Shades of dominatioe rom.., p.25
Shades of Domination: Fifty by Fifty #2: A Billionaire Romance Boxed Set, page 25
“Bartender, another drink, please,” I say numbly as I sink into a stool. I stare off into the distance, where it all happened, looking for him to return. After what seemed like an eternity but was probably a half hour, I see him! Thank God! I run out to the beach to meet him.
My poor hero. He’s almost staggering on the beach, looking tired and worn from the intense chase under the blazing hot midday sun. I stare at him wistfully, silently praying that all is okay. He sees me in the distance and holds my purse up high in victory.
As I finally smile in relief, he collapses to his knees on the sandy beach.
“Ricky!” I run over to him. I kneel down and blurt out, “Oh my God, are you okay? What happened? You shouldn’t have chased that guy!” I quickly scan him and breathe a small sigh of relief as I don’t see any evidence of blood or injury.
He was sweat-soaked and gasping hard to catch his breath, but still so handsome as he nodded, and panted in response.
“Oh good…Ricky? What the hell is going on?” I hear a loud man’s voice boom angrily next to me. “Are you okay? What just happened?” A slightly older, heavyset man rushes over towards Ricky and me. “Here, drink this.” He shoves a bottle of cold water towards Ricky. After a couple seconds, he was ready to speak.
“Belle, this is my friend, Edward. Edward, I’m fine. Belle had her purse snatched and I had to get it back for her,” he pants casually.
“What? Ricky, are you kidding me? You could’ve gotten seriously hurt!” yells Edward. He’s clearly agitated by his rash action. I raise an eyebrow at him freaking out. Shouldn’t that be me right now? Who was this guy anyway?
“Edward, calm down already. The point is, I’m not. I’m completely fine. Now, if you don’t mind, Belle and I were just leaving,” he dismisses him with a serious glare.
Then Edward looks over at me, assessing me for a few more seconds before looking puzzled and raising an eyebrow dismissively. I immediately feel uncomfortable. I was an average girl, but too curvy. I’m sure I didn’t measure up to the supermodels Ricky usually dates. In a brief moment, his judgmental and cruel look said it all.
“Fine, but call me if you have any problems next time, okay?” He narrows his eyes and storms off. As soon as he leaves, I turn to Ricky.
“Who’s your ‘friend’? He’s awfully protective of you, isn’t he? I’M the one who was about to start screaming at you for doing such a crazy thing!” I half question and half tease him.
“Oh, never mind him. He’s an old friend who I’ve worked with for a long time. Edward is my manager, I guess you could say. Yes, he knew my dad and he’s protective of me. Probably because we work together and he needs me to stay employed.” He crinkles his tan, Greek god-like nose. “Anyway, why don’t we get out of here. Can I walk you back to your quarters? I want to make sure you’re safe.”
A part of me leaps inside and screams in joy, just looking at him and listening to his sweet words. Before I knew what I was doing, I grin and throw my arms around him for a tight hug. Then I pull back, and feel self-consciously shy all over again.
“I still can’t believe you did that for me. I appreciate it, but I’d never want you to get hurt. It wouldn’t be worth it,” I scold softly with a smile.
“I’m fine, really, Belle. Come on, let’s get outta this hot sun,” he says as he pulls me closer. Inside to myself, I squeal and smile inside. Slowly, we walk off the beach towards my bungalow.
Within a few minutes, we’re at my door. It wasn’t me at all, but in that moment, I didn’t care if it sounded too bold. It only felt right to invite him inside after he’d risked his life for my purse. “Why don’t you come in? Just to have a seat and a drink, at least?”
“Sure, I’d love that. Thank you,” he says as he flashes a polite but irresistibly sexy smile at me. My insides involuntarily tingle every time he speaks and looks at me that way.
I offer him a seat on the couch as I check on drinks. “I hope some wine is okay. It’s all I had time to pick up after I got here.” As I saunter over towards him with our drinks, I feel increasingly flushed again. He’s so distractingly handsome and sexy. And I can’t believe he’s in my living room. After he “saved me,” it was almost starting to feel like a date.
I sit next to him on the couch, feeling acutely aware of how close we are, in a private space.
