by J. P. Comeau
“In a decade. Where do you see yourself?”
I racked my brain as my feet started sinking into the beach sand. “Uh… married, hopefully. A place of my own. A career I can be proud of.”
“Children?”
“Yeah, sure, if my husband wants them.”
“But you don’t want them?”
I shrugged. “I guess I’ve never really given it much thought.”
“What if someone wanted to have children with you right now?”
I giggled. “You offering?”
He gave me a deadpan stare. “Karina.”
“Sorry. Just a joke. Um, if they wanted kids right now? I’d have to say ‘no.’ I’m not financially prepared for a family, nor do I even have my own place. My life needs to be settled before I bring another life into it. You know?”
Zane nodded. “Yep, I know.”
“What about you? Where do you see yourself in ten years?”
“Happy.”
His statement shocked me. “Are you not happy now?”
“Not entirely… not in the way I want to be.”
His answer hung between us the rest of the way to the fish shack. And it wasn’t until we sat down that my mind hopped back into the present.
“So, what is your one major goal for this trip?” I asked again.
“Do you want to take a walk on the beach after we eat?”
I blinked. “Is there a reason why you don’t want to talk about work right now?”
“Yes. There is.”
I lifted both my brows. “Are you going to let me in on the secret?”
And when his eyes met mine, I could’ve sworn I saw fire igniting behind them.
“No. I’m not,” he said.
Our waiter came over to take our orders. All the while, his answer was driving me absolutely crazy.
18
_____
ZANE
Ever since she stepped out of that bungalow in that fucking dress she had on, I couldn't stop staring. Couldn’t stop watching her. Couldn’t stop remembering just how gorgeous she was underneath all of it. The dress framed her perfectly. The skirt fluttered around her legs with every crash of the waves, and her hair blew against her face with every puff of wind. Somehow, through all of it, she looked more beautiful than the night we first met.
I’m in big trouble.
I hardly paid attention to her words during dinner. I almost didn’t catch her cute little head-nod after I asked her to take a walk on the beach with me. There we were. Holding our shoes, walking along the sand back to our private slice of beach, and feeling the warmth of the sun as it began to set.
We’d sat there from lunchtime until sundown. Eating, drinking, and enjoying one another.
Without a bit of attention going to work.
“You were right,” Karina said.
I turned toward her. “How so?”
She thumbed over her shoulder. “That place had some of the best seafood I’ve ever had. Thank you for taking me there.”
“Thank you for accompanying me.”
“Though, you didn’t really have to pay. I could’ve afforded it.”
I shrugged. “Company trip. The business paid for it.”
“Well, yeah, I suppose so.”
Her gaze flickered out toward the sunset, but I was too busy watching it in her eyes. The smell of saltwater enticed me, pulling me closer to her. The fluttering of her skirt against her legs made me want to feel their smoothness. The smell of her exotic body spray enticed my senses while the whole of her enticed my soul.
Doesn’t this woman know what she does to me?
“It’s beautiful out here,” she said breathlessly.
I kept staring at her. “Yes, it is.”
Her eyes met mine. “Zane?”
I nodded. “Yes, Karina?”
“Do you…?”
I cocked my head. “Do I what?”
“Nothing… Never mind…”
I gripped her chin, turning her eyes back to me. “Do. I. What?”
She swallowed hard. “Ever think about that night?”
“Yes, and more than I should as your boss,” I answered as my cock pulsed. There was no way in hell I’d be able to focus on work with her looking like that.
Being like that.
Smelling like that.
And talking like that.
Before I could talk myself out of it, my lips fell to hers. A soft, tantalizing kiss that drew our bodies together, closing the distance between us. Her arms wrapped around me, gripping the back of my shirt. My shoes fell from my hands, landing against the soft sand as our bodies sank down to the earth’s pillow beneath us. I rolled her over onto her back, letting my tongue slide across the roof of her mouth. I tasted her cocktails. Those pink cotton candy martinis with a splash of olive juice. The taste of shrimp cocktail lingered against her lips as I raked my teeth along her lower one. And as the waves lapped at our toes, I felt her legs spread for me.
She welcomed me with her warmth.
“Zane,” she sighed.
I kissed down her neck. “I want you so bad.”
“Then, you have me. You have me, Zane.”
God, even she’s wanted me this badly.
I kissed down the soft valley of her breasts as I shoved her dress skirt up her body. My fingertips caressed the skin of her thigh, drinking in its softness. I reached down and pulled out my cock. No time to get undressed. No time to think. I knew what I needed, and I needed her.
I also needed to be able to focus on work.
After. After this, I can focus on work.
Her moans greeted my ears as I slid my cock between her folds. I looked up, watching her face contort with salacious pleasure as her wetness streaked along my dick. I bottomed out inside of her, feeling her walls pulsing around me, fluttering and squeezing as if she were already about to fall off the edge. I slowly slid out, pressing my hands into the sand. I felt her shiver as I planted myself onto my knees, hovering above her.
“Zane,” she hissed.
I grinned as I tossed her legs over my shoulders.
“Yeah?” I asked.
Her eyes bulged. “Oh, God, yes.”
