One Indecent Night

by Hargrove, A. M.

  “How can I not be?” She took my hand and squeezed it. “Everything has been amazing so far.”

  When we arrived, the staff was there to greet us, and I introduced Sylvie to everyone. We went inside and I showed her around. The main house had three large ensuite bedrooms and there was a guest house with its own bedroom, bathroom, and small kitchenette. The pool faced the beach along with the outdoor terrace. The house sat on a small rise overlooking the beach, but in reality, it was only a few steps down to the water.

  “This is fabulous.”

  “Do you like it?”

  “I love it.”

  “Want to see my favorite part?”

  “Yes!”

  She followed me through the master bedroom to the bathroom, which was spacious, but there was a glass door, which went outside to an outdoor tub and shower.

  “This is outrageous. I love it!”

  “I can’t wait to get you in here. You’ll love it.”

  It had two rain showers, but they were nothing like the usual ones. These were serious ones, like standing under a waterfall. I almost never used the indoor shower when I was here.

  “Do you worry about anyone seeing you out here?”

  “No, it’s completely private.”

  “Is the tub heated?”

  “No, you don’t need it. It would be too hot to use.”

  “This is absolutely decadent.”

  I took her into my arms. “I’m glad you think so.” Then I gave her a brief kiss. “The staff has an early dinner prepared. I knew we’d be hungry when we arrived, so I told them to be ready for us.”

  We went to the outdoor dining area where the table was already set and I pulled her chair out. After we sat, someone immediately came to pour us water and wine. The dinner would be freshly caught fish and whatever the chef decided to serve. Usually it was a starch and a salad. Then he’d add a delicious dessert. My mind wasn’t on the food. It was getting Sylvie naked in the hot tub.

  “Why are you staring at me like that?” she asked.

  “Do you have to ask?”

  “You know me…I always ask.”

  “I can’t wait to get you naked again.”

  Our salads arrived. We both devoured them. “I was really hungry,” I said.

  “So was I.”

  Our main course came soon after that and again, we didn’t waste time. I was finished before she was so I enjoyed watching her eat.

  “You’re making me nervous.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t know. It’s the way you’re staring at me, I suppose.”

  “I enjoy watching you eat because you don’t pick at your food like a bird.”

  “This is entirely too good to let it go to waste. What kind of fish is this?”

  “No idea. The chef always makes sure it’s freshly caught though.”

  She swallowed her bite, set her knife and fork down, and pushed her plate back. “I can’t eat another bite.”

  Her plate disappeared immediately. Then someone came to offer coffee and dessert. Sylvie declined so I said, “Just tell chef everything was excellent and to leave our desserts for later tonight. We’ll eat them when we can. Thank him for us and thank you for your excellent service. We’ll finish the wine and be done.”

  “Yes, sir.” He bowed and left.

  “Everyone is so courteous here,” she remarked.

  “That’s what I love about this place. Would you like a tour of the grounds? We didn’t get a chance earlier.”

  “I’d love one.”

  We walked the landscaped paths, which were lit as it was dark already, and I took her down to the beach. The staff always lit the torches at night. I’d never thought about it before when I was here by myself, or with my parents or Pearson, but it was really romantic as we walked hand in hand. As we got to the water, it was beautiful as the moonlight cast its path of silver over it. I turned to her and asked, “Would you care to go swimming?”

  “I don’t have my swimsuit on.”

  “This is a private beach, Sylvie. You don’t ever need a bathing suit here when it’s just the two of us.”

  “Really?”

  “Uh huh.” I started to undress to see if she would follow. She did. We waded into the warm Caribbean waters and swam a bit.

  “I love the water here,” she said. “I could stay in it forever.”

  “But then you’d look like a prune.”

  “You’re not funny.” She splashed me, which started a huge water fight.

  We tried to outdo each other, but she was an excellent swimmer, always escaping my reach. At one point she dove underwater and didn’t come up for a while. When I began to panic, her hands pushed on my shoulders and I went under. The little shit, I’d have to find a way to get her back, but how?

  Before I knew it, she was wrapped around me, her body pressed to mine, and all thoughts about revenge were gone. Warm, wet lips pressed onto mine and she whispered into my mouth, “I want you.”

  My fingers found her entrance and she was ready for me as I was for her. “Hold on, I’m carrying you up the steps.”

  I went directly to the outside tub and set her on the edge. “And after we break in the tub, we can move on to the shower.”

  “I can hardly wait.”

  “You’re as insatiable as me.”

  “You’re right.” Then she grabbed my head and pushed it down. “Stop talking already. You’re wasting precious time.”

  I knew she was my kind of woman the night she slapped my ass.

  Twenty-Seven

  Sylvie

  The entire flight home, I kept thinking about Evan’s outdoor tub and shower. We’d spent the entire time there, except for meals, naked. It was glorious.

  “Evan?”

  “Yeah, sweets.”

  “It’s going to be very difficult to top this vacation.”

  He pushed his hand through my hair and kissed me. “It was really great, wasn’t it?”

  “Thank you for taking me. It was perfect.”

  “Not as perfect as you, but I do have other tricks up my sleeve, so beware.”

