I glance down. ‘Where did this come from?’ I am wearing what looks like a coconut-shell bra.
He stops to take off the massive shirt he’s wearing, looking at it in confusion as he checks his back pocket and pulls his T-shirt from it. He gives me a quizzical look.
I have no idea where the shirt came from either. ‘It would make a great blanket,’ I suggest. He wafts it out and lays it carefully on the sand. We sit down and snuggle together. ‘This has been the best night of my entire life.’ I stare happily up at the night sky.
‘Mine too. But thank God those drugs are wearing off.’
I turn to him. ‘What drugs?’
A chuckle bursts from his lips. ‘Please don’t start me off again.’ When our eyes meet, he lifts onto his elbow and reaches out to gently cup my cheek. I close my eyes and tilt my lips towards him. His warm mouth meets mine, his lips sliding softly against my own. It’s very tender and incredibly romantic.
We lie entwined and kissing for what seems like all of eternity. A mellow sensation has enveloped me; my limbs are light as air. Jackson feels warm and secure and dreamy. If he wasn’t holding on to me, I’d drift up into the stars and the fading light of the moon.
The cool night air begins to heat up as a flicker of sunlight emerges on the horizon. The water, a few yards away, is as still as glass, reflecting the orange glow. Silhouettes of palm trees and distant islands begin to appear as the darkness recedes.
‘It’s incredible,’ I whisper.
We jump up and walk hand in hand down to the water’s edge. ‘It’s warm,’ I say, running my fingers through the water. It creates tiny ripples. ‘And so still.’
‘Want to swim in it?’ Jackson is tugging at his belt. ‘I doubt I’ll ever get another chance to do this.’
He’s right. He’ll be flying back to Australia soon, and he thinks I’m flying back to Newcastle after my ‘holiday’. ‘I guess that means the elopement is off then?’
‘Hah. Oh yeah.’ He gives me a shy look. ‘I kinda said some mad things tonight, didn’t I?’
‘So, is this like… a crazy one-night stand sort of thing?’ I ask casually as I tantalisingly unbutton my shirt. ‘Or the start of a wild holiday fling?’
‘Sadly, my job’s very full-on. I’ll be working every minute until I go back home. This is technically my only night of freedom.’
‘Oh, yes. You have all those terrible people to discipline who are running the company into the ground.’ This makes me even more determined to enjoy this romantic night while it lasts. I decide to strip off what few clothes I have left, flinging them seductively over to the shirt-blanket with the deftness and determination of a Burlesque trouper. I cheekily twirl my coconut bra around like a lasso and let go, sending it flying over to join the pile. I look down. I’m in my bra, knickers and stockings. Jackson is sliding off his shorts to reveal very tight-fitting Calvin Klein boxers. Even in the early sunrise I can see he is packing a punch down there and it sends my pulse racing. He is very toned but not overly muscular. My eyes roam across his chest and the light sprinkling of hair above his perfectly defined abdomen and the tantalising line of fine hair trailing down towards his boxers. I flick my gaze around the wide expanse of beach. It is deserted. Nothing is stirring, not even the birds. The whole world is sleeping except for us. ‘I might need some help.’ I throw Jackson a coy glance from under my lashes as I twang my suspender.
Jackson sinks to his knees in the soft sand. The feel of his warm hands on my skin is blowing my tiny but powerful mind. He pulls me to him, leaving a trail of white-hot kisses from my belly button down to the top of my knickers. My head is swimming as I grip his shoulder for balance. He unties the suspender belt and gently rolls down each stocking. He tosses them over with the rest of our clothes but not before his appreciative gaze travels the length of me.
He takes my hand, ready to go in. ‘Wait,’ I say. For some inexplicable reason I want his last memory of me to be unforgettable. He gives me a questioning look as I reach behind me and fiddle with my bra. The bra straps instantly fall from my shoulders as it comes loose.
‘Oh,’ he says, visibly swallowing as I fling it back onto the sand. His eyes are out on stalks as I slide my hands down my hips. I maintain eye contact with him as I hook my fingers into my knickers and slowly pull them down. It’s the most outrageous I’ve ever, ever been and Iloveit! God, I feel amazing. Empowered. Wanton. Giddy.
