by Amy Sumida
Shona stepped closer. “I get that you like him, but you don’t have to do what he says. He doesn’t own you.”
The sound of people laughing drew Aria’s attention. Not wanting to deal with Shona’s comment at the moment, she watched as a group tried to walk into the water facing forward with their flippers on. Each person tipped forward as their flippers, caught on the sand. Arms windmilling to try to stay upright, some managed to avoid going into the water face-first, but not many managed to stay on their feet. Someone within the water finally took pity and yelled out suggesting they enter the water backwards once they finished laughing.
Aria giggled and watched as her friends’ faces softened, and they started to chuckle at the show. “Girls, go have fun. I’m just going to float and stay in the shade. We can talk more later, okay?”
The three girls glanced at each other before nodding. They leaned in, hugging Aria before ensuring their equipment was in place.
Shona hovered after her hug. “Don’t think I’m letting this go.”
She backed away and into the water.
~
At lunchtime, they filled their plates, grabbed some drinks, and sat on the netting at the front of the ship. Aria ate slowly, hoping to keep the girls from questioning her further. They kept their discussion light, going over up coming plans, gossip from home, and guys. Although, this last topic kept Aria on edge.
Trish nudged Jennifer nearly spilling her punch. “Did my eyes deceive me last night or did I see you and Derek getting hot ’n’ heavy on the dance floor?”
Jennifer glared at Trish over her punch as she chugged what was left. “I need a refill, anyone else?” Jennifer looked to the others to help her out.
“I’ll take one.” Shona handed up her cup, a smirk crossing her face. “I have a feeling I’ll need something to cool me down after you tell us about you and Derek.” She wiggled her eyebrows as the other two laughed.
“Fine,” she muttered as she stood and walked to the bar.
Aria, with a soft smile, reached into her bag for a bottle of water. She packed two bottles this morning, but found the guys had added a few more when she first went into the bag for one.
“Don’t think we’ve forgotten about you.” Trish shot Aria a sweet, innocent smile that morphed into something more menacing. “I want to hear all about what is going on between you and those guys.” Her eyes shot a quick glance to Shona as she bit her lip.
Aria gulped her water down. Crap. She nodded and pulled out her sunscreen to reapply while waiting for Jennifer to return with drinks.
Jennifer returned with four cups of rum punch, which she handed out. Handing a cup to Aria, she stared her down.
Aria swallowed the protest on her lips. Taking the drink, she tightened her lips. The last thing she wanted was another drink, but she was already walking a tightrope with her friends.
As the girls drank, Jennifer spilled her guts and kept them entertained with stories about her different heated times with Derek.
Partway through Jennifer’s revelations, Trish stood up and moved to the bar. She returned with another four cups of punch and a crew member in tow, carrying another four.
“Now, we’re set.” Trish smiled as she sprawled out on the cargo net.
As Jennifer and the girls continued to talk about her times with Derek, which expanded to include Trish with Mark and Shona with Kyle, Aria slyly dumped some of her punch into the water through the cargo net.
Another crew member arrived carrying a tray with eight more cups of punch for them.
Shona batted her eyelashes. “Thanks. You would almost think you’re trying to get us drunk.” She adjusted her body to better display her breasts.
The crewman blushed as his eyes strayed to her cleavage. “Um, no, just, you four look like you’re having fun.” He smiled as he turned back to the bar.
Trish chugged what was left in the cup in her hand. “Now, its Aria’s turn.” Anticipation was written all over her face. “What’s up with you and those three hunks? I can’t tell who you really like. And none of that ‘we’re only friends’ bullshit because it’s a lie.”
Aria gulped. Her moment of truth. She took a sip of her punch hoping for some liquid courage. “I, um”—at their combined clearing of throats, she shrugged—“Fine. I like all three of them. I’m having fun.”
Jennifer sat up cross-legged. “Ohhh, this is going to be good.” She rubbed her hands in glee before chugging down another cup of punch.
