I step into the room and walk through the expansive hallway while Harper tips the bellboy. Inspecting the three-room hotel suite gives me a rush that I never get tired of. There is gleaming stone on the ground of this hotel. It’s a little abnormal and in any other place, it would probably seem out of place and strange. However, since we are right on the beach, it makes perfect sense to me.
Besides that, like everything in my life, the decorations and furnishings of the rooms are high quality and nice. There is a warmth to this place that I don’t think you get in many countries. Bora Bora is an island that is happy to see to my comforts—exactly what I need.
“Thank you very much,” the bellhop sounds enthusiastic as he tells Harper that he will personally see to any additional needs we might have during our trip. I smile as I walk by the fully renovated kitchenette that I have no intention of using. Why would we cook when we are on vacation? Especially with the restaurant options that the island offers.
I continue moving through what is essentially a mini-apartment until I come to the double doors that lead to our balcony. The hotel itself isn’t very large. It’s a very expensive, highly exclusive establishment that only has about twelve of these suites. As I step out onto the gated porch, I really get an appreciation of why. The hotel is tucked into a nice little cove of the island and offers a private beach to each of its temporary residents. Our balcony has a set of winding stairs off to the side that lead right into the sand.
The smell of the sea and the feel of the warm wind against my face make me sigh with pleasure. My flow-y sundress brushes against my legs and some of my hair comes out of the hasty ponytail I put it into when we stepped off the plane. I drag more of the fresh air into my lungs and envision some of the tension leaving my body when I breathe out. Even though I love the hustle and bustle of the city, I have a deep appreciation for island life.
If I weren’t so busy, I would consider buying a house somewhere around here. A place where I could just breathe for a few days a month.
I gasp a little when Harper comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. For a moment, he just holds me and I know he has the same appreciation for the scene in front of me as I do. Before I realize what’s happened, we’re both swaying in the breeze, moving in sync with one another and the world around us. Words aren’t needed. We know exactly what the other is thinking, even without saying a word.
I don’t know how long we stand there. For once the time doesn’t matter and I can just enjoy being with him. I have no press conferences to schedule and I’ve even left my cell phone off. If there is an emergency, Johnni knows how to reach me. But this time is sacred. Just me and Harper.
“Are you hungry?” After a while, his voice rumbles in his chest, vibrating against my back. I inhale deeply, loving the way his scent mingles with what’s around us, heightening my relaxed state.
“I could eat.” My voice sounds wispy in my own ears and I smile.
“Good. I already ordered a tray of fruit and breads to be brought down to the beach. We can sit under the palm trees and eat at one of the tables.”
Again, his thoughtfulness touches me and I have to duck my chin to keep from exposing how affected I am by how well he takes care of me. Again, I am assaulted by the fact that I think I’m falling in love with him. Can I really trust someone else with the most vulnerable parts of my heart?
He rubs his hands along my shoulders. “You’re tensing up. Is something the matter?”
I shake my head immediately and spin around to face him. I flash him my brightest smile, completely meaning it. “No, nothing. Everything is perfect. Why don’t you get washed up?”
He looks down at his crisp, white suit and grimaces. “I suppose I could use a change of clothes. Traveling can really wear you out.”
I nod, completely agreeing. “You hop in the shower and I’ll get changed before we eat.”
He leans down and I suck in a breath. I live for the moments where he kisses me. His mouth brushes against mine and it’s as if I were struck by lightning. Electricity bolts from my head all the way down to my toes and it stops at my clit on the way there. I am immediately completely ready for anything he wants to do to me and when I open my eyes and look into the darker storms of his, I know he feels it too.
“Fallon…” He trails off and for a moment, I see the hunger behind his gaze. He wants me. Maybe he even wants me more badly than I want him. His self-control is something to be marveled at. I know that he’s suffering—that much is clear when I look at the front of his pants—but he’s holding back…for me.
I put my hands against his chest and give him a little push backward. Relief and resistance both flash across his face before he lets me move him backward. He smiles and I smile back, glad that I was able to help him resist doing what he really wants. “Go. Before we get too distracted.”
He laughs the way he always does when I tease him and my heart lightens. This is what a real relationship should be like. Even though I’m wetter than I’ve ever been before, even though I’ve never been this sexually frustrated, I am content just to be near him. To be his girlfriend.
My stomach does the same flip-flop it does whenever I think of myself as his girlfriend. I have dated before. Obviously, I have been with people besides him. But that word has never felt more…right. More meaningful.
He kisses me again, quickly this time. When he pulls away I can feel him shaking and I delight in the power I hold over this impressive man. He has never wanted anyone as much as he wants me. And maybe I feel the same way.
