He knows.
He hooks his thumb in the waist of his shorts and pulls the material away from his body. He purses his lips like he’s examining new territory.
“I wouldn’t call it ‘pink’—flesh tone…beige maybe—peach at best.” He shrugs like we’re having the most general conversation. “I’m about to go for a swim. I’ll let you ladies get back to your riveting conversation.” He shucks his flip flops and yanks his shirt off over his head. I bite my lip, and the girls gasp.
Damn, that never gets old.
His phone buzzes before he can wander off. He looks at the display and smiles. “What’s up, Allie Cat? How’s the home front?”
Latoya’s “Allie Cat?” came out in unison with Keri’s, “Home front?”
Axel smiles and winks at us. “Hold on,” he says into the phone. “Allie is my very trusty personal assistant,” he explains to my guardians before turning back to the phone. “That’s right. I’ve been doing some heavy thinking since I’ve been here… No. I haven’t surfed as much…” His eyes float over to me. “I’ve been distracted. Yeah, I will surf a lot more next week. As I was saying, I’ve made some decisions here. I ran some things past Mr. Pafuti. Set up a team meeting for the day of my return to work. Yeah, the fourth. Will anyone be out on vacation? Good. Yup, mandatory. Yeah, I’ll hold.”
He crooks his finger at me, and I go to him as if attached by an invisible string. Axel plucks the drink out of my hand the moment I move within reach. I should have known—he’s a food bully, a nourishment blocker…a drink ninja. I could protest, but I don’t.
He’s shirtless, remember?
My eyes and mind are too busy cataloging everything I missed last night.
“Mmm…pineapple. Why do your drinks always taste so good?”
Fuck. I want to punch myself.
“Could it be you like tasting my stuff?”
Yes, I know how that sounded. It was out before I thought it through.
“There areotherthings I’d like to taste, but this venue isn’t appropriate.”
I hear my eavesdroppers gasp.
Hot damn.
If I had any doubt before, it’s gone. It’s so fucking back on between us. Axel silently confirms my theory when the cold glass of my drink presses against my nipple. I stand there mesmerized as the glass floats in a tight circle; my nipple puckers so hard it almost hurts. The condensation wets the red, neoprene triangle; it’s not the only thing that’s wet. I exhale slowly; the air exits my lungs in a soft, slow breeze. I cannot move unless I want to embarrass myself. Axel takes another sip from my glass while he admires his handiwork. The tip of his pink, wet tongue darts out, licking the corner of his mouth.
Axel mouths, “Hold that thought.”
His expression turns immediately back to business.
“Yeah? Okay. Great 10 AM is good. Right. I’ll check my emails after my swim. Thanks, Allie. Take the rest of the weekend off. There isn’t anything that can’t wait for Monday. I mean it. Do a girls’ night or go on a date. K. Bye.”
Axel passes me the drink and his phone. “Want to get in the water with me, Heaven?”
I shake my head. “I’m good.”
He stares at the water for a moment. “What time do you leave tomorrow?”
“Our flight leaves at three,” I inform him although I’m sad to admit my vacation is over. I’m also aware that the thought of never seeing Axel again is a sad one. A very, very sad one.
“I’ll meet the three of you in the lobby in a couple of hours. 7:30?” he suggests. “Is that a good time for you all to be ready to go out?” He continues after we agree, “Good. We can eat here. There’s a bar within walking distance. They have good drinks, dancing, and karaoke.”
“You do karaoke?” Keri asks skeptically.
Axel grins, causing the sun to bounce off his golden beard. “Sometimes.” He eyes me hungrily for a beat of two. “Watch my phone. Take it with you, if you go in before I finish my laps.”
He’s gone in a flurry of wild hair and broken wet dreams.
* * *
