When his hands are back on my hips, I take him home watching his eyes roll back in his head. “Christ,” he murmurs and I revel in the fact I have the ability to make him feel as good as he makes me. Shivers run over my body as I watch him lose control. I relish it. His face is painted in ecstasy, and it makes me more desperate, wild and uninhibited in my desire to please us both. This feeling…it’s primal.
Rocking forward and backward, breaths coming faster and faster with our movements, my head drops back and moans communicate feelings. His name leaves my lips over and over, sometimes whispered sometimes in a yell, always with great feeling.
His hands find my breasts and stroke, pinch and knead. “Harder,” he instructs. Placing my hands on his chest, I obey. Our eyes meet and hold, the only sound the music our bodies make together. Every thrust, every stroke, something inside of me begins to unravel. When his fingers move between my legs, I’m soaring in seconds. He follows me immediately and I collapse onto his chest.
“Now that was one hell of a good morning.” His chest vibrates under my ear. A thought occurs to me and I begin laughing.
“What?” he asks amused.
“I was just thinking that here I was so adamant about brushing my teeth and I didn’t even kiss you.”
“I think you should rectify that immediately,” he demands.
So I do.
When he pulls away, he tucks me into his side, pushing my hair behind my ear. “I have special plans for us tonight.”
“You do?”
“I do,” he nods. “But what we do with our day is up to you.”
I contemplate the options but know exactly what I’d prefer. “I have heard that the Sky Pool at Sunset Beach is amazing. It looks out over the whole bluff and you can see the ocean for miles. How about we go up there?”
“I think that sounds perfect.”
And so, after we shower, together of course, we find ourselves taking a golf cart to the resort above ours. The cart drives up and up and up until we’re let out at a ramp where we have to walk even further. Once we get to the top, the jaunt we had to take to get here, we immediately affirm was well worth it. We can see the expanse of this resort and our own far down below, but what captivates us is the ocean, its craggy shoreline and white caps visible for what appears to be miles upon miles. A small number of sailboats and fishing boats bob up and down with the tide and present a beautiful picture. Far below we watch as the water crashes upon the shore. Further still large rocks jettison along the coast and the surf crashes against them making huge splashes of white water that’s so picturesque I snap several pictures with my phone. When I get home I plan to blow up several of the best shots and frame them – the perfect homemade souvenir.
When we bring ourselves to walk away from the railing, we grab towels from a worker manning the small adobe hut and walk to find chairs. While walking, I investigate the pool. It has two semi-circle shaped tiers: a large pool on the bottom and another glass-side enclosed one above. Upon closer observation, I note that the one on top is actually an infinity pool and water spills over the front into the one below. People stand against its edge, some conversing, some merely observing, others appearing contemplative. Many hold beverages served by the bar positioned to the side, which also entreats others to sit on its stools that erupt from the water. Steps take one between levels. Both levels are surrounded with lounge chairs, tables and sun umbrellas and are well-populated this morning. Conversation and laughter abound. It appears that everyone is enjoying their vacation.
Following Asher as he looks for seats, his ball cap pulled low over his eyes, I can’t help but laugh along with others as a guy and two girls laugh loudly and dare each other to fall over the infinity edge into the bigger pool below. They each flop gracelessly over the edge to cheers from onlookers. One woman we pass who may be in her late fifties covers her eyes with her hands and mutters, “Have kids they said. It will be great they said.” Covering my mouth with my hand I suppress a giggle. Asher looks back at me and the glee in his eyes indicates he heard her too.
Simultaneously we spot an observatory looking area above the upper pool. We hasten our pace and eagerly mount the steps to its platform where the breath-taking view seen from the railing is magnified. I turn in slow circles, eyes first opened then closed, with arms extended out from my side, as the slight breeze breathes into my pores, dazed with the sheer magnificence of our surroundings. Asher looks at me, adoringly, inevitably taking me within his arms and holding me until we have ingested our fill.
