by Ewing, A. B.
Cautiously, he navigated his way over the rocks, his flip flops making the task a little difficult.
Taking the corner slowly he climbed down the rock and landed with a thud on the sand. How was this for adventure?
Behind the rock, there was a hidden alcove. On the sand there were three short coconut trees all curved at the trunk, the branches like huge arms reaching for the sun. It looked like a picture from a brochure. There was a rickety sign that said “Private Beach” a little distance away.
Entranced by the beauty of his surroundings, Caleb almost didn’t see the figure in the water. His eye barely caught the movement but when he did he stared in amazement as the figure emerged from the water. At first he thought her to be an illusion, but quickly realized that no illusion could be this alluring.
She came closer, oblivious to his presence. Her tendrils of hair swung loosely midway down her back, the ringlets of curls heavy with sea water. She ran her hands over her head, pressing the excess water from her hair. Her stomach was flat, her full breasts were barely hidden by the tiny scrap of cloth, and her slim waist flowed perfectly to meet her hips, wide and perfect. Her legs were long and they seemed to go on forever. Her cinnamon-colored skin radiated like the rays of sun setting on the horizon. He couldn’t see her face clearly, but he would bet anything she was beautiful.
Still unaware of his presence, she headed straight for the alcove and reached for a towel. Caleb knew he should walk away but for unexplained reasons his flip flop seemed to be molded to the sand.
He gawked at the island beauty and his mouth fell open when he realized what she was doing. She reached behind for the knot that held the bikini top together and gently tugged. His mouth went dry.
Damn it, Caleb, say something or she’s going to strip right here in front of you.
He awkwardly cleared his throat in an effort to make his presence known. Gasping, the woman tried to hold the lose garment to her breast with one arm as she brought up the towel with the other. Caleb recovered quickly enough to turn his head away.
“What are you doing? How long have you been standing there?” she demanded in that rich Trinidadian accent he had become familiar with over the past couple of weeks.
Turning back to her, he noticed that she wrapped the big beach towel around her slender body. She glared at him, no doubt upset about the intrusion. He was wrong - she wasn’t beautiful, she was bewitching.
“I’m sorry about sneaking up on you like that, but I was just taking a walk and saw you. I mean I saw you but I didn’t see you. I mean I saw you bathing… no, that’s not what I mean.” ‘Walk away Caleb; walk away before you make an even bigger fool of yourself. You sound like a blithering idiot.’ Unable to look at her he dropped his head, his eyes fixed on an imaginary spot on the sand.
‘Smooth Wilder, really smooth.’ he silently chastised himself. ‘Don Juan of Washington and this woman has you tongue-tied. Yeah, way to go.
A snicker came from her direction. His head snapped up. She was laughing at him. She was actually laughing at him.
Clasping a hand over her mouth she tried to stifle her apparent humor, but lost the battle as peals of laughter bubbled out. It was the most intoxicating sound he had ever heard. It seemed as though sounding like a fool was good medicine for anger. He returned her smile.
“Hi, I am Caleb Wilder. I’m staying at one of the beach houses on the other side.” he pointed to where he spoke of.
“I know, Mr. Wilder, I have seen you around. I also know that you are Mr. Granger’s guest.”
“Well, it seems as though you have me at a disadvantage. I’ve never seen you before.”
“That is because I do not want to be seen,” she said smiling again. God, she was beautiful.
Uh oh! He needed to get out of there. If he remained in her presence much longer and she kept smiling at him like that, she would think he was a pervert. His jeans were becoming very uncomfortable.
“Well, it was nice meeting you. I best leave you now to continue…whatever it was you were doing!” ‘Like you didn’t know.’ That deceitful voice whispered again.
“I’m going back that way now. Do you mind if I walk with you?” she queried.
“Sure.” great, the afternoon just kept getting better.
“Just let me get my stuff,” she smiled again. Why did she keep doing that? Didn’t she have any idea what she was doing to him?
She reached for a book and a beach bag which were hidden behind a rock. That would explain why he was not alerted of her presence earlier on.
In the few minutes they took to reach the beach house, he found out so much more about her. Her name was Neela Moraine and she was from the island. Her mother was a Dougla, but her father was American. She was an only child, her mother was dead and her father was somewhere in America. She didn’t know him and she didn’t want to. She had just turned twenty a week ago; she loved swimming and singing, and spent a lot of her time reading.
She worked at the main office of the beach house as the night receptionist; that explained why he had never seen her before. She spent most of her days on the beach or sleeping in. Her best friend of seventeen years was named Kaylee and lived in Florida; they spoke every weekend. He was happy to listen to her. The more he knew, the more he wanted to know.
He was disappointed when they finally reached the main entrance of the office but she promised that she would take him sightseeing the next day— their destination— the Pitch Lake. He stood there, just watching as she disappeared into the building and realized he was smiling like a teenager on his first date. As he trotted off for home, he wished tomorrow would come soon.
Chapter 4
The next three weeks were the most memorable of Caleb’s life. He spent every free minute with Neela, touring the island or just hanging out on the beach. The drive to the Pitch Lake had been long, seeing that it was located to the South of the island. It was worth it. They bathed in the little pools of water and she laughed when Caleb mentioned that he felt as if he was in an outdoor hot tub.
