Only in Paradise

by Michelle Monkou

  Without debating the action, she peeled off her clothes, spreading them on a nearby rock. After the rain, she expected that the strong sun would emerge and dry her clothing in no time. If not, she’d have to squish her way back to the house, happy nonetheless.

  Another crack of thunder announced another deluge of warm rain. After the stickiness of the heat, she welcomed the water’s cleansing power. Her hair pasted against her scalp and along her back where it hung below her shoulders. The raindrops coming in fast succession massaged her skin, raising her level of sensitivity. She cupped her hands, gathering as much of the water as she could, before bathing her face. Repeating this ritual was her small token of appreciation for entering this surreal existence.

  Blocking out the world beyond this jungle and the rat race that she escaped from, Athena centered her spirit to be in tune with her surroundings. Raindrops ran over her body. Like long tantalizing fingers, they tickled her nipples through the swimsuit top.

  The pool of water beckoned her. She willingly answered its bidding while the rain continued to lavish her with attention. She waded in, sucking in her breath from the water’s cool temperature. In one move, she dived into the water to keep from retreating into the warm air. After a few seconds, her body acclimated and she emerged from the depths for fresh air.

  The rain had ceased and the sun did indeed break through the clouds. The rays beamed down through the large opening and turned the surface of the lake into a shimmering cover.

  Athena floated on her back, enjoying the heat on the full length of her body. She fluttered her legs, pushing her body toward the middle of the lake. Water had always relaxed her. And now she could understand why others thought the water had special powers.

  In this state, close to nature, she had no choice but to reflect inwardly. And the person who came to mind was a tall, dark man who had a smile that brightened her day, a body that made hers perk up, and a sexy charm that stirred a craving in her that wanted satiation.

  As she drifted on her back in this tropical Eden, her thoughts also drifted to where she was a year ago and how far she’d come. Her thankless job as a loan officer carried long hours. From the banking industry to teaching, she had large classes, poorly funded programs and demanding administrators who had to be concerned with politicians’ agendas.

  A blur of movement interrupted her thoughts. She stayed quiet, waiting. Then a blur of color that didn’t blend showed through surrounding bush. Her heart pumped, frightened.

  Athena shifted position, treading the water. She turned to examine what caught her eye. Not getting any resolution, she swam toward the edge. The solitude of her oasis provided a false sense of security. Now that a possible intruder threatened her space, her solitary trek didn’t seem like a good idea.

  Finally she regained footing in the shallow water. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary. Yet she sensed that someone remained hidden. Regardless she didn’t feel comfortable and made her way to the shore. Her body tensed for an emergency flight, if necessary. A deeper feeling of unease ran through her upon noticing that the birds had quieted. Gingerly, she headed toward her towel.

  “What are you thinking? Coming here by yourself. And then swimming in next to nothing.”

  Athena screamed and ran. Her heart pounded, as sheer terror rushed through her veins. She got to the car but then fumbled with the handle. Looking up to see where the intruder was, she suddenly stopped.

  Collin stood where she was only moments ago. His hands were shoved casually in the shorts he wore. His mouth drew tight in its familiar irritable line. Once again he was about to lecture her.

  She wrapped the towel around her body, took a deep breath and walked toward him. “Why are you sneaking up on me? Do you have a habit of stalking?”

  “Don’t be presumptuous. I have a habit of looking for you when you go traipsing off without letting anyone know.”

  “Then how did you find me, Sherlock?” Her heart still hadn’t returned to a normal pace. She lashed out to keep the jitters away. If she let him see her frazzled, she suspected he would use it to drive home some silly point.

  “You’re not exactly looking native, especially in the school van. What if someone had followed you up here? And why are you here? There are better beaches and lakes than this place.”

  Athena had no intention of telling him about Luisa’s advice. No way. She’d never seen him so angry. Even his nostrils flared as he blew out his frustration.

  “If you’re going to keep yelling at me, I’m heading back.”

  “Do you accept that what you did was stupid and careless?”

  This man was a pain. She couldn’t stand the cocky way he tilted his head, looking down at her. Always ready with his superior attitude, he looked the part even in his ridiculous khaki shorts.

  “The only thing I’m planning to accept is the fact that you can’t go one day without thinking about me.” When he recoiled, she took a step closer. “Not only do you think about me, but you have to see me.” She continued walking toward him. “But it’s okay because I want to see you, too.” She dropped the towel. “I want you to touch me.”

  “You are a brazen woman.”

  “And I’m waiting for a man who doesn’t hide behind a lot of useless insights.”

  “Don’t start something—”

  “Oh, I can finish. The real question is whether you’ve got what it takes to stay the course until I’m done…with you.”

  “Why couldn’t you just be a normal teacher?”

  “That’s a matter of perspective.”

  Collin looked at Athena’s eyes glittering with her anger. He’d followed her because he wanted to take her to the local steel band festival occurring that evening. Not that this was a special occasion, but he knew that she hadn’t gone with the others to the movies. By the time he’d headed to the school, he’d barely seen the van speed down the road in a cloud of dust.