“Thank you again, Ricky. I’m sorry that happened, but I’m so glad you’re okay. And…besides all that, I’ve had a really nice time with you today.” I look down as my cheeks flush. From the moment we met through and after all the excitement, my feelings for him were spinning out of control, dangerously fast. I was not expecting that.
He looks right into me with his soulful, sexy dark brown eyes. “I had a wonderful time meeting you today, Belle. I’m so glad you did, too. I’d love to see you again. Soon.” His eyes search mine for an answer.
My lips curl into a smile. He wants to see me again? This beautiful, heroic, sexy man wants to see me again? But within an instant, a nagging doubt and sick feeling comes over me. Why? Why and how could a perfect man like him, be interested in an average woman like me? Maybe he was just like my ex and couldn’t be trusted. He must’ve detected my hesitation.
“Belle, what’s wrong? Didn’t you enjoy our time together?” he sounds wounded and tentative.
“No, that’s not it at all. I…I’m sorry. Of course, I’d love to see you again,” I drift off.
“But? What’s the problem?” he seems genuinely concerned.
“Ricky, I’m not sure if I’m ready for much. Not now. I just came out of a long-term relationship and it didn’t end well,” I admit quietly. “But I do really enjoy you. And our time together,” I say softly, feeling emboldened again.
He leans towards me and takes my hands into his. My heart leaps as I feel his warm hands in mine and we looked deeply into each other’s eyes.
“Beautiful Belle, I understand. I won’t rush you and I don’t ask for much. All I know, is that I really enjoy being with you. We’re kind of on vacation and want to be happy, right? So why don’t we get rid of the pressure with no expectations? Why don’t we just forget about everything else in the world then, and just enjoy each other for now?”
His strong, warm hands burn in mine as he brings them up to his sexy, soft lips to gently kiss the tips of my hands. I feel my insides burning, on fire, as I fight the urge to wince. He has a crazy physical effect on my body and it’s overwhelming.
“No expectations?” I manage to eke out softly. “None,” he whispers as he leans in for a kiss.
For a moment, I feel like I was going to pass out in excitement, wanting and needing his kiss. Then my inner voice screams inside at me, “NO!” I jump back a little.
He seems a little startled or hurt when I jump back. “Oh, Belle, I’m sorry. I…Uh, are you okay?”
“Yes, yes. I…I’m sorry, Ricky. Maybe we should talk more later about this. I’m not sure if I’m ready right now. But, I do love your ideas. About enjoying each other for now.”
“I don’t want to rush you. I respect you and what you want. Just know that, we can just get away together…this week only. Indulge ourselves, have fun, enjoy each other. Because we deserve it. And that’s it. Then we’ll go our separate ways, and you won’t even have to think about it again if you don’t want to. No pressure or expectations,” he says matter-of-factly and convincingly as he takes a sip of wine.
“Well, you make a strong case and you’re awfully convincing,” I teasingly whisper to him. He makes some good points. I do deserve some fun time, and it could be nice to forget about my cheating ex for a while. Then it’s back to the regular grind in a few days anyway.
“Mm, don’t tease me, you beautiful creature, you,” he growls at me in a sexy tone.
I can’t help but giggle. Me? A beautiful creature? I feign mock offense.
“You…you’re a beautiful creature, you are,” I stutter a little and get fake-annoyed at him as my voice lowers. Damn it! Real slick, my inner voice chides me. I’m not used to getting lavished with such high praise at all, let alone by someone as Greek-god like as him.
He laughs lightly and pulls me closer. “You are gorgeous. I couldn’t keep my eyes off you, the second you walked into my view.”
“Aw, Ricky, you’re sweet but you don’t have to say all that,” I whisper. “I’m sure you can get any girl you want.”
“Shh…what do you mean? You’re gorgeous, Belle. Look at those beautiful eyes. Soft lips. Perfect skin. Irresistible curves. You’re what I want.”
I’m vaguely aware that my cheeks flush crimson as I bite my lower lip and look at him longingly. Oh, I want him, too.
We lean in, even closer to each other slowly. My temperature rises as I start to feel faint.
Then his warm, soft lips are on mine. We wrap our arms around each other and kiss deeper. His lips feel so soft, his kiss so tender yet passionately hot. I gasp in his mouth, feeling so overwhelmed by his hot kiss. It happens so fast that it scares me a little. I reluctantly pull away.