Securing chairs side by side Asher spreads out our towels, we do the sunblock thing and then get comfortable. It’s a beautiful day and as I feel the sun warm my skin I feel grateful for being in such a beautiful place and having met the man next to me. I know that this whole vacation will be one I never forget.
“Do you have a new project coming up soon?” I turn on my side and look at Asher, my gaze roaming over him like always. I can’t help myself.
“I do. I have a few meetings with the director and my agent when I get back to LA and then a week later I have to report to the set.”
“That’s exciting. What is the role? Is it another Jack Danger movie?”
“No, but I am filming another one of them at the end of this year. In this one I’m playing a detective that’s accused of committing the perfect murder.”
“Ooh, who do you murder?”
He smiles, “Who says I murdered anyone? Why are you so quick to assume my character did it?”
Rolling my eyes, I ask, “Fine, please allow me to rephrase.”
“Proceed.”
“Who died that you’re accused of murdering?”
“My girlfriend in the movie.”
“Oh yeah? And who plays your girlfriend?”
He names an actress that’s so drop dead gorgeous I’m embarrassed to admit it makes my stomach fall a little. Stupid reaction. “Wow,” I reply.
But, I can’t get anything past him, “Whoa, why did your face fall?”
“Did it?” I shrug, but my next comment and question totally gives me away, but I can’t seem to stop myself. “She’s beautiful. Have you ever dated her?”
His nose wrinkles at my question as if he tasted something bitter. “What? No. Not at all. Not interested. Besides,” he rubs his hands down his body and I follow their trail, “All this is for my wife.”
Laughing at the way he totally complimented himself in that sentence, I ask, “So, who have you dated in Hollywood?”
His face turns serious, “What makes you ask?”
Oh god, it must be really bad if he’s asking and not answering. “Well… I’m not blind, I mean I’ve seen some of the press about you.”
“You shouldn’t believe everything you read.”
“I’m not saying I do, but I can’t even log into social media accounts without being blasted with entertainment headlines and whatever is trending, and you’ve definitely trended more than once. Which I have to say is so weird to say to you.”
“Why?” he presses.
“Spending time with you has been so…”
“Yes?” His brows raise and he watches me expectantly.
“Normal.”
His head falls back and he laughs, “I am normal – in every way. You know that for yourself,” he says suggestively.
“Yes, it’s totally normal to have starring roles in movies, have women literally throw themselves or their clothes at you, propose marriage on social media – yes I saw that headline too – and to have more money than God.”
“Okay fine, so I’m not exactly normal in every way I guess, but I don’t get caught up in all that Hollyweird shit. I’m not interested. I love what I do, and I’m lucky to be doing it, but I’ve told you, it’s not what makes me who I am. I also have great friends and family that helps keep me grounded when I need them. But usually, I can do that on my own.”
“So the rumors?”
“Most of them have been just that. And if the rumor is with
an actress I’m starring in a movie with it’s normal and pretty predictable that rumors about us dating start to circulate. A lot of times the production company doesn’t do anything to contradict them either. In fact, sometimes they initiate them. All press is good press they say.”
“Does that ever bother you?”
“It never has because the people that matter to me know what’s what. Besides, all you have to do is look at photos from any of the award shows I’ve gone to.”
“Why’s that?”
“I always bring my mom or sister.”
“Aww, that’s so sweet.”
I swear a blush comes to his face, “It’s not that I couldn’t get a date if I wanted,” he says cockily.
“Nope, too late. I already think you’re super sweet now. And a momma’s boy. You can’t change it and try to make you seem like a player. I know the truth.”
He grins and I don’t think he particularly cares that I know the truth. My guy is a softie. Whoa, my guy? Where did that come from?
“Speaking of friends,” Asher says as he looks down at his phone. Holding it to his ear he gives me a brief smile, “No, we don’t want to go out with you again,” he says without a greeting and I shake my head at his rudeness but he just smiles and mouths, “Well we don’t.”
“Tomorrow morning? I don’t know…” I raise my brows in silent question. “Hold on.” He puts his phone down, “Hunter wants me to meet him for breakfast in the morning. We have a couple things to discuss, not sure if I mentioned that Hunter’s kind of my assistant.”
