At his will

Strangers at dawn

Alicia POV:

I'm actually happy! Is that a real smile across my face I haven't felt one of those in a while. I'm on a plane waving goodbye to my parents 'oh my' I can think for myself for a few hours, no demands on what I should do, no suggestions on outfits to wear on my honeymoon, Urgh, no nothing!. That is, until the plane lands and she calls and starts giving orders again. It's only after I buckled in I realize that I am about to go on my honeymoon, with Raymond! Oh my God, what have I done?!

"I love you" he suddenly blurts, he doesn't even look like he knew he said it out loud. He has a smile on his face and I'm here wondering if it's genuine. It couldn't be! You can't love someone who has given you nothing to love. I've never felt any warmness from his eyes; any mind-blowing chemistry and all that jazz when you're in love. I think you should be able to see if the person in front of you has love in their heart for your Maybe it's because I've never opened up myself to him to feel the warmth he had to offer. Then how could he love me if I've never shown him the true me? My thoughts are racing and going around in circles as if I'm at a Nascar race.

It must have been a couple of minutes because Ray is calling my name as to see if I was asleep, "are you tired baby? Do you want to lie down? Let me hold you, the wedding must have worn you out, come rest" he requests. It's all too much and I decide I should take a nap because I deserve it. I deserve all the peace that sleep brings.

My eyes flutter open and the flight attendant is saying thank you for flying, I can't believe I just slept through a seven-hour flight. I look at my face in my compact and sure enough its a mess. I kiss Ray on his cheek and head to the bathroom to look like a blushing bride because the morning face isn't working on the first day of being a wife. "Don't be too long darling" Ray mutters.

It sounds so fake, so forced like we are puppets and we're supposed to say things like that, I smile my best 'AML' Anti Mona Lisa at him, a fake smile I've developed when I need to pretend I'm in love with my mother's latest breakthrough idea; I'm an expert at it now and I'm only going to get better at it...

Raymond POV:

We're on our way to our honeymoon and I'm nervous as hell, my palms are sweating and my mind is racing, I don't know why I'm so nervous, I've been with other women, I'm by no means a saint, and we have spent time together before. We've been on dates and as strange as it sounds we have had a weekend getaway together, nothing happened and we had separate rooms but we did meet for at least 2 meals per day and went on some outings. That's the weekend I asked her to marry me, four months ago.... I look over to Alicia and she's in her own zone, as usual, then a smile comes over her face, she's so extraordinarily beautiful when she smiles, it made me smile too "I love you" I blurted out and I'm sharing her smile, she looks at me as if I've grown horns. I know she doesn't feel as much for me as I do for her but I have our entire lives to change that but I hope it's sooner rather than later.

Alicia POV:

On my way from the First Class washroom, I get bumped into by this guy who randomly decides to step into the lane and I fall on my rear; "Oww.., damn, damn, damn" my goodness it hurts, the sharp pain is increasing consistently "My hand is broken" I exclaim aloud while examining it; Yes, I'm quite the drama queen because nothing is wrong and the pain is subsiding as quickly as it came. "Are you alright? Did I hurt you? Please let me help you up, I am so sorry" my smooth-voiced attacker said.

I grunted and pulled my hand away "I'm fine", I said with as much attitude that my ignorant ass could sum up.

He laughed and said, "I can see that, but are you ok?". Im sure my cheeks are tinting red but the tan will hide it. the Smug bastard!

"Yes, no thanks to you" I say and roll my eyes, I can be so brave sometimes too bad I can't ever be that brave toward 'other people' namely Julia, who we shall not think of until absolutely necessary.

The quite handsome gentleman if you like tall (really tall), dark and sexy, rock hard abs, bearded types of guys said "I'm glad to hear you're doing well, take care of yourself and again I'm really sorry" and he waved. I'm looking at him leaving the plane because I can't figure out why he is being so nice, maybe my mother sent him to spy on me but, I'm sure I'm just being paranoid, she wouldn't go that far. Though it's really not that far-fetched for her.

I put on my AML and now I'm ready. Ready for the Caribbean, ready for three weeks of Ray, ready for all the AML's to come with my new husband. My existence is so sad...

