Charming: A Modern Day Sexy Cinderella Story (25 page)

With a wave, to everyone, Asher guides me out of the club with a hand on my back. We hail a taxi and tell him to take us back to the resort.

Asher is quiet on the way back, his arms wrapped around me. I’m feeling annoyed by the interaction between Asher and Hunter. It’s clear that Hunter hasn’t gotten over his doubts about me. “You okay?” I ask Asher.

“I’m perfect,” he says kissing my forehead and pulling me closer to him.

We remain in separate worlds of thought the rest of the way to the resort, but all worries or insecurities I’ve created get shed one at a time with each piece of clothing Asher strips from me when we get back to our room. As he pulls me into his arms, presses his body to mine, and places me on the bed, everything else is forgotten, my only thoughts once again lost in him.

My time with Asher is almost over. It’s the first thought that enters my mind as soon as my eyes open this morning. How has it gone so fast? I’m not ready. The time with him has been better and meant more than I ever thought possible. A week at work feels a hell of a lot longer than a week on vacation, that’s for damn sure. Whenever I think about leaving, about saying goodbye, I get an ache that leaves me pained in my chest and my stomach hurts so much I want to throw up. I feel ridiculous, so I do my best to push it aside and not think about it.

“A penny for your thoughts,” Asher says startling me.

Lifting my face to his, I’m surprised to find he’s not only awake, but that his sparkling blue eyes are focused intently on mine. Smiling automatically, my gaze falls to his exposed chest then I look back at his face again, before my eyes drop to his lips. “You’re awake?”

“I haven’t been for long. I’ve just been enjoying the view in my bed. Then your eyes opened and I watched more emotions fly across your face than I could count. More importantly though is that I can’t interpret them. So tell me what you’re thinking about.”

Hopping out of bed, not at all embarrassed by my nakedness I round the bed and head to the bathroom. “I’m thinking I need to brush my teeth so I can kiss you.”

Maybe it’s my imagination but I swear he looks disappointed. Not in my wanting to kiss him, but that I’m clearly avoiding the question. I almost ask him why he’s bothered, but my thought fades away when he smiles, “You know I don’t care about that. Get over here and let me give you a proper good morning.”

“I care,” I tell him. “I don’t want to gross you out.”

“Not possible,” he calls behind me. I quickly relieve my bladder and then brush my teeth only to be joined at the counter as he retrieves and brushes his own teeth. I can’t contain my smile behind my toothbrush.

Beating him back to the bed, I watch his body as he emerges from the bathroom and makes his way back to me. I could never get tired of looking at him. It’s a thought I have frequently, but it can’t be helped. “Enjoying the view?” he asks me with cockiness.

“Are you?” I retort saucily because his eyes are devouring me just as much as mine are him.

“Hell yes I am.”

“Me too.” I say as I watch him lay back down. “But I’m game for a hands on viewing if you are.”

Before he can respond I shift quickly to straddle him. Looking down into his smiling face, I move my hips suggestively making him growl, “I like this idea.”

Lifting up just enough to position myself, his hands squeeze my hips, causing me look at his face instead of our bodies. “Just a second.” He reaches in the table and grabs a condom with an expression of regret likely due to the interrupted activity, but it’s a necessary interruption and I feel silly for not thinking.

When his hands are back on my hips, I take him home watching his eyes roll back in his head. “Christ,” he murmurs and I revel in the fact I have the ability to make him feel as good as he makes me. Shivers run over my body as I watch him lose control. I relish it. His face is painted in ecstasy, and it makes me more desperate, wild and uninhibited in my desire to please us both. This feeling…it’s primal.

Rocking forward and backward, breaths coming faster and faster with our movements, my head drops back and moans communicate feelings. His name leaves my lips over and over, sometimes whispered sometimes in a yell, always with great feeling.

His hands find my breasts and stroke, pinch and knead. “Harder,” he instructs. Placing my hands on his chest, I obey. Our eyes meet and hold, the only sound the music our bodies make together. Every thrust, every stroke, something inside of me begins to unravel. When his fingers move between my legs, I’m soaring in seconds. He follows me immediately and I collapse onto his chest.

“Now that was one hell of a good morning.” His chest vibrates under my ear. A thought occurs to me and I begin laughing.

“What?” he asks amused.

“I was just thinking that here I was so adamant about brushing my teeth and I didn’t even kiss you.”

“I think you should rectify that immediately,” he demands.

So I do.

When he pulls away, he tucks me into his side, pushing my hair behind my ear. “I have special plans for us tonight.”

“You do?”

“I do,” he nods. “But what we do with our day is up to you.”

I contemplate the options but know exactly what I’d prefer. “I have heard that the Sky Pool at Sunset Beach is amazing. It looks out over the whole bluff and you can see the ocean for miles. How about we go up there?”

“I think that sounds perfect.”

And so, after we shower, together of course, we find ourselves taking a golf cart to the resort above ours. The cart drives up and up and up until we’re let out at a ramp where we have to walk even further. Once we get to the top, the jaunt we had to take to get here, we immediately affirm was well worth it. We can see the expanse of this resort and our own far down below, but what captivates us is the ocean, its craggy shoreline and white caps visible for what appears to be miles upon miles. A small number of sailboats and fishing boats bob up and down with the tide and present a beautiful picture. Far below we watch as the water crashes upon the shore. Further still large rocks jettison along the coast and the surf crashes against them making huge splashes of white water that’s so picturesque I snap several pictures with my phone. When I get home I plan to blow up several of the best shots and frame them – the perfect homemade souvenir.

