Affair on the Beach

Chapter 11

I woke up sprawled across Xavier’s king sized bed more relaxed than I’d ever been in years. A sheet I was sure wasn’t on me when I closed my eyes last night was now draped over my body. I indulged in a languid stretch, feeling muscles I never thought I had. I half expected squeaks and creaks from joints seldom used. It felt delicious. I wasn’t sore at all because of Xavier’s magical healing pool.

I pushed my nose into the pillow by my side and inhaled Xavier’s scent—fresh, of the sea, of Xavier. I smiled into the pillow and reached out to find his side of the bed empty. I opened my eyes and confirmed the emptiness my hand discovered. Based on the light creeping in from the sliding doors that separated the deck from the bedroom, it couldn’t have been later than eight in the morning. I glanced around the room in search of Xavier, but found his digital clock instead. Its big, red numbers told me my time estimate was off by a couple of minutes.

“Xavier?” I called out, my voice still husky from sleep.

No one answered.

I gathered the sheet around my naked body and noticed the sliding door was left open. I smiled, hazarding a guess as to what Xavier was doing. I walked onto the deck and leaned against the railing. In the distance, I spotted Xavier on his board, riding a wave into shore. His light blue boardshorts rode low on his hips. I swallowed, remembering the taste of that skin as I nipped my way down his body. He tasted better than whatever my imagination could have come up with. All the romance novels I’d ever read couldn’t have prepared me for the reality of having s*x. It was visceral, filled with so many emotions that Rony was right. Separating feelings from the physical act would be difficult. Just looking at him on his board, doing what he enjoyed most, all the muscles below my waist contracted. I could still feel him in me, filling me to the point of overwhelming sensation. He wasn’t kidding when he said he knew what he was doing. The things we did the night before, none of the books could have described properly. I was one sated woman who shockingly wanted more. I had a feeling we barely scratched the surface of the things that could be done in the bedroom, and it surprised me how much I enjoyed myself. How could other women complain about s*x? I’d heard a few complaining about less than stellar encounters while reading between the shelves of Winter Books. One of the women said the reason why she gravitated toward romance novels was because her husband couldn’t do it for her in bed. I didn’t understand what she’d meant at the time until Xavier came along. Now that he had opened my eyes, I figured not all men were like him—barring the whole merman bit. I felt my smile turn wicked. Yup, Xavier was in a class of his own.

I watched him hop off his board and tuck it beside his delectably wet body. He jogged onto the beach and planted the board into the sand. He shook his head, dislodging the excess water. Then he ran his hands through his hair, using his fingers to comb the strands away from his face. Only when he took his damn time drying himself with a towel and I felt that all too familiar pulse in my groin did I realize Xavier knew he had an audience.

He smiled up at me and I had to brace all my weight on my elbows on the railing. Everything south of my quivering stomach melted. I couldn’t deny the way he made my body feel. I wanted him. I wanted him so badly that I was crooking my finger at him to come closer, no longer shy. I had nothing to hide from him. He’d seen everything and still desired what I had to offer. And that made my heart soar. A gorgeous god like him craving my body, a few extra pounds and all.

The lightness in Xavier’s gave immediately turned hot when he answered my call. He smiled that half-smile I loved. When he reached the steps up to the deck where I stood in nothing by his bed sheet, he stopped. I pouted, impatient to have his hands and lips on me.

“Do you know how beautiful you look right now?” he said, heat in his voice.

With on hand, I gathered my hair over one shoulder so I bared the skin of my neck to my collarbone for him, achieving the desired effect. His eyes went from bright blue to molten. I shivered. Memories of the night before brought a sizzling blush to my skin.

“Do you know how wrong it is to leave a woman in your bed to wake up by herself?” I arched an eyebrow at him. I loved the new found confidence that came with bedding a man. Especially one like Xavier Solomon. “I thought you’d run off after divesting me of my virginity.” I pouted for effect. Okay, I had to admit, I was channeling a couple heroines at once. I was using what I knew, and I liked it.

