Determination

by S. E. Rose

  “Sneaking out early are you?” she says in a sexy, raspy morning voice.

  I turn around like a child caught in the act of doing something bad. “I didn’t want to wake you. You looked so peaceful.”

  “Right,” she says, her voice laced with sarcasm.

  I sigh and sit down on the edge of the bed.

  “I…didn’t want to give you the wrong impression,” I admit as I run a hand through my hair.

  “And what impression is that?” she asks. Her lips twitch slightly, and I can tell she’s messing with me.

  I give her a stern look, and she laughs. “And here I thought we would elope today,” she sighs.

  My eyes widen for a nanosecond. She loses it and starts laughing.

  “You should see the look on your face,” she manages to blurt out in between the laughter. “Jesse, last night was amazing, seriously, but I’m not an idiot. You live in New York. I live in LA. You are leaving in a few days. This has been fun, and I’ve loved getting to know you. I really, really like you, and I hope we’ll stay in touch, but I’m not sure either of us is in a place to have a relationship.”

  I let a deep breath. “Oh, thank God!” I raise a hand. “Sorry, that came out wrong.” She raises an eyebrow. “I just mean I agree.”

  “Good. Then stop sneaking out like you are a college freshman doing the walk of shame and come back to bed. We are two consenting adults having fun on our vacation, and I’m guessing you aren’t leaving today, so relax.”

  I sit back against the headboard. Jesus, she is so unexpected!

  She leans back too, and I grab her hand, needing to feel her. We lie side by side for a few moments in silence. I run my thumb over the soft skin on the back of her hand.

  “When do you leave?” she asks.

  “Probably tomorrow,” I reply.

  “Well, then, seeing as it’s your last full day here, what shall we do?” she asks as she turns to face me.

  I smile at her. She is fucking hot right now, lying naked in the bed with nothing covering her, no makeup, her hair down and running in thick, wavy handfuls over her breasts. My smile turns into an adolescent grin as I imagine all the things I’d love to do to her.

  She laughs. “Well, there’s that,” she agrees. “But what else?”

  I shrug. “What haven’t you done?” I ask her.

  “Well, there’s so much to choose from. I mean we haven’t done reverse cowgirl, the end of the bed, in the water—”

  Her brazen answer has my cock twitching. I don’t let her finish as I flip her onto her back and cover her mouth with mine. I let my tongue claim her mouth, and she moans as her tongue tangles with mine.

  “Where would you like to start?” I ask her. She giggles and gasps for air as she reaches for my dick and wraps her hand around it. Now it’s my turn to groan.

  “How about right here?” she announces as she slides down under me and takes me in her warm, velvety mouth. I feel myself beginning to fuck her mouth as she devours my cock. Her tongue runs up my length, and I hear the air hiss from between my lips. I don’t want to come in her mouth, not now. I look down and watch as my cock moves in and out between her lips. She has no idea how sexy she is. I pull her up as I feel myself lose control.

  “Not like that, mon étoile. I want to come in here,” I say as I run my finger down her slit and feel her wetness. I let my dick slide against her for a moment. It takes every ounce of my self-control to not slam into her. I grab another condom from the bedside table and roll it on before teasing her entrance with the tip of my cock. She feels so hot and tight as I slowly ease myself inside of her inch by inch. Her head falls back as I completely immerse myself in her pussy. She feels fucking insane. I thrust into her over and over and then as she suggested, I roll us over and turn her around, so she can ride me in reserve. She plants her feet on the bed on either side of me and I watch her luscious ass as it bounces up and down on me, her juices dripping down me as she moves. I can feel her starting to lose control. As I thrust up, she cries out and clenches so tightly around me that I think I’m going to burst right then and there, but I want her on her hands and knees first. I push her forward, not losing our contact and begin to pound hard and fast into her from behind. She matches my movement, and I feel her building again. I use all my willpower to keep from coming until I feel her tight pussy walls pulsating around my cock. I finally allow myself to let go. My orgasm is so intense I see white as my eyes shut tight, and I cry out her name.