  I was falling deeper and harder for him. How could I not? The man did everything right. He was polite, had my best interests at heart, asked me about everything before he did anything, was affectionate, trusting, warm, kind, and sexy and my God, so good in bed. There wasn’t anything he did wrong. I kept looking for flaws, even tiny ones, and couldn’t find any.

  “Why the serious expression? If your brows were any more creased, they could hold my credit cards.”

  “I was just thinking how perfect you are.”

  “Oh. That bad then?”

  “Haha. I was looking for one tiny flaw in you, but I couldn’t find any.”

  A hearty laugh echoed through the cabin. “One tiny flaw, huh. I broke this finger when I was in high school playing football.” He held up his middle finger and it was curved. “See?”

  “No wonder I like it so much when you put it inside me.”

  “Okay, smart ass, how about this. You saw me naked. I have knobby knees.”

  “You do not. I know knobby knees and you don’t have them.”

  He pursed his lips for a second, then said, “I have large feet.”

  “They’re large and perfectly formed. Like your…never mind.”

  “Dirty minded girl.”

  My cheeks heated, so I fanned them. “Sorry, but it’s true. Your ass is damned perfect too. See, I can’t think of anything. Your parents taught you great manners.”

  “You haven’t seen my temper explode. Wait until that happens. You’ll change your mind.”

  “I have a temper too. Everyone has one. Anger, as long as it’s expressed properly, isn’t a bad thing.”

  “Yes, doctor psychologist.”

  “It’s true. And I’m not a doctor.”

  “I do realize that. But I can bark awfully loud and it sounds pretty scary when it happens. I’m not above apologizing though.”

&nbs
p; “Again, good manners.”

  He smirked. “And what about you. I happen to think the same of you, Miss Perfect.”

  “Well, I never said I wasn’t perfect.”

  He must’ve been ready for a comeback, but when I said that, he cracked up and so did I.

  “Guess that makes us the perfect couple then,” he said.

  I didn’t want to go home and back to reality, but it was unavoidable. Tomorrow would be here with work and everything that accompanied it. How could I go back to my mundane job after this whirlwind weekend?

  The plane landed and we were whisked to Evan’s car and then pulling in front of my townhouse before I knew it. I wanted to wind the clock back to Thursday and start all over. Instead, we both got out and he helped me with my bags.

  “Evan, I don’t know how to thank you. It was the best trip I’ve ever taken.”

  “You don’t have to thank me. Just having you with me was thanks enough.”

  “I’ll miss you. Sleeping alone won’t be any fun.”

  “No, it won’t. Do me a favor. Read more of the raunchy earl so we can continue our play.” He pinched my butt.

  “I think we do pretty well without him, and he’s a duke. It’s the Lewd Earl, by the way.”

  He chuckled over my choice of books.

  “Hey, I distinctly remember you thanking me for reading it and asking me not to stop.”

  “Oh, I’m not laughing at that. I’m laughing at the title.”

  “They are pretty crazy.”

  Suddenly I was in his arms and he was kissing me like it was the last kiss we’d ever share. Blood pulsed through my veins while my heart pounded beneath my ribs. My core ached with need and I didn’t want him to leave. I wanted him to stay forever. I knew one thing. I had fallen in love with Evan. Now the question was, did he feel the same?

  He released me and stepped back. “If I don’t leave now, I never will. Sleep tight, gorgeous. I’ll miss you next to me.” He turned without another word.

  “Evan?”

  He stopped and turned back. “Yes?”

  “I, uh, I’ll miss you too.”

  He smiled and my heart ached with the thought of not seeing him until the following weekend. How was I going to stand it?

  “Don’t worry, sweets, I’m a phone call away.”

  I bobbed my head up and down. Why did I all of a sudden feel like crying when the door closed behind him? It had been a long time since I’d been this emotional over a man.

  Tomorrow would be busy, so I unpacked and got my things ready for work. I went to the grocery store and by the time I came home, I was starved. After a quick dinner, I was ready to crash. I was half asleep when my phone rang. I would’ve ignored it, but it was my mom.

  “Hey, Mom. Sorry I didn’t call, but I’m so tired and had a million things to do.”

  She wanted to know all about the trip, so I gave her the details, minus the sexy scenes.

  “He’s certainly a dreamboat, Sylvie. I hope you reel this one in.”

  “Mom, I don’t want to reel anyone in. I want it to be mutual.”

  “You’re right. But he sure seemed like he adored you the way he eyed you.”

  “He’s very nice to me, Mom.”

  “That’s good, dear. Now get your beauty rest. You don’t want any wrinkles before your time.”

  “Good night, Mom. I love you.”

  Evan called right after and I told him what Mom said. “She definitely approves of you. I’m sure she’ll want to buy some hedges soon.”

  Laughter resounded in my ear. “I hope she can tell me what kind to deliver because I know nothing about hedges.”

  “Neither do I. We can ask Rose. She’s the one with the green thumb.”

  “Sylvie, I don’t want to talk about hedges or Rose. I want to talk about how much I miss you and that I don’t want to miss you this much, which means I want to see you every day.”

  My breath hitched and I stumbled over my next words. “I, er, I want the same. I didn’t want you to leave, Evan.”

