Looking for Adventure

by Valentina Heart

  Nino laughed so hard that he managed to choke on the salty water, sputtering and coughing violently. It was my turn to laugh, and I didn’t hold anything back. Stupid ass.

  “I don’t think I can swim, Nino.” I spoke when the laughter died down. “My limbs won’t move.”

  “Yeah, it’s a bit colder than usual. We should get out,” he said, smiling, looking at me with one of those weird expressions.

  This time I was just too cold to care, so I somehow managed to get to the shore, walking out as soon as my feet touched the bottom. Outside I sat on the pebbles, still shaking a little, but secretly liking the fact that he’d dared me to do something. It was fun.

  “Born to be wild,” I mumbled to myself.

  “You’re really that cold?” Nino asked as he came out after me.

  “Yes, I kind of am,” I said, surprised myself.

  “Stay here; I’ll go get some towels from the house so we can dry off.” He ran in a light step, favoring one leg over the other, his wet body shining in the sun. He really could have been some kind of a magazine model. Even with wet hair, he looked like he just made it that way.

  The sun was amazing, the way it warmed my stiff muscles. I couldn’t remember the last time I went to the beach at all, let alone to swim. I must have still been a child. It seemed like an incredible thing to miss out on, but nevertheless, I hadn’t thought about what I was missing while I was working. None of it had seemed important.

  Nino found his way back and gave me a big fluffy towel before he sat down next to me, all wrapped up in his.

  “I haven’t done that in a year. It wouldn’t have really mattered if the water was even colder; you just have to give yourself a proper welcome when you come to the sea the first time after a while.” He talked to the clouds, his bright eyes happy.

  “I don’t really mind now. I’m just cold.” I squeezed the towel around me, wishing for some real warmth.

  He looked at me then, curiously, just before shaking his head. “You’re such a woman!” He had this tone that sounded disappointed, like he expected more from me, which only pissed me off.

  “Shut up!” I pushed him with my towel-wrapped hand.

  Of course, he wouldn’t be Nino if he didn’t just laugh at that.

  “Maybe you’re sick; come here,” he said, and before I had even processed his words, his palm was on my forehead. Even it felt cold.

  “Jesus, you’re burning up! Come on; let’s get you in the house.” He was already tugging me up from the ground.

  It wasn’t really logical that I should have a fever, but then again, tumors weren’t very predictable. He left me next to the door frame of my room, asking hurriedly, “Where are your clothes? We need to get you out of these wet ones.”

  I pointed my finger, watching as he took out only boxer shorts and pushed me toward the bathroom. “Take a warm shower. I’ll put some soup on.”

  “I don’t remember paying you to be this bossy,” I mumbled, secretly pleased for the attention.

  “Boss, don’t be an ass! Just do as I tell you!”

  There was so much character in Nino that he always left me surprised. Rarely doing what I expected, but always making it fun. I couldn’t even predict his reactions.

  I took off my wet clothes in the bathroom, doing as he had told me. The water was nice, taking away the salt from my skin, but somehow it only made me that much weaker.

  He was already in front of the door when I got out, another towel in his hands with which he dried my hair roughly. “You have some maternal instincts in you, don’t you?” I asked, for some reason not caring that he touched me all motherly.

  “If you get sick the first day we’re here, I could lose my job. Besides, I am paid to worry about you.”

  That wasn’t exactly the way it was, but who was I to complain?

  “Now go crawl under the sheets. The soup is simmering, and I’ll take a quick ride to the pharmacy. We don’t have any medication here. Do you need any of your headache pills?”

  I stiffened just before I reached the bed. It’s a simple question; he doesn’t know, my still-working reason piped in.

  “Yeah, I have a supply of those. They usually kill me in the morning, so I have to have some meds.”

  “Have you seen a doctor about it?” His expression was worried.

  “Yes, don’t concern yourself with that. I’m fine. Well, I have a fever apparently, but I’m fine.” I smiled slightly, making him do the same.

