The demons were after him again. Goddamned Trevor, with his fucking drunken share session last night, had stabbed open Keys’ past. He’d managed to bury his tortured relationship with Sarah in a long blur of babes and booze alongside his best friend. Now the memory sat fresh in his mind, like a festering, maggot-filled wound. It had kept him awake most of the night, haunting him with recollections of the long months of sick dysfunction. Their final ending had been a brutal crash that left Keys broken.
The pillows Mia had placed between them served both to remind him he should stay away from anything resembling a relationship and to torture him. Spread out next to Mia all night without touching her, to the sound of crashing waves pounding at his brain, drove Keys crazy. Some vengeful spirit has it in for me. This must be karma.
As light flooded the room, he decided he may as well get up. As quietly as he could, he rolled to his side and pushed up to sitting, swinging his long legs to the floor.
“Good morning,” came the soft, sweet voice of Mia.
“Did I wake you?” he said, not turning around. His morning wood hung heavy in his boxers.
“No,” she said. “I was awake.”
“Sleep okay?” he said, standing and scrubbing his scalp with his fingertips.
“Sort of. I had a bedmate who tossed and turned a lot.”
He glanced over his shoulder. “Sorry.”
Mia looked at him with a soft, doe-eyed gaze, and a small smile curving her lips.
Her expression did all kinds of things to his insides—things he’d rather not feel…not after being reminded of Sarah. Still keeping his back to her, he strode toward the bathroom, intending to relieve his bladder, take care of the wood between his legs, and stuff down any foolish notions of anything more than a one-night stand with Mia—or any woman for that matter.
When he returned from the bathroom, Mia stood on the balcony, wearing a slinky little rose-colored robe that barely covered her fine ass. Inwardly, he groaned. How am I going to keep my hands off her? This is like Satan’s revenge.
“I called our butler,” she said, without turning around. “And ordered coffee and eggs. I hope you like eggs.”
“I’m not much of a breakfast guy,” he said, searching for his shorts. “This is the time I usually go to bed.”
She turned to face him, appearing hurt, causing him to feel like a jackass.
“But, I can shovel down a few eggs. Why not?” He tried to smile, but today it came out stiff and forced, as was his norm until yesterday when he’d smiled so hard, and so often, he thought his face might crack.
“So, rough relationship, huh?” Mia said, sidling over to where he stood.
“What?” he said, folding his arms over his chest, knowing full well what she was asking.
“Last night…” she said, reaching up to brush his biceps with her small, warm palm.
He blinked. Yesterday, she’d rebuffed most of his attempts to get close. “What about last night?”
“What Heat said…it sounds like you got out of a rough relationship.”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Keys said, easing away from her exquisite touch. “It’s in the past.”
“It seems like a bad, lingering memory,” Mia said.
“Mia,” Keys said, flashing her a gaze that could surely incinerate anyone of a weaker constitution.
The bruised expression that flitted across her face let him know his anger had left a scorch mark.
He groaned. “Look. I’m sorry. I’m fucked off at Trevor for even bringing it up. I don’t mean to take it out on you. But, I don’t want to talk about it, ever.”
“Understood,” she said, her features now blank.
A knock at the door indicated breakfast had arrived. Mia told the butler to set it up on the balcony. Once that was done, they ate in relative silence with Keys scheming the entire time as to how he could make things right again.
His mind kept coming up empty.
After the breakfast fiasco, Keys said, “Let’s head downstairs and see what everyone else is up to.” Maybe Mia can have a good time today while I head to the bar and try to scrub my brain clean with a bottle of tequila.
When the elevator doors opened, the air smelled of salt and sea and some sort of Mexican spices wafting in from the restaurant. Too much light blasted Keys’ eyes. He retrieved his sunglasses case from his shirt pocket, removed the shades, and fitted them on his face to ward off the light assault.
Trevor sat on one of the beige-covered lobby chairs. He bolted to his feet when he spied Keys.
Annoyance shot through Keys’ belly. “Hey,” he said, avoiding eye contact.
“What are we going to do today?” Trevor said.
“Not sure…but…” He leaned in close to Trevor’s ear and said quietly, “What the fuck do you remember about last night?”
Trevor pulled away, his face turning red. “I, uh…I’m sorry, Keys. I’m sorry I brought up Sarah.”
