Page 124 of My Real Love Affair

MELODY

Icurled my toes and told myself to settle down. I was acting like a horny teenager. I blamed him. The dude knew how to get me worked up.

Every time I shifted, there was an accidental reminder between my thighs that still pulsed from earlier. My mind kept replaying Austin’s hands under my shirt thirty thousand feet in the air.

Across from me, which was no more than two feet away, his knee brushed my leg each time the jet took a little bump. Each accidental contact sent electric sparks skittering up my spine. He wasn’t even doing anything, just lounging there like he was totally relaxed. I felt like I was combusting.

My gaze darted toward the back of the plane. The doorway to that bedroom stood open, curtains fluttering in the recycled air. Inside was an actual queen mattress. A queen mattress. On a plane. The lizard part of my brain practically yelled that we had at least forty minutes of flight left and only three people in the entire cabin crew. We could sprint, lock the door, and nobody short of turbulence would interrupt. And honestly, a little turbulence might make things interesting.

I took a drink of water in an attempt to dampen the heat coursing through me. I remembered the flight attendant’s polite, knowing smile. She had served the champagne right after Austin slid his hand up my thigh and whispered patience. She knew. The entire front galley probably knew.

The ache low in my belly pulsed harder when Austin lifted an eyebrow, lazy and heated, like he could read every filthy rerun and wanted an encore. He knew exactly what he was doing.

I wassogoing to get him back for getting me all hot and bothered.

I turned away from him and stared out the window. “Austin, look at this!”

I had my face pressed against the window like a kid on Christmas morning, watching as Tahiti emerged from the clouds below us. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

Lush green mountains rose from the center of the island, their peaks shrouded in wispy clouds. The coastline was a perfect contrast. The white-sand beaches gave way to water that shifted through every shade of blue imaginable. Azure, turquoise, sapphire, colors I didn’t even have names for.

“It’s incredible,” I breathed.

Austin leaned over to look, his chin resting on my shoulder. “Wait until you see it up close. You’re going to want to get your toes in the sand.”

“I don’t think I can handle it up close. I’m already overwhelmed.”

He laughed, pressing a kiss to my temple. “You’re adorable when you’re overwhelmed.”

The plane descended. I watched the island grow larger, more detailed. I could see individual palm trees now, boats dotting the harbor, buildings clustered along the shore. I didn’t have time to research Tahiti before he whisked me away. I wasn’t really sure what to expect.

When we landed, I felt like I had walked into a postcard. Or a dream. Or both.

The moment I stepped off the plane, the heat and humidity hit me like a wall. But it was a good wall. It was all warm and tropical and smelling of flowers and ocean salt. I loved the beach. I didn’t get nearly enough time to enjoy it, but I loved it.

“Oh wow,” I said, already feeling my hair start to frizz. “It’s so humid.”

“Welcome to paradise.” Austin took my hand, leading me toward a waiting car. “You’ll get used to it.”

The drive to the docks was short but stunning. Every direction I looked, there was something beautiful. I wanted to tell the driver to slow down so I could see everything. The swaying palms, colorful buildings, glimpses of that impossible blue water.

We arrived at the marina, and with the help of an attendant, our suitcases were pushed on a cart down a dock. We followed behind. I couldn’t help but check out all the beautiful boats in varying sizes bobbing up and down.

“There she is,” Austin said.

“Who?” I asked.

He chuckled. “Not a who, a what. More specifically, our yacht.”

My gaze followed his. At the end of the dock was… a ship? I didn’t think you could call it a boat. A vessel? I stopped walking. “That’s the yacht?”

“Yep.” Austin was grinning at my reaction. “Come on.”

The yacht was namedSerendipity, written in elegant script on the side. It was massive. Gleaming white against the blue water. Multiple decks stacked like layers of a very expensive cake.

“Austin, this is ridiculous.”

“Just wait. The inside is even better.”