  I pull her back, and she lies on me, both of us panting.

  “Best vacation ever,” I declare. She starts giggling, and I smile at the sweet sound of her laughter.

  After a quick shower, we’re dressed and eating breakfast on the small balcony of the bungalow.

  “Good idea on room service,” she says as she puts a strawberry in her mouth. I watch her lips move, and I have to keep my cock from taking over again. I look away and watch a sailboat cruise by in the channel.

  “Yes, a low-key day sounds good,” I mutter as I think about the fact that I’m leaving in a little over twenty hours. I feel her hand on my thigh.

  “What’s wrong?” Vanessa asks, looking up at me with those bright blue eyes. Her hair is pulled up in a wild, tangled mess on top of her head, and she’s wearing only an oversized t-shirt. She looks fucking adorable.

  I give her the best smile I can muster. “Just feeling the vacation hangover that’s about to happen,” I say half truthfully.

  “Oh,” she whispers. I can see her face drop as she realizes these are our last few hours together. Then she grins, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Well then, we’d better make it epic!”

  I laugh and reach over to wipe off some whipped cream from the side of her lip. She leans into my touch and plants a quick kiss on my finger before I pull it away and place it in my mouth to suck the cream off my skin. I see her gaze darken and I know we are both thinking the same thing, but I also want to have one last experience with her.

  “Let’s go for one last snorkel,” I say as I stand up and hold out my hand to her. She stands and reaches for me, and I pull her against my body and lean down to give her a slow kiss. Her lips are a bit swollen from our night and morning escapades, and they taste of strawberries and cream. I find myself getting lost in her mouth for a moment before my senses come back to me.

  She pulls away and looks up at me through half-hooded eyes. “You sure you want to snorkel?” she asks meekly. I laugh.

  “Yes, it’s way too beautiful outside to spend the whole day in this bed,” I say as I give her one more quick kiss on the lips. “I’m going to grab my stuff in my room. I’ll be back in a minute.” I walk over to the room and run into Kev on my way. He looks me up and down, and I know he’s like the big brother inspecting me.

  “Morning,” he says, drawing the word out and trying to keep his lips from twitching.

  “Good morning, Kev,” I say. “We’re going to snorkel today. I’d say you’re free and clear to do what you want.”

  “You better be good to my girl, Jesse or…” He trails off as he inspects me once more.

  “I think you have that the wrong way around.” I smirk.

  Kev finally lets out a belly-jiggling laugh and bends over to slap his knee. “My girl got you by the horns then, huh? She don’t take too quickly to people, but she’s a firecracker for sure. I ain’t never seen her get so close to someone so fast, so you better be good to her.”

  I hold up my hands in defeat. “I will. I promise.”

  Kev nods and walks down the path toward the restaurant. I change and head back to Vanessa’s bungalow, my mind full of thoughts. Vanessa is in a pale pink string bikini that leaves little to my imagination. She’s sitting in a chair, her legs tucked under her as she knits something. I lean my head to one side examining her movements.

  “You ready?” she asks, looking up for a moment.

  “You knit,” I declare rather than ask.

  She giggles. “I know it’s a weird ho
bby for a musician, but I like it. My grandmother taught me to knit when I was little, and I find it…well, it’s relaxing and useful,” she says as she holds up a hat clearly made for a baby. “It’s better than having my PA send some impersonal gift.”

  I smile at that comment and walk over to her, extending my hand. “Let’s go swim with fishes.”

  She smiles as she stands, and I pull her into my arms and hold her for a moment. For just this one moment, she’s mine and I relish in that.

  We snorkel for hours, skipping lunch and getting Kev to bring us bread so we can feed fish. Hundreds of tiny fish swim up and around us as the little pieces of bread rain down into the water, slowly sinking to the bottom, while small reef fish pick at them. I look at Vanessa through the bread-filled water and watch the glee in her face as she reaches out to touch various fish swimming between her arms and legs. She looks up and sees me watching her, and I can see she’s grinning even with the snorkel in her mouth.

