Player in Paradise (6 page)

I skip the group lunch to rest in bed and order room service. My head and neck feel much better now that I’ve iced it and taken some pain medication. I hope Kai doesn’t get in too much trouble; he seemed like a nice guy.

I open my laptop and check my work email which is flooded with media requests for photos from the trip, as well as updates from my lovely boss on all the details she’s discussed with Cassidy and her mother. Another message instructs me to prepare a media alert to be distributed the morning after the engagement. The assignment brings me back to reality. I’m still on a work trip, not a fancy vacation with a movie star. I clack away on my laptop and make up some fluffy drivel.

There’s a knock on my door and I hesitate to answer. The king size
d bed has the most comfortable, cloud-like mattress in the world, and I’m propped up against four feather pillows so perfectly.

I slowly swing my legs over the
edge and head to the door to see who my visitor is. Peeking through the peephole, I see the man responsible for my near-death experience. Do I want to invite him in? Every time we’re together things get a little too heavy for my liking.

“It’s Austin,” he shouts, knocking again.

My stomach ties up in knots when I hear his voice. I straighten out my tank top, unlock the deadbolt and twist the handle.

“Hey.”
He throws his well-built arms around my shoulders and pulls me in close. “I’m really sorry about what happened earlier. I didn’t mean for you to get hurt.”

“It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not.
” He places a small white box in my hand before stepping into the room.

I inspect the package. “What’s this?”

“Just open it,” he says with a smile.

Inside I find a silver necklace with a pretty little seashell charm. “Oh, Austin…this is be
autiful, but I can’t accept it.”

I close the box and push it back into his hands.

“Yes, you can.” He opens the box and takes the necklace out. “Come here.”

He positions me to stand in front of him and ho
oks the clasp around my neck. “It’s the least I can do to say I’m sorry for being an asshole.”

I tug at the seashell and twist it around my finger. “But you’re my client, so I can’t take a gift from you.”

He turns me around. “Then think of it as a gift between friends.”

“Friends?
I barely know you.”

“Ouch.” He lies down on the couch, extending his long legs across. “Honestly, you don’t want to get to know me. I’m pretty fucked up.”

“I don’t believe that.” I pull up the desk chair and roll it close to the sofa, playing therapist.

“It’s true, I had a shitty childhood. I won’t bore you with the details, but I’ve basically b
een on my own for the past ten years.” He doesn’t say it like he’s proud.

I rub the seashell between my fingers. “What do you mean on your own? Where were your parents?”

“My dad left when I was two, and…my mom…well, she liked to drink. So she’d forget to take me to school sometimes, or sleep through dinner, which meant I didn’t eat either.”

That’s definitely not what it says in his press kit bio. I mean, I knew he must have
had some sort of messed up past to behave the way he does now, but I never imagined something that serious. I’m stunned into silence.

He sighs and rests his hands behind his head. “See, I told you that you wouldn’t want to know.”

“No, Austin, I do want to know. I just, I don’t know what to say.” I scoot my chair closer and place a hand on his knee. “Underneath your bad-boy exterior, I truly think you’re a good person. And I know I’m not helping you feel any better about yourself with this whole engagement situation. I’m really trying to get you out of having to go through with it, but I’m afraid things aren’t moving in that direction. And…I hate to throw this at you now, but since you might have forgotten, Cassidy saw us together last night and she threatened to tell my boss about us if you don’t carry out her plan.”

He slides his thumb and forefinger across the stubble alo
ng his jaw line for what feels like an eternity. “You really think I’m a good person?”

“My heart
tells me you are. My brain isn’t as convinced, but I tend to follow my heart.”

“Has your heart ever been wrong?”

I frown. “Unfortunately, yes.” I recall the countless times I’ve been used by boys that I thought were into me, only to find out later that they didn’t want to be “attached.”

He sits up to face me and grabs my hand from his leg. His eyes search mine as if they can answer a silent question he’s asked.

“I’ll do it,” he says.

“Do what?”

“I’ll propose to Cassidy. If you think that’s the right thing to do, then I’ll do it.”

I imagined myself much more relieved in this situation than I actually am. I don’t feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders
at all, in fact, it feels like ten more pounds have been added.

I bite my lip, chewing anxiously. “Thank you for agreeing. I’ll let you know the final details as soon as I receive them
...”

His hands haven’t left mine,
and he looks at me as if he can see right through me. Forget the “PR speak” – I need to be honest with him.

“Ok
ay, it’s not the right thing to do,” I whisper. “But I don’t know what else to do…” My voice cracks and my eyes sting – the stress of the week is crumbling down around me, and dragging this already damaged soul into this ridiculous situation just isn’t fair.

He
reaches out to cradle my face, his rough fingers wiping a tear across my cheek. “I can handle it, Olivia. I promise.”

“This isn’t what I signed up for,” I say, choking on my words.

“It’s not what I signed up for either, babe. But, sometimes you just gotta roll with it. And I’m not letting you lose your job. If you think I’m a good guy, then I’m going to be the good guy. I won’t let you down.”

His hands travel down my neck to caress my shoulders, kneading them gently.

“You promise?” I ask.

He leans in close to whisper in my ear. “I promise.”

His warm breath on my neck makes my pulse quicken.

“Do we have anything we need to get to right now?” he asks.

“I…don’t think so.”

“And you’re sure you’re feeling better?”

I nod.

“Good.”
He eagerly grabs me off the chair and I land on top of him on the couch. My legs splay across his waist as I stare down into his carnal gaze. His fingers tangle in my hair, pulling me in closer for a kiss. As his tongue explores my mouth, I can’t help but want more.