“What kind of a stunt was that, huh? What made you think I’d want to be reminded of her? You, of all, people…” He fisted Trevor’s tank top.
“I don’t know, I was drunk, man. Cut me some slack.” Trevor tried to squirm out of Keys’ grasp.
“You knew, Trevor. How many times have I told you not to bring her up, huh?” Keys’ fist, clenching Trevor’s shirt, shook with rage.
Out of the corner of his eye, Keys caught Mia staring at her flip-flops. Christ, I’m making things worse.
The elevator door opened a few yards away, and Dante and Kennedy emerged looking like supermodels on holiday. Dante’s espresso-colored wavy locks were perfectly arranged, while Kennedy’s long blond tresses seemed to ripple in an invisible wind.
Oh, great, Fearless Leader is going to give me shit.
Dante strode toward them, looking between Trevor and Keys, trying to get a read on the situation. “Everything okay?” he said, ever the manager.
“Yep,” Keys said, releasing Trevor. He brushed his hand along Trevor’s shoulder as if tidying him up.
“Why don’t you come to spend the day with us, Heat?” Dante said.
“Yes, Heat, we’d love to spend some time with you,” Kennedy said, smiling brightly.
“I don’t know,” said Trevor. “I wanted to hang with Keys, you know?”
Keys pulled Trevor away from everyone else. Lowering his voice, he said, “Look, Trevor, I could use some space to cool down. I’m still pissed about you airing my dirty laundry all over the place. You unlocked a shitload of unwelcome memories. I know you didn’t mean anything by it, but give me some space to cool off. Got it?” The weight of Dante’s, Kennedy’s, and Mia’s gaze felt intense like he stood before a judge and jury, and the verdict was guilty, guilty, guilty.
“Yeah, I get it.” Trevor appeared so downcast, Keys wondered if he would start crying. Then, he transformed before Keys’ eyes, his face hardening into a mask. “I get it, Keys. I’m not welcome.” His gaze flitted to Mia. Without another word, he whirled and stormed toward Dante and Kennedy. “I’m doing whatever you’re doing. I don’t want to be where I’m not wanted.” He kept moving, heading toward the beach.
Keys lifted his palms, as Trevor strode away. “Look, Trevor, I’m sorry,” he said to his retreating back.
Trevor lifted his middle finger over his head, not sparing a glance in Keys’ direction.
“Mia?” Kennedy said, smiling one of her perky bright blond smiles. “What about you?”
Mia glanced at Keys, lighting a flicker of hope in his chest.
“No, thanks. I’ve got a plan in mind for the day. But, thanks for the invitation,” she said, revealing small, perfect white teeth.
“I take it I’m not invited to hang with you,” Keys said, baiting Dante. The last thing he wanted to do was spend time with Fearless Leader.
“You and Heat better get this sorted,” Dante said, turning to glare at Keys. “This week is supposed to be fun, got it? Give the kid a break.”
“Fuck off, Fearless Leader. You and the rest of the band need to give me a break,” he said, waving his hand in the air.
Kennedy touched Dante’s arm. “They’ll sort it out, lover. They always do.”
“Right,” Dante said. “Let’s go catch up with Heat.” He grabbed her hand, and they hurried after Trevor.
Keys threw back his head. “Great. Just great. More band drama. I’d rather be back in Queens with my alcoholic old man and my chain-smoking mama. There’s less drama there than there is with the band.” Sheepishly, he glanced at Mia.
“Let’s do something fun today,” she said.
His eyebrows flew high. “You want to do something with me?”
“Sure. The morning got off to a rocky start, but you seem to need to do something to take your mind off of things. You know, like a reset.” She flashed him a beguiling gaze that melted his insides.
His mood shifted toward the south of his belly region which begged for attention. He waggled his eyebrows. “What did you have in mind?” His bad mood suddenly forgotten, he closed the distance between them and tipped her chin up with his forefinger.
That same pretty blush brightened her cheeks. “Not that,” she said, closing her fingers around his hand. She pushed away his hand and backed up a step. “Let’s go snorkeling.”
“If it involves you in that sexy bikini floating next to me, I’m game,” he said, his smile restored.
After Keys had checked with the concierge about the most private place to snorkel, he and Mia sauntered along the sand.
Mia had tucked her fine body into a sexy little sun-dress and a long-sleeved sheer top.