She took him to see the leather back turtles nesting on Matura beach and taught him how to race crabs. Caleb enjoyed every moment of her company and dreaded the afternoons when he would have to leave her. He wanted to kiss her so badly but feared if he did she would be pissed. After all she had shown no sign of being interested in him in any other way than friendly. It was probably best since his time here would soon end. Now why did that thought upset him so much?
****
They were having a great time together, so Caleb was totally baffled when he asked to see her one Saturday, four weeks after they met and she declined.
She gave no explanations, just said that she couldn’t see him. Confused as hell, he went for a walk to the alcove where he had first met her.
Caleb was momentarily lost for words when he found her lying there in that naughty bikini, reading a book. An unexplainable rage filled him. This could not be what she blew him off to do! No possible way!
“You blew me off to read a damn book? I thought you enjoyed my company. I thought we were having a good time,” he was shouting at her, more hurt than angry.
She jumped to her feet when he came up on her.
“I do enjoy your company, Caleb; it’s just that I needed some time to think.”
“Time to think, what could you possibly need to think about that you couldn’t see me today? You know I will be leaving soon.” he knew he was being unreasonable but he didn’t give a damn right about now. She should be with him, letting him kiss her, letting him run his hands down the length of her body, letting him bury himself inside her.
Try as he may, he couldn’t suppress his wayward thoughts. He’d spent every night since he met her, trying to think about anything other than making love to her but didn’t have much luck. Instead he had ended every night, hard as a rock and in a foul mood the next day. His desire for her was beyond control and Caleb knew that if he didn’t make love to her soon, he would explode. What t
he hell was happening to him?
”Caleb, I hardly know anything about you at all but that doesn’t stop me from feeling things…things I shouldn’t be feeling. You are a guest at my boss’s resort and it is my job to make you feel welcome but lately when I’m with you, I want you to hold me, to kiss me, and that shouldn’t be. I mean, you leave in a month and I will probably never see you again.” pausing for breath, she looked at Caleb, searching for some understanding. “I think I may be falling in love with you and I cannot let that happen!”
Caleb could not believe what he was hearing! Here he was afraid to touch her, afraid he would scare her off and now she was saying she was falling in love with him.
He gathered her into his arm in one swift movement and buried his face in her soft mound of curls. She smelled of the sea and vanilla, making it very hard for him to behave honorable.
“Damn it, Neela! Do you have any idea what I have been through these past couple of weeks? God, woman! Every time I’m with you I have to stop myself from taking you into my arms, from kissing you, from laying you down on some beach and making love to you. I know I have to leave in a couple of weeks, and the thought of never seeing you again terrifies me, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy what we have now. I want you, Neela.” he raised her face with a gentle nudge of her chin. “Look at me.”
She did and the innocence of her soft hazel eye was his undoing.
He kissed her then, his lips closing possessively over hers. She pressed her body closer to him, welcoming the hardness of his. Her lips parted on a soft moan and Caleb delved deeper, wanting more of her.
Drawing his hands down her back, he brought her against his arousal; one hand moving lower to cup her rounded bottom.
He angled his head to get a better fit and felt her hands come up to rest on his chest. Tongues meshed together; Caleb could taste the sea.
Shifting her body, she rubbed against his hardness causing him to release a sound so primal.
Drawing his mouth away from hers, he cupped her face and looked down at her.
“I need you, Neela. I need you so much. I need to know you want this too.”
She responded by wrapping her hands around his neck and bringing her mouth up to his. Desire so raw, reeled through his entire body. He moved his hand back to her bottom and lifted her of the ground.
“Wrap your legs around me darling,” he ordered and like a willing slave she obeyed.
Taking her to the beach towel she had used as a resting place earlier he knelt, her long legs still wrapped around him.
She ran her hand through his hair and traced the outline of his hard jaw with the tip of her tongue. He groaned and buried his hand in her thick curls slipping his tongue into her mouth once more.
“God, Neela, you don’t have any idea what you’re doing to me. I need to be inside you.”
Caleb had never felt this kind of desire for any woman before and it scared him stiff but it also excited him.
Lowering her to the towel, his lips released her mouth and licked a part across her jaw and down her neck, nibbling gently on the soft skin. She wriggled under him and jerked her hips upward needing to be closer. He loved the feel of her beneath him. She was so soft and smelled of the island. His hand caressed her body moving upward to cup one of her breast. His thumb played back and forth over the little nub and she gasped as he felt it tighten beneath his hand.
His lips continued its descent down her neck and moved lower still, his mouth hovered close to her breast. Using his teeth, he nudged the barrier of the bikini aside and took her swollen nipple into his mouth. His teeth rasped against the hardened tip and Neela cried out.
Caleb thought he would surely explode as the sultry sounds of her cries echoed in the late afternoon. His lips travelled across to her other breast and he licked the other tip through the cloth. He grinded his hips against her legs and her hips moved together with his. She was going to drive him crazy.
Her hands moved below his loose shirt, her finger grazing his chest. He moaned again.
