‘It’s great. Actually, it’s amazing. Exactly what I pictured and then some.’
He nods like he understands.
‘How about your room? Is it what you expected?’ I ask, wondering fleetingly whether we’re next door to each other.
‘Actually, I’m in one of the apartments. They’re separate from the main part of the hotel so really private.’
I push my sunglasses down my nose and look at him over the top of them, then roll my eyes in mock jest. ‘Of course you are. Only the best for you, right, Kit?’ I say with a grin.
‘What’s wrong with wanting the best?’ He sounds genuinely confused.
I shrug and quickly look away to watch the people who are swimming in the pool, before his penetrating gaze makes me wobble. ‘It’s fine for those who can afford it.’
‘Well, you’re staying at this hotel too, so I have to assume you’re not exactly on the breadline yourself.’
I bristle. I really don’t want to talk to him about my financial situation. ‘I do okay,’ I say, looking back at him. ‘But I don’t normally stay in five-star hotels. I’ve been saving for this one for ages because it’s been on my bucket list to come here ever since I saw it on a TV show I love.’
‘You mean that sexy one with all the couples having affairs with each other?’ he asks, folding his arms and making the muscles bunch in his shoulders. I have to make a real effort to keep my gaze on his face.
‘It had a bit more depth to the story than that,’ I say, smiling. ‘But yeah, I think we’re talking about the same one. Did you like it?’
‘Never saw it.’
‘Really? I thought it’d be exactly your sort of thing,’ I say, sitting up straighter in my lounger. I reach over to the table for my drink and take another big gulp of it.
‘Oh yeah? Why’s that?’
‘Because of the inventive sex,’ I say, feeling my skin buzz with a long-ignored yearning.
Our eyes lock and we stare at each other for a beat. I could swear the same thoughts about how inventive our sex had been are now also going through his mind.
‘Jeez, I think this cocktail’s gone straight to my head,’ I say, aware of heat rushing up from my throat to my face again.
‘Yeah. Drinking in the sun does that to me too. I lose all my inhibitions.’ He flashes me a wolfish grin and I know for sure now that he was having the same thoughts as me.
There’s another loaded pause where we just look at each other again. I swear his pupils have dilated and his eyes are now nearly entirely black.
A hot pulse of need beats between my thighs.
Oh, my God. I really need to move this conversation away from sex.
Maybe we should get back to the subject of money, that’ll kill the mood. Clearly he has lots of it and he’s bound to want to show off a little, in his arrogant, but charming, way.
Something suddenly occurs to me.
‘Hang on a second. Don’t the apartments have their own private swimming pools? I’m sure I saw that on the website,’ I say.
There’s a moment where he blinks at me and I get the impression he’s trying to think of a good excuse for why he’s not there right now. ‘Yeah, I have a pool, but I thought I’d check out this one first. So I can give Elliot my feedback on the whole experience of being here.’
I frown, confused. ‘Um… Sorry, I’m lost. Elliot? Your friend Elliot from uni?’
‘The very same.’
‘Why does he need feedback? Is he thinking about booking here for his own honeymoon?’ I shift on my lounger so I can look at him more comfortably without cricking my neck. ‘You might want to warn him there’s a good chance this place is cursed for honeymooners, since the both of us have turned up here without a spouse.’
‘It’s his hotel,’ he says, like I’m being a bit obtuse. ‘Didn’t you know?’
I sit up straighter. ‘No. Since when?’