He was up the stairs and wrapping his strong arms around my waist, pulling me closer to his body before I could blink. I looked up at him through my lashes, keeping my pout steady. He took my bottom lip between his teeth and ran the tip of his tongue over it. Must be the hottest move from him yet because the butterflies in my stomach approved, their silken wings tickling my insides. Yup, he wanted me too, I felt it in the beginnings of a bulge in his soaking boardshorts. Last night wasn’t a fluke at all. I was desirable. To Xavier.

I moaned.

“I apologize for leaving you in bed unattended, Tamara,” he said in that American honey voice of his. I could taste the sweet warmth of it on my tongue. “I should have known better.”

I gaped. He was serious.

I reached up and touched his cheek. “I was kidding. Not having you there to wake up to wasn’t so bad. I knew where you were right away. I was just teasing,” I said.

His brow still stayed knotted. “But I shouldn’t have gone out surfing. I really should have stayed in your arms.”

I slapped his chest playfully. “Don’t do that to yourself.”

“Too late.”

I rolled me eyes up to the morning sky and shook my head. Then an idea struck me, one that potentially had wonderful results. I bit my lower lip and stepped out of his arms. Xavier eyed me closely, curiosity replacing the consternation on his face. Ah, I could watch the emotions change on the gorgeous lines of that face.

I let the sheet around me pool at my feet and stood before him in the skin I was born in. His pupils dilated and his Adam’s apple bobbed. Excitement tumbled through my stomach several times. I bit the tip of my index finger and regarded him with the best come-and-get-me look I could muster.

“What are you going to do about it?”

His half smile resurfaced just before he slung me over his shoulder. I yelped. He slapped my ass while he carried me into his bedroom.

An hour later, I lay draped on top of Xavier, all wanton limbs and sated muscles. “This must be what jelly feels like,” I said. I drew circles on his n****e with my finger.

He moved his hand from the small of my back to one of my butt cheeks and squeezed it in warning. “If you continue to do that, we’re never leaving this bed.”

I smiled at the thought. “Maybe that’s what I want.”

Xavier groaned and kissed my hair. “What have I done to you? Where is that girl who blushed scarlet every time I merely glanced her way?”

A giggle escaped my throat. “She’s gone. Left is this monster who craves nothing but your body.” To drive my point in deeper, I stretched, making sure he felt my whole body move against his.

His answering groan sounded almost pained. “As much as I like to shut the world away and become your willing s*x slave, people will start to wonder where we are before long. Search parties may be deployed.”

I kissed his chest. “I’m actually curious to see how long it will take for people to start searching.” I bent my leg until my thigh touched his stirring arousal. Oh, I could never get tired of what my body made his do. Why did I wait so long to have s*x? I mentally slapped myself. The answer was obvious. Because none of the guys would have been Xavier. That thought stopped me cold. I sat up and picked up the shirt Xavier wore last night off the floor and shrugged it on.

“What just happened?” he asked, leaning up on his elbows.

I gathered my discarded clothes and remembered my bra was still floating in Xavier’s magic pool. I shrugged. I guess I was going braless until I got back to Hudson’s house. No biggie.

“I’m hungry,” I said. “Wanna grab breakfast over at Hudson’s? Carmela makes a mean pancake.”

Xavier was off the bed and pulling me into his arms before I could step into the bathroom. “Whoa! Hold on a sec there, s*x-and-dash.”

The corners of my lips quirked up. “Don’t you mean dine-and-dash?”

He pinned me with a stern glare. “You know what I mean. What happened between staying in bed for all eternity to grabbing breakfast at Hudson’s? Did I miss something?”

I reached for the closest lie. “I’m worried about Rony. I want to make sure she got home safe last night and that Zander didn’t do something to her.”