Jackson rolls his boxer shorts down and steps out of them faster than a blink. He catches them on his toe and flicks them towards my underwear. My eyes flit downwards. Wow. Not that I’m all that experienced, and it would be uncouth to compare… but in terms of manhood, I’d say he was packing at least two and a half Dillons’ worth. A slow smile spreads across his face as our eyes meet. We stand naked in front of each other for a delicious moment, him taking me all in, me lingering on his impressive appendage, before he pulls me to him. Our hot bodies melt together in the most natural and fulfilling way. The sensation of skin on skin is primevally wholesome. It feels right. It feels good. His hot kisses leave me in a high state of delirium. When we come up for air he tucks my hair behind my ear. ‘Ready?’ He takes my hand, and we walk into the world’s biggest bath. I immediately giggle at the audacity of myself.
‘This is insane.’
‘I know, right?’ He beams at me before diving underneath the water. As the pale sunlight grows stronger, the sea turns a magnificent turquoise and the islands out to sea begin to change from a black silhouette to vibrant green. We splash around for a while, luxuriating in this feeling of freedom. The warm water is so clear I can see right to the bottom. Who knew naked swimming could be so… exhilarating? It is making me feel even more daring. I wind my arms around his neck and straddle him as he stands up to his chest in the water. As soon as I press against him, I feel his erection immediately prod my stomach. His eyes widen as though he has no control over it. As I slide my hands over his smooth damp skin and through his wet hair, droplets of water catch the light as they drip down the sides of his face. I hold tightly onto him and bring his lips to mine and as our kiss deepens, I undulate against him. And when a low groan escapes from his mouth, I reach down with one hand and gently begin rubbing him.
He pulls me closer as I tug on him. He’s exploring my mouth with his tongue, one hand tangled in my hair, the other holding me firmly. His breathing becomes ragged as he unravels. ‘Yes. Oh, yes,’ he moans in ecstasy as I increase the pressure. Our eyes collide in a heated frenzy, his body jerking as I send him over the edge into orgasm. He grips me tightly, panting for air against my neck. It leaves a delicious tingle as his stubble grazes against my skin.
After a beat, he loosens his hold. ‘Fuck me. That was utterly incredible.’ His eyes are twinkling. His words are like music to my ears. My heart is literally dancing. The nicest thing Dillon ever said about my performance was that I made a cracking bacon sandwich afterwards. I gasp as Jackson slides his hand between my legs. ‘Your turn.’
What seems like seconds later, he has stroked me into a gravity-defying seventh heaven. His lips have found my nipples as I arch into him, my hair dipping into the water behind me, the ocean taking my weight. He has one hand cupping my buttocks while his other works its tantalising magic, creating wave after wave of sparkles to burst through my veins. I let out a soft cry of pleasure, gripping his shoulders tightly as the orgasm shudders to a stop. Never in my life have I experienced anything like it.
We pause to look longingly at one another before we are distracted by a movement. ‘Looks like we might have company soon,’ Jackson says sadly, pointing to a figure walking a dog in the far distance. Another giggle escapes my lips as he kisses me. Giddy doesn’t even begin to cover it.
All too soon, the sky is turning into a vibrant azure blue pierced with hot, bright rays of sunshine and we are dressed (if you can call it that) and heading back into the small town towards Club Cherry Lips. Miraculously there are a few dusty-looking taxis outside with their bleary-eyed drivers leaning out of the windows chatting to one another and smoking cigarettes.
It takes half an hour to drive back to the Hello Tropicana Banana Sunshine Aparthotel. We hold hands all the way there, gazing into each other’s eyes. I reach into my bag (Lord knows how I managed to hold on to it all night. I’m sure it went missing for at least a third of it) and lean over to pay the driver, but Jackson is quicker off the mark. We stroll into the deserted reception. A big clock on the wall tells us that it is almost eight in the morning.
‘So, I guess this is goodbye?’ My voice is barely a whisper.
He regards me with a sleepy, come-to-bed-eyed look, his eyelids drooping ever so slightly as he nods gloomily, his voice thick with melancholy. ‘Maybe in another life, hey?’ His fingertips are reluctant to let mine go.
