by Wendy Louise
I grab one of the throw pillows on the sofa and pitch it at her, hitting her shoulder. She laughs loudly and retreats to her bathroom.
I’m not sure I’m quite there yet, but I know it won’t be long before I am.
Each day that I spend with Ethan I find it harder to resist him. It’s only a matter of time before my resistance crumbles completely and in all honesty, I’m quite looking forward to the day that happens.
A Real Date
“Everything set Josh?”
Josh has been helping me make dinner arrangements for tonight.
Okay - he’s more than helped me.
I don’t have the first fuckin’ clue what to do to arrange a proper date. My dating history has consisted of fuck-me eyes over the top of a beer bottle or shot glass, leading to a quick round of hot sex, before bidding the woman goodnight.
Usually, that involves sneaking out to avoid the usual slew of expletives that come my way when I make it clear that I have no intention of a repeat performance.
I don’t know what I’d do without Josh sometimes. He is able to pull strings in a way that no one else can. I know it probably helps to have my name to drop, but still he manages to work miracles on a daily basis and I would be totally lost without his assistance.
I wanted to take Ava somewhere special for our first official date. I know that the paparazzi are out there, but I don’t want to stay shut in the Suite again tonight. We’re in paradise and I want to take advantage of that.
I’m so attracted to her, and the more time we spend together the more I want her.
Right now I am at desperate stage – Defcon 1.
I’m not sure how much longer I can hold out without taking things to the next level, but I’m trying to be good, just as she asked. I don’t know where all this willpower has come from. It’s never been in me before, so I can only attribute it to Ava. She obviously brings out the good in me.
“Yep,” Josh answers down the phone. “The car is out front waiting. You’ll be driven down to the restaurant and they’ll wait until you’re ready to come back. The entire place has been rented by us, so you’ll be alone.”
“Thanks man.”
“You’re welcome, have a great night Ethan.”
Ava and I settle in to the back of the car. I take her hand in mine and entwine our fingers, resting them on my thigh.
“Where are we going?” she asks with sparkling eyes.
“Surprise,” I answer.
She turns her head to look over the ocean as it passes by the windows. She is stunning. She’s wearing a tight-fitting dress that looks like a second skin. Her long legs are tanned from the sun, and her feet are adorned with high black heels. Her long dark hair has been curled and is down tonight, just the way I like it.
The best part – she has my coral coloured hibiscus tucked behind her ear again.
“Nice flower,” I comment as I finger one of the soft, silky petals.
She smiles a cheeky smile. “Yeah, some guy gave it to me,” she says with a shrug of her tiny shoulders.
I raise my eyebrows, “So I’m just some guy am I?”
She laughs and shakes her head as she squeezes my hand, “No, you’re not just some guy. You should know that by now.”
She looks so serious as she speaks those words, that I swallow past the mile-wide lump that has just formed in my throat. My heart picks up speed and I can feel my hands getting clammy.
I lean forward and place my lips to hers. They are so soft and she tastes like something sweet and alcoholic.
I pull back and lick my lips. “What have you been drinking?”
“Liv and I had a couple of mojitos before we got ready.”
“Well you taste great, very fruity.”
She blushes and the rosy colour stains her perfect cheeks.
We arrive at the restaurant that I’ve chosen. It’s one of the few restaurants in Waikiki where you can actually dine on the sand. I wanted something romantic and I hope that this will fit the bill. I take Ava’s hand and lead her through the main part of the restaurant, which is of course, totally empty.
“Where is everyone?”
“Just us tonight Ava, I’ve rented the whole place out.”
I didn’t want any paparazzi or fans bothering us. Although I’m trying not to flaunt my status and wealth in her face, our privacy was more important to me tonight.
“Oh,” she says surprised, her eyes growing wide. “You know this is kind of our first official dinner date.”
I look at her and nod. I don’t usually have to wine and dine chicks to get them where I want to take them. With Ava though, it’s different.
She’s different.
We make our way through the main area and over the terrace. We keep moving further until we are on the sand. Ava pulls her hand from mine and bends down to remove her high heels.
“I can’t walk across the sand with these heels on,” she says.
Before she can remove the second shoe I grab her behind the knees and cradle her in my arms. She squeals as I lift her and pull her against me tightly.
“I’ll carry you instead. I like the shoes, leave them on.” I can’t help the growl in my tone, and Ava notices it, her breath hitching slightly through her open mouth.
She smiles and winds her arms around my neck, snuggling her head against my chest. Damn, right now I want to head back to the car and get to the hotel. I keep moving forward and try to think of anything I can to tame the growing bulge in the front of my pants.
She smells incredible, like daisies and hibiscus and the ocean all rolled in to one. It’s a heady combination.
We reach a table for two set up near the water’s edge. It is laid with crisp white linen, crystal glasses and gleaming silverware. A waiter stands to the side with champagne. The moon is shining, casting a sliver of light across the water that reaches right to the table. I couldn’t have planned this any better.
Josh is definitely getting a raise after this.
I folded Ava an origami flower before I left my room so I lay it on her place setting as a surprise.
