by Elyse Riggs
Jellybean looks excited. He reads the logo on the foil. “Scrumptious Chocolates. I’ve never heard of them, are they good?”
“The best,” Abigail answers, “they’re a local legend. You have to try one.”
I shoot Abigail a severe look while Jellybean’s attention is turned, but she only smiles back at me and winks.
“It doesn’t matter which you choose, they’re all amazing,” she tells Jellybean.
Now it looks like he’s the one doing calc three in his head trying to decide which one to pick.
“What are the round ones?” he asks.
“Caramel,” Abigail and I answer at the same time. Then I shake my head and grab a triangle.
Jellybean chooses the round one. “What’s in the triangle?” He asks.
“Truffle,” I answer.
“I guess you’ve had these before,” he says to me as he takes a bite. He chews, he tastes, he savors. Then his face breaks out into a broad smile. “Wow. This chocolate is amazing. You say it’s a local company?”
“Yep,” Abigail answers.
Jellybean looks from Abigail to me suspiciously. “I feel like I’m missing something.”
“You’re not,” I say, narrowing my eyes at Abigail.
“So, Coconut, what do you do when you’re not ogling coconut monkeys?” he asks, smartly changing the topic of conversation.
“I’m a pastry chef.”
“No kidding.”
“True story,” I answer him, wondering why he thinks it’s interesting. How many people really masquerade as pastry chefs? “Thanks for the drinks,” I say, setting down my glass.
“Wait,” he says, pulling out his wallet. “Since I’ve already been outed as a tourist and you’re a local, why don’t you show me around?”
I have to admit, he’s smooth. The dimple even comes out again. Then he flashes the smile.
Oh my, what’s a girl to do? Let me think. Should I walk home and watch television in my apartment alone, or show a handsome stranger around?
“I don’t know,” I say. “Rules are rules.”
“Hold on, you said you don’t date tourists. Technically speaking, it would be more of a tour than a date. And you’d be doing me a favor.”
He and Abigail both stare at me. “What do you think, Abigail? Did you get a break-my-rule kind of tip?”
“Oh yeah,” Abigail smirks, holding up the receipt. “He definitely gets my vote.”
“Okay, then. I guess I’m just a rebel. And it’s a beautiful night for a tour.”
Abigail smiles and claps her hands together. Then she turns away from us and rummages in a drawer somewhere back behind the bar. A moment later she pulls out a huge chopping knife. Her expression has become a scowl in Jellybean’s direction. “If you harm a hair on her head, I swear this knife will be the focus of your murder trial. Got it?”
Jellybean’s eyes get wide again, and then he puts both hands in the air. “That won’t be necessary. And thanks for the chocolate.”
“You’re welcome,” Abigail says. “Have fun you two.”
Chapter Four
Kaylee
“Are your friends always like that?” he asks as soon as we clear the thatch roof of the bar and head away from the light of the flickering tiki torches and toward the beach.
“No, they’re usually way worse. She likes you.”
“Are you sure?” he asks. “There was a whole thing with the knife just now.”
I laugh. “Pretty sure. Although I wouldn’t test her if I were you. Her hobby is knife throwing. She’s pretty badass.”
“You’re just screwing with me now,” he says, following as I lead him across the sand and toward the lightly breaking waves under the half-lit moon.
“Never.”
“Why does it look like you’re leading us into the ocean?” he asks. “When I asked for a tour, I didn’t mean of the Atlantic. I meant of the hotel grounds. Specifically, the Royal St. Tropic.”
“I know,” I tell him. “But all the tours I give start here.” I stand at the spot where the sand still has a wet sheen, but not all the way to where the waves lap at the shore.
He joins me, standing tall. Taller than I thought he was when he was sitting at the bar.
“Really? And how many tours have you done?”
“This is the first. I told you, I’m a pastry chef, not a tour guide. Now pay attention, there’s going to be a quiz.”