I growled. “You always feel too good to pass up.”
I pounded against her body, watching her dress shudder with my movements. Her clothed tits still bounced for me as she dug her hands into the sand. Her hair blew in every direction. I watched her hat tumble out of view as the waves crept up the shoreline, heading straight for us. I felt her slickness dripping down my balls. I felt her body quivering as her walls began to collapse around me. With every stroke of my cock, she left me breathless. Unable to make a sound as the ecstasy choked off my ability to breathe.
“Yes. Yes. Yes. Zane. Oh--oh my--so close. So close.”
I grunted. “I love how vocal you are.”
“I’m coming! Yes!”
“Fuck!”
I slammed into her one last time before she fisted my shirt. Her pussy kept sucking me in, pulling me closer to her as my body collapsed on top of hers. Our lips crashed together while our tongues battled for dominance. And as she slid her hand into the tendrils of my hair, I felt her grip.
She held me steady as her body devoured me.
Her moans tasted more beautiful than dessert. Her wet mound comforted me as if my body had finally found a home. My heart slammed against my chest. Over and over, the beating pounded inside. I grunted with every thread that shot from out of me. I felt her womanhood swallowing me down as if she were milking me for all I had. I dug my hands into the sand. I gripped handfuls and tried to hang onto the earth that was surely tilting around us. I felt her heart beating against mine, and it threatened to sweep me under.
It threatened to pull me into territory that got me in trouble the first time.
Abort. Abort. Get out while you can.
“We should get back,” I whispered.
Karina stopped kissing me. “What?”
I felt the cool
ocean waves slosh all the way up to my knee. Causing her to giggle.
“We should get back. The ocean is already wanting to wash the evidence of us away,” I said.
She grinned. “We could wash one another if you’d like.”
What I wouldn't give to take her up on that offer. But I couldn’t. I’d gotten it out of my system. I’d gotten her out of my system. And now, we had to work.
So, I slid from between her legs. “Come on. I’ll walk you back to your bungalow.”
I ignored the confused look on her face. I pressed myself up, feeling my cock fall from between her legs. My body ached for more. My brain was chastising me for turning her offer down. But, I ignored it the best I could. Glancing up and down the beach, I tried to figure out if anyone saw us. Trying to figure out if anyone else knew my dirty little secret.
Then, I quickly tucked myself back into my pants.
I held my hand out for Karina, but she didn’t take it. Not the best sign, but also not terrible. She re-situated her clothes and rushed after her wide-brimmed hat. Then together, we set off toward the bungalows.
“I’ll just go through the back door,” she murmured.
“Here, let me--.”
She held out her hand. “I’ve got it. Thanks.”
You can’t afford this. Not again.
“Karina, I--.”
She sighed. “Mr. Hearthstone?”
The name didn’t sound so lovely coming from her anymore. “Yes?”
“I’ll see you bright and early in the morning for our first meeting at eight-thirty.”
I nodded slowly. “I’ll see you then.”
It’s for the best. You’re not ready yet.
She walked through the back door of her bungalow and never once looked over her shoulder. I sighed as I turned back out toward the ocean, wondering just how much damage I’d done. I chewed on the inside of my cheeks. My teeth peeled the dead skin off my lower lip. And as I stepped off her porch, I made my way back toward the beach. Back from where we just came.
I needed some time to think.
“She would have loved this place, too,” I murmured.
As the most significant grief of my entire life blanketed my mind, I found my toes digging into the sand again. I found myself standing ankle-deep in ocean water. I found myself gazing out over the darkened horizon as stars as bright as diamonds littered the night sky. I tilted my head back and closed my eyes, feeling the wind softly caressing my neck. It felt like she was there. Like she was with me, standing next to me with her arm softly tucked around mine.
But, when I opened my eyes, she was nowhere to be found.
Neither was Karina.
And once again, I was all alone.
Yes. This is for the best.
19
_____
KARINA
Knock, knock, knock.
I groaned. “I’m just getting up, Mr. Hearthstone.”
Knock, knock, knock.
“Mr. Hearthstone, just give me a second.”
Knock, knock, knock.
“Zane!”
A voice finally traveled through the door. “No, miss. It’s the front desk. I have a wake-up call set for you.”
My eyes lobbed over to the phone. “Then, why aren’t you on the phone?”
“Because our wake up calls come with flowers, fruit, and coffee.”
I threw the covers off me. “Well, that just sounds delightful. Hold on!”
I reached for my robe and threw it over my shoulders as the smell of the ocean trickled through the open window I had left cracked all night. The sloshing of the ocean waves dawned upon my ears as I opened my door to find a very kind elderly man holding a tray on the other side. The bouquet of flowers was rich in color. Pink, and pale blue, and yellow, and crimson red met my tired eyes. I smiled as I plucked them off the silver tray, then motioned with my head for the man to come inside.
“My apologies. I was still in bed, and I thought you were my boss coming to wake me up,” I said.
He chuckled. “No worries. I would have left it, but the bugs will get to the fruit quickly.”
“Well, thank you for this. I don’t remember scheduling a wake-up call for myself, but thank you.”