Keys wore board shorts and a colorful, short-sleeved shirt, which he left unbuttoned, hoping Mia liked what she saw. He carried a net bag holding both sets of fins, masks, snorkels, and bottles of water. His gaze kept drifting toward Mia’s breasts and round ass, picturing how it would feel with his hands cupping each cheek while he sucked her sweet nipples.
A roomy bag had been slung over Mia’s shoulder. Red, orange, and white beach towels poked out the top.
The sun beat down on Keys’ limbs, making him feel languid in a way he seldom achieved without some sort of mind-altering substance. Gentle waves lapped at his feet, cooling him. Walking with Mia in the Cancun heat felt like the most natural thing in the world. He wanted to hold her hand or put his arm around her but restrained himself.
“Want to know where I grew up?” Mia said.
“I want to know everything about you, Mia,” he said, surprised by his admission.
She flashed him an arched eyebrow expression of skepticism. “My father was a diplomat, so we moved a lot. He met my Caucasian mother in Korea, where she was vacationing. They married in London. Nine months later, I was born in the States. We’ve lived in Tokyo, London, Manhattan, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and even Helsinki.”
“Sounds like an interesting life,” Keys said.
“It was what it was. I was mostly home-schooled. Finally, at the age of fifteen, I put my foot down and said I wanted to go to a regular school. I wanted friends, not just a nanny, a cook, and my parents to talk to. So, they enrolled me in a private school in San Francisco. I made a couple of friends there.” Her expression became guarded and dark.
He studied her, wondering what had made her mood fall.
“I was way into music. I taught myself guitar until my dad paid for a private tutor. That’s when I got into a band and pursued music.” Her chest rose and fell at a rapid pace as if she were running from some memory or someone. “Anyway…” She waved her hand in the air. “That’s that. Then, Zander hired me, and my life became stable for once. He’s done so much for me. I can never leave him.”
“We’ll see. Because I sure can leave the band,” Keys said. “I mean…don’t get me wrong.” He side-eyed Mia. “It’s been a blast rocketing to the top with everyone. Dante’s a good guy when he’s not an asshole. He’s got a keen head on his shoulders, which is why Marked Love has done so well. But, I’m tired of it, you know? I need a change. I want to see if I can go it alone. I’ve been writing new songs, and Dante keeps shooting them down.” He frowned. “I’m getting sick of it. My songs are tight, they’re fresh, and they need to be heard, you know?”
“I’d love to hear them,” Mia said, flashing her oh, so sexy gaze at him.
Keys smiled. This Mia—the one who seemed to have relaxed—was far preferable to the Mia of yesterday. Maybe she just needed a good night’s sleep? “You’ll get to hear them, Ms. Manager, guaranteed.”
“I’m not…” she began.
“You will, you’ll see,” he interrupted.
When they reached the quiet cove, Keys dropped the gear bag in the sand. He scanned the area, noting a white cabana nearby, complete with lots of pillows and a privacy curtain. That might come in handy. “Okay, let’s do this,” he said, not sure whether he meant the snorkeling or a romp in the cabana.
Mia spread the towels over a huge rock and then rummaged in her bag. “Not without sunscreen first,” she said, waving a small white tube in the air.
Keys licked his lips. Getting to spread some creamy goo all over Mia’s body sounded like fun foreplay to him. “I’ll go first.” He grinned at her.
She rolled her lips between her teeth and looked away as she handed over the sunscreen.
Keys uncapped it and squirted a generous amount into the palm of his hand. He ran his hands together to get the goo on both hands, then proceeded to spread it down Mia’s arms. Heaven. Pure heaven.
Mia let out a little moan as he moved behind her, smoothing the cream over her shoulders and back. His length began to harden as he ran his hands down her legs.
“You’ve got a great touch, Keys,” Mia said.
“That’s because I play keyboards,” he said. “Supple hands.” Still standing behind her, he applied more sunscreen to his palms, then gripped her waist, longing to fit his shaft into her from behind and start rocking and rolling. Down, boy. His palms glided around to her belly, where he smoothed and stroked. Then, somehow managing to avoid her breasts—a feat that took tremendous willpower—he spread the white cream along her upper chest.
By the time he had finished, his cock was rigid. Holy hell, how am I going to restrain myself?
