A Daring Affair (8 page)

* * *

Mia was grateful that she had never been prone to carsickness because the winding roads of the Hana Highway would make even those who were the least prone to motion sickness feel a little ill. There were many curves through narrow passes over more bridges than she could count.

She had opted to wear a dark purple bikini underneath a purple tank top and gray shorts. She wore her most comfortable flip-flops and brought a blue and white striped beach bag, which contained several bottles of water, a towel, and other essentials. She glanced over at Eric and admired the way his white T-shirt outlined his muscles, and liked the tropical print of his dark blue cargo shorts.

“How many bridges have we passed?” Mia asked as she looked out at the lush, tropical rainforest before her in wonder.

She had already taken quite a few pictures of breathtaking coastal views, and now they had entered this tropical forest area. She pointed her camera at the expansive beauty before her.

“There are a total of 59 bridges along Hana Highway, most of which are only one-lane wide,” Eric answered.

“Did you count them?” asked Mia teasingly.

“I’ve had to play tour guide plenty of times. It helps to know details.”

He drove with confidence as he maneuvered his Porsche through the tight, winding roads. Other cars moved out of his way as he drove as fast as the locals, undaunted by the sometimes perilous turns and curvy roads.

“Wow, this is amazing,” Mia commented as she continued to stare at the bountiful tropical vegetation, plants, flowers and trees hugging the highway.

“Hana Highway is a 64-mile, 103 kilometer long highway connecting Kahului with the small town of Hana. If we don’t stop to take pictures, we can be in Hana in about two and a half hours.”

“Oh, but I have to stop and admire those waterfalls,” Mia protested.

Eric looked as though he appreciated her enthusiasm. As they came upon one particularly spectacular set of waterfalls with three parallel cascades, he pulled over abruptly and deftly parked the car.

“Here’s one that you can take pictures of,” he said as Mia jumped out of the car. She crossed the street to take pictures of the breathtaking waterfalls. Other tourists had gathered around the natural wonders, their cameras flashing.

Mia was impressed with the side by side, triple waterfalls as she snapped away, and made sure to capture every angle of the waterfalls. She was so immersed in her appreciation that she didn’t even know Eric had come to stand beside her.

“I’ll take you to the Seven Sacred Pools in Haleakala National Park. You’ll be really impressed by the waterfalls and pools there,” Eric said at her side.

As the spray hit her face, Mia looked up at him, smiling widely. “I can’t wait,” she said.

They both paused to look at the waterfalls one more time before walking back to the car.

“Are you hungry?” Eric asked as he started up the car and drove back on the highway.

“A little.”

“We’ll stop at this fruit stand where they sell home-made banana bread. It’s the best banana bread in Maui.”

“I love banana bread,” said Mia, “but I don’t have it often.”

“We’ll also stop in Hana to get a late lunch,” Eric said as he continued to skillfully maneuver the car through the winding roads at a fast pace.

“Is Hana a very small town?” she asked curiously.

Eric nodded. “It’s one of the most isolated communities in Hawaii.”

“Have you been there often?”

“Several times, mostly with Kimo. We used to go there to visit friends, but those friends have since moved to Oahu. They found the town a bit too quaint after a while.”

They reached the outskirts of Hana without further delay. Eric parked near a fruit stand and Mia chose a banana bread loaf from a smiling vendor.

“Mahalo,” Eric said, paying for the bread before Mia could reach into her beach bag for her wallet.

“You didn’t have to pay for it, Eric.”

“You’re my guest for the day, so I’m treating,” he said, grinning at the look of pure pleasure on her face as she bit into the banana bread.

“You weren’t kidding,” Mia gushed. “This is the best banana bread I’ve ever tasted. It’s so moist and fresh. There are tiny pineapple chunks in it, too. Here, have some.”

She offered him a bit of the bread, but instead of taking it with his fingers, he bent his head and took out a big chunk with his teeth. Her mouth went dry as he grinned back at her boyishly.

“What did I tell you?” he said. “I can eat an entire loaf in one sitting. Kimo can eat two. I’ve watched him do it.”

Eric placed his hand on her back and guided her over to another vendor stand a few feet away. Mia placed the banana bread in her beach bag, enjoying the touch of his hand on her back.

