RECKLESS AUDACITY

CHAPTER 3: The Hook

The Ladera Saint Lucia, July 2011

Alice lay on her bed conflicted.

She had dreaded the meeting. What if he recognised her? But that had been laid to rest. He was clueless that this was the same wide-eyed i***t that had been drooling all over him in Norfolk.

But that had not been the climax of the meeting. She felt a tingling down her spine - a foolish tingling. She had rather enjoyed the exchange. In fact, her heart had been pumping the whole time. Damn! This was a pest that should be crushed underfoot, not admired.

The voice in her head screamed.

“He hurt you little gal, he hurt real bad. He took everything from you - your dignity, your pride and shoved you away like a piece of rag. Be strong and hurt him back. Don’t fall for his charm again!”

She took a shot of dry gin from the well-stocked bar in the suite. She walked to the open balcony and stared across the water at the imposing Jade Mountain Resort, wondering what Edward Marden was doing. What mischief was he planning to get into tonight?

“Stay focused, gal. Remember all the time, energy and resources you have poured into this project. Let’s get it done”

The twist in the plan had messed up things a little bit. If only the plane had arrived on schedule, Edward would have been wooed by her guest, and she would just have sat back watching through binoculars. Now, thanks to a bunch of incompetent aircraft staff, she is an actor in the charade.

She looked at the time - 9:10. Edward should be at the bar by now. She debated whether to call off the night, and let her guest take over when she got there. Too risky. His guard was down. She must as well swoop in for the kill.

She headed for the beach

The Night Stand

Edward had found Frank in his room bent over his laptop when he got back to the hotel. He had wanted to tell him about Alice, but decided against it. Let him gape with envy when he meets her tonight.

But Frank was not going partying tonight, he had other plans. The boys from Silvergate had fished out a gambling spot, ostensibly set up to fleece the visiting rich patrons. It was tempting, but Edward would rather spend his night in the company of the stunning Alice, than with a bunch of beer and rum-drinking dudes. He ordered a taxi to be taken to the Night Stand.

Alice was not at the bar!

He checked his watch - 9:25 p.m. He felt disappointed that she had ghosted him. He didn't want to show up at The Ladera, that would come across as being too desperate.

As the night progressed, Edward found himself growing increasingly bored. The flashing lights and pounding music that had in the beginning seemed so exhilarating now felt hollow and empty. He sat at the bar, and nursed his disappointment with a Piton rum. He let his eyes roam over the dance floor, looking with amusement at the dance gyrations induced by alcohol and something dangerously potent.

Then he saw her!

His heart raced as he watched her across the landing in a flowing white dress. He noticed a pesky wasp buzzing around her, vying for her attention. She looked up, and let her eyes scan the smoky bar, saw him, and lifted her drink in greeting. He felt a rush of excitement surge through him.

Without hesitation, he worked his way towards her, round the dancing patrons, flashing his most charming smile. The pesky wasp scowled and slinked away, defeated.

They picked up where they had left off, their conversation flowing effortlessly and smoothly as the punch rum they sipped. They laughed and joked, the electricity between them once again crackling like fireworks.

The music was pounding, the drinks were firing and burning up sensations within them, and her eyes sparkled in the neon lights. It was almost 11 p.m. when they drowned their drinks and wandered off casually into the Lucian night, like two old friends catching up after a long time apart. They strolled down the beach promenade, and Alice pointed out a small seafood restaurant nestled among a row of colourful beach shacks.

"That's the place I was telling you about. They have the best seafood in Saint Lucia, and their octopuses and oysters are especially delicious."

"Oysters, huh? I've never really been a big fan of them." He raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, you should definitely give them a try. I've heard they have a special effect on men."She grinned mischievously.

"What kind of effect?"

Alice leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"They say it brings out all the naughtiness in a man."

He felt a rush of heat rise to his cheeks at her words, and he was intrigued.

"Well, in that case, I guess I have to try them."

They made their way to the restaurant, and she ordered a platter of fresh oysters along with a platter of grilled octopuses and prawns. As they dug in, he was surprised at how delicious everything tasted. The oysters were briny and sweet, with a delicate texture that melted in his mouth.

When they finished their meal, she leaned back in her chair with a contented sigh.

"So, tell me, do you feel any naughtiness coming on?" she teased.

Edward grinned. "Maybe just a little bit."

"You're too cute. But seriously, I'm glad you enjoyed it."

They left the restaurant, and weaved their way through the night owls, and found themselves at a lively beachside club. The sound of the music pulsed through their veins, matching the rhythm of their pounding hearts. Once again, they downed glass after glass of the delicious rum punch. It seemed like the pounding music and the animated dances took the sting out of the alcohol. The dancing under the twinkling stars was intoxicating, and their bodies moved in perfect harmony.