He pulled away from her a little and quickly disposed of the offending garment. Reaching behind her, he untied her bikini top as she raised a little, allowing him access to the knots. Tossing the scrap of cloth on the sand nearby, her breast spilled forward causing Caleb’s groin to tighten even more. He tugged the bikini bottoms down her leg and with very little effort, it went sailing through the air. He’d wanted to do that since the first time he met her. Unprepared for the beauty that now lay naked before him, Caleb sucked in a long slow breath. There didn’t seem to be a word to describe such perfection. His hands roamed over the naked contours of her body, his fingers exploring the soft skin. Never in all his life, had he seen a woman this perfect.
Her hands were at his waist, tugging at the loose fitting cut off he was wearing. Brushing them away, he quickly stripped himself of his remaining clothes.
Moving back to her, he smiled when her legs parted voluntarily, allowing him a closer fit. He trembled when her moistness touched the tip of his shaft. He didn’t know much longer he could hold out.
His fingers continued to skim her tender flesh, drawing soft purring sounds from the back of her throat. His tongue traced a path over the flat planes of her stomach to settle in her navel. Raising himself above her, he allowed his hand to travel down to her most delicate place and when he touched her there, her hips bucked. God, she was so wet. His finger found the little nub hidden in the mass of curls, gently massaged it. He brought his lips back to her breast and continued his gentle assault. Her hips moved with the movement of his hand as his eyes stayed on her. Her lids were closed, her head thrown back, her teeth gnawing into her bottom lip. She must have sensed he was watching her because her eyes flew open to meet his gaze, misting over to reveal the depth of her passion. That, made Caleb feel a deep sense of satisfaction. He brought her this pleasure.
He moved away and reached for his discarded pants. Fumbling in his pocket, he took out his wallet and found what he was looking for. Ripping open the foil packet, he quickly sheathed himself with the condom, and then went back to her. He kissed her again and slowly he nudged at her entrance with the tip of his manhood. Slowly her body expanded to accommodate his size. As much he wanted to be inside her, he needed to make this first time with her special.
Gently, he eased his way into her a little more and felt her stiffen below him. Looking down at her, he noticed that her brow was knotted. A feeling of uncertainty engulfed him. She was going to change her mind.
“Am I hurting you?” she didn’t answer. She wasn’t even looking at him.
“Sweetheart, look at me please.” his voice sounded strange even to his own ear.
“Am I hurting you? Do you want me to stop?” he hoped to God she said no.
“No…No, I don’t want you to stop.”
“Then what is it? Why do you look so worried?”
“I’ve never done this before…“ he must have looked puzzled because she continued.
“I mean, I’ve never had sex before.”
“You mean you’re a virgin?” now that, he could not believe. How could a woman that looked like her, be a virgin?
Her lashes lowered hiding the pools of brown. God dammit! It was true, she was a virgin. He was going to be her first. The thought filled him with a selfish sense of pride.
He kissed the tip of her nose in an act of reassurance. When she looked up at him the answer to his unasked question was in her eyes. She wanted him to make love to her.
Taking her mouth in a kiss, he gently eased his length into her, catching her little gasp of pain as he reached the deepest part of her. He lay still above her, giving her much needed time to accept him. All the time he continued kissing her, nipping at her tender skin until she started to move below him. He could feel her womb contract against his shaft and that was all the encouragement he needed.
He moved slowly at first, her hips meeting his every thrust. As the rhythm built she moved with him, her inexperienc
ed body introducing him to pleasure he had never felt with anyone before.
Soft sounds escaped her compressed lips as his strokes became faster, deeper, harder.
He felt himself slipping into that deep vortex of undeniable pleasure but he wasn’t going alone. He would take her with him.
She wrapped her legs around his waist drawing him deeper, her finger biting into the bare skin of his back as she whispered his name into his ear.
“Caleb.” It was the sweetest word he had ever heard.
Her sweat-slicked body tightened against him, her movements quickening. As her release came, her soft whispers became loud whimpers, her back arching off the towel.
Neela clung to Caleb, her whole body shaking in the aftermath of her orgasm and that was enough to break him. Caleb felt his own release as he thrust one final time into her, a pure animal groan of pleasure erupting from the depths of his throat echoing across the sand.
****
Chapter 5
There was no time for cuddling when their breathing had slowed and Caleb’s heart settled.
Neela had to work and they made it back to the beach house with no time to spare. Taking her into his arms, he kissed her tenderly, hating that she couldn’t be with him tonight.
“Stay with me.” he pleaded in a whisper against her lips.
“I can’t. I have to work. If you want to, I can see you tomorrow,” she answered, looking at her toes.
“Of course I want to see you, Neela. I wish we had time to talk tonight.” he swore under his breath.
“I promise we’ll talk after your shift. Call me when you get off, okay?” He kissed her again, hesitantly letting her go.
He turned abruptly to leave but stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Blake standing on the sand with a smug look on his face.
“So now I know why you no longer need Krishna. Seems as though you found other ways to occupy your time,” his friend insinuated in a mocking voice. The bastard was having fun at his expense.
