by Avery James
"This week, you don't have to be anything you're not, Bean," Jack said.
"Call me Bean again and the only thing I'll be is leaving on the next boat off this island."
Jack smiled.
"What's so funny?" Charlotte asked. "You don't believe me?"
"Well, in order for you to leave this island, I'd have to let you down first. Maybe I'll just keep you in my arms the entire time we're here."
"Don't make offers you don't intend to keep."
"I keep my promises," Jack said.
"We'll see about that." Charlotte couldn't help but smile back.
Half an hour later, Charlotte sat by the poolside, contemplating changing into a bathing suit. She soaked in the view while Jack unpacked their bags inside. For the first time in what felt like ages, they were truly alone. No Amy and Callie checking in on them, no families to impress, no donors to charm. It was just him and her, a long sandy beach, and nothing but time. Charlotte wondered what they'd do first.
Then Jack emerged — emerged felt like the right word — in his bathing suit. The bright, tropical light kissed his shoulders and cast shadows over the hard lines of his abs. It was really a shame he had to wear a suit all day. His current look suited him just as well. He walked over to the edge of the pool, lifted his arms above his head and dove in.
Charlotte watched him glide underwater, propelling himself across the pool with two kicks. Jack surfaced. Suddenly, Charlotte knew what she wanted.
Jack walked over to the pool, shrugging and stretching his back, as if he were showing off for her. Maybe he knew what she wanted, too. He gave her a grin and dove in again, kicking a few times underwater and propelling himself over to the edge. He propped himself up and looked out over the edge at the ocean.
"Care to join?" he called back.
Hell yes, Charlotte thought.
"I guess I could," she said. After Jack turned toward the ocean to admire the view, Charlotte decided it was time to set the tone for the week. After all, who knew when she'd be on her honeymoon again? She doubted it would be anywhere as beautiful or secluded as this.
Charlotte slipped off her shirt and stripped down to her underwear as the gentle island air kissed her stomach and the sunlight washed over her. She walked over to the edge of the pool and slid in. She stayed there for a moment, completely submerged, floating in the warm, relaxing water. She knew what she wanted to do next. Whatever tension she had left in her muscles floated away, but in its place, she felt a thrill.
She surfaced and shook her hair before swimming over to Jack. The thin fabric of her bra clung to her body. Sure, underwear wasn't all that different from a bathing suit, but it had a different meaning to her. Slowly, she swam over to Jack. When she reached him, she tapped him on the shoulder and turned him around.
"Hi," she said.
Jack was good with words. Give him enough time, and he could convince almost anyone to do almost anything. Need a bridge built, a law passed or blocked? Jack was your man. He knew how to charm and persuade, but all of Jack's speeches, all of his fundraising appeals, all of his pep talks, even his wedding vows, none of them had said as much to Charlotte as the look on his face when he turned to see her.
He was surprised, and he was excited. She had caught him off guard, she could tell. That flicker in his eyes, that need, that was the real Jack. That was the man who was allowing himself to fall for her, the one who snuck glances at her when he thought she wasn't looking, the one who whispered her name in his sleep.
She wanted him too. She needed him, and she didn't want to settle for glances or slipped whispers, she wanted all of him, all the time. Maybe Jack was afraid to say he loved her, maybe he couldn't find the words, but the look in those blue eyes told Charlotte everything she needed to know.
As he looked at her, she felt sexy. She felt bold. She reached out and placed her hand on his hip, pulling herself against him. She wanted him. She ran her hand over his chest. She wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him. His lips were so wonderfully smooth, and within a second, Jack had his arms around her and had slipped his tongue against hers. Charlotte closed her eyes as the warm thrill of Jack's embrace coursed through her.
"This is a pleasant surprise," he said between kisses. "I thought I'd have to bribe you to get you into the water."
"No," Charlotte said. She nibbled at his bottom lip and felt her joints weaken as Jack returned the favor. "Though I wouldn't be opposed to a little bribery."
Jack grinned. "You've already beaten me to my first offer."
"Think of another," Charlotte said.
"To keep you here?" He kissed her neck, and Charlotte felt another rush of desire. Jack slid his finger beneath her bra strap. "Have you ever been skinny dipping?"
Charlotte bit her lip and shook her head. "Is that an offer?"
"Maybe," Jack said. He slid the straps off her shoulders and reached for the clasp.
Charlotte felt short of breath as she waited for his next move.
"If you'd like. Of course, I'll need your help too."
Charlotte raised an eyebrow. "I don't know. I'm so terribly inexperienced at it. You'd have to lead me through each and every step."
She kissed him again, and Jack unclasped her bra. She felt it fall away, and suddenly she felt the thrill of her bare chest against his. She tapped the middle of his back.
"Unfortunately," Charlotte said, "you don't have a bra for me to remove."
Jack slid his hands over her hips. "Then you can move on to this step," he said.
Charlotte's heart raced as he pulled her panties down over her thighs and she felt the water against her sensitive skin.
Charlotte hooked her fingers under the waistband of Jack's bathing suit. With a quick pull, she had him naked too. She placed her hands on his naked hips and smiled.
"Now we're even," she said.