“Rony’s a tough girl. Nothing could hurt her, much less a guy like Zander.” The expression on Xavier’s face said he didn’t believe my lie for one second.

I wasn’t ready to confront the issue until I had time to process what I almost found myself feeling for him. Feelings. Plural. If I didn’t get space, I’d get sucked into the little haven he created for me and I’d be a goner.

So, I played with what he knew, adding a bit of a sultry tone to my voice. “Are you saying you were planning on keeping me here without feeding me?”

He smiled then and kissed my neck. I kept still, urging myself not to recoil from his touch. “I was hoping for another round before we had to leave.” He rubbed his ready erection against my stomach. My skin flamed in response. He took my hand and glided it toward himself. I started rubbing him the way he taught me last night. He hissed, taking a nip at my shoulder. I quivered, the heat between my legs climbing several degrees.

Xavier caressed his way down my body to my s*x. He parted my folds and inserted one finger into me. I gasped at the wonderful invasion. He moved his finger in and out of me in a slow rhythm.

“I love it when you’re so ready for me,” he whispered into my ear. He rubbed his palm on the aching pulse at the meeting of my thighs and my legs turned to rubber.

I increased the rhythm of my hand on his erection, relishing the velvety steel of it. I was amazed that its length and width was in me and I was still alive. He removed his finger from in me to still my hand. Then he hooked his hands on the backs of my thighs and lifted me up.

“Wrap your legs around me, Tamara,” he said.

I did as I was told, and in one quick thrust, Xavier was in me to the hilt. I screamed, feeling my muscles convulse around his length, losing myself and whatever thoughts I had about maintaining some distance between us.

By the end of it, we were both on the floor panting. Xavier managed to make me come twice before he was done, causing all my limbs to feel heavy and relaxed. My eyelids weighed a ton, but I fought against the urge to snuggle and snooze on his chest for the rest of the day. I was saved by the grumble of my stomach, which had Xavier chuckling.

“You’re right,” he said. “You do need to eat.” He moved to get up and pulled me along with him.

In half an hour, we were all showered and sitting on the stools of Hudson’s breakfast counter. I looked everywhere at once, not focusing on anyone in particular since it was obvious I was still wearing the clothes I had on from the night before. My cheeks burned so bad, I was about to suggest that Carmela cook our eggs on them. Xavier was taking a sip of coffee, hiding the self-satisfied smile on his lips. Hudson used his newspaper as a wall. And Carmela busied herself preparing plates for Xavier and me. No one said anything for the longest time.

The silence reached a point where I sat on my hands and squirmed in my seat. I’d taken a drink from my orange juice so many times that it was almost gone. Xavier reached out and squeezed my knee, sending shocks to my stomach. I glanced at him to see what he wanted, but still he said nothing and just smiled. Someone had to say something! And soon, because I was going crazy with everyone’s mouths closed.

I was about to say something to relieve some of the mounting tension when the door opened then closed as if whoever entered was trying their very best not to be heard. Hudson snapped the newspaper closed, causing me to jump out of my skin. It sounded like a whip crack.

“There’s no use sneaking in,” Hudson said. “You might as well come into the kitchen, Veronika Toochi Flynn.”

Toochi? Oh no. Rony was in trouble. No one mentioned her middle name upon pain of death. When Xavier and I arrived, I was surprised to find out that Rony hadn’t come home last night either. Before panic could settle into my chest, Hudson waved my concern away by saying Rony had called him the night before saying she was staying over with me at Xavier’s place. Since Xavier and I were in front of him sans Rony, Hudson’s annoyance hit a peak of icy cool. He hadn’t spoken since.

Rony padded into the kitchen still wearing last night’s dress. Her hair was mussed and she carried her shoes. And from her n*****s at attention, she was braless too.

“Rony!” I said more like an exhale of relief. I hopped off my chair and hugged her.

“Jesus, TW,” she said, her eyes wide. “You’re not wearing a bra too?”

