by LeCoeur, Ami
"I might need a couple of these. And I think the almonds for Maria…" I couldn’t forget my friends back at the store. The Cacao Grenada seemed perfect for Priscilla and I grabbed an Espresso for Nevia, along with a few others I might just keep. "Chocolate is healthy," I reminded myself, and maybe it could lead to other things....
Chapter Eleven
We left with our purchases, wrapped and carefully stowed in my beach bag where I hoped it would stay cool enough. A short while later, we were at the beach. We'd stashed our chocolates and extra clothes in a locker out of the sun.
Antonio, shirtless and absolutely gorgeous, was heading toward me with two lounge chairs. I smiled as he set them down, realizing how lucky I was to be in the company of this man.
The sun beat down on my skin as I stretched out on the chair. I closed my eyes and let its warmth soothe me. It felt so good. Everything about this day was just perfect, including… I opened my eyes and turned my head to watch Antonio. He was lying quietly beside me, gazing out over the ocean. He was so close, his bronzed body glistening in the sun. I could reach out and touch him if I wanted to. Run a finger along those taut muscles. I was almost close enough to slide a leg over and sit on his lap, pressing my body against him as I wound my arms around his neck and kissed him, long and deep.
I touched a finger to my lips, enjoying my little fantasy for a moment longer.
But while I was enjoying my new bold sense of confidence, I wasn’t quite ready for such a public display. And, I didn't need to be totally blatant anyway. There were lots of ways I could still control the situation.
"Would you do me a favor? I haven't been out in the sun nearly as much as you. Would you mind?" I held out my suntan lotion toward him.
He turned to look at me, his mouth lifting at the corner as he reached for the bottle. "Turn over," he said with mock gruffness.
OK, I thought, game on!
God, his hands felt good as they massaged the lotion into my skin. The electricity was still there, tingling all the way to my hot spots—and getting me hotter by the minute. But it was strangely calming at the same time. Like they belonged there, touching me, centering me.
I drifted into a sort of hypnotic trance, the warmth of the sun, the warmth of his hands, the warmth of my sexual desire... I must have drifted off because the next thing I noticed was my chair shifting suddenly.
"I’m going to go for a swim," Antonio announced. He moved away quickly, removing any chance for me to invite myself along. I rolled over on my back, having to settle for watching rippling muscles under bronzed skin as he disappeared into the surf.
Chapter Twelve
The beach wasn’t overly packed, but there were enough bodies for me to enjoy a little people watching. I wished I’d brought my camera to appreciate them all, especially a young couple fawning over each other a short distance away. They were so into each other, chatting and touching and laughing. I glanced back out into the ocean, trying to spot Antonio, but I couldn’t find him.
When I turned back to the couple, I was surprised to recognize my friends from volcano-land—Greg and Tina walking hand-in-hand toward me.
"Hi," said Tina with a happy wave. "Are you here alone?"
"Of course not, babe," said Greg, pointing at Antonio’s lounge chair.
"Oh, you’re right," she laughed, then held out her hand to me. "I’ve been wondering how you were doing! Everything seems kind of tame after our adventure, on St Lucia, don't you think so?"
"That depends. I'll bet you two have been keeping busy," I ventured.
Greg laughed, turning toward Tina. "Is it that obvious?"
"Just a bit," I said, hoping I didn’t sound too wistful. "Are you enjoying the beach?"
"Oh, yes!" said Tina. "But we’ve noticed you on the ship, and then when we saw you here… well, you’re always alone. So, we thought, you might like to hang out with us?"
Sheesh, I sighed. Is it that obvious? Thankfully, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Antonio heading our way. Perfect timing. "Actually, I’m not alone. My… companion's just a very busy man."
"Hello," Antonio said as he jogged up. "Antonio," He held out his hand as he grabbed a towel. I tried not to stare too hard as he dried himself off. He smiled politely at the couple.
"Hi, I’m Greg and this is Tina. We got stranded on the island with Angela. We're just about to head over to the café for lunch. Won't you join us?"
