Page 24 of Degrees of Innocence
“An ice cold beer I think. What would you recommend?”
“Amstel Bright or the Balashi,” he says.
“I’ll take whatever you pour.”
He smiles, displaying a bright white set of teeth and a large grin. “One Balashi coming right up, Miss.”
“So, why is there such a big crowd tonight?”
“We’re having a barbecue for everyone staying at the Ridalgo. It’s pretty early, yet. I’m sure it will get even busier later.”
The beer is ice cold and tastes great. I decide to text Chase to see if he’s interested in joining me.
Message:Done with my run and at the tiki bar. Interested in a drink before I head up to shower? Barbecue on the beach for dinner?
Reply:I’m right behind you!
I can’t help but admire the tall, muscular frame approaching in shorts, sandals and a sports shirt, so unlike the executive by day. He asks the bartender for a Balashi. “Excellent choice, sir,” he says as he hands Chase the beer.
“What am I supposed to do with you?” he asks, once the bartender is out of earshot. “One minute you want me to act like I don’t know you and the next to take you to a barbecue where anyone from the resort may be. You do send some completely mixed messages, Katarina,” he says clearly amused.
“I saw a crowd, was thirsty, so I stopped to see what was going on. The bartender told me about the barbecue, so I texted you… I didn’t think about it being a public place.”
“We can have dinner on the beach or go to a restaurant that is a little more secluded, whichever you prefer,” he says, gauging my reaction. He leans closer to me and his eyes are alight with mischief. “So, where did you put your panties when you took them off?” he asks quietly.
“So you did like that?”
“You have no idea how much I liked that. I’ve been thinking about it all day. You are very uninhibited for someone who has encountered so little. It’s going to give me great pleasure watching how you react to different experiences and sensations,” he says quietly, so only I can hear.
“I’m a little intrigued about what you meant bypunishment,thisafternoon,” I whisper. His eyes are dark, and his arousal is evident as he looks at me.
“Bring your drink and let’s walk back and get ready for dinner.” He swipes the key card as we enter my room, and we’re barely past the door before his lips descend upon mine, pulling my body against his own. “You have been driving me crazy,” he says against my lips. “I’ve been watching your tight little ass walk around in that dress all day. I thought I might have to bring you upstairs when you texted me that you weren’t wearing any panties. Then if that’s not enough, I find you talking to that bartender wearing practically nothing,” he says.
I look up at him and smile enjoying the banter immensely. “Did that bother you?”
He pulls me closer, and his arousal is rock hard, pushing into my body with unbridled passion as he holds me close. “What do you think, Katarina?”
I’m flushed with excitement as he draws my arms into the air, pulling my sports bra up and over my chest, caressing my nipples, which harden immediately under his expert touch. He pulls my shorts and panties down to my ankles, kneeling to unlace my shoes before pulling them off one by one. He leads me into the bathroom and turns on the shower before discarding his clothing. I am mesmerized by the sight of his lean cut muscles and have a hard time looking away as he guides me into the shower.
He turns me to face the wall, so the warm water coming from the dual showerheads is pulsing over my body. “Put your hands on the wall and spread your legs for me,” he whispers in my ear. I put my hands against the cool walls of the shower and feel the soapy loofah begin to glide gently over my skin while his lips find the sensitive and freshly washed skin of my neck. His tongue softly pushes into my ear sending tingling sensations all the way to the delicate spot between my thighs. He slowly caresses and rolls my aroused nipples, continuing to rub the loofah over the sensitive skin below my belly and then between my thighs. The soapiness slips between my legs as he kisses the skin along my neck, causing me to push back in response.
“Katarina, stay still. Otherwise, I’ll have to restrain you,” he says into my ear.
What?Why does that make me so hot?
His finger glides against my sensitive clit, slowly, touching her, caressing. One finger enters me, then another. “Katarina, I want you to be wet and aching with anticipation this evening.” He pushes in a little deeper as I moan and then extracts his fingers, never stopping his assault on my neck, which has me writhing with excitement.
I am disappointed at the loss of his fingers and turn around to put my arms around his neck. He pulls me close. “Baby, I want your body to be right on the edge, aching with desire and anticipation of what’s to come tonight,” he says, capturing my lips with his own and pulling me tightly against him so I can feel how aroused he is, too.
“If you are not prepared to have our relationship announced by the media, then we should go somewhere besides the barbecue for dinner,” he says, repeating his question from earlier.
“I’ve never been to a beach barbecue, and it sounds like fun.”
“You’re certain, Katarina? We’ve been in public places together for the last couple of days and the rumors can spread quickly,” he says before rinsing his hair under the shower.
“I’m sure, Chase. I’m still trying to work through it, but I want us to go together.”
He captures my lips in a deep lingering kiss that takes my breath away. “A barbecue on the beach it is, Baby.”
