Kissing Eden (13 page)

Grey exhaled. “No, but I wouldn’t change it. He needed me. I can finish school anytime.”

I edged closer to the table. “But will you? Are you going to finish it?”

“Don’t you have lots of questions, college girl? What about you? What are you going to do with all of those number skills? What happens after you graduate?”

If he had asked me a week ago, my answer would have been the standard cookie cutter one I gave everybody about applying for jobs in business and waiting a year or two before entering the MBA program. Tonight, staring into Grey’s eyes under the string of blue lights made, all the realities of life back home fade into the farthest parts of my mind.

“I—uh—I haven’t sorted it out yet.” I dodged his doubtful stare.

“I guess that makes two of us.” He finished his sangria.

The mariachi music from the restaurant filtered onto the patio. It was soft and slow. Grey stood from the table and walked toward me with his hand extended.

“Dance with me?”

“But you don’t dance.”

“Your dress has convinced me to make an exception.” He winked, pulling me from my seat and spinning me into his arms.

I gasped as my body collided with his
, and he pressed his hand into the small of my back. He had been holding out on me—he could dance. I searched his face for an explanation, but he laughed and spun me again before aligning his frame against mine.

We swayed to the distant music. With every second that passed, our dance form diminished until we were so tightly wrapped around each other that I could feel Grey’s heart beating against my cheek.

“Grey?”

“
Mmm-hmm?” He held on a little tighter.

“Can we stay here like this and forget everything else on the other side of the border?” I wasn’t being completely silly. Maybe I could live in a border town.

“For now we can, darlin’. For now.”

I closed my eyes and bit back the words that were on my tongue.
I wanted tomorrow to be the farthest place from us. As long as Grey held me, maybe the rest of the world would stop turning.

***

The ride home to the Palm Palace wasn’t long enough. I knew on the other side of this night I would have to share Grey with actual guests, I would be getting the luau orchestrated, and then the worst possible thing, I had to fly back to North Carolina on Sunday. Neither one of us had brought it up, but I knew we would have to talk about it at some point. Although, what did I know about heated spring break flings? Maybe I was supposed to get on the plane and never look back.

“You ok over there? You’re awfully quiet and I’m usually the quiet one
,” Grey prodded.

I squeezed his hand. “Yeah. I’m good.” I had to find the will to push all the worries away and live in this moment.

He ran his hand along the outer line of my thigh. “Good, because I have plans for you and that dress when we get home.” I think Grey had just helped me with all my living in the moment problems.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

S
omewhere on the floor, my phone was ringing. I rolled to the side, searching for Grey, but he was already out of bed. I swept my crumpled black dress to the side to reveal my phone.

“Hello?”

“Honey, you have not called me in three days or returned any of my voicemails. Your father and I were about to book tickets to come looking for you.” My mother’s voice on the other end of the phone was frantic.

“Oh, hi, Mom. Sorry.” I had completely forgotten to adhere to my nightly parental check-in. Nights with Grey didn’t give me a lot of extra time.

“Hi, Mom? That’s it? What is going on with you, Eden?” She sounded irritated. “You have always been my responsible child, not the one I worry about. That job is reserved for your brother.”

“Mom, calm down.” I sat up and wrapped the sheet around my chest. “I’m fine. I just met some people here
, and by the time I’m free, it’s too late to call you with the whole time zone thing. I’m sorry, really sorry.”

I learned a long time ago that arguing and coming up with excuses didn’t work with my parents. I sucked up my pride and poured out the apologies.

“Ok, well I feel much better now that you picked up your phone. Any chance there is a boy in this group of new people?”

“Mom, I don’t want to get into it right now.”

“So there is a boy—that explains the silent treatment. Does he go to your school?”

It was too early in the morning for girl talk with my mother. “No, he doesn’t, but can we talk about it later? Please?”

“You’re being
careful,
aren’t you? We haven’t really talked about that recently, but—”

Oh my God, was she hinting at what I thought she hinting at? Girl talk was one thing, but condom talk was something entirely different.

“Mom! I don’t want to talk about it.” I sighed. “But, yes I’m careful.” My forehead rested on my palm. This was humiliating. Next, she’d probably ask what brand Grey bought.