***
"And then we want to start a family, but not until I’m finished with school," Tina confided. She and Greg chatted on about their new lives together, everything from Greg supporting the two of them on the G.I. Bill while they both finished college, to their plans to adopt a puppy when they returned from their honeymoon.
I teetered between being envious and adoring their closeness. There wasn’t much opportunity for Antonio or me to say much between their gushing conversation, but every now and then, one of us managed to interject a word or two.
"Well, you two seem pretty happy," Antonio finally laughed. He seemed almost as delighted with their bubbling enthusiasm as I was.
"Oh! I almost forgot!" Tina smiled shyly at me. "We were wondering if you would mind sending us copies of the photos you took on St Lucia. At least the ones of us."
"Sure, I'd love to. Just make sure I have your email address before we dock."
"They'll be such a nice reminder of our honeymoon," Greg said.
"And our little adventure," I laughed as Tina handed me a napkin with her address.
"I thought you said you were here on business?" Tina asked as the men took care of the lunch bill.
"Oh, I am. Antonio's my boss," I confided.
Her eyebrows shot up appreciatively. "My goodness. No wonder you took the job. He's gorgeous! I don't blame you. But how do you keep your mind on business when he's around?"
The guys returned to the table about then, and I was spared having to come up with an answer. Instead, I just smiled and shrugged.
Chapter Thirteen
The trip back to the ship was quiet and companionable. At the dock, we stopped and Antonio bought some Cuban cigars from a vendor.
"Cigars?" I asked curiously.
Antonio shrugged. "It’s a guy thing. Good for business meetings. Besides, it goes with the rum."
That caused a strange tightening in my stomach. I was suddenly chilled by the thought that perhaps this was an indication of how the night would end. Another "business meeting" at the casino, involving men I’d rather not be around.
The queue at the boarding dock was longer than normal.
As we stepped to the front I saw people posing. Oh, another photo opportunity—this time Antonio couldn't beg off. He'd pretty much managed to avoid getting his photo snapped during the evenings onboard. I'd been rather disappointed, not understanding his reticence. After all, we were under no obligation to actually buy the photos, and it was fun to dress up and pose.
"Smile" said a voice as we stepped onto the gangplank.
The friendly young woman's infectious grin managed to break through the melancholy that had begun to settle over me a moment earlier. I looked at Antonio and he seemed cheerful enough. With unspoken agreement, we posed for the picture, our arms slipping around each other’s waists.
The young woman smiled at us. "Perfect couple," she said. And for a moment, as Antonio and I exchanged contented smiles, I even allowed myself to believe it.
Perfect couple, I thought, wishing it was true. When he wasn't distracted by other things, Antonio could be really sweet and attentive. We did look good together, but we were also proof positive that looks are sometimes deceiving.
I leaned against Antonio for just a moment longer, feeling his arm tighten around me as I thought wistfully about the young couple we'd had lunch with.
Chapter Fourteen
After a quick shower, I stepped over to the closet to find something to wear. I selected a long, flowing summer dress that dipped low in front and even lower in the back. I twirled in front of the mirror
, loving the way the shape of my body could just be seen beneath the translucent floral material.
With a touch of make-up, a beaded necklace I’d bought in St. Lucia, sandals, and a simple braid trailing down my bare back, I stepped out to greet Antonio, letting the door frame me like a perfect picture.
His eyes swept over me, taking me in with that fashion mogul sense of appraisal, the smile on his face confirming both my choice in clothing and my sudden sense of confidence. "Shall we go for dinner?" I asked with a little twist of my hips, "or did you have something else in mind?"
***
The young man with the blond hair and sparkling blue eyes had everyone laughing uproariously at the dinner table. Everyone, that is, except Antonio. Scott and his two friends were celebrating—mostly college graduation, but the more solemn one, Andy, had already managed to land a decent entry-level job. The banter and jokes among the three of them had kept me entertained all through dinner. They were only slightly younger than me, and I was loving the attention and the not-so-subtle flirting.
"Let me get you another drink," Andy said, raising his hand to summon a waitress.
"No, it’s my turn!" Julian piped up.