I jumped out of her arms and blushed, looking sheepishly at my toes. Xavier pulled me back to my stool and leaned close like he was claiming some sort of territory. Worse, he kissed my hair and eyed Rony. Something unspoken moved between them and I promised myself I’d grill Rony until she bled out all the information she was keeping from me.

“Mind telling me where you were last night?” Hudson asked, arms crossed and murder in his eyes.

Rony pointed at me. “She was obviously out all night last night too.”

My jaw dropped. The traitor! She was implicating me?

Hudson shook his head, never taking his stern gaze from his sister. “What Tamara does outside of this house is none of my concern.”

“Gee, thanks,” I mumbled, and Xavier chuckled softly and kissed my temple. It took away some of the sting of Hudson’s words. I felt infinitesimally better. No one was mad at me for the carnal activities I participated in. Woohoo! That still left me figuring out what the feelings caused by these activities meant. I didn’t relish the task. Every time I created space between me and Xavier, he found a way to get even closer, touching my hand, tucking hair behind my ear, kissing me everywhere but my lips. Ugh! The PDA was getting way too much. No matter how giggly inside it made me feel.

“Where were you last night, Rony?” Hudson’s pissed-but-keeping-s**t-together question startled me back into the kitchen.

Rony bowed her head, refusing to answer.

I felt my eyes bulge when I figured out where Rony could have been. “Rony! Where you with Zander all this time?”

Her black-haired head snapped up, eyes as big as mine. She flicked her gaze at Hudson, whose face was turning a deadly shade of puce. Rony raised her hands, dropping her shoes in a clatter on the floor and backing away a step.

“Hudson, I can explain,” she said, voice shaking slightly.

Everyone froze in the kitchen, even the whirlwind of domesticity Carmela. Then Hudson rose from his stool. Xavier was in front of him right away, blocking Hudson’s view of his sister. I leapt from my seat and stood by Rony’s side. I put my arm over her shoulders and she melted against me for support. I rubbed her arm.

“Hudson, calm down,” Xavier said, gentle authority in his silky tone. “I told you Zander was here—”

“And he has the gall to sleep with my sister after what he did?” Hudson interrupted, his voice barely audible.

I glanced at Rony and she was deathly pale.

“Veronika is a grown woman, Hudson. What she does with her time is her own decision. You don’t have to keep reliving what happened with Sasha. She’s happy now last I heard from her.”

Hudson deflated onto the stool. He rubbed the back of his bowed head. Xavier patted his shoulder then turned to us.

“Seems the cost is clear, ladies.” He gestured for us to return to our seats. “Come, Carmela worked really hard on breakfast. It’s rude not to enjoy it.” He took his own seat and finished off his coffee, asking Carmela for more, which brought the woman back to life. She was a whirl of activity again.

I guided a shell-shocked Rony to the breakfast counter, but instead of sitting down, she kneeled in front of Hudson and hugged his waist, burying her face in his shirt. After a second, Hudson placed his hand on her head and smoothed her hair down.

“Way to fall off the wagon, Sis,” Hudson said.

“I didn’t know what I was thinking,” Rony sobbed into his shirt.

As brother and sister comforted each other, I stood between Xavier’s legs and rested my hands on his thighs. I looked into his eyes and said, “Is Rony’s and Zander’s break up the reason why he wants you dead?”

Xavier scratched his cheek, a rueful smile on his lips. I resisted the sudden urge to kiss it away and make him feel better. My heart lurched into my throat as I waited for his answer. Damn, I was feeling more and more for this merman. I was treading dangerous territory.

“Maybe dead is such a harsh word,” he finally said.

“But why is he pissed at you?”

Hudson was the one who answered. “Because he introduced me to Zander’s sister.”

Rony rose to her feet, dried her tears with the backs of her fingers, and answered the question on my face. “He blames Xavier because Hudson wouldn’t have met Sasha if it weren’t for him. If you think my break up with Zander was ugly, well Hudson’s was epic. It was in the society pages.”