Jack kissed her collarbone and her sternum, cupping her breasts on either side of his face. With each press of his lips, warmth rushed through her chest. When Jack went lower, kissing her stomach, she shivered with excitement. Since he was fully submerged, she let herself gasp in excitement. As he moved lower, she pulled herself away. He surfaced a moment later.
"Did I do something wrong?" he asked.
"You have to breathe," she said.
"Don't worry, I won't forget," he said.
He slid back beneath the water and kissed her again. This time, Charlotte shouted and trembled in delight. Jack held one hand firm against her hip as he worked the other up and down her torso, sweeping his fingers against her stomach and cupping her breasts. Charlotte gasped in delight as Jack worked his tongue against her. She ran her fingers through his hair. Her cheeks and her chest flushed with excitement. When he surfaced again, Charlotte grabbed his arm and nodded toward the bedroom.
"Are you saying you're done with skinny dipping?" Jack asked.
"For now," Charlotte said. "There's something I'd like to show you inside."
Half a minute later, they found themselves in the bedroom, tumbling into bed, doing exactly what honeymooners are meant to do.
The scent of the tropical air and the sound of the birds just outside the windows of the bedroom made Charlotte feel like there was nothing more natural than the feeling of Jack's body sliding against hers as she wrapped her legs around his sides and felt the muscles of his ribs flex with every movement inside of her. She felt beautiful, and wanted, and, as she lay there in his arms, she felt loved. Even if Jack didn't say it, she felt it, warm and bright as the tropical sun.
They lay there in bed for a long while, just listening to the waves crash against the cliffside below. Charlotte leaned her head against Jack's bare chest and listened to his heart beat as he ran his fingers through her hair.
"I have another gift for you," he said. "And I don't mean sex. I mean I have something I got for you before the wedding."
"I can only look through one set of binoculars at a time," Charlotte joked. "Seriously though, Jack you shouldn't h
ave. This is too much already. I feel like I'm living in a dream."
"I think you're going to like this one."
"You've already spent so much on the wedding and this vacation, and I don't have anything for you." Charlotte felt like a broken record.
"How about this, if you think it's too much, I'll return them."
"Them?" Charlotte asked.
"A matching set," he replied.
"Jack, this is really too much," Charlotte said. "Its incredibly sweet, but you really don't have to get me anything."
"No, this is right up your alley."
"His and hers sunscreen?" Charlotte suggested.
Jack laughed. "That would actually go quite well with it."
"If you bought matching bathing suits, I might die of embarrassment, even if there's no one else around to see."
Jack nodded toward his bag. "I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Go look. They're tucked away at the bottom. Come on. I already know you'll love them."
"Is that right?" Jack had piqued her interest.
Charlotte pulled on a t-shirt and crossed the room to the bag. The floor felt cool against her bare feet. She reached into the bag and pushed her hand down through the clothes until she felt wrapping paper and the hard edge of something. It was small, about the size and weight of two paperback books stacked on top of each other. Charlotte looked at Jack as she tore the paper off. It was two paperback books stacked on top of each other, two identical copies of Pride and Prejudice. Charlotte smiled.
"One of my favorites," she said.
Jack grinned. "I thought maybe we could read it together. Think of them as his and her copies. I figured since I've dragged you into my world, I might as well take a shot at least spending some time in yours."
"Are you saying my world is 19th century England?"
"I'm saying I'll read the book. I even brought a couple of pens so we can make notes in the margins. I thought you'd like that."
"I do," Charlotte said. She tossed one of the paperbacks to Jack and hopped back into bed.
"I didn't mean right now," he said. "Right now all I want to do is wrap my arms around you and sleep. There's a spot on the far side of the island, almost exactly opposite the dock, where there's a cabana and a few chaise longues where we can kick back and read."
"Alright," Charlotte said, propping her elbows up on Jack's chest and thumbing the smell of freshly printed pages at herself, "this is officially paradise."
Chapter 24
After eating breakfast in bed the next morning, Charlotte and Jack headed down to the beach. A few feet away from the house, the path to the beach narrowed, and the rocks and grass that surrounded the villa gave way to tall trees and lush green vegetation.
As she walked, Charlotte listened to the wind rustle the leaves and vines overhead. It was cooler in the grove. The ocean sounded far off, and Charlotte felt like she and Jack were somehow more alone now than they had been even at the villa. She held Jack's hand as he led her forward, carefully stepping over the small rocks as they started to make their way out of the grove.
Ahead, Charlotte could see the canopy thin and the trail widen again. Before they left the grove, the path forked, one route led down to the beach, while the other led deeper into the grove. From their vantage point, the trees stretched far down to the other side of the island.
Charlotte half wanted Jack to turn to the right and stay on the trail, just the two of them walking back in time not even talking. Holding his hand and being with him would have been enough. It seemed like there was so much to discover, so much to see. She worried that going down to the beach would somehow break the spell of the moment.
The white sand of the beach was warm from the morning sun, but not yet hot enough to be uncomfortable. The beach curved along the side of the island, reaching the cliffs below the villa on one end and turning in at the edge of a small bay on the other.