"No need to fight over me, boys. Besides," I laughed, touching Scott’s arm, "I’m pretty sure it’s Scott’s turn."
"Thanks, guys, but she's probably had enough."
A subtle wave of guilt washed over me. Antonio had become increasingly quiet over the course of the meal, withdrawing more and more into simply observing as the boys got louder and funnier. The last thing I wanted was for him to be angry, but I had to admit, I was enjoying the boys’ exuberance and attention.
"You're right," I said flashing Antonio a dazzling smile. "I think I'm up for a stroll. How about you?"
He smiled back and turned to the young men at the table. "Gentlemen," tipping his head as he stood.
"Oh, don't go!"
"It's still early."
It seemed the boys were just starting their evening as ours was winding down.
"You've all been perfectly charming," I told them. "Now go have some fun. And thanks for sharing the table with us."
Antonio took my hand, leading me away. We stepped outside the dining room.
"You really want to walk?" he asked.
"Yes, a short stroll would be nice. The breeze will feel good on my skin, I think." Besides, I hoped it would help bring back the casual intimacy we'd had during the day.
Chapter Fifteen
As we rounded the far side of the ship, the sounds from the nightclub filled our ears.
"How about a nightcap?" Antonio suggested.
I recognized the song from the radio, though I wasn’t familiar with the artist or the name of it. It didn’t matter. I was enjoying being close to Antonio, and the thought of being in his arms, even on the dance floor, was enough to convince me.
The club wasn't terribly crowded and we found a small table off to the side. I looked around at the patrons as Antonio went to the bar to get us some drinks.
"Angela! You followed us!" came a familiar voice from behind me.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up as Julian called back to his friends, "Hey guys—look who's here!"
I smiled over at the two others sitting behind me, and waved in greeting.
"Come on," Julian said, taking my hand. "Dance with me."
He pulled me up and out onto the dance floor in spite of my laughing protests.
I have to admit, I love to dance, and the beat was infectious. Luckily, Julian wasn't such a bad dancer. What he lacked in style, he made up for in enthusiasm, grabbing my hand and twirling me around nearly every chance he got.
Then he insisted on another dance since we'd gotten out on the floor not long before the song ended. That was fine with me, I was having a good time.
Before we could head back to the table, Scott was there, playfully pushing Julian out of the way and pulling me back out onto the dance floor. Some techno-beat song came on and he moved into a strange rendition of a robotic-movement dance that had me laughing so hard I nearly wet my pants. Obviously, this guy loved being the comedian of the group.
Antonio was waiting for me as Scott returned me to the table, his face unreadable in the dim light. Scott bent over my hand, thanking me for the dance and headed back to his friends.
"Whew," I said, fanning my face with my hand. "Those boys sure can dance."
"You weren't so bad yourself," came the reply.
I laughed. "I always loved to dance. When we were young, Maria and I used to make up dances for our parents." Maria. I hadn't talked to her in a couple of days—I needed to make sure I called tomorrow.
I took a welcome sip of the cold drink, letting it slip down my throat, then slid the side of the glass across my flushed cheek.
"Thanks for the drink. Why don't you join me on the dance floor?" I asked, giving him a coy, sideways glance and grin.
"This music isn’t really my style. Maybe if something slower comes on."
That thought sent a delicious shiver right through me. Before I could say anything, though, my friends were back, this time with Andy in tow.
"Hey, Andy wanted to have a dance with you, too, but he was too shy to ask," Scott grinned.
"So we told him we'd ask, but then you'd have to dance with all of us," Julian chimed in. Andy stood there, red-faced but hopeful.
I turned to Antonio, raising my eyebrows.
He shrugged and grinned good-naturedly. "Take good care of my lady friend," he told the younger men and shooed us off.
I finished off my drink, and, the warm buzz of the alcohol fueling me, headed onto the dance floor with my new friends.
I was a bit more intoxicated than I was used to, and I knew the boys had had their fair share. My inhibitions were holding on by a thread as they wrapped themselves around me, gliding in and out of our little circle, getting a little braver, even under Antonio’s gaze in the distance.