“So, you like them all. Big deal.” Trish rolled her eyes. “What I want to know is, have you kissed any of them and who?”
“Umm, all of them,” Aria whispered as, from the corner of her eye, she caught Shona tensing.
“All of them?” Trish pushed herself upright. She picked up another drink and chugged what was left. She nodded to Aria’s full cup. Aria picked it up and handed it to her. Trish chugged the entire cup, her eyes never leaving Aria’s.
“Do you mean you kissed Jason, Chad, and”—Jennifer glanced quickly to Shona before returning to Aria—“Doug?” Jennifer bit her lip, but the corners of her mouth turned up.
Aria sat. A blush started to creep its way up her face under their scrutiny. “Yes, I did. Live life. That’s what you’ve all been telling me to do and now I’m doing it.” She watched their faces, surprised to see the amazement and happiness fade into fear and sadness on Jennifer and Trish while Shona expression held a trace amount of anger. “What’s the problem?”
“The problem, Aria, is you aren’t living life. Instead, you’re just throwing yourself out there destructively. I mean, who goes around kissing three different guys like that without being a slut?” Shona joined them in sitting, her hands clenched in her lap.
Aria flinched at the venom coming from Shona.
She noticed her friend had already finished all of her drinks, remembering the number of punches Shona drank before they ate lunch, she shook her head. Shona is always a nasty drunk until she moves into being a remorseful drunk. “I remember some university parties where I saw you kissing and a whole lot more with more than three different guys during the night. You seemed to be enjoying yourself, so why not me?”
“The difference was that I was not hanging out with those guys after. They were all one-night stands.” Shona reached for the only full cup of punch left between the four of them and chugged. “Besides. It. Was. University.” She reached out and grasped Aria’s hand. “Doing this when you’re almost thirty and keeping in contact with them is destructive. It’s a cry for help.”
Pulling her hand out of Shona’s grasp, Aria regarded her other two friends. Jennifer’s earlier glee was toned down and Trish chewed on her lip.
Aria squared her shoulders and lifted her head. “I’m living my life. I’m not being destructive. I’m happy with me right now and I thought you would be, too, but I guess I was mistaken.”
She pulled her hand free from Shona and dug her phone and headphones out of her bag. Plugging the earbuds into her phone, she shoved the other end into her ears, turned on her music, and flopped onto her back. She closed her eyes and ignored her friends until Jennifer tapped her, letting her know of their imminent arrival at the resort.
“Thank you.” She cringed at the terseness in her voice. No matter how angry and hurt her friends made her, she still loved them and didn’t want to treat them badly. Sitting up, she gathered up her phone, towel, and sunscreen to repack into her bag.
“Bet she’ll have a welcoming party on the beach.” Shona muttered loud enough for her to hear.
Glancing over to where Shona was packing her bag, she found Shona’s eyes glaring at her. The hate spewing from them triggering a shiver running up from the base of her spine.
“Bet she’ll kiss them all, too, just to lord it over us.” Shona continued holding her gaze. Dropping her eyes, Aria bit her lip. Why is she being so mean?
“Shona!” Jennifer shook her head before offering Aria a sheepish smile.
Aria nodded,
but her eyes smarted from the unshed tears. When her friends turned their backs on her, a single tear made its way down her cheek. She hastily swiped it away.
When the boat came to a stop, Aria pushed her way to the front, anxious to get away from her friends and their judgement. She stepped down into the water and waded a few steps before strong arms engulfed her from behind. She relaxed into the embrace, knowing who they belonged to as they lifted her up and carried her towards shore.
“I missed you, my darling.” Doug’s mouth feasted on her neck as he waded to shore.
“I missed you, too.” Aria managed to turn her head enough to place a small kiss on his cheek before other arms tugged her from Doug.
“You look warm. Come for a dip.” Jason tugged on her hand, leading her farther down the beach. His finger caressed her palm. “I missed my nap with you today, love.” He gazed down at her with a warm smile.
“I missed napping as well.” Aria’s eye’s tightened, and her smile faltered as she thought about her fight with Shona and the girls.