She pivoted, holding her hand out for the sunscreen.
When he handed it to her, she glanced at his crotch. Her eyes went wide. “Keys, I…that’s not what we’re here for.”
“I can’t help it, Mia. You’re gorgeous. But I get it. I’ll keep my hands to myself, but there’s nothing I can do about my dick. It has a mind of its own.” His lips spread in a huge grin.
“I see,” she said. The corners of her mouth quirked up in a restrained smile. “I’ll keep my distance, then.”
They proceeded to don their water shoes, mask, and snorkel, and Keys carried their fins to the water.
“Have you ever snorkeled before?” Mia said as she slipped on her fins and tightened the straps around her heel.
“Not really,” Keys said. “I sorta remember snorkeling in a swimming pool at one of my buddy’s birthday parties. His parents had bought all these fake fish that bobbed in the water. Some of them floated upside down, though, so it looked like we were in a pool of dead fish.” He chuckled at the memory as he donned his fins.
“We used to go to Hawaii every Christmas, so I’ve snorkeled a lot. I love it,” she said. “Do you know how to breathe through the snorkel?”
“Show me,” he said.
“Okay. It’s pretty easy, and you said you used to be on a swim team, right?” she said.
“No. What I said was, I used to win a lot of races, I wasn’t just on a swim team. Remember the important stuff, girl,” he said, tapping the end of her nose. A cocky grin formed on his face.
“Excuse me,” she said, with a roll of her eyes. “You used to win, hotshot. So, watch me. If water gets in my snorkel, all I do is blow…hard.”
“Oh, baby,” he said, picturing her pretty lips around his cock.
She let out a small laugh. “You’re incorrigible,” she said, slapping his biceps.
“No argument from me,” he said.
“Watch me,” she said.
“Oh, I’m watching, sweetheart,” he said, letting his gaze sweep along her body. “I’m definitely watching.”
She shook her head, fit the snorkel in her mouth, and lowered into the water. Then, she proceeded to kick her legs with her face submerged. She kept blowing like a whale and shooting droplets of water from her snorkel. Her arms stayed by her side.
Keys’ eyes were pinned to her every move and not from needing snorkeling instruction. She had to be the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
Her head popped up, and she said, “Come on. Try it.”
Keys lowered himself into the gently surging water and breathed through his snorkel. Easy peasy. He stayed close to Mia, watching the colorful parrotfish, angelfish, snapper, barracuda, and butterflyfish doing their thing beneath the sea. Kinda cool. The whole experience got him into a state of supreme relaxation.
After about an hour, Mia reached over and squeezed his elbow. She lifted her face from the sea.
Keys did the same, lifting the snorkel from his face. He twisted it around, so the strap was around his forehead, and the mask was in the back. He studied Mia’s face, all lit up from their little adventure. Stunning. She’s mind-bending gorgeous.
A smile spread across her face. “You look nice and relaxed. This was fun, huh?”
“It was…different. And I guess you could call it fun. It’s not what I usually do when I’m not gigging or practicing with the band,” he said, bobbing in the water.
“What do you usually do?” she said.
He shook his head. Unless she lived in a bubble, everyone who knew Keys Johnson knew what he did when he wasn’t practicing. Get high, get drunk, get wasted, and get some pussy with Trevor.
“Oh,” she said, lowering her gaze to the water as understanding dawned upon her features. “Well…” Her gaze lifted to meet his. “Consider me your guide to expanding your horizons.”
The sentence slithered into his chest, where it did some crazy things with his heart. “Okay,” he said, not breaking eye contact. His foot touched sand. He lowered his legs and stood, with the water chest high.
Mia stood, too, the water coming up to her shoulders.
He kept studying her, his jaw moving side to side as he contemplated his next move. You’re already in too deep. You’re completely smitten with her. Run, before it gets too far.
Mia removed her snorkel and held it by her side. “Why are you looking at me so intently?” She kept her eyes pinned to his.
“I’m gauging whether or not you’ll slap me if I do this.” Hooking his hand behind her neck, he lowered his mouth to hers. He kept it soft and light, at first, hoping she didn’t pull away.
She didn’t.
He deepened the kiss, letting the tip of his tongue explore a little bit.
She still didn’t pull away.