I have to admit I was having a blast on the dance floor. The fact that the boys were enjoying it and kind of egging me on bolstered my resolve to be bolder with Antonio.
A hand would brush my back, or rest on my hips. One of them would lean in, another would twirl me into his arms and then out into one of the others'. I loved every moment of their attention, and even though I thought of them as "boys", I knew I wouldn’t have to do much to get anything I wanted from them. That feeling of control was as intoxicating as the liquor coursing through my system and the "new me" was drinking it all in.
Some part of me knew I could have Scott, Andy, or Julian with just a crook of my finger—hell, I could have all three of them at once, if I wanted! I almost laughed, I'd never had such kinky thoughts before. But they were only passing thoughts. I didn’t want any of them, no matter how much I enjoyed the adoration.
The only man I wanted was sitting at a table in the dark, watching me dance. And that, of course, brought up even sexier thoughts and memories.
The music shifted into a slow song, and the guys moved in closer, almost vying with each other.
"My turn, fellas." Antonio seemed to pluck me right out of their tight little circle as if by magic. He pulled me closer and I felt his manhood pressing into me. I looked into his eyes, seeing his hunger growing as he pressed harder against me.
The boys protested, trying to convince Antonio to give them a little more time with me. I was literally being fought over! It was new to me, and loved it.
Antonio leaned down and whispered, "Time to go, Angela." There was an edge to his voice. I looked up into his face and knew my evening with the guys was over.
"You have yourself a good night," Scott said, as Antonio and I walked past them.
Julian leaned in to kiss me chastely on the cheek. "A really good night," he said meaningfully.
"Thanks for the dance," said Andy.
"Thank you, guys, for a fun evening!" I winked at them, grinning as I looked up at Antonio, his arm still around my waist. His eyes had that
hooded look I found unreadable, but that was nothing new. I saw the muscle tighten in his jaw, though, and he pulled me even closer.
I even began to tremble a little as I became acutely aware of the throbbing ache between my thighs. I was almost afraid to hope what else the night might have in store for us.
Chapter Sixteen
The music drifted up from Antonio’s phone.
"You wanted to dance? Then dance for me." Antonio slid his hands down my naked arms, sending shivers through me.
The sultry saxophone playing the same melody he’d put on when he’d first asked me to dance for him. This time, it wasn't a request so much as a statement.
But I felt no hesitation in complying with his demand. The warm ache within me had only increased as we’d walked back to our room in silence, and the alcohol ensured that there were no doubts or reservations to stop me now.
Antonio sat in the overstuffed lounge chair in the main room, leaning back, arms crossed with his chin resting on a fist.
The desire was already deep under my skin and I let the music take me, swaying my hips. I turned my back to him, running my hand down my braid, slipping off the band at the bottom. Then I ran my fingers through my hair, slowly pulling the braid apart, and letting the tresses fall onto my back. I shook my head, enjoying the soft, feathery feeling along my neck. Then I reached behind me and pulled my hair up, piling it on top of my head. I looked back over my shoulder at Antonio, then let my hair drop as I swung around to face him.
My fingers caressed my skin, running my palms over my shoulders, slipping fingers under the thin straps of my dress and tugging them gently, one at a time, releasing them from my shoulders. I let the straps fall, exposing my naked breasts, swollen and aching with desire. I looked down as I brushed my fingers over my hard little nipples, a soft moan escaping my lips as my eyelids fluttered closed for an instant.
I opened my eyes, but just barely, enough to make sure I didn't miss a moment of Antonio’s reaction. His lips were parted slightly and I saw the steady rise and fall of his chest. His hunger drove me on in a primal, wordless demand and I ran my palms down my stomach, smoothing the fabric and tugging at my hem. The thin fabric slid over my hips and the dress fell into a puddle on the ground. I stepped out of it and moved purposefully toward him, swaying and thrusting my hips to the rhythm, bending, arching my back, undulating my body—making sure he understood that every part of my body was there for him to see, to touch, to enjoy as I moved closer and closer.