  “Okay, I’m off then. Be back in a while.” He sauntered out of the bedroom, purpose in his stride.

  Suddenly the whole day washed over me, the length of it pressing against my body. I had no idea exactly how tired I was until my eyes started closing the minute my head hit the pillow. There was no point in not letting myself drift off.

  Chapter Four

  Just being on the island charged up my energy reserves, making a hyperactive machine out of me. My ankle was almost back to normal. Well, until I charged off the pier at a run, that is. My hormones pumped adrenaline every so often, especially with Jonathan flashing his body around, and all that water and salty air had me grinning like an idiot. God, I loved the sea.

  The first day went by in a flash, Jonathan being amazing company, full of surprises. He gave me a scare with his fever, but it went away by nightfall, and he was his usual stiff self, making me laugh over the weirdest things.

  Sleep took me instantly when my head touched the pillow. All the exhaustion was tingling under my skin, but I had no dreams, and I woke as rested as ever.

  The shower was not exactly cold, but close to it, as I needed something to wake me up early in the morning. I got dressed and went to make breakfast. I’d only gotten into the hallway when I heard the groans from Jonathan’s room.

  I wouldn’t have bothered if I didn’t know for a fact that there was no girl inside with him. Instead I knocked out of courtesy before entering his room.

  Once again he was only in his shorts, such a thin piece of cloth covering such delicious, delicate bits. He was having another headache. I could see it in his expression. Instead of the dramatics, I simply asked him, “Where are the pills?”

  His words were slurred but eloquent enough for me to understand. “Bag…suitcase…”

  I walked over to it and after a while found them in the side pocket. I took two out and went for a glass of water. This seemed to be a recurring event, morning headaches and me dealing out the drugs.

  When he was set, I figured he would sleep for a while, so I went to the kitchen to do some inventory. I didn’t feel like going to the store every day. I looked through the small window and saw there was no sun outside. I rushed to my room and pulled away the curtains.

  The water that had been so amazingly blue just yesterday had a dark gray color to it. Angry foaming tips danced on the surface, carried by the wind. The rain wasn’t very strong, but the wind made it dance in all directions. The sight looked nothing like the beach we’d spent time on the previous day.

  I went back to the kitchen, thinking how I should really go to the store and buy some food for a few days. I’ve always loved cooking, but staying with Rick made it impossible. His small forgotten kitchen never called to me.

  The bike was out of the question, which meant I had to take the SUV. Would that piss off the boss? Well, there was nothing better to do here; might as well provoke the rage. I wrote a short note and left it on the kitchen desk, just in case he woke up before I got back from taking the car into the settlement.

  It’d been a while since the last time I drove a car, so I was rather thankful for the nonexistent traffic here. The store wasn’t very far, and I managed to park right in front.

  The little place supplied the whole settlement, which looked almost impossible, given the number of people who lived on the island and the influx of tourists in the summer. But considering how a lot of the island people grew their own vegetables and caught their own fish, it wasn’t so unbelievable.

  Wi
th my arms full, I entered the house sometime later, expecting to see a pissed-off Jonathan pacing the floor. But there was no sign of him anywhere, so I put the groceries next to my unread note and went to his bedroom.

  His breathing was even, the frown lines smooth on his forehead. It looked like the headache had probably stopped, but I couldn’t hold back. I had to check to be sure the fever hadn’t returned. I walked over to his side and rested my palm against his forehead. He wasn’t warm, which was a good thing, but I still held my palm there, looking at his usually rough features softened in sleep. He was a gorgeous man.

  What took me out of that room without jumping him, I’ll never know, but I found myself in the kitchen again, working on breakfast. It must be tough having such bad headaches every morning. So I thought maybe I could make something nice for breakfast, make him smile.

  So that was what I did. I made a green salad with tomatoes, boiled eggs, a few olives, and peeled prawns. It looked amazing, and I couldn’t wait for him to get up. I put it in the fridge, wondering what I should make for dessert.

