No More Wasted Time (39 page)

“I’m fine. This place is magical,” she whispered.

He nuzzled her neck with his unshaven face. “Yes, it is. I
couldn’t wait to come back here.”

Mr. Rene was still singing when they approached a small
exotic
motu
Tess had never seen before. Pink and yellow hibiscus bloomed
everywhere and tall palm trees swayed in the light breeze. Black lava rock
jutted out into the lagoon at both ends of a lovely U-shaped beach.

Mr. Rene pulled up to the dock. A sailboat and a speedboat
were already tied to the dock. “I will see you soon. My misses will be very
happy for you. You are a blessed man, Mr. Tom. Look at how beautiful Mrs. Blue
Eyes is. See? I told you.” Mr. Rene began singing again as he pulled away from
the dock.

Tom draped his arm around Tess and waved goodbye. Looking
down, he said, “
This
is our honeymoon.” He stared hungrily at her, as
she ran her hands over his back and butt. “Oh, yeah. It feels like Sunday to
me.”

The path at the end of the dock led them through the palm
trees to a gorgeous bungalow all but hidden by lush tropical flowers.

“Holy crap! This is absolutely breathtaking.”

“Let’s check it out.”

Overlooking the perfect beach lay a gorgeous plunge pool on
the deck in front of the magnificent bungalow. Tom slid the disappearing glass
doors all the way open, exposing the amazing view of the lagoon. They could lie
in bed gazing out over islands in the distance. The luxurious white bedding
popped with large orange, yellow and pink pillows. This bungalow was larger
than others she had stayed in, with a beautiful full-size kitchen and a living
room furnished with teakwood tables and an off-white modern sofa and chaise. It
was by far the most exquisite bungalow she’d seen.

At this point, Tess was done inspecting the bungalow. She
focused on Tom
. He wants Sunday? I’ll give him Sunday.
He headed into
the bathroom to look around. She slipped her clothes off and pulled the
comforter off the bed. Tom turned back to see where she was and he grinned the
crooked grin she loved so much.

“Come here, Tess.”

She ambled into the bathroom, staring only at him. Tom
lifted her up onto the counter as her legs fastened around him. He pulled off
his T-shirt as she unbuttoned his shorts and slid them to the floor. Tom tugged
on her hair and tilted her head back. He kissed her neck, trailing hot, wet
kisses down to her breast. His arms wrapped around her waist, attempting to
take her to the bedroom.

Tess shook her head. “Wait, kiss me.” Tess wanted to give
herself to him again just by kissing. She was filled with desire and already on
the edge, it would happen this time.

Tom stopped abruptly. His warm mouth found hers, kissing her
eagerly, sucking on her bottom lip. He tugged gently with his teeth and tongue.
The longer, harder and deeper he kissed her, the more it turned her on. Tess
squirmed to the edge of the counter, sliding against the length of him,
breathing in long sighs. Tom plunged his tongue deep between her lips, bringing
sweet spasms, making her cry out beneath his lips as she melted over him.

“I want to feel you, Tom.”

He carried her to bed and gave her what she craved. Tom took
her from the back, the front and the side. Tess rolled him onto his back,
grasping his hands over his head and pinning him to the bed.

She whispered in his ear as her hair fell around his face.
“Do I feel like Sunday?”

His strong and powerful hands shifted her hips, trusting
himself deeper. “Do I feel like Sunday to you, Tess?” At that exact moment, it
turned into Sunday for both of them. Tess laid her head on his chest, gasping
for air.

“How did I ever get so lucky to find you?” he said
earnestly.

Thirty minutes later Tess dragged Tom to the beach. They
grabbed their masks, drifting in the warm turquoise lagoon. Black lava rocks
swarmed with vibrant fish as well as one turtle. Several reefs beckoned in the
distance, but they would have to wait until tomorrow.

Tess traipsed through the sand and rinsed off before dipping
into the plunge pool. “How long are we staying?” she asked inquisitively.

Tom walked past. “I’m going to fix us a drink.”

“Not so fast.”

“I’ll be right back.” He returned minutes later with martinis
and stepped into the water.

“So how long are we staying in paradise?”

“How long would you like to stay for, Tess?”