His cock grew thick and rigid, bobbing inside his shorts like a sea creature. Pressing his erection into Mia’s thigh, he pulled her close, so damn intoxicated by one kiss, he felt like a teenage virgin. The sense of losing control niggled at his brain, urging him to stop. He eased away, expecting a stinging slap.
When it didn’t come, he lifted his eyebrows.
“Wow,” Mia said.
“Is that a good wow?” he said, the buzz of insecurity swirling around his head like a blowfly.
“Not sure,” she said honestly.
“Let’s head back before you decide it wasn’t,” he said, reaching for her hand.
They said little as they toweled off and dressed. Keys fit the snorkel gear inside the net bag while Mia stuffed their towels back in her bag.
He held her hand as they strolled back to the resort. Her silence plagued him. What isn’t she saying? She didn’t slap me or tell me to stop. So, what then? It was a good kiss, I know it was. She had to feel it, too.
Once they got close to Hidden Shores Oasis, he let her hand go, not wanting any grief from anyone.
Inside the lobby of the hotel, Gia popped around the corner, her bright yellow hair all wild and messy.
“There you are,” she said. She frowned, looking between Mia and Keys. Injecting herself between them, she put her arms around his and Mia’s shoulders.
“What are you so happy about?” Keys said.
“I’m having a great time,” she said enthusiastically. “And, we’re all going dancing tonight. No exceptions. Everyone’s going.”
“Don’t tell me, you’re replacing Dante as our Fearless Leader?” Keys said.
“What? Fuck that, Keys. I’m only telling you what you’re doing tonight,” Gia said.
“How is that different than what Dante does?” he said, sauntering toward the elevator.
“Easy,” Gia said, batting her eyelashes at him. “I’m far cuter, and I’m so fun you can’t say no.”
Keys laughed. “You are that.”
“What about you, Mia. Are you in?” Gia said.
“Oh, she gets a choice, and I don’t?” Keys said in mock protest.
“Of course. Us girls have to stick together, right, Mia?”
“Absolutely,” Mia said from the other side of Gia. “And I’m in. I love to dance.” She reached out to press the elevator button.
When the doors opened, Gia released Keys and Mia. “I’ll meet up with you guys at dinner. Brutus, aka Marcos, aka my beefy ex-Marine, bodyguard, and all-around good lover main squeeze, is at the pool waiting for me. I just came to find you two and let you know about tonight.” She narrowed her eyes at Keys. “You’re behaving yourself, right, dude?”
“Of course,” Keys said, feigning innocence.
Gia, nearly as tall as him, leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Be good,” she whispered. She turned and kissed Mia’s cheek. Then, she flitted away.
Keys fit his hand against the open lift door, preventing it from shutting. He waited for Mia to enter.
She sauntered past him, avoiding contact.
He followed, pressing his back against the opposite side of the elevator. The snorkel gear bag dangled from his hand.
“I love Gia,” Mia said, staring at the elevator floor.
“Me, too,” Keys said. “She’s like my goofy sister. My real sister is a goodie-two-shoes, Harvard grad. She’s the apple of Mom and Dad’s eye.”
“Is she?” Mia shifted side to side, still staring at the floor. “So, Keys…?”
“Yes, Mia?” He braced himself for the inevitable. She’s going to tell me to fuck off.
“That kiss…”
“What about that kiss?” Keys said. His defensive hackles bristled. She’d better not say it wasn’t fantastic.
“It was awesome,” she said quietly, finally meeting his gaze.
“It was,” he agreed. And I want more.
“But, I don’t want a relationship. I’m not looking to get involved with anyone,” she said.
“Right, right,” he said, swallowing back his disappointment. “Same here,” he said, well aware he could pile all the sand in the Sahara desert on his desires for more of Mia, and it wouldn’t make a bit of difference. He wanted Mia Song.
Mia smiled. “So, we’re on the same page then, right?”
“Absolutely. Why should I change my stripes now?” As his mood soured, he lifted his gaze toward the hotel floor numbers lighting up as the lift ascended.
“We’re not having sex,” Mia said. “We’re friends.”
His dick howled inside his shorts, and his heart squeezed to the size of a lemon. “Of course. No sex.”
The lift stopped, and the doors slid open with a ding.
“Friends,” Mia repeated, holding out her hand.
Keys took it and shook. “Friends,” he said, not believing it for a second. He was already in over his head. How would he survive for the next few days?