“Ethan, this is breathtaking,” she says as she takes the champagne offered to her by the waiter.
“I’m glad you like it.” I raise my glass to hers and toast, “To us.”
She mirrors my sentiment. “To us,” she says and takes a sip. “Mmmmm, that’s really good.”
“Let’s sit.” I pull Ava’s chair back for her and she lowers herself into it as I place a kiss on her forehead. Her beautiful brown eyes follow as I take my seat across form her. She looks down and picks up the flower I folded for her before a grin tips her lips and she winks at me.
“What?” I ask.
“You,” she states simply. “These last few days have been amazing Ethan. I’m waiting to wake up. You’re nothing like I imagined you to be.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment Ava. I’m glad that I can dispel some of those rumours that the tabloids print. I’m sure you’ve seen your fair share.”
“Guilty,” she says as she lowers her attention to the silverware. “I haven’t told you but I do have an addiction to gossip mags. Although, now that I know the lack of truth behind most of their stories, I will re-think that addiction. Not a great hobby to have after studying journalism is it?” She looks up at me through those long dark lashes and gives me a small, guilty smile.
“So are you telling me that you already had the background scoop on me before you even got here?” I tease.
She looks in to my eyes with an adorable blush on those cheeks of hers again. “Well I had an opinion based on some of the things that I had read, and I’m ashamed to say that it wasn’t a very good one.”
“And now?” I ask, holding my breath.
She smiles sweetly, and picks up her champagne glass. “Now I think you are incredible, and nothing at all like the guy I read about in those magazines.” She takes a small sip and holds her glass aloft.
I clink my glass to hers, “Well I’m
pleased to hear that.”
The waiter arrives with our first course, a seafood tower, containing three layers of prawns, lobster, scallops, and oysters.
“I hope you like seafood?”
“I love it, except the oysters, you can have those.” Her little nose turns up in disgust. “Aren’t oysters known for their aphrodisiac qualities?” she asks; eyebrows high.
“I think so, but I don’t need an aphrodisiac around you Ava. You should know that by now.”
She gasps and her little mouth forms an ‘O’.
We finish our entrée quickly. The seafood is delectable and the conversation easy. The waiter clears our plates and the trio that I arranged - well Josh arranged for me - starts to play from the terrace. Ava’s head whips around to where the music is flowing from and then she stares back at me with a huge smile.
“Did you do that?”
I nod and offer her my hand. “Come and dance with me.”
This time she does remove those sexy shoes of hers, placing them on the sand next to the table, before she pads over to me - bare foot. I take her in my arms and hold her close, placing my cheek next to hers and breathing her in.
“You smell incredible.”
“So do you,” she says as she runs her nose up my neck to my ear. Her warm breath sends a chill snaking down my spine to my toes. I want to keep her talking so I can feel that again.
The guitarist, pianist and singer are doing a slow version of Bruno Mars’ Just the Way You Are. I asked Josh to let the trio know all of Ava’s favourite artists so that they could play a selection of their songs.
Ava lifts her head from its rest on my shoulder and stares straight in to my eyes. Her gaze drops to my lips and I can’t help but tilt and drop my head to kiss her.
We continue to move in rhythm to the music on the sand, as our mouths explore each other. Softly and sweetly. Our lips part and brush, as our tongues twirl around one another. My hands are roaming her back, her hips, her hair, I can’t get enough. She has hooked her arms underneath mine and curled her hands around my shoulders from the back, holding on tight. Her fingertips are biting in to my flesh, letting me know that her control is wavering.
I love having that influence over her.
“God Ethan,” she says breathlessly pulling back. “Keep that up and we won’t get through dinner.”
“Fine with me,” I say as I run my thumb over her plump lower lip, pushing down slightly on the soft flesh.
She laughs and returns her head to my shoulder as the song slows to an end.
“Shall we sit?” I ask, as the waiter arrives with our salad.
Ava nods and takes her seat, blowing a piece of hair off her forehead.
“Can I ask you a question?” she says after finishing a fork-full.
“Of course,” I say, as I wipe my mouth with my napkin, “You can ask me anything.”
“What does your tattoo mean?” She points towards my arm.
“It’s Latin. It translates to In dreams there is truth. Nanny Grace always used to say that to me as I was growing up. She encouraged me to always follow my dreams. She said that you had those dreams because that was the path God wanted you to follow, that was your truth, your reason for existence.”
“It sounds like Nanny is not only a very important part of your childhood but also a very wise lady.”
“Nanny was the most important part of my childhood,” I correct her.
She drops her gaze to the table. “I’m sorry that you didn’t have the ideal childhood Ethan. I feel sad that your relationship with your mother is not what it should be but I’m so glad that you have Nanny.”
“Me too,” I smile at her. “Don’t feel sad for me Ava, Nanny made sure I was surrounded by lots of love and laughter as I grew up. She may have had to compensate for my lack of parental guidance, but there is not one minute that goes by or one memory with her that I would change. She was everything to me and did everything for me and I am so blessed to have her in my life.”
I go for a subject change. “Speaking of tattoos Ava, do you have one?”