She floated in his lap. “Forever. I love it here.”

“Me, too. I don’t know what it is about this place, but I
can’t keep my hands off you.” He kissed her and carried her to their room.

“Oh, you know…It’s the blue sky, the turquoise water, the
scent of the Tiare flowers growing everywhere, the heat and humidity, the stars
in the sky at night and-”

He dumped her onto the bed. “I think it’s just you lying on
the bed naked.” His lip pulled back into his crooked grin. “I know we just had
Sunday a few hours ago, but I want to make love to you.”

She stretched her arms above her head, pretending to yawn,
acting as if she was too tired, but she couldn’t keep a straight face. Tess
slid her hands down her body. “Well get over here and make love to me then.”

“I need to tell you something first.”

She sat up on her knees, pulling him on top of her. “You can
tell me later.”

Tom took his time, touching her tenderly while he talked.
They normally didn’t talk much while they made love, but that afternoon they
did. “I’ve waited so long to find you,” he said, gazing into her eyes. “I hope
you’re ready for the rest of our lives together because it’s going to be more
than either one of us expected. I won’t waste one minute with you. Not one. No
more wasted time.” His breathing accelerated and he put his lips next to her
ear. “No more tears, Tess. I won’t ever disappoint you or make you unhappy. I
love you too much.” He tried to kiss her, but her head dropped back off the
side of the bed, cresting a wave of pleasure simultaneously. 

When Tess opened her eyes the next morning, she could smell
coffee brewing and climbed out of bed. Tom stood down by the water, skipping
stones across the lagoon.

Tess joined him on the beach, grinning as she handed him a
cup of coffee. The only thing either of them had on was their sunglasses.

“Morning, Tess. What’s so humorous this morning?”

“I think it’s funny. Here we are, naked, having coffee on
our own deserted island. Where else can you do this? I love it here.”

“Nowhere that I know of. Do you really like it here, Tess?”

“I hate it. It’s terrible. We should find someplace else to
stay.” She laughed sarcastically.

“Let’s check out the other side of the
motu
.” Tom
held her hand as they walked and talked.

Tom’s eyebrows creased and he unconsciously squeezing her
fingers tighter. “Tess, I need to tell you something.”

His death grip on her fingers made her flinch. “I didn’t
think you were serious yesterday. What is it?”

“I’ve been keeping something from you and I’m not sure how
you are going to react when I tell you.”

Her brows automatically wrinkled, mimicking his. He looked
entirely too serious and very uncomfortable. She didn’t like where this
conversation was going. “What is it?”

Tom turned his eyes away from her, staring solemnly toward
the lagoon. “Do you remember when the photo of me was released? When you ran
over your phone.”

Heat rose to her cheeks. “Yes, I remember all too well.”

“I was here in Bora Bora when that happened.”

Tess attempted to process what he said, but could only
envision the photo of him with that girl. “By yourself?”

Tom gave her the strangest look. “No, I wasn’t by myself.
But that doesn’t have anything to do with it.”

Tears stung her eyes as her lip quivered. “It matters to me.
Why were you here? You told me that you were in Germany filming. Did you lie to
me? Do not tell me you were really with her.”

He looked at her as if she had lost it. “No, no, no, no,
Tess. No. Tess, that’s not it at all.” He embraced her, but she stiffened under
his touch. “Stop it, Tess.” He held her face, staring into her tearful eyes.
“Stop it right now. That’s not what I’m trying to tell you. I most definitely
have
NOT
been with another woman.”

She sighed heavily, hugging him tightly. “Sorry. You just
made it sound like you were going to tell me something about that picture. You
have a horrible look on your face like you’re afraid to tell me something.”

“I am afraid to tell you something.”

“Well, spit it out. Who were you with?”

“If it makes you feel better, I was with Lisa.”

“Lisa? Why were you in Bora Bora with Lisa?”

He dropped her hand, pacing anxiously, digging his toes in
the sand. “Okay, fine. She made me swear not to tell you so you cannot tell her
you know she was here. All right.”

“I wish you’d just say it. You’re freaking me out, Tom.
Fine, I won’t tell her I know she was here. What’s the big deal?”

“You make me nervous sometimes, Tess. Sorry. I don’t get
this way very often. Nothing comes out right.”

