Peachy Keen (2 page)

Suddenly the tension between my shoulder blades melted away, my hands felt eager instead of clammy, and my hips swiveled with every step toward the check-in desk. When the  two couples in front of me stepped off to the side after they checked in, I firmly walked up and my eyes planted on a cute, curvy Latina who I knew before I even glanced at her nametag. Danielle had told me the story countless times after she left Evan back at the resort; Inez had bedded her man once upon a time and then the little minx had the gall to treat Danielle like she was a part of the We Fucked a Celeb Club and that’s all. Clearly it worked out okay, but as she smiled at me and asked what name my reservation was under, it took all I had not to sneer at the broad.

“Trenton. Georgia Trenton.”

She typed away at her computer and gave me that Customer Service Trainee of the Year smile before handing me my key. “Would you like a list of the week’s activities, Miss Trenton?” she asked.

My lips contorted a little and though I wanted no more interaction with Inez—on girl code principal alone, of course—I nodded tentatively. She slid me a sheet of paper and the giddy feeling finally grew to a head. Strip aerobics?! Sexy beach decathlon?! A grin spread on my lips with almost painful slowness. I could feel my heart swelling with excitement as my insides celebrated.

I lifted my chin to Inez and grabbed a pen from the reception desk. “Can I have this?” I blurted. She nodded with a timid smile as I popped off the cap and started circling every activity I planned to not only attend, but dominate.

I let it soak in as the elevator traveled up to my floor. Why had I been so nervous in the airport? What the hell did I have to worry about at a place like this? I slipped the keycard into the electronic box on the door and entered my home for the week. A laugh cracked out of my lungs at the stunning sight of my room. Without a second thought, I bounced onto the bed and squealed.

My escape had just begun.

2.

Maneater

Georgia

Showered, shaved, and slathered with body lotion that made me smell equal parts edible and fuckable, I was ready to make my way down to the bar. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I knew I wasn’t going to waste my first night. With a tiny black dress overtop a sexy black lace-trimmed satin bra and panties, I slipped into a pair of sparkly silver kitten-heeled sandals and grabbed only my room key. I shoved it inside my bra and took one last glance in the mirror.

I’d never thought I was the most beautiful girl in the world. I always kind of figured I was decent looking and more importantly, I didn’t hate the way I looked, something I was thankful for after watching the majority of my female friends agonize over everything from the appearance of their nails to their nether regions. But looking at myself before I trekked off to truly begin my vacation, I felt pretty. The way my hair fell in shining golden waves over my shoulders pleased me and the ruby tint to my lips seemed inviting enough. I was ready. Maybe I was more than ready. My butterflies were gone on the ocean wind and my breath flowed steadily as I made my way down to the bar that overlooked the beach.

I scanned the crowd, wishing I had some kind of super vision or hi-tech chip in my head so I could eliminate anyone from my sights who wasn’t a candidate. Erase the women, married guys, and guys who already had a girl latched to their side and then I could really see what my options were.

A pair of blue eyes struck me, followed by a wicked smile that I had to match. With black hair cropped short, a jawline so razor-sharp it could scare a girl, and the arms of a fucking superhero, he was more than hot. He was flanked on either side by men equally, if not more, handsome, a fact that made my stomach flutter when the most lurid thought crept in for a split second. No, I wasn’t foursome wild.

As much as I wanted to strut over to the three of them and watch the pissing contest begin…it was almost too easy. They were all drool-worthy in their own right, but I wasn’t sure any of them were the right choice for my Desire debut. I wanted special. Unexpected.

I shot the three amigos a wink and continued searching the bar. I gulped the second I laid eyes on him. He was nursing a Corona and flipping the page of a book he was engrossed in, alone at a high-top table. My gaze narrowed to take in the bookworm. He had short, messy brown hair with a hint of red that glistened in the light of the hanging lanterns around the bar. His skin looked barely sun-kissed and I wondered if he had just arrived as well. When he tilted the beer bottle up again, I felt my mouth hang open at the sight of a jaw covered in a closely trimmed dark beard. His throat worked, pulsing as he swallowed, and my lips tipped up when I felt a surge move from my chest to my belly button.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner.