  I didn’t like a lot of cakes, but something sweet was always welcome. It was in the middle of my trying to decide what to make that Jonathan woke up. He came into the kitchen all sheepish-looking, with a shy smile on his face.

  “Good morning, sleepyhead. You feeling better?” I asked, looking at him over my shoulder and trying not to think any naughty thoughts.

  “Yes. Thank you very much for the pills; they were a lifesaver,” he said before sitting down at the table.

  “Not a problem. You want me to force them down your throat every morning?” I smiled as I asked, not wanting him to get offended.

  “Yes, if it’s not a problem. I’m usually too weak to take them, even if they are right next to my bed. I figured the change of scenery would make them go away,” he finished, a touch thoughtful if not a little sad.

  “It’s a deal, boss. You want some breakfast?” I took the salad out of the fridge as he nodded, winking at him just before I put it in front of him.

  “Aren’t you going to eat?”

  “I will, just have to put this in the oven,” I said as I finished the white and black batter I was mixing that would give the cake that marbled effect. I pushed the pan into the oven, then sat down opposite Jonathan with my salad in front of me.

  “Enjoy.” I smiled at him.

  “Oh, I’m pretty sure I will.” He smiled back and dug in.

  “I took your car to the store today.” It would have been wrong not to mention such a thing.

  “That is fine,” he said, not even batting an eye.

  “The weather sucks. We’ll probably stay in the house. You have anything you want to do?”

  It was a tricky thing. I wasn’t someone who could stay still for a very long time, and being locked up in a house could prove to be a disaster.

  “I have no idea. The first thing that comes to mind is work, but since that isn’t an option, I’m open to ideas.”

  “Well, we could watch a movie, play cards, read books…” And that was about it as far as ideas and I went.

  “Sure, all of that sounds good.” He didn’t even look at me.

  “Just like that?”

  “Look.” He put down his fork and lifted his gaze to mine. “I can’t remember the last time I saw a movie, not to mention the last time I read a book. I’m not even sure I know how to play cards. So whatever you want to do is fine with me.” He stared, waiting for my reaction.

  “Well, okay then,” I managed.

  Jonathan just nodded and turned back to his food.

  After that he went to the living room, propped his feet on the coffee table, and stared at the ceiling. There was some heavy thinking going on there, so I pulled out a few beers from the fridge. It seemed like they were needed.

  The cake was just baked, so I cut it up and brought it to the living room together with the beer.

  “Thought you might want one.” I offered him a bottle as I came near.

  “Yeah, thanks. Just what I need.” He smiled, looking at me with those amazing dark eyes.

  He put the bottle to his lips and took a few swallows, making me drool at the sight of his long neck, those wet lips surrounding the round glass mouthpiece. I was such a goner. I sat sideways on the old armchair next to the sofa, trying to hide my erection and slow my breathing. Mentally I calculated the last time I’d had sex. Just that realization made me feel depressed. It was quite some time ago and was an experience not worth remembering.

  “Do we have any movies?” He suddenly looked at me, forcing a blush on my face.

  “Hmm… Yeah…I think so. Let me check.” I stumbled out of the chair to crouch in front of the television set.

  There was a drawer beneath it, which I opened to find quite a collection of movies. I tried imagining Mrs. Carney watching them, curled up on the couch with her husband. It wasn’t all that difficult, especially when I realized most of the movies were older.

  “How about Lethal Weapon?” I turned toward Jonathan with the box in my hand.

  “I’ve actually seen that one, but sure.”

  So I put the movie in, then sat on the armchair with my legs over one of the arms. I cradled my beer, listening to the opening Christmas song blast through the speakers. It made me remember Die Hard, and I smirked.

  “This is actually a good movie.”

  “Yeah, I like it.” But I liked it for probably totally different reasons, I thought to myself as a young, gorgeous Mel Gibson got up naked from the bed, flashing his great ass my way.