  Watching her now take off her clothes and head into the water, he almost lost any self-control. He couldn’t deny that he was indeed interested in Athena and not as her boss. She was a constant temptation that he found difficult to resist. There was no way that he could allow his staff to detect that there was any interest with her. The workplace could not be a place for bad behavior.

  “You are so far from normal that you’d need a guide to help you back to that point,” he remarked.

  “Looks like you have dibs on that job.” She threw her towel over his head. “I’m going for another swim. You can stay there like a statue and scare away the bad guys.”

  Collin pulled the towel down from over his head. The last view of Athena was of her running toward the water. Her soft brown skin showed off the tangerine-orange bikini.

  She turned toward him and waved. “Forget the rules for a little while. No one is here. Come on. You know you want to.”

  Collin bit down on his jaw, having a silent debate with his body to stay still. Athena always pushed the envelope. And obviously she was still up to her tricks. But he could resist. He had to resist. Damn it. He couldn’t believe his eyes.

  She stood waist deep and untied her bikini top. Then balling it up in her hand, she tossed it and it landed on the edge. Then she bent over, her hands disappearing below the water surface, and righted herself with a matching piece to the discarded swimwear. This was tossed with more force, landing on the tip of his right shoe.

  “Athena, you can’t do this.”

  “Is it against the law? I’ve seen a few nude sunbathers on this island.”

  “No, it’s not against the law,” he said through gritted teeth. “Maybe I need to add skinny-dipping to the employee code of conduct, for your sake.”

  “Do you want me to come out?” She grinned as she walked forward. The waterline descended slowly past her belly button to her hips. She felt so uninhibited and free.

  “Stop!” He was faced with her bared breasts or her fully nude body. Choices that made him blush.

  “I’m getting cold.
I’ll have to go back in or come out and get a towel.” She lowered her body, waving her arms below the water. “Come in. Join me. Look, we’re consenting adults. I’ll still let you boss me.” She winked at him.

  Collin growled. Words eluded him. The moment didn’t call for his rational explanations because Athena wouldn’t entertain his dissertation. She was more than a handful. And this tug-of-war with her always had him landing on her side of the line. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t turn away from her. He didn’t want to.

  He wanted to kiss her, cup her breasts, feel her between his legs. He wanted so much.

  He wanted her.

  Now.

  He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it aside. What the hell was he doing? He pulled off his shoes and socks. At the water’s edge, he stood with his hands on his hips, staring at Athena playing a water siren.

  “I’ve made rules,” Athena shouted at him.

  “What rules?”

  “I get to be the boss here. In this domain.”

  “Okay.” Giving up control to Athena could be a dangerous move. But he wanted to be with her too much to care.

  “Pants and briefs off.”

  He complied. She didn’t have to grin with such enthusiasm. He hurried to the water and almost shot out at the shock of cold water.

  “It’ll be fine in a few seconds. It’s better if you just jump in.”

  Collin waded out and sank down, waiting for his body to adjust to the new temperature. He watched Athena submerge and swim over to him, the air bubbles disclosing her approach. Her hands landed on his legs, sliding up, teasing him, dragging along his hips before she emerged from the water.

  Without talking, thinking, waiting, he kissed her. He wrapped his arms around her, enjoying the softness of her breasts crushed against his chest. Heat rose between them, intense and searing. Her lips matched his in its quest to stir passion and emotion in each other. He plunged his tongue, only offering what she accepted.

  She pressed against him, inciting a range of emotions that all stayed in the sensually hot category. Detaching from her mouth for air did nothing to tone down his emotions. He kissed her earlobe. His hands rubbed along the length of her back, sliding down to her hips.

  “Let’s head to the beach.” She gasped. “Otherwise we may drown.”

  Collin hoisted her around his hips and made his way back to shore. Instead of the uneven shoreline, he headed for a lush covering for their comfort. He lowered her to the grassy carpet, taking a moment to enjoy the view of her body.

  Athena didn’t mind his bold examination. His admiration of her breasts hardened her nipples in anticipation. His scrutiny traveled the length of her body, lingering, visually stroking the spot between her legs. Every part of her warmed like a blushing maiden.

  “You’re beautiful all over.”

  “And I’d like to repay the compliment.” She traced her hand along his pectoral muscles, moving from the smooth wide muscle in the chest to the dark nipple. He sucked in his breath when her thumb rubbed the sensitive nub.

  His response to her teasing was to lower his head to her breast. His warm mouth covered her nipple, drawing it up with erotic pleasure. His tongue flicked over, making her teeth clench. She arched back, pushing her chest into the air. Her body ached for his touch. He could use his fingers, the palm of his hand or, her favorite, the touch of his tongue.

  “What do you want from me?” Collin asked while his head rested on her chest.

  “All that you have to offer…and then some.”

  “You turn my mind into mush.”

  “I’ll take that as an accomplishment.” She reached up to pull him on top of her body. “Why do you resist me?”

  “Because you are a threat to my school.” He stroked her nipple. “I’m putting the school in jeopardy by being with you.”

  “Trust me. I’ll keep the secret.” She crossed her heart.