“I make you nervous?” She huffed sarcastically.

“I know you find it hard to believe, but for some reason you
make me nervous once in a while. I happen to really love that about you because
I never get uncomfortable.” He attempted to grin.

“I’m still waiting for you to tell me something, Tom.”

“When Benny took over the film for me, Lisa flew to Germany
with him to say goodbye. I was coming here to Bora Bora and she wanted to tag
along. She mentioned something about your dancing at the premier. Apparently
you were a twelve and she seemed somewhat pissed about it. Lisa asked me
earlier where you learned to dance and I told her I thought some of it came
from Bora Bora so she wanted to take a Tahitian dance lesson while I took care
of some…business. Lisa’s slightly competitive, and you dance better than she
does. That’s why she was with me at your house when John came after me. I flew
straight from Bora Bora to Las Vegas when I found out about the picture in the
magazine.”

Tess grinned, but was losing her patience. “You’re 
rambling. Please, just spit it out.”

“I told you I had a plan, but everything got screwed up when
that ridiculous picture was released. When I came to Bora Bora, Tess, I had
already planned on asking you to marry me. I came here to…make a purchase for
you, a wedding present for the both of us.”

“Why? Are you worried I’m not going to like it? I love
everything about this place.”

“Good. Because
this
is your wedding present.”

“I know. This is our honeymoon.”

“No, Tess. This
place
is ours.”

“What place?” she asked.

He grinned immensely. “This
motu
, the bungalow, the
boats. They’re ours. I had this built for us. It’s your wedding present.”

“You bought this island?” Tess’ mouth hung open in complete
shock. “The whole thing? Are you kidding me?”

“Nope. I’m not kidding you. We don’t have to go home. This
is home.”

“Get out of here! How the hell do you buy an island? I don’t
even know what to say. I love it! You’re serious, aren’t you? The bungalow?
Everything?”

Squeezing her tightly, he lifted her up until her toes came
out of the sand and he could kiss her lips. “The whole thing. We can learn how
to sail, too. We may never go back.”

“You’re crazy!” She chuckled, completely taken by surprise
and still in shock.

“I am crazy! About you. We’re going to have fun together for
the rest of our lives. No more wasted time.” Tom set her back down, stroking
her arm from shoulder to wrist, glancing at her watch.

“Wait a minute.” Tess said, mystified. “Why are you so
afraid to tell me about this? You know how much I love it here, Tom. Why would
I be upset? Why were you freaking me out just now to tell me this?”

The smile fell from Tom’s face. He inhaled deeply,
hesitantly pointing to a long stretch of dark blue water that followed the
lagoon by the outer reef. It wasn’t very far from their
motu
. They could
kayak to it.

“Do you see the dark area in the water? It’s an underwater
highway for marine life.” Tom paused, sighing heavily again. “It’s like a
cleaning station for fish. The Tahitian people say the manta rays come to this
spot daily to be cleaned by the reef fish.”

The world seemed to slow to a crawl. Tess nodded her head as
tears stung her eyes. It all came together now. This is why he wanted an
explanation when she broke down in the shower. And yesterday when they made
love, he said he wouldn’t make her unhappy.

“We need to be able to come here,” she quietly repeated his
words.

“That’s right. We need to be able to come here,” he nodded.
“We live here.”

“No more tears, Tom, I promise.” She bit her lip, trying not
to cry.

He grinned his crooked grin for her, trying to make her
smile before kissing her softly. “Are you sure, Tess? I don’t want this to make
you unhappy or uncomfortable. When I bought this place, they told me about the
manta rays that visit every day. That’s what really sold me on this particular
motu
.
I knew it was perfect, or at least I thought it would be perfect, but now I’m
not sure.”

She stared at Tom, thinking of Richard and the manta rays.

“The day we saw the manta rays means a lot to me, Tess. We
were both so happy and excited. Without even thinking, you practically climbed
into my lap and wrapped your arms and legs around me. My heart was pounding in
my chest,” he said very quietly. “That’s never happened to me. Not like that.
Not ever.”

“I remember that exact moment. I was so relieved after
seeing the manta rays, it felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders. It was
the first night we stayed together,” she whispered.