As the dawn approached, they reluctantly left the club. He wanted to flag down a taxi, but she waved it away. She wanted to walk to clear her head. She took off her sandals and walked barefooted towards her hotel. He walked silently beside her, his brain in turmoil. He had seen the ring, but every sinew in his brain was urging him to ignore it. He felt a sudden urge to hold her hand, to pull her closer and never let go. As if reading his mind, she met his gaze with a warm smile, igniting a flame within him that he had never known before. The demons within him were stirring. He was struggling to keep them at bay.

With the sun struggling to break through the unyielding skies and the waves crashing against the shore, Edward couldn't resist any longer. He drew her towards him, their eyes locked in a fiery gaze. No words were spoken as their lips collided in a passionate embrace. It was a kiss that made time stand still, their breaths mingling in a shared moment of pure, unbridled desire.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were left breathless, the warmth of their passion seeping through every inch of their bodies. He knew then that he would never be the same. She had become a part of him, a flame that he would never let burn out.

They walked in silence, their fingers intertwined as they strolled along the darkened beach, interspersed by fluttering lights. Ever so often, their eyes would meet and a small smile would creep onto their faces, a sign of the simmering passion that lay beneath the surface. They said very little. The kiss had smothered whatever clatter they had left in them. Their interlocked fingers communicated perfectly well what each had to say to the other.

They rode the short lift ride and walked purposefully to her door. The Ladera is an adults-only resort located in the hills overlooking Soufriere and the Pitons. It offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and sea, and features private and open-air suites with plunge pools. The sun blossomed a golden hue over the sea, and its lazy rays danced in her hair. In a moment of pure passion, they collided into each other, their lips interlocking in a fiery embrace. They made love on her sun-kissed bed, bodies intertwined in a dance of ecstasy. With every touch, every kiss, they seemed to fit together perfectly, as though they were made for each other.

As their bodies writhed in pleasure, he kept reminding himself that she was someone's wife. But as she rode him, her firm body crashing into his again and again, all thoughts of consequence vanished. They were lost in a world of their own, a world where nothing else mattered but their burning desire for each other.

Finally, spent and naked, they coiled up together in a lover's embrace. The soft rays of the sun danced on the windows, reminding him that he needed to leave before the hotel woke up. But she held him tighter, refusing to let him go.

With a fiery look in her eyes, she pulled him closer, her body demanding more of him. They made love again, the intensity building with every touch, and every kiss. And when they were spent, she fell back onto the bed, her body splayed out like a goddess.

Edward leaned down to kiss her, his lips lingering on hers for a moment longer than necessary. But as much as he wanted to stay, he knew he had to leave. He slipped out of the room, his heart still racing from their passionate encounter.

The walk back seemed shorter than he had imagined. He flung his tired body onto the bed and drifted off, a smile of utter satisfaction etched on his face.

Jade Mountain Resort, Saint Lucia

The night was going well for Frank at the craps table. The pile of chips in front of him was growing steadily. Sitting at his elbow was the perpetual glass of bourbon which the waitresses ensured was always filled. He was on a roll.

He had picked up gambling in high school, where he would often skip school to play poker with a bunch of kids in the projects. He learned to stand his ground and defend himself - for weakness was never a virtue in the hood. But the seemingly harmless game has an alluring spirit that draws you in slowly until, like a demon, it consumes you. And so, at college, he gambled to sustain the lifestyle that he wanted, always ensuring he kept his addiction away from family and friends.

He saw Ethan, an executive from Legacy, watching him closely. He flashed him a smile. His winning streak continued at blackjack and even at the poker table. When he called it a day at 3 a.m, he had amassed almost 40 grand. Not bad earnings for a few hours' work.

He stopped at the bar to take a celebratory drink and felt a tap on his shoulder. Ethan.

“Do you want to join the big boys? 10 grand a head, exclusive.”

The offer was too tempting to pass. And he soon found himself sandwiched between five other guys in a small back room, where almost nude waitresses served high-end champagne - Louis Roederer Cristal, Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs and Dom Perignon Rose Gold - handcrafted, longneck crystal glasses. The admission fee was 10 grand, but Ethan gifted it to him as a newbie, to which the other patrons clapped.

Frank soon realised that he was playing with professionals, and soon his pile of earnings had been wiped from his face, before the last game. Ethan loaned him twenty grand so he could participate in the last game. It was his luck and he walked out with ninety grand. He offered half to Ethan but he brushed it off. “Keep your beginners' luck, you don’t want to jinx it, do you?”