For a quick second, his expression turns to panic.
“Just kidding,” I turn and walk with him further north, past the several hotels between the Beaky Tiki and the Royal St. Tropic.
He recognizes his hotel and points. “Hey, isn’t that it, right there?”
“Yup,” I answer. “Keep walking.”
He gives me a surprised look. I can tell even in the relative darkness.
It almost makes me laugh out loud. It’s clear that he’s used to being in charge. “Do you trust me?” I ask. “I mean, isn’t the point of a vacation to let go and have a little fun? Besides, you’re on island time now,” I tell him as I pull a stray lock of sea-breeze blown hair out of my eyes. “If you had anything better to do tonight, you wouldn’t be on a tour with a pastry chef, would you?”
“Fair enough.” He smiles.
When I stop walking a few minutes later, I notice that he is currently staring at me instead of the ocean. I point at the waves. “Look.” I turn my head to where the waves are crashing in on the shore. They are glowing a spectacular, electric blue. It’s mesmerizing, like watching a lava lamp.
He looks at the glowing waves. “It’s beautiful,” he says at last, taking a few more steps toward where the water is breaking into tiny waves at the shoreline. “Are the waves this color all the time?”
“Almost never. It’s called bioluminescence.”
“Can I touch it?”
“Best not to. The color is caused by bacteria. It is beautiful, though.” I watch him kneel in the sand. The pants leg of his suit would need to be dry cleaned for sure, but he didn’t seem to care. It makes me like him more. It almost makes up for the fact that he’s wearing shoes.
I’m carrying mine, like a civilized person. The cool, damp earth feels wonderful beneath my feet.
Nature and beauty mean something to me, and his reaction to it is a test. One that he passes.
He stands up. “So, what’s on the tour other than beautiful, radioactive waves?”
“We’re just getting started,” I say and turn, heading back the way we came. I lead him back toward the main building of the Royal St. Tropic resort. Only before we get there, I veer off to the left, toward the beautifully landscaped trail at the edge of the resort filled with perfectly trimmed hedges and exotic trees.
“Hey, what’s the story with the chocolates?” he asks. I get the feeling he’s trying to change the subject, so I let him.
“It’s nothing,” I say.
“No, I could see that you two were definitely up to something.”
“Just an inside joke.”
Soon the path I’m following turns into a mulched path. We’re almost there. I’ve only been here once before, so it takes a minute before I spot the stone steps leading to an open, wooded area.
“Where are we going now?”
“There’s an overlook around here somewhere,” I say, looking around. “There!” I spot it across the pavilion. It’s even more beautiful than I remember. We make our way to it and then look out over the water. “They say this spot has the best view on the shoreline.” The locals aren’t lying. The view of the ocean and the stars is breathtaking from this vantage point.
I stand and enjoy the view of the ocean. And the guy next to me isn’t bad either. I catch myself glancing in his direction, although he seems to be watching the ocean.
“I’ll bet this is a popular make-out spot,” he says.
I can’t help but imagine what it would be like to make out with him. When I turn to face him, he’s staring at me. That handsome face
and sexy dimple seem like they are daring me to engage with him. I have to admit that I’m tempted. “Hey, I just came here for the view,” I answer.
He shoots me a flirty smile. “Me too. And the view is spectacular.”
That smile does absolutely nothing to calm my raging libido. My body is responding to him. I order my brain to put up a fight. Only right now my brain is busy undressing him with my eyes. Then I wonder if he’s doing the same thing to me.
I feel my cheeks heat and look away. Maybe it’s time for this tour to end. I’m not sure how much longer I can hold out since both my body and brain are apparently defecting over to Jellybean’s side. Traitors.
“You ready?” I ask as I take a step back toward the Royal St. Tropic. Only I don’t get far. Oh no. Instead, I manage to trip on one of the circle stone steps.
In one swift, agile movement, Jellybean reaches out and catches me. “Easy, coconut.”
