Page 20 of An Island Promise

Their lips were tantalisingly close, the heat of his body just inches from hers. Then he closed the distance and kissed her. Everything else melted away until she was only vaguely aware of the people sitting at the tables next to them, of Laurie and Gem still dancing. Her whole being was consumed by Diego: the taste, the feel, the sensation of him, and the desire as their tongues clashed and their hands explored as far as they could in public.

God is he hot, Belle thought. And when he eventually said, ‘Want to come back with me?’ she didn’t hesitate to reply, ‘Yes.’

Belle briefly returned to her friends to let them know she was leaving and where she was going. Laurie hugged her tight and firmly said, ‘Make sure you use protection.’ She was always the sensible one, which made Belle smile. Gem made a crude gesture with her fingers and waved her away with a booming, ‘Go get fucking laid!’

The easy conversation that had flowed at the bar ground to a halt during the short taxi ride to Diego’s. It felt exciting and a little bit reckless to be going home with him even if her friends knew. With their hands entwined, heat pulsed through Belle. She was unable to even look at him without wanting to rip his clothes off.

They’d chosen Ibiza for its nightlife and hedonism, a place where they could forget about reality and soak up the sunshine, the beach vibes, the club nights, while making the most of being young and, in Belle’s case, single. Real life would start soon enough with work, bills and worries, but there would be excitement and new opportunities too, even if there was no longer the safety net of living at home or with her university friends, plus she’d be a long way from Laurie and Gem. Next month everything would change, but right now there was nothing she needed to think about besides being with Diego and having a good time.

The taxi driver dropped them off outside a non-descript white building somewhere towards the outskirts of San Antonio. Chatter drifted into the night along with the beat of dance music. With his hand in hers, Diego led her inside and along a brightly lit corridor that made her squint. He unlocked a door that led into another hallway with rooms off it. Belle had completely lost her bearings by the time Diego pushed open a door to a small stuffy bedroom.

Her skin prickled with heat. Diego switched on the air-conditioning unit above the bed.

‘We will die otherwise,’ he said, dropping the control on the bedside table and moving towards her.

Diego wasted little time; conversation and flirting was officially over. She hadn’t been wearing much to begin with, but it was a relief to get rid of her clothes and a thrill to see Diego without his. Sex with him was hot and urgent, yet he was as attentive and focused as he’d been when they’d talked, leaving Belle breathless for all the right reasons.

Belle stirred in the darkness and oppressive heat. At some point the air-con must have switched off. Sweat slicked her skin and the air was heavy with perfume, sweat and sex. A brief stab of guilt that she wasn’t waking up in the hotel room with Gem and Laurie was quickly replaced by joy when she turned her head and took in Diego asleep next to her. The sight of his broad shoulders and muscled back made her want to smooth her hands over his skin.

The room was private but compact, just a place to sleep or bring a girl back to… The box of condoms was still lying on the bedside table. A pack of twelve that had already been openedwhen Diego had reached for them last night. Belle tried to push away the thought about how many other women he’d brought back here. He was twenty-four and an incredibly good-looking promoter on Ibiza; sleeping with a different woman every week probably came with the territory.

Diego yawned, shuffled and rolled over. As he stretched, his stomach muscles tightened and the sheet slipped further down his body.

‘Buen dia,’ he said groggily, his eyes only half open.

‘Morning,’ Belle whispered, half afraid to disturb the magic of the night before. She didn’t want a hangover and the reality of the morning after to erase their ease with each other or the intimacy that had felt so natural.

Diego reached for the air-con control and switched it on. ‘See, I say we die with heat.’

Belle’s whole body felt on fire, but that might have had more to do with feasting on the sight of a naked Diego than the sweat-inducing stuffiness of the room.

He stretched again and tucked his hands behind his head. ‘What are you doing today?’ he asked.

Keeping the sheet covering herself, Belle shifted on her side to look at him. ‘You don’t remember selling us tickets for a beach cruise to Cala Bass something?’

‘Cala Bassa.’ He grinned. ‘I’m good at my job.’

‘You made commission out of the three of us then slept with me,’ Belle said with laughter in her voice. ‘I’d call you a bloody genius.’

Diego shrugged. ‘As I said, I’m good at what I do.’

‘That’s not the only thing you’re good at.’

Diego’s eyes widened in surprise. ‘I can show you again how good I am…’

‘Ooh, I’m not sure there’s time before the boat trip,’ she teased.

‘I can be quick.’ He scooted his hand beneath the sheet and teased his fingers up the inside of her thigh. ‘Unless of course you need to get back to your friends right now?’ His teasing fingers stopped. His lips were ridiculously close, his body hovering ready to slide onto hers.

‘Well maybe that’ll depend if I get to see you again tonight?’ She hoped she was asking in a way that didn’t sound utterly desperate because, God, did she want to see him again. It would be torture to only have one night with him. Plus one morning, depending on how the next few minutes played out.

‘I work first, but later yes, I’ll be somewhere along The Strip.’ His fingers continued up the inside of her thigh. ‘I’ll give you my number.’

Belle’s heart flipped and skipped as she pulled him down on top of her. ‘Then yes, I have time now.’

12

JUNE 2023, PRESENT DAY

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