  Eventually, we both tire and we climb back up to Vanessa’s bungalow. We sit on the edge of the balcony and continue to drop bread in the water. Vanessa lies down on the warm wood and leans over the edge, her head sitting on her hands.

  “It’s beautiful,” she says softly. “A small part of me wishes I could stay here and swim with them. They’re so free, just living life, no worries.”

  I laugh. “Other than sharks and whatnot.”

  Vanessa looks up at me and rolls her eyes. “You know what I mean.”

  I smile at her and join her, lying on my belly and peering over the edge. “I do. I think that’s why snorkeling and diving are two of my favorite things to do. It’s like escaping into another world for a short period of time.”

  “I feel the same,” she says and looks back down at the fish.

  I lean over and kiss her shoulder. “You’re starting to burn. We better get you back inside.”

  She follows me inside, and I spin her around and slant my mouth over hers, breathing her in as I press my lips against hers. I can taste the saltwater on them and the faint taste of strawberries that still lingers there.

  I pull on the strings of her bikini and feel the small pieces of fabric fall away until she’s gloriously naked beneath my hands. I take her breasts in my hands, feeling their weight. I run my thumbs over her nipples, and she moans into my mouth. Her skin is soft and warm under my touch. I slowly walk us back toward the bed. I lay her down and crawl up the bed over her body so I’m covering her. She squirms against me, trying to find friction.

  “Oh no, not yet,” I whisper and take her hands above her head. I trail kisses along her jaw and down her neck. I hear her breathing becoming more rapid. I continue kissing her, spending several minutes sucking her breasts. Her nipples harden under my tongue, and she squirms in my arms. I slowly make my way down her belly. She stills as I go lower, and I know what she wants. I smile against her thigh as I spread her open like a gift. Her pink skin glistens with her need. I breathe against her most sensitive skin, and she moans.

  “Please,” she whispers. Her plea is all the encouragement I need. I lick up her slit and take her clit into my mouth, flicking it with my tongue. She cries out as I slowly push two fingers inside of her. Her body’s response makes my cock harden further and after her second orgasm, I slowly trail kisses back up to her sweet mouth. I blindly grab a condom from my swim trunks and push them down, slipping it on just before I slowly thrust inside of her.

  She brings her legs up, so they wrap around me, and I drive into her again and again. Her wet heat pushes me closer to going over the edge. I wait through three more orgasms, until her body is fluid beneath mine and her breathing is heavy, and then I pound into her once more and feel myself come deep inside her tight pussy. I collapse onto her and catch my breath, as I pepper small kisses down her jaw. We lie still for a moment.

  “Once more before dinner?” she asks, her breath hot against my ear, and I smile into her neck.

  “As madame wishes,” I murmur as I go to take care of business and find another condom.

  We eat in semi-silence that evening, neither one of us ready to face the inevitability of my departure in the morning. We walk back to Vanessa’s bungalow, holding hands. I pick a flower along the way and stick it in her hair, and she gives me a shy smile. Damn, I’m going to miss her!

  “Come have a drink,” she says as she opens her door. I follow her inside and take a seat on the balcony. It’s dark outside and the sky is filled with billions of stars. She hands me a beer from her mini fridge and pours some wine into a glass before sitting down next to me. We both stare up at the sky.

  “How many do you think are up there?” she asks as she scoots her chair over and leans her head against my shoulder.

  “More than I can count in a lifetime, that’s for sure,” I answer and take a sip of beer.

  “So, back to reality tomorrow then?” she asks, and I feel her eyes on me.

  “I guess so,” I admit begrudgingly. “All good things must come to an end, no?”

  She shrugs. “Would you ever come back here?”

  I look around and smile. “Yes, I think I would.”

  “Me too,” she says. “So, what’s next for you?”

  I shake my head not understanding her question.

  “I mean what will you be up to when you get home? I have to prep for my next album. So, I’ll be spending the next two months in the studio.”

