“Yes.” I pitch my voice above the road noise.
Axel doesn’t say anything else, but slows the bike, turning down a driveway cut into the dense jungle lining the road. Gravel bounces against the wheels, the trees shadowy and green, like being underwater. The drive opens out into a clearing, which contains a house made up of several traditional-style pavilions, with dark thatched roofs and pale plaster walls. I catch the blue shimmer of a pool as Axel comes to a stop. Birds call, and there’s the faint sound of running water. It’s as tranquil a place as I’ve ever seen.
“I thought we were going to get food.”
“We are.” Axel grins, removing his helmet and running a hand through his hair. I try not to stare.
“Is this a restaurant?”
“Sort of.” He gets off the scooter, then helps me do the same.
“Sort of?”
“You’ll see. Come on.” He heads towards the house.
I follow, trying and failing to not check him out. I need to pull myself together.
Don’t I?
Axel
Jade pressed against me, her arms around my waist, is doing things to me. I need to stop and gather myself. She’s a guest, and I’ve literally known her for a handful of days. The fact that my dick seems to want to stand to attention whenever she’s near is something I need to deal with. Now.
So I pull off the road, taking her somewhere I know we’ll get a good lunch. But now that we’re here, I wonder what the hell I was thinking. This place is romantic as hell, for starters. But as Jade takes the chair opposite mine, her green eyes wide as she looks around, I can’t seem to remember why that’s a problem anymore.
Which, in itself, is even more of an issue.
I swore I’d never love again after I lost Susie. I don’t deserve to, not after what happened to us, and to her. But sitting here, with this beautiful woman, I can see the possibility. And that’s terrifying.
“G’day, Axel.” Dominic, our host, bustles over, filling both our glasses from a frosty bottle of filtered water. He’s wearing boardshorts, an apron, and leather slides, his silvery-blond hair pushed back from his tanned face. “Here for lunch?”
“Hey, Dom. Yes, lunch. This is my… this is Jade. Jade, this is Dominic. He owns the place.”
“It’s gorgeous,” she says, smiling up at him.
You’re gorgeous, I want to say. But those are dangerous waters. I try to think of anything except how good Jade looks, shadows dappling her skin, light catching in her hair.
“Thanks, love. Now, you want the special today?”
Jade glances at me.
“Yep. Sounds perfect,” I say. “Thanks, Dom.”
“Sure thing. Just give me a minute.” Dom heads back inside.
I don’t care what he brings us. I just want him to go and leave me alone with this beautiful woman, beneath the rustling trees.
“The special?” Jade’s eyebrow quirks. I can’t stop looking at her.
“Dom is a chef. Well, he was, before he bought this place and came to live here. I don’t know much of his story, apart from the fact he’s Australian and used to run his own kitchen. This isn’t officially a restaurant, but if you know him, and you know this place, you can drop in and he’ll make you a meal.”
“There’s no menu?”
“Not officially. But fresh seafood and traditional Indonesian dishes are his speciality. Do you have any allergies?”
Jade shakes her head. “I’ll eat anything.” Colour blooms on her high cheekbones as she holds my gaze a moment too long.
I shift in my seat, trying not to imagine that lush mouth wrapped around my cock. For fuck’s sake, Axel. She’s a guest. Stop being a letch. Even if she is hot.