Suddenly I’m so close to those intense green eyes. And his muscled chest. I breathe in his intoxicating scent. Our faces are so close together right now.
He leans in and his lips meet mine. A tingling shoots all the way down to my toes. It’s magical. The kiss is sweet at first, but then it turns urgent and deep and it encompasses everything that my body is feeling. Then as suddenly as the kiss began, he breaks it off.
“I’m sorry,” he says. “I didn’t mean to do that.”
There’s an awkward moment of silence. All I can hear is my heart beating in my chest. That kiss was amazing and I want more. “It’s okay,” I whisper. Then I decide to throw caution to the wind. I get up on my tippy toes and kiss him back.
The moment our lips touch again, I feel a new level of heat pulse through my body as he pulls me closer to him. His hand cups my chin, then it drops behind me tracing a line down my back. The feel of his hand sets my body on fire.
Then, with my eyes still closed, I hear a click and a whir. Huh. That’s not a noise I expect to hear. I open my eyes and look around.
“Shit,” he says. “Paparazzi. Let’s get out of here.” He grabs me by the hand and we run back toward the lights of the Royal St. Tropic.
Chapter Five
Kaylee
“Um, does that sort of thing happen to you often?” I ask Jellybean as the two of us sprint across the sand headed toward the main entrance of the resort on the beach-side.
The main building is a gorgeous, carefully restored Victorian. It’s painted a cheerful yellow color with eye-catching red roofs. It’s even prettier at night with the lights sparkling.
“I don’t know about often,” he says in between breaths. “It’s a pain in the ass, though.”
“Well, I think we outran that guy if that makes you feel better.
He laughs. “That may be true, but they always run in packs. I say we go inside, just to be sure.”
“Why are we safer inside?” I ask.
“Hotel security,” he says confidently as we make it to the back entrance.
I turn behind us to see if the coast is clear. It is as far as I can tell. “You see anything suspicious, or are we all good?” I ask.
He scans the beach. “I think you’re right.”
It feels like I’m at a crossroad. I can’t stop thinking about that kiss at the overlook. And I’ve been in an awful love-life slump lately. And he’s so damn sexy. I’m considering breaking all kinds of rules for this guy.
He opens the door for me. The two of us enter the building, laughing at the close call.
Once we get inside, he turns to me and smiles, cheating with that dimple of his. And his hair. In my defense, his hair is also cheating. “You want to see a great view? My suite is on the top floor.”
I’m impressed. The top floor is reserved for Royal Suites. From what I hear, they live up to the name.
I have to admit that I’m seriously thinking about the offer. I don’t think I’m ready for this night to end. “I’ve never seen that particular view, but tonight I think I’d like to.”
“What about your no dating tourists rule?”
“It’s more of a guideline,” I answer with a smirk of my own.
Two minutes later, the two of us are hurrying to the elevator like a couple of drunk, horny teenagers.
There is a special, roped-off elevator around the corner for the Royal Suites. And as luck would have it, when the elevator doors open, they’re empty. We get in and wait for the doors to close. Then he’s kissing me again and I’m stroking his cock, which is now threatening to break out of his pants Incredible Hulk-style.
All too soon, the elevator dings again and we empty out into the hallway and race down the hall.
“Hold on,” he says.
“What?” When I face him, he scoops an arm underneath me and lifts me up, carrying me down the hallway.
I shriek in excitement as he carries me half a dozen doors down and then stops. When we stop, he has the key in his hands but can no longer reach the door with it. Because he’s carrying me.
“A little help,” he says. “I didn’t think this through.”
I accept the key that he’s waving at me with a giggle. Then I put the key in the door and turn it.
Then we’re in. He carries me into the suite and sets me down in the main living area. I look around in awe. This place is amazing.
Windows across the back wall open to a panorama view of the ocean. The kitchen opens to an expansive living area with chairs and sofas. Everything around me is granite and marble and upgraded carpet.