  “Don’t do that, please.” He closed his eyes as if in pain, except for the slight smile tugging his mouth.

  “Do what?” She blew at his lips. “You mean crossing my heart.” She retraced the spot, letting her finger linger and trail the outline of her areola. She had to bite down because teasing him also stirred up her juices.

  She kissed his lips softly, running her hands over his buttocks. Her body ached for more than his lips. She encircled his hips with her legs, thrusting up her pelvis with an open invitation.

  “You’re a wicked woman.”

  “And you’re a stubborn man.”

  “I’m a simple man who didn’t have any worries. That is until I met you. You’re a minx.”

  “Calling me names won’t help your condition.” She stroked him between his legs. His vice grip on her wrist halted the process.

  “We can’t do anything. I don’t have protection. Who walks around with stuff?”

  Athena pushed him off her. She walked over and retrieved her clothes, putting them on. After a few minutes, Collin followed suit, looking confused and more than a bit disappointed by the change of events.

  “Let’s go to your house to finish part two.”

  “Okay. And I’ll get what we’ll need to continue.”

  Only a cop restraining either one of them could have stopped their progress. Athena drove twenty miles above the speed limit grateful that many cars were off the road on a weekend. She didn’t mind pausing in their hot action because as much as she liked the outdoor setting to get her groove on, she wasn’t that much of an adventurer with the dense foliage as a backdrop and no protection.

  After the dutiful stop at a local convenience store, Athena followed Collin to a beautiful house that she suspected was his home. She pulled up in the driveway behind him. Hopefully he hadn’t gotten cold feet. She didn’t want to be sent home unfulfilled.

  “Welcome to my home.” He opened her car door and offered his hand to help her exit the vehicle.

  Athena stepped out and headed for the house. Once she entered the cool setting, she spun around to him. “Anyone home?”

  “No. My housekeeper is off on the weekends.”

  “Good to know.” She stripped out of her clothes and savagely pulled off his clothes. The drive to his home was an inconvenience, but it wasn’t long enough to subdue her desire.

  When Collin was fully undressed, he tossed her over his shoulder. With a hand firmly in place over her butt, he ran up the stairs and headed down the hallway. Athena couldn’t stop giggling, playfully patting his backside.

  He tossed her down in the middle of the bed, then tended to himself with the latex. She pushed herself up against the pillows. But his hands restrained her by the ankles. He slid her legs apart, still not letting go.

  “I want to pleasure you.”

  She writhed in place, dying to feel his intimate touch. When he kissed a path on the inner side of her leg, she had to concentrate to stay cool. But she failed when her whimpers erupted from her. He continued up past her knee. She was sure that tears formed from the sheer pleasure. His lips blazed a trail, leading to that intimate place that couldn’t wait to welcome him.

  She grabbed the sheets in her tight fists, grinding her hips into the bed. He touched the intimate folds. Kissed and honored her in a way that she couldn’t imagine. His hands continued to pin her legs and he slowly worked on her, laving her with his tongue. She almost cried as her body reacted with her personal essence.

  Then he straddled her body. His eyes glazed with desire sucked her in with hypnotic power. She enjoyed the view of his body aroused and the epitome of male specimen. His body exuded the male physical and very sexual power. She practically drooled over his wide shoulders that tapered to his chiseled waist, to lean hips where his muscular thighs defined his long legs. Without his prompting, she placed her hand on his muscled chest. A part of her didn’t think any of this was real. His arousal throbbed as her hand moved down his body. Its impatience was duly noted. And she liked teasing him as she worked his skin with small massage techniques. He
twitched and she grinned that now she could be the dominant one to taunt him. But she had to work hard to resist his devilish grin that made her stomach do flip-flops.

  “I want to touch you.” She slid her hands down below his belly button. “You’re beautiful.”

  “Close your eyes.”

  “No way.” She wanted to hear him beg.

  “Please.”

  “That’s better.”

  “Focus on my voice.”

  “Okay.” She licked her lips that needed moisture.

  He placed a hand behind her back. “Relax,” he whispered into her ear. “I will not hurt you. If you want me to stop, say the word. I want you, but I won’t take you. Not yet.”

  He took her hand and placed it around his shaft that had swollen to a thickness that she found pleasing. Her hand surrounded the shaft and slid down to the tip where she caressed.

  “Open your legs for me, please.”

  “Touch me.” Athena didn’t stop attending to him. She had to muster all her concentration to keep her legs from buckling when Collin’s fingers slipped between her legs. He deftly stroked, circling the moist entrance.

  “Athena, you bewitch me.” He uttered her name like a hand gently stroking the contours of her face. The fine, deep timbre of his voice seduced her with its velvet quality.

  “And you’re robbing me of my sanity.” She took his hand and guided him in how he should pleasure her.

  He smiled, showing an even set of perfect white teeth. The man belonged among the gods of desire and virility, lording his power over female seduction. From here she noticed his thickly lashed eyes were the color of English toffee.

  “How did I get so lucky to find you?” he asked.

  “The power of the universe set both of us on the same path to meet and discover our sensual and sexual power.”