A limo is in the busy car park of the Airport waiting for us, the huge car was good for no reason it couldn't move with all those people in the way, so typical of him to be extra. Ray opens the door for me; his beautiful, slim thick, 1/2 sista and I go in, I look at Ray as he gets in the car and I must admit he is quite nice, sculpted even, he is a great catch, he is handsome, clean-shaven, rich, has a great body and is very kind, so what is the problem? My problem? Nothing, that's for damn sure.

The Hotel is magnificent, it's grand and there is marble everywhere; the marble is ivory with black finishings and gold touches everywhere, the drapes are gold and funny enough for such a large accessory it doesn't overwhelm the decor. The hotel has sporting grounds like tennis, horseback riding, golf (I hate golf), canoeing, etc I am going to have so much fun here, I'm trying everything. We're checking in and for the first time since we've been engaged, the taught crosses my mind that we might actually, have to have s*x, we're in the elevator, and knots are in my stomach; he holds my hand, and there they go again getting tighter, he pulls me into him and kisses my neck and there it was like a bolt of lightning. I start to suffocate and sweat; have I taken this too far? am I ready to give in to him? what am I going to do?

I am heading to my honeymoon suite, the one where I will lose my virginity in my mother's pawn game of life. This is the most terrifying moment of my life. He laughs when the elevator door opens, grabs me up, and carries me to the room and to the bed..

Alicia POV:

After Raymond places me down, he just stands and looks lovingly at me “Wow” he's smiling as if his cheek can rupture at any second "I can't believe it actually happened, I’m finally married to the woman of my dreams, this is amazing" he beams.

“I’m the woman of everyman’s dreams,” I say cockily; with an eyebrow raised.

“Yes but I married you,” he said just as confident and place his both hands on his waist.

Then there was nothing but silence… I look away and stare at nothing in the corner. Shock can do that to you. The reality of what I had just done was slowly overwhelming me.

“I love you Mrs. Johansson..” talk about wrong timing. Raymond couldn't have picked a worse time to lay the 'L' word on me. What am I to say, that I loved him? I don't but, I don’t hate him enough to lie.

“I’ll be back,” I said. Sprinting off the bed and heading to the door of the suite. I need to get away and have some time to think.

“Where are you going?” He asked frowning. His countenance changing in an instance.

“I have a surprise for you” I rush out, of course, I really don't and I'm not good at lying so I spew the pathetic words quickly. just to not hurt his feelings, that lie was easier to come up with than looking into his cognac and emerald green eyes and lying to his face.

I grabbed my sweater off my suitcase and ran out of the door, I ran down a couple of floors and stopped. Catching my breath What was I doing?

Raymond POV:

There that look is again, I've frown horns I said I loved her and sent her to the hills, I need to remember to take this slowly; well its too late now because she has left our suite and is on her own somewhere in the hotel, she claims she has a present for me but I know better, she needs to breathe. I hope she is safe, I'll take this time to prepare her some dinner.

Alicia POV:

I sat and waited for the elevator, and when it came I entered quickly. “What floor” the elevator attendant asked.

“Seventeen”

“Ok, we got a honeymooner, congrats” he said,

“No ground” I sniffed “I’m going ground”.

I stopped at the Bar of the restaurant and ordered a Mojito. I am usually not a drinker but I needed something to get the edge off. After having two back to back, i pulled my clutch out of my jacket pocket and paid. I decided to pay for one more for the road and replaced my clutch. I sipped this one for the first few sips and the gulped down the rest as if it were water.

On the curb of the hotel and nowhere to go I stick my hand out aimlessly and entered the first taxi. "Where to lady? Hello? Are you all alright? Where to?” the cab driver was annoyed but I didn’t care or couldn’t focus. “Anywhere, just drive” was my reply, so he drove.

I saw a beautiful water fountain and decided to stop there, I touched for my wallet but realized that I didn’t have it, but how could I not, I paid with the loose change in my pocket and left.

“Beautiful huh? Just takes your breath away”, a very sexy masculine voice said, as I stared at the fountain crying.

“I wish it would take me away”.

“Why?”

“I just want to be gone from all this”

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, because it’s not your problem”.

“Is there anything that I can do?”

“You don’t know me, I have never even seen your face and you want to help me?”

“If you would take your face out of that handkerchief you’ll see that we have met before”.

What? Who is this? I’ve met him; I really don’t want the elevator attendant to see me crying.

“You’re a beautiful woman why the tears? Did someone die?”

“No” came out of my mouth but what I wanted to say was, that I did.

