“Same.”Ezra agreed, helping me up from the chair.“There’s something about being out of cell phone range of all your problems.It’s like the sea is giving us permission to just let it all go.”
“That’s how I feel.”I slid my arms around him.“We should make this a yearly occurrence.Get away to somewhere we’re not tied to our lives.”
“I vote yes,” he said.
“Me too,” Gilly called over from her balcony.“Only, next time, maybe we do an all-inclusive resort instead of a giant rocking cradle.”
“We can look into that, too.”I looked over at her and smiled.“Ezra and I are going to go up to the lido deck and stretch our legs.Are you sure you don’t want to come?”
“Scott can go if he wants,” she said guiltily.“I hate that he’s been stuck in the room with me.”
“I’m not leaving you,” he affirmed from behind her.“We have the rest of the week to explore.”
“It’s settled then.”Gilly waved us off.“Have fun.I’m going to make it an early night, so I’ll see you in the morning.”
We said our goodnights, then made our way to the elevator and up to explore the upper decks.
Stretchingour legs had involved walking the perimeter of the pool deck for an hour, sipping piña coladas from one of the bars for another hour, and then hitting the casino, where I lost twenty dollars on a quarter slot, and Ezra won it back on a nickel machine.By that time, it was after ten o’clock.
“You showed those slots who’s the boss.My hero.”I linked my arm with his.“That was fun.I haven’t been in a casino since nineteen ninety-four when my work sent me to Vegas for a beauty convention.”
“Hmmm,” Ezra mused.“In nineteen ninety-four, I was?—”
I gave him a kiss to shut him up.“I have no interest in knowing what kind of diaper you wore as a toddler.”
He chuckled.“I wasn’t a toddler.”
“Close enough.”I gave him a nudge with my elbow.I was getting tired, but I wasn’t quite ready to put a lid on the evening.“Let’s go up to the spa deck.I bet it’s deserted at this time of night.”I laughed as a notion popped into my head.“Maybe we can find a nook and cranny where you can explore my nooks and crannies.”
He picked up the pace at the suggestion, making me laugh even more.God, I loved that man.
The Resplendent Retreat was an amenity for people in the concierge-class rooms and above, so we had to use our card key to get past the gate.Two women exited the hot tub when we got to the spa area.They wrapped towels around themselves, then holding hands, they walked past us toward the gate.
The area was quiet and peaceful.The soft glow of lantern-style lights lined the walkways, and the sound of trickling water came from the hydrotherapy pool.The briny sea air mixed with herbal scents of eucalyptus and lavender.
It felt like a hidden sanctuary, a world away from the bustling pool deck below.
The steam coming off the hot tub curled into the air and disappeared into the night sky.After a long day, a hot soak sounded divine.
“Now I wish we’d have brought our swimming trunks.”
“We could always skinny dip.”
“Hah!”I shook my head.“You’re hilarious.God knows how many cameras they have up on this deck.My clothes are staying on.”
“It’ll be harder to explore your nooks and crannies that way, but I’m up for the challenge.”He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into an embrace.The heat from the hot tub was no match for the sizzle of his lips on mine.
There was a narrow passage on the other side of the towel rack that was dark and hidden.Perfect for a bit of privacy.I dragged Ezra into the shadow, gasping as he sandwiched me between his body and the wall, one arm around my back while his free hand slid under my shirt and up my waist.The warmth of his mouth on my neck raised goosebumps on my flesh.
“Yes,” I rasped, as he explored even more.
The sound of a chair or something metal scraping across the deck brought our tête-à-tête to a screeching halt.My eyes widened at Ezra.It was dark, but my vision had adjusted enough that I could see him put his finger to his lips, then point down south.His cargo pants were doing a poor job of hiding his arousal.
Stepping out of the shadows now wasn’t an option.We’d have to wait it out.
I nodded, trying not to giggle at the absurdity.There was a splash, then another splash.
I raised my brows at Ezra.He shrugged, then sidestepped to the end of the passage and peeked out.He looked at me and shook his head.“I can’t see anyone,” he whispered.
