For the space of several breaths, she doesn’t answer. Then she swims to the steps leading out of the pool. I watch as she slowly walks up them, water tracing down her creamy skin in rivulets. I’m transfixed as she takes a fluffy white robe off one of the lounge chairs and wraps it around her body.
“We should shower and dress,” she says quietly. “I read dinner at Bomba’s is buffet style, and if we’re late, nothing will be left.”
I make my way to where she’s standing. Her eyes are on my chest, and all the things I want to say feel redundant to me. I won’t repeat myself. Instead, I lean down and kiss her once more, gentle but possessive, communicating in a way words can’t capture.
A little noise escapes with her sigh, and her slim fingers lightly touch my stomach. When I pull back, her cheeks are flushed, and I nod. We’re on the same page.
“I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”
7
Making Up
Zelda
Twinkle lights are draped over the trees and around the plywood structure of the roof, which is also littered with lacy bras and panties. The walls of the shack are made of driftwood, broken surfboards, scrap tin, and more plywood with names and phrases written all over them.
It’s a total beach hangout, and Cal and I both have huge glasses of the “secret family recipe” punch in front of us, which tastes like oranges and bananas and pineapples, and I can tell is strong as shit. I’m already tipsy.
Cal is casual in long shorts and Patch’s penis tee. It stretches nicely across his broad shoulders, and I watch every delicious ripple of muscle as he moves. I’m dressed in a pale blue sundress with spaghetti straps. It hangs loose on my body, and I’m not wearing a bra.
Standing beside our chairs, I sway to the lilting reggae music played by a live band. Cal watches me, and his sexy smile is finally back. I wonder how much the punch has to do with it.
“You should toss your panties on the roof,” he says, leaning into my ear.
Wrinkling my nose up at him, I laugh. “You want me naked under my dress!” It’s possible my voice is a little loud.
“Always,” he says, wrapping a strong arm around my waist and pulling me hard against his chest for a kiss.
“I was misinformed,” I shout when he lets me up for air. “They don’t have food here.”
“I’m way ahead of you,” he says, still smiling. “Logan’s getting food.”
It makes me so happy to see him smile. He’s done nothing but frown at me since we reunited. Even when we were making love, I could feel the tension in his body, but not tonight. Tonight he watches me with those burning eyes and that slight grin. It makes me want to do naughty things… like toss my panties on the roof.
A motley blend of patrons is on the floor moving in time with the music, and I watch them from where I stand beside the bar. I take another long sip of punch. It’s sweet and now has only a little burn in the aftertaste. Cal’s eyes rake over me, dark and electric. My skin is humming.
“I love you,” I say, wrapping my arms around his neck. That gets me a special appearance by that dimple at the corner of his mouth. I touch it lightly. “That too.”
He slides a lock of hair away from my face with his finger. My eyes close, and I lean into his hand.
“Is this a concession?” His voice is low, near my face. “Is it possible life with a playboy prince might not be so bad after all?”
I’m against his chest. Strong arms surround me, and I melt into him. Leaning down, he steals my breath along with a kiss. Our lips part, and he gives my tongue a teasing touch.
“Mm,” I sigh, resting my cheek against him.
I listen to his heartbeat mingling with the soft shush of the breakers crashing so close. When he speaks it vibrates my cheek.
“What changed?”
I lean back and look up at him, confused. “What do you mean??
?? If anyone changed, it’s him.
“In Monagasco, you said you didn’t think of me as a prince. What changed?”
“Oh.” His question catches me off-guard. Stepping away, I turn to face the bar. I pick up a small umbrella and twirl it back and forth in my fingers. “I don’t know. Nothing, I guess.” Lowering it, I blink up at him. “I told you. It’s all the things around you.”