  “Oh, I have a company that I’m thinking of buying, so probably lots of meetings and wining and dining,” I say with a sigh.

  “You don’t like your work?”

  “Oh no, I love it. It’s just not at all what I thought it would be when I first started out my company.”

  “I hear ya,” she mutters.

  “You don’t like singing?”

  “I love singing. I just don’t like all the business parts about it.”

  I laugh. “We’re yin and yang. I like the business parts, but not the showboating.”

  She giggles. “I guess we are.”

  After our drinks, I lead her back inside and make love to her slowly, relishing in the feel of her beneath my skin. We fall asleep to the sounds of the waves crashing out beyond the reef.

  Chapter 6

  Jesse’s Playlist: “Habits” by Tove Lo

  I wake to the sound of Vanessa’s slow breathing and the tickle of her breath against my chest hair. Her arm is lying next to her head and her leg is wrapped over my thigh. I lean down and kiss the top of her head, breathing in her scent. I grab my phone and groan. It’s time to get going.

  “Wake up, sleepyhead,” I whisper and feel her stir. Her eyes flutter open and find mine.

  “I have to get going,” I say and give her a sad smile.

  She sits up and looks down at me as though taking a mental picture. She pulls her knees up to her chest and hugs herself.

  “Do you have time to eat?” she asks. I shake my head.

  “Unfortunately, no,” I say regretfully.

  “Bummer,” she mutters.

  I stand and pull her up to embrace her. We stand like that, holding one another for a few moments, neither of us saying anything.

  “I better go,” I whisper and kiss her forehead. She looks up at me and then pulls me down to kiss me. I let myself get lost once more in her lips, her mouth, the feel of her naked body against mine.

  “I’m going to miss you, Jesse,” she says as she pulls back to look at me.

  “And I’m going to miss you, too,” I say as I give her one last peck on the lips.

  “I wish we had more time,” she mutters and huffs. I smile at her adorable quirks.

  “No pouting. We promised to keep this casual, remember?”

  “I know,” she says with another huff.

  I laugh and then I see a glimmer of something in her eyes.

  “What?” I ask her.

  “I have an idea,” she says with a sly smile.

  I raise my eyebrows.

  “You ever see the movi
e An Affair to Remember?” she asks.

  I shake my head, although the name seems vaguely familiar.

  “So, these two people meet on a cruise and end up having an affair. They have to part ways but promise to meet up at the top of the Empire State Building on, oh, I think it’s Valentine’s Day. I can’t remember, but anyhow, the lady gets hit by a car and doesn’t make it. And…well, that part doesn’t matter. I was just thinking, what if we met back here in, say, two months from today?” she says, rushing through the last sentence.

  I’m not sure how to answer. I stare at her dumbfounded for a moment. “You want to meet back here in two months?”

  “Yes, I mean if you want to,” she offers.

  I smile. I don’t know why, but I like her idea. “And what if one of us doesn’t show up?”

  “Well, then the other enjoys their week and that is that.”

  “And what if we both show up?”

  “Then we enjoy each other,” she says with a small smile.

  “Alright,” I say.

  “Alright, like, OK, yes?” she asks, giving me a hopeful look.

  I nod. She pulls me down to give me one more long kiss.

  “Well, then I’ll see you in two months,” she says as I walk toward her door.

  “Goodbye, Vanessa,” I say as I close the door.

  “Bye, Jesse,” she answers.

  I’m not three steps out of the car at the airport when Rick texts me.

  Rick: Flight is on schedule. Hope you got some R&R.

  Jesse: Yep.

  Rick: Oh really?

  Jesse: Fuck off.

  Rick: Deets?

  Jesse: Fuck off.

  Rick: Please tell me the paps didn’t find you and take photos?

  Jesse: (middle finger emoji)

  Rick: If I have to clean up after you, you will owe me.

  Jesse: That’s why I pay you the big bucks.

  Rick: (eye rolling emoji)

  I walk up the steps to my jet and get myself settled. Adam greets me as he goes into the cockpit and gets settled.