  And it was not one of those short scenes either; it gave me plenty to enjoy. I probably would have pictured all kinds of things about that scene before I met Jonathan, but now I was only half-hard. Mel didn’t even have anything to do with the half part, other than making me imagine someone else’s ass in the bright and early morning.

  “That’s not a real nice place to put a gun,” Jonathan mumbled as Mel pushed it in the front of his pants.

  “Yeah, but it makes him look cool.” Real cool.

  “He’s insane!” Boss said a while later as Mel crashed his TV.

  “Yeah, he’s pretty wild in this one, but…it suits him.” I’d almost dropped insanely cute to a straight guy. God, he made me feel comfortable. I would have to fess up soon, or I’d just spill it out in an awkward moment.

  The comments flew here and there, but during all those delicious scenes, I had to keep my mouth shut. It was pretty easy until the last fighting scene where Mel had his muscled legs wrapped around the blond guy’s throat. I probably wouldn’t have thought anything of it some other time, but today it was hard to miss his wet pants and that forward motion he made with his hips. I almost moaned.

  “What are we watching next?” Jonathan asked as I turned the movie off.

  “What are you interested in?” I reached for the cake, getting kind of hungry.

  “We could watch the rest of them if they have them.”

  “Sure, they have the whole collection. Have you seen the others too?” I put the cake down and went to the drawer.

  “I think just the second one. That was when I still—” He suddenly went quiet, making me turn around and face him.

  “I saw it on the television while I was still at home.”

  I wanted to ask more. It was obvious that there was something to the story, but his face told me not to pry. So I turned to the DVD player and put the movie in.

  * * *

  The next day was bright and sunny again. Fluffy clouds cruised the sky, and a little bit of wind rocked the trees. I was smiling even before I was out of bed.

  The breakfast suited my mood, muesli with yogurt and blueberries. It was also the first day that the boss had gotten up smiling at eight in the morning without a headache to start off the day.

  “Good morning.” He stretched before he sat down at the kitchen table.

  It was impossible not to smile. “Good morning.”

  “What are we doing today?
” He looked at me expectantly, those big eyes drawing my lust to the surface.

  “Hmm…I was thinking we could go for a bike ride. At least to the next settlement, maybe grab a lunch there, then ride back.” I loved riding my bike, especially on islands where it was just dull to drive a car.

  “Sounds perfect. Is it possible to rent a bike around here?”

  “Sure, there’s a tourist office on the other side of the bay. You can rent almost anything there.” I found myself getting more excited about the idea.

  “Wonderful, eat up then!” he said before he devoured his meal in just a few bites.

  Half an hour later, I was sitting on my bike, slowly riding next to Jonathan as he walked. The sun was still low, with a lot of shade covering the road, making me shiver once in a while from the morning cold.

  “This really is an amazing place. I can see why you like spending your summers here,” he said, looking around as he walked.

  “I think it gets better as the season progresses.”

  “I’m certain it does, but this is amazing enough for me.”

  “Do you have any wishes on your holiday? Something you wanna do?” I asked, curious, but also looking for any possible guidelines.

  “No, not really. I want to have fun, and for now, you are doing a wonderful job.” He stated it casually, not even knowing that every praise fed my attraction to him more.

  His steps were even, his muscles straining as he walked next to me. I kept falling behind, somehow managing it even with my bike, just so that I could watch his jeans-clad ass.

  It was very unusual for me to fall for such a serious guy, but there was no mystery there once you looked at his appearance. There wasn’t a part of him that lacked perfection; from his shiny hair that was always perfectly groomed to his legs that kept drawing my attention every time he left the shower with just his towel on.

  On one hand, I loved the fact that he moved freely around me, letting me see all of his best parts even when he wasn’t aware of me looking; but on the other hand, it was beginning to feel like torture. From those first few erections that’d surprised me, I’d come to a stage where not having an erection was a surprise.