When he vanishes into the bathroom, I release the breath I didn’t realized I was holding. I laugh a little at the absurdity of the moment. The man literally just stole my breath away. Shaking my head, I move into the bedroom where the bellhop left our bags. My eyes light up when I realize that Harper paid the guy extra to also unpack everything for us. I walk into the closet and find all of my clothing neatly hanging up.
“You wonderful, wonderful man.” I whisper, even though he can’t hear me.
I quickly select a hot-pink monokini and go to the half-bath to get ready. I clean up quickly and slip it on before finding a deep purple sarong to tie around my waist. I redo the ponytail at the back of my neck and find a pair of matching flip-flops with shimmering jewels on them. By the time I wash my face and apply sunscreen, Harper is standing at the bottom of the stairs off the balcony, waiting for me.
“Do you need help down?” He calls and I laugh, skipping down the stone steps that lead to the sand.
“No, I think I can manage.”
He blushes but I take his hand, letting him know that I appreciate his concern. He’s always like that with me and though I know not all women would truly understand why he’s so overprotective, I do. I understand everything about him.
“What are we eating?” I ask as we move closer to where the table is set up. On top of a white tablecloth are several covered trays. They’re all different shapes and sizes and my curiosity is immediately piqued.
“You’ll have to wait and see. I wanted to make sure you had everything you could possibly want.”
Once we’re seated, Harper starts pulling the tops away from the trays. I gasp, delighted by what I see. Not only is there every kind of fruit I can think of—there are some that I can’t name. The entire table is set up as a feast, I count how many different kinds of breads and jams there are.
“Wow, Harp. Did you leave any for the rest of the guests?”
He pretends to look offended. “Of course I didn’t. If they get hungry they can eat what you don’t want.”
I laugh again. “So, they get my leftovers?”
Harper nods, a look of mock seriousness on his face. “They should be so lucky.”
I reach for a fluffy piece of bread with poppy seeds in it. “You’re so bad, spoiling me this way.”
“You deserve nothing but the best, my opal.”
The endearment makes me blush again and we eat while looking out across the ocean. Harper hums softly while the waves crash against the sand and I close my eyes, pushing a piece of juicy red fruit past my lips. I chew slowly, lost in the sensation of sweetness as it runs down my throat and wishing that Harper could taste it from my tongue.
When I open my eyes, he’s staring at me the way a man stares at a woman. He looks like he wants to take all of these trays and shove them on the ground, food be damned. His dark gaze flashes toward the trunk of the tree we’re sitting under and I wonder if he wants to take me against that tree. If he wants to impale me on his cock, while the hard wood scratches and bruises my back.
I blush a little harder and run my tongue over my bottom lip. His eyes track the movement and I stand abruptly, unable to take the temptation that he’s presenting. “Why don’t we put these lids back on and take a little walk? I think feeling the water on my feet would help me…cool off.”
Harper grins at me and some of the tension of the moment is dispelled. We both know what the other was thinking but we’re not willing to put strain on the relationship. This vacation is about relaxation, not thinking about the things we can’t do.
Instead, I want to do silly things with him. I want to go to the beach and build sandcastles with him. I want to play tag and draw pictures in the sand. I want to see who can hold their breath longer. I want to laugh and play with him in ways that I’ve never done with a man before.
As if he read my mind, Harper clears his throat. “This may sound a little foolish…but have you ever been hunting for seashells?”
I know that my demeanor immediately lights up. “No but I would love to. I once saw this thing on Pinterest where a woman made a necklace out of them. It looks just as nice as those expensive ones you see in fashion shows and I wondered if she did anything special to make them shine.”
Harper grins at me again and I almost get dizzy because it’s such a lovely expression. “Well, I think we can definitely find a bunch here. Do you want to try and see what we come up with?”
“I would absolutely love to.”
Harper tilts his head to the side as if considering something major. “How about we make it a competition?”
“What kind of competition?” I ask, immediately intrigued.
“Well, I know that you want me to sleep in the same bed as you tonight. I made sure when I booked the room that there were two separate sleeping quarters.”
I nod, glad that he has brought that up. I understand that he doesn’t want us to sleep together in the biblical sense but I don’t understand why we can’t spend the night wrapped around one another. It is something that I long for—perhaps even more than I want us to have sex.
“So, if you win, I will attempt to sleep in the same bed with you. Over the covers.”
The addition he makes has me laughing so hard, tears form in my eyes. I wonder how many other women would be so patient with his stipulations and reluctances. I imagine that it’s not many but I am more than willing to do whatever is needed to make him comfortable. “And if you win?”
He pretends to think about it. “There is a class that I want to go to on the island tonight.”
“What class?” This is the first time I’ve heard of it and I’m not sure why he wouldn’t just fit it into the plans. We have both talked about what we wanted to do but he hasn’t said anything about a class.