When we bring ourselves to walk away from the railing, we grab towels from a worker manning the small adobe hut and walk to find chairs. While walking, I investigate the pool. It has two semi-circle shaped tiers: a large pool on the bottom and another glass-side enclosed one above. Upon closer observation, I note that the one on top is actually an infinity pool and water spills over the front into the one below. People stand against its edge, some conversing, some merely observing, others appearing contemplative. Many hold beverages served by the bar positioned to the side, which also entreats others to sit on its stools that erupt from the water. Steps take one between levels. Both levels are surrounded with lounge chairs, tables and sun umbrellas and are well-populated this morning. Conversation and laughter abound. It appears that everyone is enjoying their vacation.

Following Asher as he looks for seats, his ball cap pulled low over his eyes, I can’t help but laugh along with others as a guy and two girls laugh loudly and dare each other to fall over the infinity edge into the bigger pool below. They each flop gracelessly over the edge to cheers from onlookers. One woman we pass who may be in her late fifties covers her eyes with her hands and mutters, “Have kids they said. It will be great they said.” Covering my mouth with my hand I suppress a giggle. Asher looks back at me and the glee in his eyes indicates he heard her too.

Simultaneously we spot an observatory looking area above the upper pool. We hasten our pace and eagerly mount the steps to its platform where the breath-taking view seen from the railing is magnified. I turn in slow circles, eyes first opened then closed, with arms extended out from my side, as the slight breeze breathes into my pores, dazed with the sheer magnificence of our surroundings. Asher looks at me, adoringly, inevitably taking me within his arms and holding me until we have ingested our fill.

Securing chairs side by side Asher spreads out our towels, we do the sunblock thing and then get comfortable. It’s a beautiful day and as I feel the sun warm my skin I feel grateful for being in such a beautiful place and having met the man next to me. I know that this whole vacation will be one I never forget.

“Do you have a new project coming up soon?” I turn on my side and look at Asher, my gaze roaming over him like always. I can’t help myself.

“I do. I have a few meetings with the director and my agent when I get back to LA and then a week later I have to report to the set.”

“That’s exciting. What is the role? Is it another Jack Danger movie?”

“No, but I am filming another one of them at the end of this year. In this one I’m playing a detective that’s accused of committing the perfect murder.”

“Ooh, who do you murder?”

He smiles, “Who says I murdered anyone? Why are you so quick to assume my character did it?”

Rolling my eyes, I ask, “Fine, please allow me to rephrase.”

“Proceed.”

“Who died that you’re accused of murdering?”

“My girlfriend in the movie.”

“Oh yeah? And who plays your girlfriend?”

He names an actress that’s so drop dead gorgeous I’m embarrassed to admit it makes my stomach fall a little. Stupid reaction. “Wow,” I reply.

But, I can’t get anything past him, “Whoa, why did your face fall?”

“Did it?” I shrug, but my next comment and question totally gives me away, but I can’t seem to stop myself. “She’s beautiful. Have you ever dated her?”

His nose wrinkles at my question as if he tasted something bitter. “What? No. Not at all. Not interested. Besides,” he rubs his hands down his body and I follow their trail, “All this is for my wife.”

Laughing at the way he totally complimented himself in that sentence, I ask, “So, who have you dated in Hollywood?”

His face turns serious, “What makes you ask?”

Oh god, it must be really bad if he’s asking and not answering. “Well… I’m not blind, I mean I’ve seen some of the press about you.”

“You shouldn’t believe everything you read.”

“I’m not saying I do, but I can’t even log into social media accounts without being blasted with entertainment headlines and whatever is trending, and you’ve definitely trended more than once. Which I have to say is so weird to say to you.”

“Why?” he presses.

“Spending time with you has been so…”

“Yes?” His brows raise and he watches me expectantly.

“Normal.”

His head falls back and he laughs, “I am normal – in every way. You know that for yourself,” he says suggestively.

“Yes, it’s totally normal to have starring roles in movies, have women literally throw themselves or their clothes at you, propose marriage on social media – yes I saw that headline too – and to have more money than God.”

“Okay fine, so I’m not exactly normal in every way I guess, but I don’t get caught up in all that Hollyweird shit. I’m not interested. I love what I do, and I’m lucky to be doing it, but I’ve told you, it’s not what makes me who I am. I also have great friends and family that helps keep me grounded when I need them. But usually, I can do that on my own.”

“So the rumors?”

“Most of them have been just that. And if the rumor is with an actress I’m starring in a movie with it’s normal and pretty predictable that rumors about us dating start to circulate. A lot of times the production company doesn’t do anything to contradict them either. In fact, sometimes they initiate them. All press is good press they say.”

“Does that ever bother you?”

“It never has because the people that matter to me know what’s what. Besides, all you have to do is look at photos from any of the award shows I’ve gone to.”

“Why’s that?”

“I always bring my mom or sister.”

“Aww, that’s so sweet.”

I swear a blush comes to his face, “It’s not that I couldn’t get a date if I wanted,” he says cockily.

“Nope, too late. I already think you’re super sweet now. And a momma’s boy. You can’t change it and try to make you seem like a player. I know the truth.”