I looked up at the helpful stranger and anger engulfed me.

“What are you doing here? Don’t touch me, you have some nerve, thanks but no thanks I do not need your help” I whisper yelled.

I stomped off; how could he be so bold as to touch me like that? We weren’t friends and we were never going to be.

“Taxi!!" I flagged down an approaching taxi and he stopped immediately. "Excuse me driver are you going to Park Quay and Broadway?” my words are rushed because i am angry.

“No he isn’t, well at least not for you”. The disgustingly bold stranger stated. I too smug look on his face that I was beginning to hate.

“Get. away. from. me!” I said scornfully, emphasizing every word and saying it with as much vigor as I could muster.

“Answer me this ok" he started. "If I leave or get away from you, as you want me too; how will I get to return this?” His smile too bright for my mood, and he held out my wallet. How the hell did he get my wallet! Is he a freaking pickpocket! I have heard that they are frequent in the Caribbean and other Third World countries but it has never been my experience in all my years of traveling. The people have always been friendly and helpful. Now this!

"How the hell did you get this?" I ask loudly, "Did you pick my pocket? Is that it? Are you a thief and think this will get you in my good graces?" I ask multiple questions, each one adding a burden to his face, 'Maybe i'm wrong, oh my gosh what have I done? my dad always thought me to see the good in people and give everyone a chance and here I am accusing this man of stealing. he doesn't look like he needs to steal. He's wearing a Thom Browne, Cashmere Scarf for God's sake, those are like eight hundred dollars!' I scold myself. 'however, he could have stolen those too!' my mind insists on continuing. No his entire demeanor screams thoroughbred, I know because it's my circle.

I suck my pride up and apologize. "I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to accuse you of something so demeaning and harsh, thank you for returning this; I don't know what I would've done without it". He humps at my apology and I feel terrible. "Just promise me that you'll take care of yourself," he says and indicates for me to take the clutch he was still holding out. "Whatever it is that has you so unhappy, just isn't worth it"

“Arg.. you know you make me sick right?” It came out before I knew that I said it out loud. How could he see through me so easily? He didn't know me from anywhere, I felt so naked in front of him.

“How? Just tell me I’ll change it” He rushes out, and it occurs to me that he's acting like a boyfriend that has made a mistake but its the furthest thing from the truth because he is for all intents and purpose a stranger.

“That’s it, right there why are you being so nice? you don't even know me” the taxi driver drives off just as I intended to turn to go in, he is having no patience with us; well I really wanted to find out the answer to that question so maybe I wasn’t leaving and he knew it.

“And why are you willing to help me even after I’ve been so rude?” I ask to make sure he addresses that part of our predicament.

“I feel something… from you, I don’t know what it is but, I think it wants me to stick around”. He passes his hand over his dark hair as he speaks.

“Really? it does huh well I’m going through some stuff right now so you have to come back” I said with the most sarcastic tone I could muster.

He laughed and it was so sexy, so happy, like his smile on the plane, it made a twinkle in his eye that made me happy to have put it there, although all I was trying to do was, get rid of him.

From out of the blue he said, “have breakfast with me, you won’t regret it”. "Please" he added as an afterthought.

“Depends”

“On What?”

“The meal”

“What do u want?”

“Crettas” well of course I was kidding but his next statement both shocked and intrigued me.

“Well they don’t serve that at any restaurant around here but, I can whip you up some from home” and there he goes with that smile again. That weakening your knees smile.

“Okay,” I agree. I have no idea what possessed me to say that I would go to this stranger’s house on a strange island but I agreed, and even more ridiculous, I went!

We talked the entire way there, me feeling more comfortable than I should. He lived fairly far from the hotel so I wondered again if he told the truth of why he was actually there at the hotel. He said he had an early business meeting on some property investments. His name is Tyson, he's 28, he's a real estate investor and property developer. He has a Caucasian father and an Egyptian mother. He was born in Egypt and speaks five languages fluently, Arabic, Mandarin, French, Spanish, and of course English. He speaks a few others but not fluent. He lives in 3 of his homes on a semi-permanent basis throughout the year in, Tulúm, Cancun, where we are now; in West Brompton, London and Platinum Coast, Barbados.