“Ok. Ok.
I can tell you’re uncomfortable talking about it. Will you promise to call me tonight?”

“Yes. I will. I’m going to set a reminder on my phone right now.”
I didn’t need another one of these calls, and I didn’t want her to worry. I was completely safe and happy here with Grey.

“Be safe, Eden
, and have fun. We’ll see you in a few days.”

“Bye, Mom.” I tossed my phone on the bed and slid under the covers.
My embarrassment level had reached an all-time high. I had just admitted to my mother that I was sleeping with someone I met on spring break.

Where was Grey? It was 7 a.m. and we still had eight hours before the guests arrive
d. I was hoping he would sleep in with me at least one day. He was always up and out the door as soon as the sun broke over the ocean’s horizon. Knowing him, he was stressed and brooding over the influx of real customers. I was beginning to learn the ins and outs of his moods. Sometimes giving him a little space was all he needed to cool down.

Last night he was anything but cool. I bit my lower lip
, thinking of all the ways he had touched and kissed me. Was it possible I was becoming an addict? I couldn’t get enough of him, and from the way he looked at me, I knew he was feeling the same thing. I had never thought about one boy this much.

I stepped into the shower and let the water run through my hair. The trial size bottles of shampoo I bought were close to empty—just one more sign my vacation was almost over. My heart sank.

“Eden?” Grey called through the bathroom door.

“I’m in the shower.” I smiled, hoping he would take that as an invitation.

He opened the door. “I’ve got to go buy some bags of ice. The ice machine went out last night and everything melted.”

“Can you fix it?”

“Not by the time everyone checks in, but the bags should hold them over until it’s running again. I’ll be back in a few.” He closed the door.

Dammit
, so much for morning shower sex.

The door popped back open
and Grey stuck his head in. “For the record, I would pin you up against that shower wall if I didn’t have to fix the ice machine.”

I giggled. “Bye.”

“Bye.” He winked before closing the door behind him.

***

T-minus seven hours and counting. I sipped my coffee in the office and skimmed the checklist I had made for today. I performed a test run on the card reader I purchased for my phone. Grey couldn’t keep using carbon paper to run credit cards. The keys were secure in the box on their heavy palm tree key chains. Marin had printed extra flyers for the luau on the Island Sun’s copier when no one was looking. I wanted to make sure every guest had at least two copies so they could share with their friends. So much was hinging on the party tomorrow night.

“Package for Grey Lachlan. Can you sign for it, miss?” A delivery driver stepped into the office.

“Sure. Where do I sign?”

He handed me the electronic keypad
and pointed to the bottom square. I scribbled my name on the screen.

“Have a nice day.” He handed me a legal-size packet.

I flipped it over in my hands. The return label was from Texas State. Last night when I asked Grey what his future plans were he balked at the questions. I thought through all the reasons Texas State would send mail to him. Did he reenroll in his engineering program? My nosiness did have its limits. As much as I wanted to steam the seal open, I placed the package on the corner of the desk.

Grey
poked his head in the door. “I’m back with tons of ice. Anything going on?”

“Actually, you have a delivery.” I reached for the envelope and held it out to him.

“Cool.” He grabbed the mail from me and darted out the door. “I’ve gotta throw the ice in the cooler.”

“But—” He was gone before I could prod further about the contents of the mystery package.

I sat in the chair. After our guests arrived, I would ask him what Texas State had sent him, but for now, he had a broken icemaker to worry about.

***

I handed the young couple their palm tree key. “Enjoy your stay at the Palm Palace.”

“Oh
, we will.” The boyfriend winked at his girlfriend, and she giggled.

“And don’t forget about the luau tomorrow night. It’s going to be the biggest party on the island.”

His hand clutched at her back pocket as they walked out of the office. They weren’t the first couple I had checked in today, but they were the last guests scheduled to arrive.

I collapsed in the chair. It was ten o’clock at night
, and between running back and forth to the guest rooms, checking people in, and answering the phone about luau details, I hadn’t sat down once.