“Let’s get some shave ice,” he said, capturing her hand in his. She was pleasantly surprised at his gesture, and relished the feel of his large hand enveloping hers.

“Isn’t shave ice a snow cone?” she asked as they waited in line to order.

“Mainlanders call shave ice snow cones, but in Hawaii the ice is finely ground so that the flavorings can be well-absorbed,” Eric answered. He pointed at the menu posted on the truck. “What flavor do you want to try?”

Mia peered at the many flavors and shrugged.

“I don’t know - there’s so much to choose from.”

“I recommend the guava or passion fruit.”

“Okay, I’ll take passion fruit,” Mia said, looking forward to quenching her thirst with the snack.

Eric gave her a cone-shaped cup and watched her take her first taste.

“This is so good,” Mia said, licking her shave ice. She caught Eric staring at her and became self-conscious.

“What? Do I have ice dribbling down my chin?” she asked, wiping at her chin with a napkin.

Eric shook his head. “I love the way you appreciate everything Hawaiian.”

“What’s not to love? I’d live here if I could,” Mia said, continuing to lick her shave ice.

“You would?”

Mia nodded. “It’s beautiful, and the food is scrumptious. The people are friendly and welcoming, and the weather is absolutely gorgeous. Is it always this warm year-round?”

Eric led her to a nearby bench and draped his arm along the back of it. His fingers began to caress her bare shoulder and she suppressed a shiver of excitement.

“Yes, even during winter, it’s still warm and balmy with showery periods. Certain areas get lots of rain between November and March, particularly Hana, which is why it’s so lush.”

“Warm weather in the winter? Yes, I would definitely want to live here,” Mia said.

She focused her attention on eating her shave ice, but his proximity was wreaking havoc on her senses. She wasn’t prepared when he swept her hair back and touched her neck.

“You’re so pretty, Mia,” he said softly.

“You’re not so bad yourself, Eric,” Mia said, her gaze captured by the intent look in his.

Eric bent his head and kissed her lips gently. She closed her eyes and savored the kiss that ended much too quickly.

“Why is it that I always find myself kissing you in public?” asked Eric wryly as he looked around him.

“I don’t know, but maybe you can kiss me again?” she asked daringly.

He touched her cheek gently. “You enjoy tempting me, don’t you?”

“Is it working?” she asked mischievously.

He sighed deeply, then stood up abruptly. He looked down at her with a shake of his head. “Come on, Miss Irresistible. We’ve still got a ways before we reach Haleakala National Park and the Seven Sacred Pools,” he said, reaching down to take her hand.

She gladly placed her hand in his as they walked back to his car.

* * *

Eric continued to drive swiftly along Hana Highway and thought about why he couldn’t keep his hands off his very pretty assistant. He had told himself that he wasn’t going to hold her hand, touch her, or kiss her during this road trip, but that’s precisely what he had done. There was something about her that he couldn’t resist, and he couldn’t stop himself from showing her very public displays of affection. When they reached the national park, he hoped he could keep himself under control, especially when she revealed herself in her bikini. Her purple bikini straps had been peaking from underneath her tank top all day, driving him crazy. If just a peek of her bikini turned him on, how was he going to control himself when they reached the park?

* * *

Mia licked the last of her shave ice and sat back in comfort as Eric out-distanced all the other cars. This day was getting better by the hour, with Eric unable to keep his hands off her. He had kissed her again, and she couldn’t wait for his next one, confident that there would be a next one. She would ask him to kiss her if he didn’t try again. She marveled at her own boldness, since she usually wasn’t so bold with men. She had chosen to wear her best bikini today, knowing that it showed off her curves and coloring. Eric wouldn’t be able to resist her. Or at least, she hoped he wouldn’t.

They reached Haleakala National Park in a little under an hour and hiked to the Seven Sacred Pools. Several other tourists were on the trail as well, admiring the plants and trees lining the path.

Eric didn’t hold her hand during the hike, but as soon as the path opened to the gulch leading to the pools, he reached out his hand to her, and she took it eagerly. They reached the steep descent to the cascading pools, and Mia paused to take in the beauty around her.

“This is incredible,” she breathed, looking at several waterfalls.