She shakes her head side-to-side. “No but I’ve often thought of getting one. I think I would chicken out though. I’m not big on needles.”
“What would you get if you did get one?”
She points to the inside of her left wrist. “I always thought I would get something just here if I ever got one,” she stresses. “Just some simple script, maybe with my husband’s name, or the date of our wedding, something sentimental like that.”
“Sounds perfect.” I smile back at her, imagining my name in flowing blank ink on the inner side of her wrist.
Fuck! Where did that come from?
As the trio starts to play Glitter in the Air by Pink, our waiter arrives with dessert - chocolate cake. Ava notices the change in music and gives me a sweet smile. It makes me happy to know that she has recognised how much trouble I’ve gone to for her. This is a beautiful song and Ava is humming along lightly as she takes in the food in front of her.
“I loooove chocolate….” Ava says, licking her lips, “…but I’m so full Ethan. I’m not sure I can fit this in.”
“Take a bite and see if you can resist it,” I urge.
She takes a small fork full and places the cake in to her mouth, then she closes her eyes and hums in pleasure.
Holy shit.
I turn my gaze towards the ocean away from her. I can’t look at her when she’s doing that without jumping across the table and taking her - right here, right now. My blood has been simmering in my veins ever since that dance, and her sexy little moans are just about doing me in.
Just as I turn back to Ava my phone buzzes with an incoming text. I decide to ignore it to avoid any distractions while I’m enjoying my time with her, but she pushes for me to check it.
“It’s Josh,” I say to Ava, “he’s texted to say that they’re heading to the night club back at the hotel tonight. They want us to join them after dinner. I’m happy to stay here with you if you prefer. This is your night Ava, so I’ll go with whatever you want to do.”
“Sure. Let’s do it. A night club sounds fun.”
“I’m not ready to share you yet, but I’m happy to head there once we’ve finished our dinner together.”
She smiles at me and takes my hand across the table. She rubs her thumb in little circles across my palm. “Ethan, thank you for a gorgeous dinner. This is the best first date I have ever had.”
My insides warm with her words. Seeing that smile on her face and knowing that I am responsible for putting it there makes my heart swell.
“Do you want coffee, another drink?” I ask.
Ava shakes her head. “No, but I would love it if we could take a quick walk along the water before we head back to join everyone. I’m so full from dinner and I think a walk would do me some good.”
“Let’s do it.”
We rise from the table as I kiss the back of her hand. Ava leaves her shoes and bag with the waiter and we head out towards the ocean arm-in-arm. The night sky is inky black, but dotted with bright stars. The full moon is low over the water, and its shadow casts a ray of light across the surface to the shore. I have Ava’s hand in mine, and I feel such complete contentment at this moment. Something I’ve not felt for a very long time.
Maybe never.
There are very few people around so we can walk along the shore in relative anonymity. I haven’t seen any photographers all evening.
After walking a short way, we turn back. We haven’t said a lot to one another because we don’t need to. Our silence feels comfortable. We stop before we arrive back to the restaurant and look out over the water. I stand behind Ava and wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her back against my chest. She lays her head back against my shoulder and we stand there holding each other, making a deeper connection with every moment that passes.
“Do you like to make sandcastles?” Ava’s sweet voice fills the silent air.
“I don’t know.
I’ve never done it,” I say.
She spins in my arms and looks up at me. She places her palms flat on to my chest. “You’ve never made a sandcastle before?” she says surprised.
I shake my head. “I’ve made sand angels, but not sandcastles.”
“What’s a sand angel?” she asks as she furrows her brow. That adorable wrinkle appears between her eyes and as always, I lean in to kiss it.
“You know, like when you lie on your back in the snow and move your arms and legs out to the sides and back again, it makes an imprint like an angel. I’ve done that in the sand before.”
“I’d like to try that, but not in this dress,” she laughs.
“Well I’d like to try and make sandcastles too,” I say tapping the tip of her perfect nose.
She looks around on the sand and reaches for a stick lying nearby. “When we were little our favourite thing to do was to write in the sand and then come back the next day to see if the writing had been washed away by the tide. It always inevitably was, but it didn’t stop us. It was like Liv and I were trying to beat the universe.”
She looks around and grabs a small piece of wood lying on the sand, before handing it to me, and then she walks a few yards away.
“Let’s do it,” she says, “let’s write in the sand.”
I watch as she swirls her stick through the grainy sand. She starts by writing my name and then hers. She ends up writing:
Ethan and Ava – Best first date ever!
She then sweeps the stick around the letters in the shape of a huge heart.
It is adorable and so her, and right now I just want to take her in my arms and keep her there forever.
“That won’t last forever you know, the water will wash it away once the tide comes in,” I say with a smirk, mirroring what she just told me.
Ava places her hands on her hips and stares back at me in the moonlight. “I am well aware of that, thank you Mr Drake. Would you rather I carve this in to a tree instead? Make it more permanent?” Her eye brows rise towards the inky sky and a cute, little, crooked smile breaks out on her face. I love her sassy side, teasing me.