He put his arm around my shoulder and I felt so warm and so right! “We’re here” he said. I looked around; the scenery through his driveway took my breath away the purple and pink flowers lining the vines on the extended arch, a stone tile driveway 100 feet long going around in a roundabout in front of a six-column patio. The house is beautiful. The driver pulled up and he sprang out the door and held it for me and I stepped out. I walked through the house and to the veranda overlooking the pool at the back and he immediately got to work in the kitchen.

I looked at him, ok I stared, you can’t blame me really, the man looks as if he was sculpted by god himself, a big sexy piece of art work, whoa… he’s fine. I thought.

Strangely enough for a man living alone his fridge was fully stocked, and not with ‘manly foods’ like beer and pizza it was filled with produce.

“Do you know how to eat them”, he asked after we've been eating a few minutes, “because you’re doing it wrong”

I snapped back to reality.

“How Mr. know it all, am I doing it wrong?”

“You have to put..” he was leaning over me and his hands were all over mine, his chest rub against my back, and I could feel every Ab stroke my shoulder blades, every toned, firm muscle on his 6”4’ frame. I don’t know what this feeling is, I’ve never felt it before but, I like it.

“Now you try it”, I still had no idea how to do it ‘seeing as I wasn’t paying attention’.

“I’ll do it my way ok smarty”. “Those were the best Crettas I have ever tasted” I lied, seeing that I have never tasted any and just heard about them, but they were really delicious.

He was cleaning up so I took a walk around the house, “I would really like to have a view like this in the morning” I said just as he was coming out on the veranda.

“You can” he wispered into my ear. The way his voice sounded, so into what he was saying like he believed every word, something crawled from my neck and went to my toes, I melted and had to squeeze my thighs together.

“wow isn’t today hot?” I muttered as I ducked around him, trying to escape this feeling.

“If you want you can take a swim” he offered.

“I don’t think so,” I alleged knowing well I want him to insist.

“If you’re hot, take a bath don’t let me stop you” not exactly the ‘push’ I wanted be he got me there, he directed me to the guest bedroom and I stripped to my underwear and went down anxiously to meet him. So I’m sitting in his pool half naked, strutting my stuff not exactly sure why because, there’s something about him that just makes me want to hit him ‘hard’ and then there’s something that makes me want to be around him to see what there is to find.

After about forty five minutes of talking about me, himself and the island, abruptly, with a concerned masculine voice, he says, “Can I take you somewhere, besides where you were running from?”

“I wasn’t running from anything” I claimed. Maybe bowing my head gave away the fact that I was lying.

“It looked that way to me, though it’s none of my business, I don’t think you should go back there”.

“Where?”

“The Hotel”

“How do you know I came from the Hotel?”

“I saw you”

“How? Were you following me?” And I'm instantly angry again, angry, a little flattered yet not mad; how is that possible?

“Of course not, I had breakfast there this morning, with a friend” I didn’t want to argue with him even though his breakfast story was ridiculous; it’s sort of as if I couldn’t. “Just get me away from here,” I was furious though that was one of the hardest things I have ever had to say in my life. I got dressed underwear less and we left. He took me back to the hotel in silence.

Raymond POV:

Maybe I should call the police? She's been gone very long, our breakfast is even cold. She doesn't know the island, what if she gets abducted, she hasn't even called. He phone is going to voice mail maybe because of the flight, I hadn't seen her turn it on or use it. I decide to wait a short while longer because I wouldn't know where to start looking for her.

Alicia POV:

“Where were you?” Raymond questions.

“Out!” I fired at him.

“For five hours?” he says it angrily but I see sadness and stress in his features more than anything, was he worried about me?

“Don’t I’m tired” I didn’t know why I was being so hard on Raymond but I really didn’t care.

“Let’s have Breakfast or lunch; I have cheese and garlic omelets, toast wheat bread and Germany chocolate tea for breakfast and Spanish Shellfish Paella for the latter, which do you want?” he bought all my favorite foods in bed. “Oh yeah and there’s this local dish you might like called Crettas, I bought that too”.

“Yeah I might” I couldn’t stop thinking about those tempting, sensual eyes that you just wanna melt in, what I couldn’t figure out, beside the fact that Raymond was acting too nice, was why I couldn’t stop thinking about Tyson.

Three days past and my ‘husband’ and I (which still didn’t sound right) still haven’t had s*x, and he’s not even rushing me, how shocking! We did all sorts of fun things together, he is a very nice guy though ‘my husband’.