  “How are we going to handle this?” he asked.

  “Do you have any suggestions?”

  “Yes, but I don’t want you to run off with your hair on fire, so can you promise me you won’t do that?”

  “I, my hair on fire?”

  “Yes, can you promise me?”

  My fingers fiddled with the sheet as a smile took over my face. Was he going to ask what I thought he was?

  “Okay, I promise.”

  “Will you move in with me.”

  My heart hit the floor. That was not what I was anticipating. Speech was lost and my brain turned into scrambled eggs.

  “Sylvie, are you still with me?”

  I cleared my throat. “Um, yeah,” I whispered.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Yes, there is. Don’t shut down on me.”

  “You’re right. I was not expecting you to ask me that.”

  “All right. Were you expecting something else?”

  There was no way I’d confess to that. He’d be the one running with his hair on fire. I was even afraid to tell him I was in love with him.

  “Evan, how do you feel about me?”

  “I’m madly in love with you. I hate that I’m telling you this over the phone. This was something I wanted to share with you in a different way, in a better setting. Babe, are you opposed to living together?”

  “Not exactly, although I can already hear my parents.”

  “I’m sure. What parent wants their daughter living in sin with her boyfriend? But this will only be temporary.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” My hackles instantly rose. Was he going to kick me out after he got tired of me?

  “Calm down, babe. What I meant was we’d do this until we got married.”

  “Married?”

  “Yes. Or are you opposed to that?”

  “Are you asking me to marry you?” Did my voice sound all breathy or was that my imagination?

  “I can’t yet. I have to speak to your father first. And seriously, Sylvie, I would never formally propose to you over the phone. But yes, I want to marry you. Not tomorrow, but soon.”

  Holy shit balls. He wants to marry me! Giddy up, cowboy.

  “Sylvie, are you there?”

  “Yes, I’m here. And about the living together. How would I get to and from work? That commute is crazy.”

  “I know. I’ve thought about that. Is there any way you could get a job in the city? Robert could drive you, but I know how old that could get.”

  A new job in Manhattan? Yeah, there are dozens of rehab centers. One of the psychiatrists we work with could recommend one, but leaving Flower Power would be really hard.

  “I’ll commute for the time being.”

  “You don’t mind?”

  “No. If I’m super tired, I’ll stay here.”

  “Is that a yes, then?”

  “I think so.”

  “Sylvie, I promise you won’t regret it.”

  “Can we wait until Christmas to do this?”

  Now he was silent. “I was hoping we could do it right away. You really only need your clothes and some of your favorite things. I have everything else. That way if you ever want to stay at your place, everything will be there.”

  He made a great point. “Okay. Let’s do it then.”

  “Sylvie, I love you.”

  “Evan. I love you back.” Was this crazy? It felt perfect.

  The next day when I got to work, a huge bouquet of roses awaited me. The card said: I can’t wait to see you tonight. Pack a bag and Robert will pick you up at six thirty. We’ll get the rest of your things this weekend. Love, Evan.

  My body shivered at the thought of living with him. I hoped this feeling never ended, because it was so amazing.

  Rose came in and wanted to know how the trip went. When she saw the roses, she said, “It must’ve been great.”

  “You wouldn’t believe
his house. And the private jet…it’s so luxurious. He was so attentive to all of my needs.”

  “I imagine he was,” she said as she checked out the flowers. “This is huge.”

  “Isn’t it? It’s lovely. You and Pearson have to come with us to Canouan. It’s unreal. I’ve never been anywhere like it.”

  “Pearson said it was really something. Looks like you snagged yourself the big one, Sylvie.”

  “I wish you wouldn’t say that.” I pouted.

  “You mean snag, or the big one?”

  “Both. We were mutually attracted to each other and I don’t give a damn about his money. I didn’t even know he had any.” It kind of pissed me off.

  “I know. But it’s not a bad thing he has it either.”

  “No, but people automatically assume I went after him for that.” I rubbed my face and shot her a stare.

  “Not me. I know the real you and love is more important than anything.”

  “Thanks for that.” Then I moaned. “Look at this stack.”

  “I know. Mine is the same. Everyone does interventions over the holidays it seems. Well, I’d better get moving.”

  “Oh, by the way, I’m moving in with Evan tonight.”

  I dropped that bomb when she was almost at the door. “You’re what?”

  “Yep. I’m going to commute in every day. If it doesn’t work, I’ll see about getting a position in the city. Good luck with work today, Rose.” I started going through my workload, but I felt her eyes burning into me. I wanted to laugh but didn’t. This would give her something to gossip with Pearson over tonight. Hell, she’d probably be calling him as soon as she got to her office. Then he’d call Evan, then Evan would call me. Oh, God. My head hit the desk as I started laughing.

  Twenty-Eight

  Evan

  I was in the office for about an hour when my phone rang. When I saw it was Pearson, I answered without hesitation because I figured he wanted to get all the details on Sylvie’s and my trip.

  “Hey, man, what’s up?”

  His roaring voice on the other end took me by surprise. “Are you out of your mind moving in with Sylvie? You two have only been together for what, a month?”