Jason stopped and turned to face her while the other two stood on either side. “Hey now, what’s that look for?” He reached up and captured an escaping tear with his thumb.
Aria closed her eyes and leaned into his palm cradling her cheek. “It’s nothing. I’m just probably overtired.” She opened her eyes, glancing between the guys to watch her friends stagger off towards one of the resort bars. Her shoulders fell as she sucked in her bottom lip.
Chad reached for her empty hand, managing to both hold her hand and take her pulse. “It’s a little high and you’re flushed.” He lifted his second hand to brush her cheek. “You’re skin’s a little warm. A quick dunk, some water, and then a nap, I think.” He took the bag from her shoulder and walked towards one of the property gates.
Aria wrinkled her nose as her brows drew together. Biting the inside of her lip, she wondered where Chad was heading with her bag.
“Don’t worry, love.” Jason squeezed her fingers.
“He’s just going to place your bag on our lounger and grab us all towels.” Doug pulled her into the water along with Jason. Brushing his lips against her temple, he whispered, “He’ll join us in a minute. He missed you as much as we did.”
— Jason —
Passing by the bar where Shona, Jennifer, and Trish ensconced themselves with numerous shooters and a group of cheering males, Jason stopped by their group. He cleared his throat loudly until the girls’ attention turned to him. “Just wanted to let you know, I booked us a charter tomorrow to go scuba diving. I would advise not getting drunk tonight or I will refuse to let you dive.”
Trish and Jennifer smiled as their eyes sparkled with excitement. Their gazes traveled down to the number of shooters in front of them as their smiles fell. Turning to each other, they shrugged before grinning as they pushed half the shooters to the side.
Shona turned, sneering at Aria. “Are you staying here to drink with us?”
Aria forced a smile. “I’m feeling a little bushed, so I’m going to lay down. I’ll see you three later, though.”
She leaned forward through the crowd to give them each a kiss on the cheek. Despite the hurt and anger, these girls were her best friends. Blaming herself for their reaction, she wanted to forgive them and act as if nothing was wrong. She knew what they were like tipsy and drunk, especially Shona, so she should have watched the number of drinks they had before telling them about the kisses. Better off to have waited until they were sober.
Leaving her friends at the bar, the four walked towards the men’s building when Aria stopped near the path leading to her building. “Wait. I need to go get changed, then I’ll meet you.”
“Not likely, sweetheart. You need to come with us.” Chad tugged on her hand.
“But I have nothing to wear.”
“You can wear a t-shirt from one of us, love.” Jason brushed a wayward strand of hair out of her face.
Her strength waned, and she nodded, a resigned expression on her face. She took a few steps forward and stumbled.
— Doug —
Doug reacted first.
Swooping in, he wrapped his arms around her from behind. He picked her up bridal style, nestling her head into his chest as he carried her to their room. Concern coloured his eyes, but a small smile graced his face as her muscles relaxed with sleep.
Once inside, Chad pulled back the covers to Doug’s bed as Doug placed her inside. Jason used a towel to wipe off the sand from her feet and legs while Doug climbed in behind her. Chad returned to the bed with two cool damp facecloths. Placing one on the back of her neck, the second one he rested on her forehead. “We need to cool her down. Jason and I will take the other bed. Only cover her with a sheet.”
Doug nodded as his body relaxed with Aria in his arms. He pulled the sheet over them, placed a kiss on her shoulder, and closed his eyes. Sleep came swiftly.
— Aria —
Aria woke, a shiver racking through her bikini clad body. Slowly opening her eyes, they encountered a soft orange glow seeping in through the blackout curtains. Her ears picked up the soft murmur of voices coming from another room. Glancing around, her mind, foggy from the earlier alcohol and the lack of water, tried to place her surroundings without success. Her heart started to pound.
Moving closer, Doug wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her flush to his warm body. He kissed the back of her neck after removing the damp cloth. “Chad will be happy to see your skin is cooler.” He pulled the facecloth from her forehead away as he sucked her earlobe between his teeth eliciting a small moan from her before letting go. “And so am I.”