“I’m still not getting it,” I said, looking from face to face in the room.

Xavier exhaled heavily. It seemed like his whole body wilted from that single breath. He rested his forehead on my shoulder, and without thinking about the consequences, I placed my hand on the back of his neck and squeezed.

“Zander believes that if it weren’t for me, Hudson wouldn’t have run from the church that day,” Xavier whispered, his breath touching my neck, raising goose bumps all over my body.

“It wasn’t you’re fault,” Hudson said. “I wasn’t ready to get married.”

My lips formed an O when I finally understood what they were talking about. A couple of years back, the marriage of the resort tycoon’s heir to the shipping magnate’s princess was legendary. It was touted as the wedding of the decade. Everyone and their uncle were invited. There were TV crews camped outside the church. It was crazy.

The truth hit me when my gaze met Rony’s. “You didn’t tell me that was your brother,” I said under my breath.

“Oh, Tamara.” She hugged me, albeit awkwardly since Xavier still had his forehead on my shoulder. “You have to understand. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to tell you.”

I could hear tears in her voice.

Even so, I didn’t return the hug.

She continued anyway. “You were my escape from the world I lived in. With you I could feel normal. I didn’t want you tainted by the intrigued and the scandal I lived in. It’s an ugly place.”

No humor came with Hudson’s laugh. “She’s right, Tamara. Believe me. You’re better off not knowing half of what happens within the circles we swim in.”

I gasped when the word swim pinged in my head. “Rony, are you …?” My voice trailed off, my throat closing on me.

She looked me in the eye, and for an answer, she manifested orange scales on one arm. Hudson did the same thing. His scales were a sea green.

“Damn,” I managed to say.

They nodded.

“So all this time …” My voice disappeared again.

“I’m sorry for not telling you, TW,” Rony said, genuine sincerity on her face when she let me go and took a seat on the stool beside mine.

Xavier snaked his arms around my waist and hugged me tight, giving me the strength I needed to clear my throat and find my voice again. If I could accept Xavier for what he was and even sleep with him, then I could certainly accept my best friend and her twin brother.

“I’m starting to find out that there’s so many things you don’t tell me, Rony,” I said. I heard the sadness in my voice. “I know I’m partly to blame because of my romance reading obsession, but not anymore. I’m your best friend! I should know who you are dating and who you’re breaking up with.”

Rony clapped her hands together and exclaimed, “Let’s all spend the day at the cove. What do you say?”

Hudson shook his head. “We have to open the Shore Shack.”

“I hear the swells there are excellent today,” Xavier piped in. He had that half smile on his face again.

Irrational relief flooded my insides. Why did I feel better because he felt better? I didn’t like it, but I couldn’t seem to pull myself away from his hold.

“We can always go after the lunch rush then you can make it back before dinner starts,” Rony urged. “Come on, Hudson. When was the last time you surfed? Plus,” she looked at me, “TW and I need some bonding time away from the prying eyes of the masses. The cove would be the perfect place to get away, even just for a couple of hours.”

The confusion caused by Rony’s sudden suggestion vanished. She wanted to spend time with me so we could talk, and I needed girl time badly. I was too freaked by what I was feeling for Xavier to figure things out on my own. Rony knew him and she could help me. Plus, I meant what I’d said about wanting to know more about her. I understood now that reading my novels were a good escape, but they shouldn’t prevent me from living my life, and they sure as hell shouldn’t come between me and my friends. Making up my mind, I smiled at Hudson.

“Don’t be a flake, Hudson. Come with us and live a little,” I said, satisfied by his shocked surprise.

Rony squealed and pulled me away from Xavier’s embrace. She jumped while she had her hands on my shoulders. I tilted my head and smiled at her and the thought hit me: I was in the company of merfolk. How weird was that?