“That’s a surprise. That’s what I want if I win, though. I want you to come with me, no questions asked.”
Trust. There it is again, staring me right in the face. He is asking me to trust him in a way I won’t trust anyone else. The thought makes me nervous but at the same time, I feel completely comfortable. Harper would never do anything to hurt me, nor would he let anyone else cause me harm. I nod. “Okay. No questions asked. If you win. Don’t be so confident, I’m a pretty competitive person, you know.”
“Oh, I know. It’s part of your Type-A personality.”
I give a single-shouldered shrug before I take off. He lets out a bark of surprised, followed by a hollered, “Cheater!”
I call, “All’s fair in love and war!” back over my shoulder as I race toward the beach, leaving him to cover the half-eaten food. Before he’s even left the table, I’m on my knees in the sand, my heart pounding, a huge grin on my face. I’m totally going to win this bet.
One hour full of laughter and playful taunting later and I collapse backward, admitting defeat. Harper stands a few feet in front of me, staring down at the pile of shells he’s come up with. I’m panting on my back, not caring that there’s sand in my hair. “You totally cheated.”
Harper’s big, booming laughter fills the space between us. “Look who’s talking! You ran off before I was even ready.”
I give a very unladylike snort and admit to nothing. That was so long ago, who even knows if that’s what really happened? I laugh at my silly thought. “Well, it’s not like it mattered much! You’ve done this before.”
Harper waves a hand in the air, dismissing my statement. “You knew that when you started the competition.”
I let out a mock gasp of outrage, even though it comes out as more of an out-of-breath huff. “But if I had known you were the all-time seashell-hunting champion, I might have tripped you or something.”
He tsks. “More cheating, my opal? What will I ever do with you?”
“I guess you’ll just have to love me forever.” The words leave my mouth before I realize it, but by the time I do it’s too late to take them back. I pause, completely shocked that I would say something so bold. “I-I—”
Before I can figure out a way to erase the impact of those words, he cuts me off. “But I already do. Don’t you know that?”
He sounds honestly confused and I lift my head to stare at him. He’s a hundred percent serious and all I can do is lie there with my mouth gaping. “…no. I didn’t know that.”
“Oh.” Harper flashes me that devastating grin again. “Well now you do. I love you so much it hurts, Fallon. I always have and I always will.”
He bends over, scooping up both our piles of shells. I stare at him stupidly, not knowing what to say but he doesn’t seem to mind at all. “Hurry up and catch your breath. I’m going to see about putting more of that fruit in my face, now that you’ve completely worn me out.”
He leaves my field of vision with a jaunty bob in his step and I still haven’t said anything in return. But Harper isn’t worried about that. Of course he’s not. He never pushes me into anything and he didn’t seem upset by the fact that I didn’t say it back. I shift my gaze back up to the blue, blue sky and tears of gratitude fill my eyes. I don’t know what I did to deserve a man like this. One who accepts my flaws and never tries to make me give more than I’m able. I don’t know what I did to deserve him but I swear, I’m going to do all in my power to keep him happy.
“I love you too!” I scream it at the top of my lungs, not caring who hears me. Not caring that it opens me up in ways I’ve never been opened up. All I want is to let him know how much he means to me in that moment and the consequences be damned.
A soft silence comes from Harper for several minutes. I listen to the sound of the waves and the call of distant birds. Somewhere in the back of my head, I imagine that I should be embarrassed by the weight of the silence. But I just feel…comforted. There is no expectation in this lack of sound. No judgment. Just gentle acceptance for what I said and what it means.
“Hurry up and come eat before I steal all the strawberries.”
I burst upward with a laugh and turn my vision back to Harper. He’s standing in front of the table, his bright eyes shining with what I think are unshed tears. The look on his face only cements everything I’ve ever thought about him. This is a man who knows how deeply I feel. Who understands the breadth of my emotions and how much it has taken out of me to admit to what I feel for him.
He is deeply touched in the way he should be.
I run to him and fling my arms around his neck. He doesn’t even stumble, just catches me as I move, wrapping his arms around my back. “You are a treasure, my opal.” He whispers it against my head and I can feel the way he trembles as the words leave his mouth.
He means it.
As much as I mean that I love him. That I am willing to be open to him. That I am willing to give him power over me that no man has ever had before. This is something new. Something scary and powerful.
Us.
Harper and I.
Me and Harper.
I take in a deep breath, astonished that tears are leaking down my face. But this is different from any other time I’ve cried. These are tears of happiness. Of joy.
He brushes one tear away with a gentle knuckle and kisses my nose. “You win. I’ll sleep in the same bed with you tonight.”
I choke with surprised laughter when he adds his last sentence.
“Under the covers.”
My Harper.