Turning in his arms, Aria relaxed. Her heart continued to pound, but this time for a different reason. She wrapped her arms around his neck. With only the slightest pressure, she drew his mouth down to meet hers. Her chilled body craving the warmth of his as his kiss heated her from the inside.
He thrust his tongue into her mouth as he rolled her underneath him, careful to rest most of his weight on his legs and arms to prevent crushing her. He kept his chest propped up, tantalizingly brushing against hers with every breath. As his tongue worked her into a frenzy, he rocked his chest from side to side. Her nipples beaded against him.
“Mmmm, so fucking good.”
Aria’s hands slipped down from his neck, sliding over his chest. The rub of his body across her nipples drove her crazy. Deciding to return the favour, she grinned under his lips as her fingers traced the muscular lines of his pecs. Mmmm. Forever grateful for his penchant of wearing only boxer briefs to bed, she switched from using the pads of her fingers to her nails as she closed in on his nipples. She flicked them until they stood at attention and his body shuddered over her. She pulled her tongue from his mouth to sweep it down towards his collarbone. Kissing and nibbling along with the use of her tongue, she slid her body underneath his until her tongue wrapped itself around his nipple. Tugging it into her mouth, she bit down with enough pressure to straddle the pleasure pain threshold.
“Fuuuck.” Doug’s body bucked into hers.
Moaning at the feel of his body pressing down where she needed it most, she tilted her head. Switching nipples, she bit down again, drawing the same response.
“Fuck, Aria. We need to stop.” Doug gritted his teeth.
She placed a soft chaste kiss against her bite mark as she slid her way back up. Grinning from the swirling darkness in his eyes, her ego boosted. Me, a thirty-year-old, used up ex-wife whose body is abused and broken, made the gorgeous specimen of a man before me almost lose control. Her smile bloomed under the power of knowledge coursing through her veins. She lifted her head taking his lips in another searing kiss.
He returned her kiss before pulling back nose-to-nose. “You’re dangerous you know that? I’m thirty-five and you make me feel like a teenager again.” He pulled her close and rolled them onto their sides. “We should probably get up before the others come in to check on you.”
Nodding, she gave h
im another kiss before sitting up. She swayed.
Doug pushed himself upright, grabbing to steady her. “Chad!”
Chad hurried through the bedroom door, his gaze intense, examining Aria as he moved to sit at her side. “What happened?”
“She sat up and started to sway. Her skin went completely white.” Doug helped to lay her back down on some hastily propped up pillows.
“I’m fine,” she mumbled. “Just got a bit lightheaded.” Aria closed her eyes.
Jason walked into the room with a bottle of water and a bottle of orange juice. He handed them to Chad as he climbed up onto the bed at Aria’s feet.
“Have a sip of juice, Aria.” Chad held the bottle to her lips as Doug propped her higher.
She took a small sip to start, but then added a second and a third, each larger than the previous one. By the time she drank half the bottle, her colour improved significantly. “Guess I was thirsty.”
“I guess you were.” Chad’s lips rose in a small smile as his hand felt her brow, then her neck, before taking her pulse. “You seem to be doing better. I think you might have had a mild case of heatstroke from the sun.”
She dropped her eyes to the bed. “Probably. I did forget to drink extra water towards the end.”
Jason crawled up between her legs. His fingers went to her chin lifting it up. “It happens, love. And besides, we’re here to take care of you.” He sat back on his heels. “Why don’t you take a quick shower and put on a robe? We asked the butler to serve us supper on the patio tonight so we could all relax.”
Aria nodded and took the hand Chad held out to her. “That sounds wonderful.”
Chapter Fifteen
— Aria —
Aria leaned back into her patio chair enjoying the sounds of the guys’ voices as she watched them finish supper, she loosened the belt on her bathrobe a little to accommodate the full belly she sported. “That was so good. Thank you.”