While the water crashed against the cliffs in a rhythmic dance, the beach was sheltered, and the small swells murmured and lulled against the soft sand. The water was clear and calm, any rough water broken by a reef that stretched far out beyond this side of the island.
Charlotte dug her toes into the sand and took a deep breath of the salty air. Maybe the beach wouldn't interrupt the magic of this place after all. Jack pulled off his shirt, tossed it onto one of the two chaise longues, and headed for the water.
"I thought we were reading!" Charlotte called after him.
"Come on, it's beautiful out. Come for a swim, then we can read. I hear the water's—" Jack stopped talking as soon as his foot touched the water. He turned around. "It's as warm as the air. I think I just might wade in and spend the rest of my life here."
"Told you, you should have bought the island," Charlotte said.
Jack dove underwater and slicked back his hair as he surfaced.
"Come on in. It's beautiful," he said. "We can read after we dry off."
"I'm already dry," Charlotte said. She looked at him and then down at her bag. She had prepared herself for a relaxing day of reading. She had her book, her sunscreen, a bottle of water and assorted snacks. She hadn't really planned on going swimming, but the water did look nice. She pulled off her sundress and felt the warm sun on her stomach. A few minutes in the water couldn't hurt.
An hour and a half later, she was still in the water, leaning back against Jack and enjoying the warm glow of the sun. The water was so warm that Charlotte felt like she could close her eyes and fall asleep. A deep relaxation permeated every inch of her body. Jack held her in his arms, running his fingers through her hair and kissing the top of her head every now and then.
Neither of them spoke. It was enough just to be together. Charlotte liked the comfort she found in their shared quiet. She felt no need to fill the silence with some pointless yammering or awkward glances. They were together and alone.
She was where she wanted to be — in his arms.
***
Late that night, late enough that the sky was starting to lighten outside, Jack woke her, rubbing her shoulder and smiling down at her.
"Let's go," he said.
"You have another special place?" Charlotte asked. The fog of sleep still hung thick in her head.
"Yeah, well, I was hoping this one could be ours," he said.
Charlotte groaned and rolled out of bed. It wasn't cold, but she wrapped herself in a robe before following him. Jack coaxed her outside, led her through the dense overgrowth in the middle of the island as the sky began to brighten above them.
Gradually, the path widened, and the dirt and twisted roots underfoot gave way to sand. Jack led her onto the small beach as the sun started to break open the horizon. They sat down in the cool sand and watched the sun rise. Charlotte leaned her head against Jack's shoulder. Her cheek felt so warm against his skin.
As she watched the sun, Charlotte couldn't help but think how much had changed since that morning on the Cape when Jack had brought her to the marsh. That had been his way of letting her in, of showing her more of himself than he had shown anyone else. Now, as they watched the sun rise, and the darkness of night gave way to day, she wondered if this was a new step in their relationship, another revelation, a sign that Jack wanted more too.
She nosed his cheek and kissed him. Desire ached deep inside her, taking control of her body. Need set in like panic. Jack ran his hands over Charlotte's thighs, sending a thrill through her core.
She kissed him again, working her lips against his in a frenzy, kissing him, letting her hot breath linger against his cheek. His rough facial stubble rasped against her cheek as he kissed her and nibbled on her earlobe.
A moment after that first kiss, their passion overtook them, like a squall blowing in off the ocean. Jack reached for the belt of Charlotte's robe and untied it, letting the robe fall open. She straddled him, pressing her bare chest against his. The warmth of his skin made her want him more.
Jack slid his hands over her hips and slipped her panties do
wn around her knees as she fumbled with his shorts. She could feel his heat and his excitement, and she needed to feel that connection with him. She pushed against him, slowly moving back and forth, kissing him in rhythm with the waves that lulled against the beach behind her. Slowly, he pushed himself inside her. An overwhelming wave of pleasure rose inside her, and she tried to stifle her moan. Charlotte laughed and Jack looked at her, his face a contorted in pleasure and confusion.
"I just realized I can be as loud or as quiet as I want," she said.
Jack smiled. "Go ahead," he added, "shout all you like."
Charlotte rocked against him some more as the pleasure surged inside her. She moaned louder and pushed Jack back into the sand. She could feel his length push deep inside her. She closed her eyes and bit her lip as Jack grabbed her hips and pulled her against himself again and again. Charlotte dragged her toes through the sand and clenched her eyes tighter. She tensed as the pleasure grew even stronger, thrumming inside her head and her core. Her breaths grew ragged, and she felt sweat breaking out across her body.
How can this be so good? she wondered.
Jack sat up, wrapped his arms around her and rolled over in the sand, slowly lowering himself against her again and kissing her neck as he drove her to climax.
"Tell me when," he said. He slid his hands over her arms and locked his fingers between hers.
"Now," Charlotte moaned.
She shouted and flexed as she came. The world went quiet around her, and her mind went blank. The only sound she heard was her pulse pounding in her ears.
When she opened her eyes again, Jack was smiling down at her. He kissed her cheek, and nuzzled her neck.
"We might have to try that again tomorrow," he said.
Charlotte smiled and met his kiss, letting her tongue linger against his for a moment.
"Why wait?" she asked.
For that question, Jack had no answer.