The water weaved its way, passing by rocks and boulders, to the nearby ocean.

“Welcome to the ‘Ohe’o Gulch,” Eric said, “Otherwise known as the Seven Sacred Pools. The levels of rock create these waterfalls and pools.”

Mia walked down the steps while Eric held her hand. She almost stumbled a few times, but he righted her immediately. Other tourists clambered around them, carefully navigating the slippery rocks and boulders. The waterfalls were a magnificent sight with the ocean pounding the rocky shore a short distance away.

Mia was captivated by the scenery, but held onto Eric’s hand tightly since her flip-flops were not gaining traction on the rocks. He paused to remove his T-shirt, causing her breath to catch as she stared at his six-pack chest. He was such a large man, but there wasn’t an ounce of fat on his body. She decided to remove her tank top and shorts, and caught him staring at her figure.

“Nice bikini,” Eric said in a deep voice, his eyes avidly roaming over her body. Mia noted that he gave particular attention to her chest. He cleared his throat, looked away, and continued to negotiate the path to the pool area, his hold on her firm.

“Careful, these rocks can be very slippery. It’s probably better if you take off your flip-flops and walk barefoot. You’ll have a better grip on the rocks.”

Mia took his advice and removed her flip-flops. She shoved them in her beach bag, which was now bulging with their assorted clothing. In her bare feet, she was able to step on the rocks with more confidence. They finally paused, knee deep in a warm pool, and looked at the waterfalls around them. The series of waterfalls and tranquil pools flowed through the Ohe’o Gulch to the ocean nearby.

“Kimo and I used to come here as kids and climb up the cliffs. We would jump off from the top of the waterfalls,” Eric said.

“Wasn’t that dangerous?” asked Mia, watching a few swimmers hike up a cliff in their bathing suits. A young man jumped off from a high cliff and into the water.

“It is, but the locals showed us where there weren’t any sharp rocks and shallow water,” Eric said, frowning at the people preparing to jump off the cliff.

“Are those people jumping off the right place?”

Eric nodded grimly. “Fortunately, yes, but the park rangers wouldn’t be pleased if they saw what they were doing. They’re lucky the rangers aren’t around today.”

He led her toward a large pool of water and she followed, gingerly stepping over the slippery rocks.

“Let’s go deeper into the center,” Eric challenged her, wading farther in.

Mia watched him swim toward a nearby waterfall. She laughed as he shook his head, spraying water everywhere. She tossed her beach bag on top of a nearby rock to keep it dry.

“This is so exhilarating,” Mia said as she looked up and grinned at the waterfall cascading down.

Eric smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist, their bare legs entwined beneath the water.

“Enjoying yourself?” Eric asked huskily, his eyes darkening with intent.

Mia’s eyes widened at what she read in his eyes. Apparently his caution had been rapidly and unexpectedly replaced by desire - not that she was complaining. Her heart beat quickly in response as she placed her arms around his strong neck.

“Do you need to ask?” she answered impishly.

Eric’s eyes darkened further and she watched his head descend. He kissed her with the same passion he had displayed earlier that morning. She moaned and felt his muscles clench as she arched herself against him. He maneuvered them into a shallower area and backed her up against a boulder. Tall plants hid them from the rest of the tourists, and she was grateful for the privacy as he pressed her further into the foliage. She wasn’t so far gone that she was willing to be an exhibitionist.

“Oh, Eric” Mia whispered as he released her lips and kissed her neck. She doubted that he could hear her from the thunderous sounds of the waterfall nearby, but he groaned in her ear as she pressed her breasts into his chest.

“Damn,” Eric said as he lifted his head and stared into her green eyes. “I knew your bikini would do this to me.”

“What?” asked Mia, her mind clouded by passion.

“Never mind,” Eric said impatiently.

He slipped his hands beneath her flimsy bikini bottom and clutched her against him. He kissed her with thirsty hunger, his tongue thrusting into her mouth while his hands kneaded her bare bottom. He ground his lower body into hers, making her achingly aware of his erection through his shorts. She arched against him, her desire spiraling out of control. He tugged her bikini top down and eagerly swallowed one pert breast.

“Oh, yes,” moaned Mia, tossing her head back as he sucked her breast.