I bite his lower lip and pull away
slowly. Running my fingers through his soft waves, I tug at the ends and instinctively grind my pelvis into his.

He smiles and tosses his head back. “Oh boss lady, I like it when you take charge.”

Reaching for my tank top, he drags the thin fabric over my head with ease. He wraps his arms around me, luring me in until I’m tightly pressed against his chest. I inhale the faint scent of salt water and sunblock as my nose grazes his neck, just below his ear.

I allow his hands to explore my body, feeling their way down from my bare shoulders, past my rib cage, to my hips. He slides the tips of his fingers underneath the top of my denim shorts
as I meld my body to his.

A sm
all groan escapes his throat as I begin to kiss his neck. My lips travel up to his earlobe and I tug it gently with my teeth. He responds by pushing his short fingernails deeper into my skin.

In one fell s
woop, he grasps my waist and flips me over so that he’s the one on top. He pulls his soft cotton tee over his head and I take in the sight of his chiseled chest moving up and down as his breath quickens. He stares at me as if I’m the prize in a carnival game that he’s been trying win all night.

Without a word, his lips are on mine again and he’s unhooking my bra. I shift my a
rms to let the straps fall down and he tosses the garment aside. My hands are caught up in his mess of tangled waves as he grabs my breasts.

“Fuck, you have gorgeous tits,” he says, grinning at me.
He latches his mouth onto my nipple and sucks hard.

I glide my nails down his back as he work
s his way toward my other breast. He shivers as his soft skin pricks up with goosebumps all over. Moving his head away from my chest, he embraces me tightly before lifting me off the couch. My legs wrap around his narrow waist and he carries me across the expansive room. I gasp as he playfully throws me down on the soft bed. The pink and orange glow of the Hawaiian sunset streams in through the crack in the curtains, illuminating our skin.

There’s no turning back at this point and I don’t want to. Cass
idy already thinks we’ve done it, and Austin agreed to propose to keep her quiet, so what do I have to lose?

He’s standing at the edge of the bed, shirtless, with a devilish l
ook in his eyes. I’ve never seen anyone as attractive as him in my entire life, and I still can’t believe he wants me.

I
hook my ankles behind his knees, nudging him closer.

“God, you’re sexy,” he says, leaning over me. 

I roll my eyes. Is he really sober right now?

“I’m serious, Olivia, you don’t even know how bea
utiful you are. And that makes you even hotter.”

I grin.
“Thanks, you’re not so bad yourself.”

“Oh yeah?
Don’t think I haven’t noticed you checking me out.”

I turn my head to the side
, but he just laughs.

“Don’t be embarrassed
, I think it’s cute.” He inches his way over, fumbling to undo the button on my shorts. I help kick them off eagerly.

“Your turn,” I say, sitting up to unzip his fly. His khaki cargo shorts fall to the floor and he towers over me in his black boxer briefs. His hard-on brushes against my leg as we toss around in bed, making out and exploring each other’s bodies. I feel like I’m in high school again
with a mix of pure excitement and raging hormones coursing through my body, except that this time, the boy knows exactly what he’s doing.

Austin makes the first move bel
ow the belt, sliding my red panties down my hips and over my knees until they’re completely off. The room is quiet except for our heavy breathing and the faint sound of the ocean crashing on the beach outside. He kisses me again, softly this time, and gently slides one finger inside. I exhale sharply; it’s a different sensation than last night’s escapade in the shower. This time he’s present, aware, and in tune to what my body needs.

His fingers feel nice, but it’s not enough
to fill my sudden craving. His hand moves away and he finds his way to the side of the bed. Spreading my legs wider, he softly caresses my center with his tongue, sending electric-like currents through my body. 

I moan, grabbing the sheets around me f
or support. Closing my eyes, I savor the intense feeling running through me. I’m breathless, but need him even more now.

He
meets me back on the mattress and I jerk at the elastic band of his boxer briefs to set him free. Pushing him down, I take him in my hands and watch his face contort in pleasure. I run my breasts along his body and he opens his eyes to watch the show. A slow smile drags across his face as he lifts one arm behind his head.

I lower my head and take him in my mouth. The salty, sweet flavor tickles the back of my throat and I swirl my tongue around him eagerly. I glance up and notice that his eyes are now closed, his lips parted. I
make my way up his happy trail, placing light kisses around his belly button. He grabs my face gently and draws me back to eye level.

“You ready?” he whispers
.

I nod and he grabs his shorts from the floor, searching his pockets. He pulls out the shiny foil wrapper and rolls on the condom. This time he was prepared.

My hands involuntarily shake. It’s been a long time since I’ve been with anyone, and I’ve never been with a guy who looks and feels this amazing. He intertwines his fingers with mine and holds my hands against the pillow above me, easing my worries.

As he slowly enters
, the intense sensation overcomes my thoughts, and I completely forget about my anxiety. The fullness and motion of his slow, rocking rhythm lights my body on fire. My breath quickens and the proximity of his face to mine makes the rest of the world disappear. Right now, it’s just him and me and the sound of the ocean. Sweat glistens across his forehead as he smiles down at me.

Once I recover from the initial shock of what’s actually happening, I pick up the pace and rock harder. H
e grins wide before landing his lips on mine, driving his tongue into my mouth deeper and faster. He pulls away and attaches himself to my neck, sucking and biting forcefully. I know he’ll send me over the edge any second.