Grey had been on his feet all day too. Just as I had predicted
, we didn’t see each other except in passing. The lights were out in room fourteen, the girls in room twenty thought they heard a mouse, and a toilet lever had broken in room eight. Grey was running nonstop. More than likely, this is how he would spend the rest of the month. Although, without someone in the office, I didn’t know how he was going to take care of the check-in and checkout part.

I turned off the lights and locked the
office door behind me. I walked toward room twenty-four, Grey’s room—the room that was now our
room. I felt the nervous butterflies flitting around. This felt different. It was more grown-up, more serious somehow. I couldn’t wait to see him and I was dying to know what was in the package.

The key gave way in the lock and I pushed the door open.

“Grey?” The lights were off. I whispered his name again. “Grey?” I walked toward the lamp that was next to the bed when I heard his heavy snoring. I pulled out the flashlight on my phone, careful not to hit him in the eyes with the beam of light.

There he was, completely dressed, tool belt and all, fast asleep on our bed.
So much for a night of romance and hot nakedness. I tiptoed to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and washed my face. I didn’t want to wake him by dragging out my bags, so I opted to take off my clothes and sleep in my underwear. He wouldn’t see them in his sleep, but he did like these pink ones.

I peeled the sheet back and slid into the space next to him. Instinctively, he pulled me in the crook of his arm and relaxed into his heavy breathing pattern. I smiled. I had a new addition to my mantra:
Warm beaches. Sun in my face. Salt breeze in my hair. Wrapped in Grey’s arms.

***

I heard unfamiliar shouts and music coming from outside the door. Could the spring breakers already be at the pool?

“Hey, sleepyhead.” Grey was sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Hey.” I had no idea what time it was.

“Did you climb in bed like that last night?” He slowly removed the sheet from my breasts and folded it just below my navel. The feeling of the sheet along my skin felt delicious.

“Mmm-hmm. Someone was snoring.” He was completely dressed. I must have slept through his morning shower ritual. We were both exhausted after yesterday’s onslaught of guests.

“I guess I was worn out. Sorry I left you like that.” His hand reached for my breast and squeezed, lingering over the softest part.

The warmth spread through my belly and I bit my lip. He was definitely playing with me, and I wanted to make him work for it a bit. “Can I make it up to you?” He slipped his other hand under the sheet and tugged on my thigh, spreading my legs for him.

I tried to sit forward, reaching my hands for the hem of this T-shirt ready for a morning roll in the hay, but he pushed me back.

“No, I meant, really make it up to you.” His mouth descended on my stomach. “But you’ll have to be extra quiet now that we have guests, and I have about ten minutes before I have to go fix the dryer.” He smiled devilishly, and then forced my other leg to the side, giving him full access to the pink panties I picked out last night. “You know these are my favorite.”

I nodded, watching his every move. Oh my God, I was going to explode right here.

“How does this feel?” He pulled the fabric aside and slid his fingers along the edges of my exposed skin.

“Good.” I smiled. I didn’t want to give him what he wanted just yet.

“Only good? Hmm. What about this?” I almost whimpered as his fingertips began rhythmically circling, then slipping in and out of the sweetest spot.

I wasn’t going to give in. “It’s ok
, I guess.” I was a terrible liar. My body was quivering, and with each stroke, I was grasping harder and harder to keep him inside me.

“I must be doing this all wrong, baby.” He kissed the inside of my knee, holding my legs apart as he picked up the pace with his guitar-playing fingers.

I was so close to the edge, but I could tell he was turned on by my resistance to him. I tried to slow my hips, but the more he touched me, the more I wanted it faster and deeper. My brain and my body were at terrible odds.

“Grey.” I was totally breathy and almost at the point of panting.

“Yeah, baby?” He was watching me and his fingers were slowing down as his tongue ran along the inner line of my thigh. It was the sexiest thing I had ever seen or felt.

“I. Can’t. Be. Quiet.” I did everything I could to stop it or at least slow it down, but Grey had perfected unleashing my sexual goddess side. All kinds of sounds I didn’t know I could make came pouring out as I felt the heat of his breath and tongue take over.

Finally, I was getting my early morning with Grey.