He stares into my eyes, looking puzzled and searching for clues. After a moment of silence, he gently says, “I don’t want to rush you. It’s fine. I should probably go.”
I slowly smile at him and leap into his arms for a big, tight hug. He smells so divine and his body feels rock hard, smooth and toned underneath me.
“Ricky. Thank you so much for everything. For understanding. For today,” I whisper. “Yes, I’d absolutely love to see you again. I agree, we should make the most of our vacation time.”
“Well, let’s continue where we left off and go out tomorrow then,” he grins at me.
“Oh, I have an orientation and press trip tomorrow. But it’s only during the day. I’ll be back right after dinner. I know you’ve mentioned vacation for you, but some of us are here to actually work, you know,” I say teasingly.
“Oh, no problem. I’ll catch you tomorrow night then, my beautiful Belle,” he says with that incredible smile of his, making me melt instantly.
“I can’t wait,” I purr as I walk him to the door.
***
Later that night, I have long and vivid dreams about Ricky. It seems my conscious and subconscious mind can’t stop thinking about him.
In my dream, Ricky has returned triumphantly from rescuing my purse on the beach. Then I drop to my knees to shower his face with kisses. Then it turns hotter. It’s just me and him on the beach, enjoying a hot, passionate kiss out in the warm tropical sun.
It all melts away and it’s just us again. We’re in a bedroom, cuddled up in bed. He pulls me close and I feel his hard, perfect body against me.
“What about all your unanswered questions about me?” Ricky asks me as we hold our warm, naked bodies together. I bite my lip and say, “Oh, forget it. Take me…I want you now.” I’m a little embarrassed in my dream for my brazen demands but I can’t help myself when he grinds his perfect, sexy, tan body against mine. I need to feel him right now.
He laughs and nods. Then he responds by ripping off the bed sheets, leaving me feeling naked and exposed. But in a sexy way that turns me on.
Without a word, he quickly pins me against the bed and goes down on me. I scream loudly as he makes me come, again and again. I writhe around the bed, grabbing his head as my body spasms and rocks from the intense orgasms he gives me. Ohmygod, does he knows how to use his mouth on me.
Then I can’t hold back. After he makes me come a few times, I pin him down on the bed so I can have my turn.
I want to feel him. When I go down on him, I’m surprised by his ample size. I hadn’t thought of it, but it was a very nice surprise. Especially after Mike’s smaller package. I tease him about it and we laugh, before I attack him.
I slowly enjoy every second of giving him head. I moan and get even more excited as I go down on him. He’s getting more excited and pulls my hair and me, deeper into him. I squirm, feeling my own wetness, knowing that we’re both on the edge of release.
“Mm, Belle, I want to be inside you. Come on, let’s do it,” he says in a sweet, convincing tone. I can feel my pulse rise and my thighs moisten.
“Okay, let’s go,” I whisper. I can’t wait to feel him inside me already. He pushes me down on the bed roughly. I’m taken by his sudden roughness and get more turned on. He’s going to take me, and take over my body. And I’m going to enjoy every second.
He pushes my legs apart. I look up at his gorgeous, sculpted and tan body as he comes closer, preparing to penetrate me. I hold my breath, waiting for ecstasy.
Then I wake up.
I sigh. What a time to wake up from a dream. I’m disappointed and annoyed that my bladder woke me up and tore me away from having hot dream sex with Ricky. The details, sensations and feelings were so vivid in that dream. When I get back to bed, I try to will the dream back. But I think I drift off into other dreams.
***
Last night and this morning has my mind in a fog. I have to focus on work details but my mind keeps going back to my handsome mystery man. The way he made me feel was unmistakable.
In just a few hours, I went crazy for him. But yet, I didn’t even know what he does for a living. Every time personal matters came up, he seemed to distract and change the topic. So how well did I really know him anyway?
Yet I didn’t want to push it. I figure he has his reasons. I was intensely personal and private, so I understood. And we were on a getaway trip partly to leave those things behind. All I knew was that I couldn't stop thinking about him.
After getting ready for my day on the boat tour, I realize I have some time to catch up on calls over my morning coffee.
