Tropical Storm (15 page)

Behind her, Cairo kissed her shoulder then slowly made his way up to her neck. “What do you think?” He asked pressing his advantage.

Storm stepped away from the subtle persuasion of his lips before she chanced speaking. “It’s absolutely beautiful, but then you know that. Did you have a motive in mind when you brought us here?”

He didn’t pretend to misunderstand. “Of course I had a motive.” He admitted. “I wanted to show you that this marriage will not be like the first. I have the means to take care of you and Shane. I want you to have and enjoy everything that money can offer. I didn’t have it to offer you before, but I have it now. Everything I have is yours.”

Storm sighed heavily her resistance crumbling. Cairo was bringing out the big guns for her seduction. A part of her knew he was manipulating her but looking once again around the magnificent room and the sweeping view,
she couldn’t bring herself to care. Throwing her cares to the wind, she stepped back into his arms.

“We’ll need a king-size bed. I want something big
enough for us to play in.”

Cairo held her tightly and caressed her hair, reveling in its silky softness.
“Your wish is my command. Stay here, my surprise isn’t over yet.” He left them to run out to the jeep. He came back bearing a huge wicker basket and a blanket
he’d stowed in the trunk. He spread the blanket in the center of the empty living room and walked around the room to open the windows. Flowing white
curtains, the room’s only adornment, fluttered from the slight tropical breeze and the smell of the sea drifted up from below. With a flourish Cairo opened the basket and pulled out a cooler with a
bottle of Dom Perignon Rose and bottles of Ting
grapefruit soda.
From another thermal container he removed still warm beef and chicken patties and freshly baked cocoa bread for Shane, and spicy jerked chicken and fried dumplings for the adults.
Two chilled crystal champagne flutes followed along with a plastic cup. The pièce de résistance was a homemade carrot cake with vanilla icing. Storm and Shane’s mouths were already watering.

“You really didn’t have to do this, Cairo.” Storm protested weakly staring at the basket. “You have already done so much for us.” Her gaze fastened on the warm crispy
dumplings.

Laughing, Cairo snatched a dumpling up and waved it under her nose. “Go on, eat it. You deserve it. It’s not anything special. I brought this here because I knew we would be hungry that’s all. Go ahead, take a bite.”

He didn’t have to ask her twice. She took a hearty bite and closed her eyes. “Mmm,” she moaned as the buttery fried dough practically
melted on her tongue.

“Is it as good as it looks, mommy?” Shane asked as he sandwiched a chicken patty between the cocoa bread.

“Better.” Storm answered. “It tastes better than it looks.”

Shane put a piece of dumpling in his sandwich and opened his mouth as far as it would go and took a bite. “Yum.” He said his mouth full. “Yup, you’re right. It does taste better than it looks.”

Cairo watched them in amazement. “I’ve never seen two people who love to eat so much. You two are definitely related.” He joked as he started making a plate of food for himself.
He might as well have been talking to himself because Storm and Shane were busy with the food in front of them. Grinning, he reached for the corkscrew and opened the bottle of
Dom Perignon. The sound of the cork flying into the air distracted the two from their meal long enough for them to focus on him.

“Ah, I’m glad you remembered that I’m here.” He joked pouring Storm a glass of the sparkling liquid. He poured himself a glass and handed Shane a soda just as the boy reached for the bottle. Cairo snatched the champagne away from him laughing. “None for you, you little terror. Learn to love what you have before you move on to the big boy stuff. You’ll get to drink this in time.”

Shane shrugged and resumed eating. A mere ten minutes passed before Cairo noticed that two pairs of green eyes were watching him expectantly.

He raised a questioning brow. “What is it?”

Storm flushed guiltily and had the grace to look away. Shane wasn’t as modest.

“We were just wondering when we could have the cake.” He asked shamelessly.

Cairo burst out laughing. The laughter was freeing and infectious. Soon his two companions, buoyed by his amusement, started to chuckle along with him. It wasn’t long before they were all rolling around happily on the tiled floor in the center of a deserted house in the middle of nowhere. When they finally contained themselves, they smiled happily at each other; there was no need for words. For the first time they felt like a family.

“C’mon guys, dig in.” Cairo said ceremoniously passing them each a slice of cake. They all groaned this time when they tasted the moist and flavorful carrot cake.

