The music slows, a breathy cover of Rihanna’s “Diamonds.” I get to my feet, still holding Jade’s hand. “Dance with me?”
She stands, graceful as flowing water, beautiful as the sky. “All right.”
ChapterTwenty-One
Jade
Ican’t believe I was so stupid. This is what I get for being so distracted by Axel’s kiss all day. Selling surfboards? A Kickstarter? Is that the best I can come up with? Especially when I know how unspoiled this place is. Sembuh, and Axel, need to remain a secret. Me blaring it all over social media is the exact opposite of that.
But there’s also something he’s not telling me. I can see it in his face, when he talks about the developer. A ripple of pain, the kind that hits deep. But he shuts me down when I ask, and who am I to argue, especially with his tongue lapping my knuckles like a promise of what’s to come. I’ll ask him again. Later.
I let him lead me to the small dance floor. There are a few other couples there already, swaying to the music. His hand comes to my waist then slides along the small of my back, pressing my hips tight against his. I can’t control my involuntary intake of breath.
“What? This is how all the ballroom dancers do it, isn’t it?”
“Is it? I didn’t realise you counted ballroom dancing as one of your talents.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised.” He twirls us around suddenly, then dips me backwards.
I laugh out loud, giggling as he pulls me close again. I twine my arms around his neck, in case he gets any more ideas about twirling me. “A surfboard shaperanda ballroom dancer. I am surprised.”
He grins. “I’m not a ballroom dancer. Just watched too many episodes of Dancing with the Stars and always wanted to dip a pretty girl on the dance floor.”
“Well, I’m glad I could make your fantasy come true.” I’m breathless, his bonfire scent all around me, the heat of his body radiating where it touches mine.
“The first of several, I hope.” His voice is deeper, rougher, his hands sliding on my dress.
Holy shit. He’s getting hard, and my body responds immediately, my nipples taut, heat between my thighs. We sway together, and his head drops, his lips brushing my shoulder. I turn my face into his neck, running my tongue along his skin. He tastes amazing. I nibble his neck, suck on his earlobe, pressing myself against him.
“Jade.” He kisses my throat, his voice a rumble against me.
“Axel?”
“Shall we get the hell out of here?”
A few minutes later we’re walking back down the road towards the cabins. Just a short walk, but I’m kind of wondering if we’ll ever get there. We’re tangled together, still kissing, unable to stop touching each other. Axel’s hands are on my ass, squeezing me through the thin fabric of my dress. And mine is on his package, palming his hard length, my other hand under his shirt.
“Enough.” Axel pulls back from me, panting. Then, before I can stop him, he scoops me up in his arms and starts jogging down the road.
“What the hell?” I’m half-laughing, fully turned on.
“You have an injured leg. Can’t let you walk back like that. Plus, I’m kind of keen to get you back to my place.”
“Uh-huh. Is this part of the wooing you keep going on about?”
“Don’t believe I’ve been going on about it, actually. But yeah, it is. You okay with that?” He’s slightly breathless, and I can feel his heart pounding.
“I’m okay with it. I feel officially wooed. One hundred per cent team Axel.”
We’re under the palm trees, fairy lights twinkling around us, lighting our way to his place. He puts me down, and I expect him to open the door. But instead he bends his head and brushes his lips against mine. While at the same time sliding his hand inside my neckline and cupping my breast.
“Fuck. I’ve wanted to do this all night.”
I try to speak, but as his thumb smooths across my nipple, I just make a sort of sighing, moaning noise. He kisses me again, properly, his tongue teasing me. His arms come around me and we’re moving, still lip-locked. There’s the click of a door closing.
I pull back, opening my eyes. I get an impression of a large airy room, silver moonlight coming through long windows, open to the sea.
And then we are on each other like wildcats.
