inch of my bare flesh is exhilarating and provocative.
I finally feel clear-headed enough to think, to breathe.
I can’t believe how open Hunt has been with me. He changed so much since we first met, since that dominant man that first approached me on the dance floor. It’s truly amazing how one person can go from nonexistent to the most important person you’ll ever know in such a short time.
I realize only now that I was never truly fighting him, but myself. I wouldn’t let myself believe that anyone could love and covet me with everything they have, who takes care of me and enriches me, who makes me feel as if I’m whole. I need to learn to let myself love him the way I know I do. I need to stop fighting the idea of us. If he’s everything I need, why does a future with him scare me?
Suddenly, a sickening thought invades my head, causing a wave of nausea to sweep over me…a future without Hunt. How could I even imagine a future if he isn’t a part of it?
These chilling thoughts are too much so I focus on the trip, how nice it’s been spending time with everyone as a family. These people are my family. Then, I think about my dad and how much I miss him, how much I wish he were here to experience this with us, to guide me through everything, tell me that I’m doing alright for myself. I float there, staring up into the sky with burning red eyes, wishing desperately that he hadn’t left us so soon.
Suddenly, I hear a hair-raising scream and realize it’s coming from me, I’m hollering at the top of my lungs, letting out all the hurt, rage, and frustration.
“How could you do this to us?” I scream at the sky as if he could hear me. “How could you leave us before we were ready to let
go? How…?”
The tears pour down my flushed cheeks as I finally release my anger out into nothingness.
“Please, daddy, answer me, please,” I plead softly, as the tears have seized my voice.
I try to contain myself, but it’s impossible. The floodgates have opened and they show no signs of stopping. I’ve held it in too long and now it’s coming at me threefold.
That’s when I feel the comfort of his familiar arms take ahold of me and cradle me close, but when I go into smell his cologne, I realize it’s Hunt. I stare up into his eyes pleadingly and he places my head back onto his still clothed chest. I throw my arms around his neck, pulling myself up and laying my head on his shoulder. I wrap my trembling, naked body about him, clinging desperately while I let out choked, stifled cries.
He doesn’t say a word. He doesn’t have to. He soothingly pets the back of my head, swaying us so we’re almost dancing. I’ve never felt so safe, so free, so loved. I whimper into his neck and squeeze tighter, never wanting to let him go.
I walk into our room, lying in bed on my stomach, still naked. It feels extraordinary as the warm night breeze creeps in from the open glass wall, flowing over me. I turn over and stretch, moaning happily. I actually feel happy, relieved. Then, I remember this afternoon’s cathartic meltdown, Hunt’s comforting embrace. I shut my eyes and smile to myself, fondly thinking about that tender, loving moment when I needed him most, and he was there without hesitation.
“Did you sleep well, angel?” Hunt asks.
I don’t have to peek up to see the pleased smirk that spreads his cheeks widely; I can hear it in his voice.
“Yes,” I reply, lifting my head. I spot him standing near a table for two set in the center of the room, with tapered candles and a brilliant bouquet of tropical flowers. He’s wearing a cream linen button up and khaki shorts, shoeless. He’s breathtaking.
“Is it formal attire?” I ask, teasingly. He holds up a slinky lavender dress and saunters over to my side of the bed. “What’s with all the lavender?”
“It’s a very fetching color on you.” He runs his finger over my exposed breast, circling the nipple. “Come on, get up.”