I pull out my iPad and Face Time Julia. She answers quickly.
"Hey, girl! I was starting to wonder where you've been," exclaims Julia. In my iPad, I can tell she was just getting up.
"Yeah, sorry. It's kind of been a crazy couple of days. But nothing's wrong. I only have a few minutes so thought I'd check in before taking the local boating tour."
"Ooh, fancy," Julia teases. "Well, I hope you're having fun at least. You know you deserve this, don't you? It's time that you take out some time for yourself. Any hot guys down there?"
"Oh my God," I giggle at her. "You know I'm just here to work and get this article done." I don't know why I jump to be so defensive.
"Nobody is questioning your work ethic and professionalism. I'm just saying, it's time to move on. And you deserve some fun." Julia's tone softens as she seems genuinely concerned as a friend. I know she’s talking about that cheater, Mike, of course.
"I know, I know. Thanks, Julia. I'll try to loosen up and have a little fun, too," I smile at her in my tablet screen. She has been such a good friend, helping me so much through the disappointments of my last relationship.
I try to change the subject a little. “Of course, I can take some lessons from your fun dating life,” I say with a smile.
“Oh please,” Julia says as she smiles and rolls her eyes at me.
“Things aren’t going well? I thought you were going on another date with whatsisname?”
“Yeah, that didn’t work out. I’ll catch you up on it later. I’m okay though.”
“It’s clearly his loss. I’m sure you have the guys all lined up to date you. I gotta say, I’ve always been a little jealous. You got game,” I wink at her. It’s true. She’s my hot, confident, sexy skinny friend who never has a problem meeting guys. Her dating life and experience was my polar opposite.
“You know, Belle, it ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. The same guys, the scene, the game. It gets old.” Julia shrugs matter-of-factly.
I feel a little bad for her. She looks like she needs a hug. She’s mentioned a few times lately about how tiring the dating scene was becoming for her.
“I’ve mentioned before…it’s like I feel this sense of emptiness with all these shallow and fake dating rituals. A lot of times, these guys don’t work out because there was no chemistry. Or worse, they’re complete jackasses that I shouldn’t have wasted my time on in the first place.”
I look on, listening with a sympathetic ear.
“Maybe it’s the bar scene. Maybe it’s just my bad luck. Or maybe there really is a VERY limited pool of decent guys out there. Unfortunately, there always seems to be an endless string of losers just looking to get in my pants.” She rolls her eyes as she looks annoyed.
“I just wonder sometimes if this is it. I mean, is this all there is? Or will I actually ever find “The One” if he exists? I don’t know. Maybe I’ll take a break.”
“Of course you will. You’re one of the strongest people I know. You’ve just hit a rough patch for now. Kinda like me. We should definitely talk more about this when I get back. We’ll get through this.”
“Thanks, Belle. Sending you a big virtual hug,” Julia says as she pretends to hug me via the screen. I laugh and fake hug her back.
"Oh shoot, I can't be late. How about I text or call you later?" I say to Julia, as I notice the time. "No problem, girl. Enjoy your fancy boat trip. We'll talk soon," she smiles and blows me a kiss before we disconnect.
I'm excited to be in this exotic and beautiful foreign country. As I step outside, the warm sun and tropical, natural smells fill my senses. I rush through the day, trying to pay attention to logistics and interesting facts given by the boat tour operator. I manage to take copious notes and snap a few interesting pictures.
But all day long, thoughts of him permeate my mind. Countless times, I find my mind wandering back to thoughts of him. His beautiful face, toned physique, sweet expressions and things he would say to me. I chide myself, reminding myself that I've only known him for a few hours. In fact, there was so much about him that I didn't know.
Although I manage to get enough notes and pictures from the day, it's hard to keep my mind on work. And I wonder, will he reach out to me tonight, as he said he would? The thought of seeing him again distracts me like no other, breaking any attention I have to the droning tour operator. Good thing I have a voice recorder.
My mind screams at me. It's too early, I'm just not ready! But when I think about seeing him again, feeling his strong hands in mine, his warm, toned body against mine, I shudder and can't stop grinning like an idiot. Maybe we could just have a little fun and enjoy our time together, like he suggested last night. I fight to keep my mind on the day's work. Why was he so distracting?
