Upon their arrival, the hotel manager greeted Marc and Charlotte and ushered them to a large bungalow separate from the main unit. Nice to be known on sight, Charlotte thought, as she glanced through the suite and walked out on the terrace. A soft, balmy breeze rippled across the ocean waters and ruffled the surface of a small private pool.
Exotic blossoms spilled from the limbs of the fat hibiscus bushes lining the pathways. Tall, slender trees swayed lazily in the glow of the late afternoon sun. Mesmerized by the fabulous view, Charlotte saw why Marc liked coming to this island paradise.
She turned from the view when he approached.
"The pool feels as good as it looks, babe. Go change. If you remembered to bring a suit," he joked, guiding her inside.
"Oh, no! I did forget."
Marc swatted her bottom.
"I'm kidding. I'm kidding," she yelled, running ahead of him into a large room with white wicker furniture and a king size bed and chairs covered in a splashy green and blue print. Though the bed seemed to dominate the room, only her two bags were in evidence. Scooting past Marc, she avoided his eyes and hurried to find the keys to unlock her luggage. "Go. I promise to hurry."
Alone, Charlotte made quick work of filling the drawers and closet with her clothes. Deciding to save her bikinis for sunbathing, she pulled on the new suit she had rushed out to buy and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. She flinched at her pale skin. "It's now or never."
She grabbed a scarf and a beach towel and padded barefoot to the pool where Marc swam laps with powerful strokes barely stirring the water. She stood admiring his wide tanned shoulders. He rolled over on his back and saw her observing him.
He swam closer and beckoned.
She saw him frown as though he was disappointed with her chaste, high-necked suit. A glint appeared in her eyes when she tied back her hair with the scarf and the knit fabric pulled taut and outlined the shape of her breasts. She pirouetted slowly and dropped her towel on a chair. All doubts about wearing the backless suit, which barely covered her fanny, disappeared when she heard his chuckle.
The sun was still warm as she reached out to test the water with her foot. Marc eased over, grabbed her ankle and flipped her head first into the pool. His hands touched unexpected places when he pushed her to the surface.
Gasping and sputtering, she flung wet hair from her face and glared at him. "Just you wait," she growled.
He rescued her scarf and handed it to her. "I couldn't. I had to get my hands on your sexy tush."
She lunged for him, giving him a murderous look. He splashed her face and took off swimming toward the opposite end of the pool.
Charlotte was an excellent swimmer as well and the pool was small. She dove beneath the surface and stayed down so long Marc became concerned. He shouted her name just as she came up beneath him and toppled him, laughing gleefully when he sputtered to the surface.
Their water games continued and they played like kids until, finally exhausted, they dragged themselves up the steps and collapsed on lounge chairs.
Exhilarated by the strenuous exercise and the freedom following months of work and responsibilities, Charlotte squeezed the water from her heavy hair, toweled off, and stretched out on the lounge's thick pad. With her eyes closed, she didn't realize Marc had disappeared into the house until something cold was pressed against her skin. Springing upright, she reached for the tall, frosty glass Marc extended. She took a tentative sip. "Umm. Delicious. What is it?"
Marc eased down beside her and tweaked her nose. "My famous rum concoction, but watch out, it's potent. I don't want you to pass out on me twice in one day."
Indignant, she stuck out her tongue. "I took a little nap, the same as you. I'm hungry. Where are we going for dinner?"
"The hotel. The dining room has excellent food and a wonderful view. But if you're really hungry, there's cheese and fruit in our kitchen."
"I'll wait. But I have to tell you what you're doing is a new experience for me."
"What am I doing?"
"Spoiling me. I like it. I may let you make all the decisions."
He ran the back of his fingers over her cheek. "I can't think of anything more pleasurable. I like having you around."
She whispered, "Then we have something in common. I like being around."
Their eyes locked and the playfulness between them stilled. With a pounding heart, Charlotte watched Marc take her glass and set it aside. He cradled her face in his hands and pulled her to his chest. Waves of warmth washed over her. Her eyelids dropped shut as he slowly and thoroughly began to explore her face with his lips.
Though the touch of Marc's mouth was light and barely skimmed her skin, Charlotte found the feathering terribly erotic. Enthralled with the new emotion, she wound her arms around him, stroking his back. She melted against him when his mouth took hers in a quiet kiss. But the kiss did not remain quiet. His arms tightened and his tongue explored, tasting the inside of her lips and investigating the deepest recesses with an increasing persistence that denied her breath.
His demanding mouth aroused such strong emotions she was unsure of how to handle them. She wanted more, but she trembled and grew rigid when his hands moved down her back, slipped inside the narrow band of fabric and palmed her cheeks. Recalling the rumor of his voracious sexual appetite, she broke away from his insistent mouth, suddenly afraid of his passion. She saw his eyes narrow in disappointment at her sudden withdrawal and wished she had not been so abrupt.
)