I stand there, my mouth gaping open. That is, until Jellybean scoops me up again and carries me to a master bedroom worthy of the name. He throws me on a king-sized bed with a super-soft red comforter the color of lipstick. The satiny sheets look comfortable and oh so sexy.
Once I land on the comfortable pillow that is his bed, he’s on top of me, straddling me and staring down with a wicked grin.
I pull him down onto me with a smile of my own. Then I immediately go to work unzipping his pants.
He gives me a playful growl before finishing what I started.
Then we’re both shedding clothes in a fun frenzy to be first. In the end, it’s a tie. Before I know it, he’s standing there stark naked. He’s spectacular, even bigger than I thought. My guess earlier that there are muscles under that shirt turns out to be true. Yay, me.
Right now, though, he’s sucking in his bottom lip as his eyes graze over my naked body. The anticipation combined with the hungry look on his face makes me even wetter.
“Beautiful,” he says in a whisper before leaping back onto the bed.
I scream playfully as he lands on top of me. His lips are on mine and the two of us pick up where we left off outside in the gazebo.
Only, now he makes his way down my body until he finds my nipple. He sucks on my nipple and a moan escapes my lips. I can see by the look in his eyes that his need matches my own. Then he kisses a line down my breasts and ever further down until he has me writhing in pleasure. I come again and again.
Then I make sure he’s as happy as I am.
The night continues with moans and bed breaking orgasms until that uber comfortable Royal Suite king bed claims us both and we fall asleep.
Until now, I didn’t know there was such a thing as a perfect night.
Chapter Six
Kaylee
I wake to the familiar sensation of my cell phone vibrating. That’s the only thing that is familiar as I sit up and blink a few times. I’m not at home, that much is clear. The events of last night come back to me in a flash. Jellybean.
Last night, I cleverly set a silent alarm on my phone so that I could wake up early and get out of his suite before he wakes up.
Even in the dark, it’s apparent that I’m not in my dingy, eight-hundred-square-foot apartment. In fact, my entire place would fit inside the living area of the Royal Suite I am currently in.
I sigh in contentment. Last night was perfect. One-night-stand achievement unlocked. The last thing to check off of my
list is the sneak off. You can do this, Kaylee.
I glance over at Jellybean. Judging by the small snoring noises he’s making; he’s still sleeping soundly. Thank goodness.
I study his face for a moment through the sunlight which is just now starting to peek though the drawn curtains at the end of the room.
This morning he has a little bit more brown stubble that manages to frame his square, sexy chin even better and gives him that irresistible gruff look.
Because there’s actually a fine line between sexy framing stubble and mountain man ready to murder you with an axe, and not every man can pull it off.
Luckily, Jellybean can. I stifle a laugh at our nicknames for each other: Jellybean and Coconut.
Anyway, it’s because of the strong chin, piercing sea-green eyes, and rippling muscles that I chose Jellybean to be my first ever one-night stand. Well, that and the fact that he looks incredibly sexy in a suit. Fine, now that it’s over I can admit that he has a lot going for him.
He rolls over softly, and his hair is only slightly messy which of course only makes him look even hotter. It’s not fair. Who looks that sexy asleep?
Suddenly I have to resist the urge to run my fingers through his thick, wavy brown hair. I want to mess it up again, like I did last night.
When I add the score, the result is that he’s sexy, funny, and great in bed. I shake my head gently. It’s too bad he’s a tourist.
As I stare at him, I realize there’s something different about his face this morning. The stress lines are gone from around his forehead, and the little wrinkly worry underneath his eyes have melted away. But sure, they all look angelic when they’re sleeping.
Thinking about last night brings back wonderful memories that make me smile in the semi-darkness. If I did ignore my no tourist-dating-rule and sneak off to have a hot one-night stand to get myself out of a love life slump, I could certainly do worse than the guy lying next to me.
And staying in the Royal Presidential Suite was a nice bonus.
