She doesn’t say go. In the next breath, she’s sprinting down the beach. I chase her. After a while it does feel like I’m chasing a ghost. Resigned to the fact that I will never catch her, I slow down, but then she trips, clawing the sand to regain her footing. It’s too late. I’ve caught her.
Grabbing her waist, I lift her to her feet. She’s breathless and covered in wet sand.
“Theo…” The second she whispers my name the wind carries it away. I wish it would carry her away before we destroy each other.
I shake my head, grabbing her dress and peeling it over her head. Her body shivers, arms wrapped around her bared breasts as I simply stare at her. Why did she trip?
I shrug off my shirt. Her eyes drop to my chest.
“I told you, if I caught you…” I slide off my shorts “…it would beverybad.”
She sucks in a shaky breath as I pick her up. Her eyes never leave mine when I ease the crotch of her panties to the side and lower her onto me. Her breath releases in small pants as I completely fill her, walking us into the water.
Her lips part, eyes heavy. “It’s…” she blinks slowly as I move inside of her “…j-just a… lie.”
Dipping down, I ghost my lips over hers, so fucking hungry for her. I feel like my entire being is ripping apart at the seams. “Is it?” I whisper a second before our mouths collide.
*
Scarlet
This feeling makesit impossible to open my eyes. I’d almost forgotten how it felt to wake next to a warm body pressed to my back, strong arms wrapped around me. I think I’ll leave my eyes closed and keep stealing more of these moments—more breaths.
“You have absolutely no gag reflex.”
My body shakes with laughter, turning in his arms. I press my lips to his chest, keeping my eyes closed. Our legs scissor together like we’re both desperate to stay as close as possible. It’s not a hard feat on this sofa bed. If we don’t stay hugged to each other, one of us will be on the floor.
“Rude. That’s just rude.” My lips curl into a huge smile against the smattering of light hair on his chest.
“It’s not rude. It’s a compliment. Ahugecompliment.”
“A ‘huge’ compliment? Really? Now I get the feeling you’re complimenting yourself, not me. Besides, sex stays in the moment. You don’t talk about it when it’s over.”
“I agree.”
I tip my head up to nuzzle into his neck, feeling content that he’s dropped that topic.
“But, I’m serious. You havenogag reflex.”
“Oh my god!” I shove his chest and wriggle out of his hold, stealing the white sheet and wrapping it around me as I walk into the kitchen to get a bottle of water. “The Argentine Lake duck has the largest penis of any bird—which I supposeisn’t saying much because only three percent of birds in the world have penises.” I open cupboard after cupboard looking for something to eat. I’m starving. “Anyway, when erect, it’s as long as its total body length.” I settle for an apple then lean against the threshold to the living room, taking a big bite. “Now,that’sbragging rights,” I mumble over a mouthful of juicy, green apple.
Theo sits up, resting back on his elbows, my pillow covering his junk. “Is that my apple?”
I stop chewing, images of him digging out a bite of apple from my mouth cross my mind. “Maybe.” I release the sheet, letting it fall to the ground. “Is that a problem, Mr. Reed?”
Theo’s gaze stretches the length of my naked body. “Not today.”
“It’s almost six. I’m going for a walk before breakfast with Yimin. Go swim with the sharks.” I give him a flirty wink before sashaying my naked arse to the bathroom.
By the time I come back out, he’s already gone. I frown at my spider plant on the floor. One of its stems with a baby plantlet has been stepped on and broken. It really needs to get hung from the ceiling, so I look for a hook. Theo has a small toolbox by the stairs, but I don’t find a hook. I know he took a lot of stuff upstairs, so I check up there. My eyes affix to the tool belt on the floor in his room. Maybe he has more tools in there.
I tiptoe toward it, making sure I don’t step on any of the tiles he has strategically placed in their spot. No luck. It’s just a tool belt and several boxes of tile. I slowly make my way to the en suite bathroom. My curiosity is getting the best of me right now. He has everything moved out for the renovation, so I don’t know what I expect to find. There’s a sink, nothing on the worktop, a toilet with the lid up, and a bath-shower combination. I’m a little surprised the shower curtain is still up.
With a quick tug like I’m doing a big reveal, I slide the shower curtain to the side. Inside the bath is a black footlocker trunk with a heavy padlock on the front.
Close the curtain and walk away, Scarlet. My brain knows the right thing to do.
Not my room.