I passed my other admirers, flashing another quick smile that garnered some muttered compliments that were more like catcalls, and made my way to
him
. The closer I got, the bigger I realized he was. He was hunched over a paperback but I could see he was tall. And broad. He was built like a damn house. His biceps were straining to get out of his t-shirt and his chest pulled at the fabric with every breath he took. I was standing in front of his table when he finally looked up at me with eyes the color of milk chocolate.

His brows dipped down in the center before he smiled at me and I dropped one hip.

“Buy me a drink?” I said smoothly.

His lips twitched and he opened his mouth, only sharing silence for a moment before he choked on a nervous laugh. “Uh, it’s all inclusive…”

An astonished smile painted my mouth. “Cute,” I replied, breathing a laugh, ready to turn on my heels just as he shook his head and stood.

He reached to place his hand on my forearm, sending warmth and a surprisingly calm energy through me. “What are you having?” he asked. The sound of his deep voice with strength behind it saved the moment that could’ve been ruined.

“Sex on the Beach.”

He smirked knowingly, nodded, and moved to the bar, showing me exactly how tall he was. He had to be at least six four—a tree I wouldn’t mind climbing. I perched myself on the second chair pulled up to his table and snatched up the book.
The Great Gatsby.
I flipped to where he had dog-eared a page and sighed. I always loved that book.

“Have you read it?” I heard his voice behind me as he slid the two-toned drink in front of me, reclaiming his seat.

“Who hasn’t?” I replied. I set the paperback on the table once more and sipped my drink, keeping a watchful eye on him. “So what, were you suddenly nostalgic for ninth grade English?”

He let out a deep laugh and a half-grin pulled at the corner of his mouth. “Yeah, maybe.”

 “Hmm. What were you like in high school?” I asked.

His eyes landed on me and his full smile nearly knocked me out of my chair. But he didn’t answer. He just trailed his gaze over my face, down my neck, and slowly down my body as far as he could see without being blocked by the table that sat between us. I gulped and raked my fingers through my hair.

Suddenly his hand jutted out to me and a sincere smile spread across the mouth I’d already envisioned tasting me. “I’m—”

“I didn’t ask your name,” I rasped, cutting him off. “Now, are you gonna tell me what you were like in high school or should I go talk to the captain of the football team over there?” Bobbing my head in the direction of Superman and his friends, I licked my lips and waited for him to either wilt or bloom.

His jaw tightened for a moment and then he laughed through a sigh. “I was the geek. Isn’t it obvious?” he said tapping two fingers on the worn copy of
The Great Gatsby
. “Who were
you
in high school?”

I laughed.
The geek?
Why did I doubt that? If it were true, he’d come a long way, but I always had a thing for the geeky guys. They worked the hardest to please.

I smiled coyly, that old familiar craving for the upper hand filling me. Too many times with men I found myself unwilling to divulge information. What was so great about knowing each other? I had friends for that.

My insides were already heating up at the mere idea of this man’s hands on me. His mouth on me. From his ridiculous body, to those eyes, to his perfect recovery that first time he faltered, he was beyond intriguing.

“Little Miss Mystery,” he remarked as he took a sip of beer.

My lips parted and a shuddering laugh escaped me at the perfection of his reply. I settled into my chair a little more, fully content with the idea of staying a while.

“Did you just get in?” he asked.

I sipped at my fruity cocktail and nodded, suddenly feeling small under the weight of his stare. “Yeah. How about you?”

“Yesterday. My layover was way too long though so I was exhausted. I finally got out of my room tonight,” he said with a faint smile playing on his full lips.

“Lucky for me.”

His eyes danced across my face and I gulped down a little more of my Sex on the Beach. This was no different than picking a guy up at a bar back home. I knew what I was doing, so why the fuck was he making me nervous? Nervous at the airport, nervous under this stranger’s gaze…I needed to get my head together if I wanted to have any fun tonight. And looking at those thick muscles and pensive brown eyes, I didn’t just want a little fun—I wanted to make him my playground.