“What? He is? No, you never mentioned that.”
“Well he’s been my friend for ages, but he’s one of the only people I trust so I asked if he would take the job and he did.”
That explains a lot. I mean, I knew they were friends but he also has a vested interest in Asher’s career so he’s protective of him on more than just a personal level. “Well go meet him for breakfast. It must be important.”
“I doubt it’s anything that can’t wait, like I’ve already told him, but I should quit blowing him off. You sure you don’t mind?”
“Not at all.”
He makes arrangements for an early breakfast and we enjoy the rest of the day at the pool, at times cooling off -or alternatively heating up- in the water, standing under the mock falls, swimming, imbibing in delightful summer drinks, or otherwise, sunning. The time could hardly have been more perfect.
We go back to our room and take a quick shower together before we get dressed for the evening. I don’t ask Asher what I should wear, I know what I want to put on. Slipping on a floral sundress that’s sheer but lined, I love its weightless feeling on my skin. It crosses in the front, ties at the side, and where the ruffled hem meets in the front as it wraps, it’s a little shorter. The showstopper is that it’s completely backless. Foregoing undergarments I search for the pink flip-flops that match the pink in my dress but I can only find one; instead I elect to go with my sparkly gold ones.
Ready, I step out from the dressing area and Asher’s appreciative glance devours every inch of me. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I respond, in turn admiring his navy blue pants and white shirt rolled up on his forearms. “You look edible,” I tell him and he smiles wickedly. I can almost hear the dirty thought running through his mind.
Taking my hand he leads me out of the room. I’m surprised to find that we aren’t leaving the resort at all and when we walk past the pool and onto the beach I look at Asher in question. He just smiles and turns to the man that walks up to him. “Mr. Charming, we have everything ready for you.”
“Thank you,” he says as he takes my hand and leads me to one of the huge bed-like cabanas on the sand. They are out of this world amazing. Huge four-poster bed-loungers with white flowing canopies from each of the four corners that enable closure for privacy. A fluffy mattress and huge soft-looking pillows lie on a base that is suspended by ropes in all four corners, allowing it to swing gently. Next to the cabana is a table and chairs set with covered plates. Taper candles are positioned in the center of the table, ready to be lit once the sun sets.
“Wow.” I don’t have any other word to describe how incredible this surprise is.
Asher turns to me when he’s done speaking with the staff, “Do you like it?”
“I love it.”
“Good. We have this for the night.”
“The entire night?”
“Yes,” he nods and I smile. “Are you hungry? Do you want to eat?”
“Not just yet. Can we enjoy the sunset first?”
“Of course.”
He reaches up and closes the canopy that exposes our backs to the resort. With it closed no one in their rooms or at the pool can see into the cabana. He gets on the large bed first and then helps me climb on and wraps me in his arms. We stay like that, wrapped up in each other, as we watch the sun descend. My eyes well with tears when the fact occurs to me that Asher and I have limited sunsets left to enjoy together. The thought chokes me up and I bat my eyelashes furiously trying to keep the tears from falling down my cheeks. I don’t want to ruin our night.
We look on in awe as the sky ablaze with color makes the ocean appear as if it’s on fire. The sun lingers on the edge of the horizon, before dipping and then disappearing, leaving behind tranquility and a feeling of awe and respect. “It’s so beautiful,” I whisper as the spectacular scene touches and moves the deepest part of my soul. We lay still, connected, unmoving and as the stars ascended to take their place in the night sky and moonbeams bounce from the water in the distance, I realize what I just viewed was akin to the sensations and experience of my short time with Asher. Uniqueness, a blaze of beauty and magnificence, real, stirring, moving, and I want these feeling to linger forever.
Asher’s fingers are on my chin and he lifts my head to face him. “Almost as beautiful as you, Ella.” I realize he had repeated these words, but in my revelry, I had not heard. But gazing in his eyes, I see an indecipherable look and in the next instant my lips are on his. He kisses me as if it’s one of our last. There’s desperation in the way his hands clutch my body to his, in the way his mouth moves against me furiously then slows down as if he’s trying to savor every minute. When we pull away we stare into each other’s eyes. Reaching up, I brush my thumb over his cheek, a thousand things going through my mind.