“I believe you can thank your boss for that? You said Mr. Hearthstone, right?”
I paused. “Yes?”
“He’s the one that added the wake-up call. Last night, to be exact.”
I nodded. “Uh-huh.”
The man set the tray of coffee and fruit down. “Is there anything else you need?”
I set the flowers on the table by the sliding glass door. “Nope. This is it. Thank you so much, though.”
“Then, know that our breakfast started half an hour ago and will extend until ten.”
“What time is it?”
“Seven-thirty, ma’am,” he said, glancing down at this watch.
I nodded slowly. “Great. Thank you. I appreciate that, and I’ll keep it in mind.”
I watched as the man bowed out kindly from my room, then I turned back to the flowers. I smiled as I cupped them softly, some of the petals as big as my palm. They really grew them big there, and I loved that. I loved everything about the place, in fact. From the sights to the sounds to the smells and the tastes.
“Maybe one day when I can afford to retire,” I whispered to myself.
Dipping my nose in to smell the flowers, I drew in their sweet and creamy scent. I wasn’t sure how a smell could be creamy, but it reminded me of the feeling I got whenever I watched creamer swirl around in my coffee. I smiled as my eyes fell closed and reached for a sliver of coconut and tossed it into my mouth, marveling at how it melted against my tongue.
Then, my stomach began to growl.
“I know, I know. Let’s go get some breakfast,” I murmured.
I decided to clean myself up for the day. A quick shower, a cute business-casual outfit, and a purse full of my things. Then, I slung my laptop bag over my shoulder and gave myself a once-over in the mirror. I needed to be business casual for the rest of this trip. I didn’t need to be wearing anything that might distract Zane from our purpose here.
Especially after the night before.
Not that it wasn’t any good. I just didn't know where we stood. He looked almost regretful of the situation after I happily mentioned taking a shower together. No matter, though, it was a new day, and the last thing I needed was to be taking shit like that personally.
We were there for work, and we needed to keep it that way.
My heart had other plans, however. The second I walked into the dining hall to get some breakfast, I found Zane sitting in a trimmed suit with his napkin in his lap and his eyes gazing out the window.
He was already at breakfast.
And he looked just as dashing as ever.
I felt butterflies taking flight in my gut as I started for the table. Then, I paused. Maybe he wanted to be alone. Maybe he didn’t want to have breakfast with me. As much as I wished everything to be a continuation of the fun we had the day before, the truth of the matter was, we couldn't. We couldn't continue to cross that line if I wanted to keep my job.
“Are you going to come sit down?” Zane asked gesturing toward the chair across the table.
I winced at his voice. It was cold. Bitter. Hard. Nothing like the man I had experienced life with just twelve hours before. I sighed to myself before I went to sit down across from him. Quickly, a waiter rushed up to my side.
“What would you like to drink, ma’am?”
“She’ll have coffee, like myself,” he said.
I nodded in agreement. “And I’ll have a nice omelet or something for breakfast.”
The waiter jotted down my order. “Anything else? Maybe a bowl of our seasonal fruits? Or some fresh cream for some pancakes?”
Zane wrinkled his nose. “Who puts cream on pancakes?”
I smiled up at the waiter. “I do today. All of that sounds lovely. Bring me the smaller portions of all
those things you just mentioned.”
The waiter smiled. “Coming right up.”
I turned my attention back to Zane. “Did you sleep well?”
“Are we prepared for the meeting at nine?” he asked.
I nodded. “As prepared as we can be.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
“Yes, Mr. Hearthstone. We’re prepared,” I corrected myself.
I did my best not to show how absolutely insane I thought his switch in personality really was.
“Wonderful. Then, shoot me an email with the notes and preparations you’ve made. I need you to do some things around the island for me,” he said.
Clearing my throat, I asked, “I’m not going to the meeting?”
“Not this one, no. The ones going forward? Yes. But, you’re not needed at this one, so I have other things you can accomplish for me.”
I dug out a pen from my bag. “Hit me with it.”
“I need you to get in touch with everyone who’s supposed to be in the meeting tomorrow and move the meeting to ten o’clock. I can’t do any other time because of a manufacturing warehouse I’m touring tomorrow at one. Understood?”
I began scribbling things down on a napkin. “Of course. Next?”
“The sheets on my bed have an odd smell to them. Have the front desk change them, or send for a higher thread count for sheets. Also, the hairdryer in my bathroom isn’t working. That put a dent in things this morning.”
I tried not to giggle. “Anything else?”
“Find the driver that brought us from the plane to the bungalow suites. I liked his driving, and I could use a chauffeur I trust and enjoy while we’re here. The roads are much too winding, and I get car sick. Also, there’s this little hut on the side of one of the roads around here, ask some of the locals about it. They make nothing but banana bread, and it’s supposedly the best in the country. I’d like to have a loaf.”
I slowly raised my eyes. “Are we going to be sitting down at all today to go over things for tomorrow?”
“No. We can reconvene tomorrow at seven-thirty for breakfast. Today we go our separate ways.”
How convenient. “Is there anything else you need?”
“I’m sure there is. I’ll text you once it dawns on me.”