He seemed like a gentleman and it threw me for a second, the polite way he asked me about myself without rushing into a conversation that would make my mother blush. I liked it, though. It was different. He was sweet. His smooth voice was enthralling and for the strangest reason it made me want to tell him about Danielle and the reason I’d come to the resort. But I resisted, maintaining the advantage I almost always felt I needed to hold when my clothes fell off and I made a man mine for the night.

***

An hour and another drink later, I reached into my bra and pulled out the flat keycard. I stuck it down on the table between us, completely interrupting the conversation that I’d checked out of a few minutes ago. I couldn’t stop staring at this vein in his neck. Every time he spoke or laughed or swallowed, it bulged and my blood raced a little faster through my body. I wanted to lick it. It wasn’t until the exact moment that I saw his eyes widen boyishly at the silent, forward proposal of my room key on the table that I realized just how invested I was in him.

Until his vein had started hypnotizing me, I’d more than enjoyed his company. I wasn’t just putting up with him blathering so I could get some either. He was funny. Really fucking funny. I was able to mask the tremble in my voice with the laughs he kept drumming up with every pithy line of commentary as we people-watched. He talked about Desire Resort as though he didn’t really approve; I wondered what that was all about but I didn’t bother asking. All I was concerned about was my tongue on that pulsating vein.
Oh, hell
.
Just think of where else he could have pulsating veins.

“What’s that?” he asked, looking at the keycard on the table.

I smiled at him smartly. “The key to my room.”

“Oh yeah?”

Slowly nodding, I exhaled and bit down on my bottom lip. “Wanna see how it fits in the lock?”

I watched his jaw shifted and his mouth hung open for a moment and the butterflies swarmed me. He was going to be so good, I knew it.

“You gonna tell me your name?” he asked.

Letting my head tilt to one side, I flashed a smile then set bedroom eyes on him firmly as I shook my head no.

Scratching at the dark scruff on his chin, he seemed to take a second to think about it. I saw his throat work again, maybe swallowing back some words he wanted to say. Then finally, he looked right at me and I saw him change before my eyes. His expression darkened to something that radiated with sin, his smile curved devilishly, and his posture suddenly charmed me into a state of submission as he stood—accepting my proposal.

“Okay.”

I slid off of my barstool, following his lead. Standing beside him, I was about eye level with his bicep. During the seconds that I marveled at his size yet again, he reached a hand out in front of me, making me look up at him. He was holding his own Desire Resort plastic keycard out to me wordlessly. A silent offer. A challenge I intended to accept.

“I’ll bet mine’s bigger,” he said.

My mouth fell open before shaping into a satisfied smirk
.

3.

Closer

Georgia

I barely remember walking to his room. I wasn’t drunk at all, but the excitement that flooded my system had me buzzing. He led me up to one of the deluxe suites and I started wondering what he did for a living. Where did a young guy like him get the kind of money to pay for one of these penthouses at a luxury resort? I’d nearly maxed out my credit card and my room was the bottom of the barrel. And I think I got a late booking discount on top of it.

As soon as he produced his key from his pocket, I stopped wondering about what was in his wallet and started dreaming about what was in his boxers. I breathed in the scent of his cologne, staring at his back, growing impatient. He hesitated, the keycard hovering over the electronic box.
No turning back
. Slipping between my mystery date and the door, I looked up at him and sighed. We hadn’t said a word to each other since the bar. My hands moved up his arms to his sturdy biceps and then skated down the firm wall of his chest and the ridges of his abs. He watched the way my hands moved; I loved that slack-jawed stare. Despite his appearance, I was starting to think he might need a little direction once we got down to business. Maybe he’d come here to sow some wild oats for the first time. He seemed so sweet, it wouldn’t surprise me if he was nursing a broken heart and looking for a little action at the same time.

When my fingertips reached the waistband of his jeans, I didn’t stop trailing south. I rubbed my hand over the bulge in his pants, my eyes widening while his closed. He jammed the key in the box and opened the door in the same lightening quick motion that he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. A laugh burst out of me at the caveman move and I kicked my heels off. I heard the clicking of the door as it shut as he sent me freefalling onto the plush mattress.