“Let’s eat,” he says hesitantly and before I can again grasp any one thought and hold onto it to investigate it further or uncover his.
We eat fresh seafood together and he keeps me laughing by telling me different pranks he’s pulled on the set. He’s done everything from super glue a cast member’s finger to his nose, to putting nipple clamps tied to a locked collar on a passed out drunk cast member that weren’t able to be removed without a key, to hand-delivering a fake certified letter to a fellow cast member that carried information of a lawsuit by another cast member causing significant mayhem and drama. I had no idea he enjoyed being a prankster and targeted his co-stars with such antics and jokes. The gossip columns did not capture this side. Note to self, stay aware and watch out.
“God, I love the sound of your laugh,” he says unexpectedly as I was laughing at the story of when he had a friend dress up as a police officer and fake arrest someone on the set.
“I laugh a lot around you.”
“I like it.”
His eyes are heated and wordless when we finish dinner and move back to the cabana. Before reclaiming his spot, he carefully closes the side cabana drapes, leaving the one facing the ocean open. It’s so dark, we can only see the twinkling stars, the white reflection of the moon off the water and the ripples of the water under the light. With the salt in the air, the ocean crashing in our ears, and Asher at my side, I don’t think I could be happier.
He turns to me and smiles as he slides a hand up the side of my leg. When he reaches my naked hip, his eyes widen, and I smile seductively. “That’s correct. I’m not wearing any panties,” I te
ll him obviously. He groans and he squeezes his eyes closed. “Asher?” I whisper and wait for his eyes to meet mine. When they do I gasp at the way his indigo eyes almost look black from lust. “Make love to me.”
Without a word, he removes the clothes from my body and I remove his. When we are naked he kisses down my body until he’s positioned between my legs. When he kisses me intimately, my back curves off the bed and my toes curl in response. My hands move to his head and I shamelessly pull his hair, stroke his head while grinding my hips into his face desperately searching for my release. When it comes, I see more stars than the ones in the sky.
Kissing his way back up my body, he rolls on the condom and then positions himself above me. His eyes bore into my own and with each small thrust he makes as he enters me, he unknowingly peels back the protective layers I’ve kept over my heart until the truth is shining so bright, I’m amazed it doesn’t blind both of us. When we are hip-to-hip, chest-to-chest, heart-to-heart, the realization that I am in love with this man washes over me with startling clarity.
I want more than anything to tell him. I want to scream it, moan it, whisper it, and repeat it over and over like a curse or a prayer. I want to beg and plead with him to love me too. I want to ask him to let this marriage be the real thing – to keep me forever. To let me have him. But I can’t. It’s pointless. It doesn’t matter. I’ve no reason to believe he feels the same way about me, and our time together is coming to a close. He needs to get back to his life, his career, his family and friends. Exposing my feelings will only set me up for unfathomable pain and the rational part inside of me can’t allow myself to break again – not now at least – not here.
So, instead, as we make love, I try to tell him with my actions. I tell him I love him with the way I clutch his body to mine, with the way my fingers dig into his skin, and with the way I kiss him - as if I can’t taste enough of him. I tell him I love him in the way I take control and kiss my way down his body until I give him pleasure. Every stroke of my hand, flick and lick of my tongue, and with every kiss from my lips, I try to communicate my heart. I tell him I love him as my nails dig into his chest, I tell him I love him with the way I yell his name when I reach euphoria, and with the way I keep pace with him, thrust for thrust, groan for groan until he climaxes too. I tell him I love him with the smile I give him when he pulls away to look at me. I tell him again with the kiss of my lips on his and with the way my eyes devour every inch of his face begging him to see, to know. When he wraps me up in his arms, and his slow steady breaths reach my ears, I finally allow myself to shed the tears I can no longer contain.
Charming: A Modern Day Sexy Cinderella Story Page 18
