Cocking his head to the side, he gave me a tight smile. “I’m sensing there’s more.”
There was always more. Taking in a much-needed breath, I decided to open up to this gorgeous stranger. “I’ve never belonged. With my dad’s side of the family, I’m too light-skinned to be a proud black woman. Do you know what it’s like to have your family treat you like an outcast?”
I hadn’t spoken to my dad or his side of my family since I graduated high school. When they didn’t bother to show up to my graduation but had gone to every single one of my cousins and half-siblings, I was done letting them make me feel like shit about the way I looked. Something I had no control over.
“Not that way, no.” His hand found mine underneath the water and linked our fingers together. His dark brown eyes looked me over.
“I know I don’t look like I’m half black. Not unless I spend a decent amount of time in the sun. Most would probably think I’m Italian or something,” I laughed humorlessly. “I’m the product of a one-night stand that never should have happened.”
Moving closer, Remy took the hand he’d linked his finger with and placed it on his shoulder. “I, for one, am glad it happened. There’s no one I’d rather be here with.”
“Do you say that to all your guests?” I moved closer until our lips were only an inch apart. I could feel his minty breath skate across my face. His hands moved to my hips and held firm.
Remy shook his head as one hand skated up my ribs until his thumb rested underneath one breast. My breath caught at the move. I craved the soft touch more than I knew. It had been too long since someone had touched me like this.
“Believe it or not, I don’t interact with guests all that much. Especially not to this level. You’re the exception, Stella.” Dipping his head down, the long hair on top fell into his eyes. “I want to kiss you.”
“What’s stopping you?” I asked breathlessly, moving a fraction of an inch closer.
The hand on my hip moved to cup the side of my face. “The fact that anyone could come around the corner at any second and catch us. I don’t want to lose my job.”
I didn’t want that either.
“Maybe we should go back to the boat and wait for the others,” I suggested.
“Owen’s on the boat. We won’t be alone.”
“Exactly. It will keep us from doing anything that will get you fired.” I tilted my head back to look into his dark eyes.
“I like being alone with you,” he said on a soft exhale. “And I’m not sure I can hold back much longer.”
“Then don’t. Kiss me, Remy. Show me how much you want me with only your lips,” I dared him.
With a brief quirk of his mouth, Remy captured my lips with his. At first, it was soft and slow as we got to know the other’s touch. Our bodies fused together as he moved us to where he could stand underneath a little bluff with an overhang to shield us from prying eyes.
Strong arms held me to his muscular body as his mouth demanded more from me. Remy’s tongue slipped inside, tasting me, and I did the same to him. He tasted of mint and honey, a strangely alluring combination. I groaned into his mouth that seemed to spur him on. Wrapping my ponytail in his fist, Remy moved my head to the side to give him better access.
The way he took control sent a shock wave through my system. I loved it and the slight bite of pain that accompanied the tight hold he had on my hair.
My legs wrapped around his waist, and I started to grind my slick heat against the bulge in his swim trunks. One hand found purchase in the long, dark strands of his hair while the other ran along the muscles of his back.
Remy broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against mine. “Fuck, Stella, you make me forget where I am.”
“Don’t stop,” I whined, even though I knew we couldn’t go any further.
“We have to. At any moment, we could be spotted. Tonight, I’ll find a way to be alone with you and finish this, but we have to stop now.”
My lower lip stuck out in a pout. I knew he was right, but that didn’t mean I liked it.
“Fine, but you better figure out a way for that big dick of yours to give me one epic release.” My lips brushed his before I disengaged my legs from around him and was standing on my own two very wobbly feet.
A sexy smirk spread across his face before he said, “Challenge accepted.”
“I think we should ask all the crew guys to eat dinner with us. What do you think?” Scarlett, our normally quiet friend, spoke up.
“Yes, then there will be a guy for each of us,” Reagan looked to me as she spoke. I only ground my molars together. I’d decided I wasn’t going to speak to her unless it was absolutely necessary. It may have been childish, but it was better than me saying something I might regret later.
“Who’s getting the Captain then?” Zelda cackled.
Captain Dan wasn’t bad, but he was quite a few years older than the rest of the guys. He looked like Richard Gere when he was in Pretty Woman. Swoon. It took everything in me not to say she should take him, but I kept quiet since I still wanted my free vacation.
“I’ll take him,” Pen piped up from beside me. I had no idea what expression was on my face when I turned to look at her besides shock, but one look at me, and they all started to laugh, with me right along with them. “What? We all know you’ve claimed Remy and he, you, so I’ll take the Captain. Maybe he can teach me a thing or two.”
I knew without a shadow of a doubt, Pen had zero interest in Captain Dan. In fact, she didn’t seem to be interested in any men lately, making me wonder what was going on with her.
Had Pen taken a vow of celibacy, or did she have a guy on the side I didn’t know about?
‘What?’ she mouthed.
“When we get back home, we’re going to have a little chat,” I said, only loud enough for her to hear me.
Crossing her arms, Pen tilted her head in my direction. “About what?”
“Oh, I think you have some idea, but we’ll discuss it then.” I didn’t want to get the whole group involved, especially if Pen was hiding something from me.
“Fine,” she shot back. Turning to look at the rest of our group, Pen asked. “Now, who’s going to demand their presence?”
“I will.” Zelda pushed her chair back and stood quickly. She was too excited by this idea. She was gone before anyone could talk her out of it.
I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to sit across from Remy at dinner after the heavy make-out session we’d had earlier while snorkeling.
A few minutes later, Zelda came back with a cat that ate the canary smile on her overly Botoxed face. “All set,” she chirped.
“Yes,” Reagan cheered. She was too much. Did she really think she was going to get lucky with one of the guys?
Reagan’s gaze caught mine. “If you frown anymore, you’re going to get wrinkles.”
“Then I’ll wear them with pride,” I shot back. I wasn’t going to be like her and Zelda and get some new procedure or ten done to my body every year. No how, no way. I was going to let my body grow old gracefully and not look like a freak show. Did they really think no one knew they were getting facelifts? They were starting to look like something out of a horror movie.