“I can see why the two of you were so impatient. This is so good, it’s actually sinful.” He declared closing his eyes in bliss. Storm and Shane were too engrossed to agree. Instead, all three of them finished the first slice and then went back for another. The process repeated itself until the cake was finished.

Shane dropped his fork and rolled onto his back groaning. “I think I ate too much.” He complained his legs spread wide and his hands thrown across his stomach.

Storm rolled on her back beside him. “Me too,” she agreed patting her own stomach. “But it was all worth it.” She sighed
contentedly.

After a brief hesitation, Cairo also lay on his back and rested his head in the crook of Storm’s arm. She stiffened at first then she relaxed and gently stroked his head with her other hand.

“Next time we will stop after the first helping of dessert.” He suggested. “You two are bad influences on me.” Sitting up he started to clear the food and the remnants of their meal. Come on; let’s not waste the day away. I have more of the island to show you. Go and wash up in the bathrooms and let’s go.”

Amidst much groaning and pleading, he got them out of the house and they were on the road again leaving behind what would someday be their new home.

“Get some rest now sleepy head, you’ve had a big day.” Storm leaned over and gave Shane a kiss on the cheek. He didn’t protest; he was tired from too much food and too much travel. He simply murmured softly and snuggled deeper into the cool
cotton sheets. To complete the day, Cairo had brought them to the Bath Fountain Hotel & Spa and tucked them comfortably into a mountainside bungalow suite. He’d thought of everything, even down to hiring a nanny for the night. At midnight Cairo and Storm were still enjoying the day. As Storm walked out of her bedroom suite the nanny walked in.

“Where are we going now?” She asked Cairo drinking in the sight of him in an unbuttoned white cotton shirt and loose fitting shorts that stopped above his knees.

“It’s a surprise, but don’t worry, what you have on is just fine.” He nodded appreciatively at the emerald green sarong Storm wore over her white two-piece bathing suit complimented by emerald green sandals. Taking her hand he smiled and said, “Come with me.”

Without hesitation Storm slipped her hands into his. He led her out of the bungalow to a path just at the foot of a hill that led up to a hot springs legendary for the soothing mineral baths that bubbled up from the volcanic rock. The steamy spring then cascaded into a relaxing pool. The foliage around the
Bath Fountain was different from other parts of Jamaica that they’d visited. It was greener and wilder, with fragrant flowering shrubs and shady trees. Here the rich smell of the earth was almost overpowering. The low-key, eco-friendly Bath Fountain Hotel was the exact opposite of Cairo’s posh hotel. It was smaller, more intimate and less refined than
The
Victory
, but it had its own charms. The path to the baths was lit with many hanging lights that twinkled and dispelled the darkness of the rocky terrain.
Storm followed Cairo up the hill until they came across a little stream that gurgled and grew into a flowing pond. Here the hands of nature had carved beds of rock out of the landscape. These rock beds used for massages accommodated tourists and locals alike who visited the springs to enjoy the healing properties of the mineral water.

“Here we are.” Cairo announced bringing her over to the spring that splashed against a bamboo shower in a stream of hot sprays.

Storm slipped out of her sandals and sarong and gingerly stepped forward. The clear cold water reached to her knees. She could barely see despite the torches set up around the perimeter of the spring. She relied on Cairo to keep her safe.

“The Bath Fountain is usually open to the public all day
but I reserved it tonight just for us. I wanted it to be special.”

“The entire day has been special, Cairo.” She said closing her hand around his. “Shane and I have never had more fun in our lives. You’re spoiling us.”

“This is just the beginning.” Cairo promised. “Come with me.”

He led her deep into the fountains steamy center and stripped off his shirt. He leaned back into the heated water and let its healing minerals wash over him. When he saw Storm still standing where he had left her, he
motioned her forward.

The first drop of the water on her skin made Storm scream. “It’s hot!” She exclaimed.

Laughing, Cairo showed her how to move her body in an out of the spray so it touched but didn’t scorch her skin. After a while, the heat of the spring seemed more soothing than scalding. Storm ran her hands through her hair, rubbed the water in circles over her skin and tasted the salty minerals on her tongue. The outdoor bath made her feel close to nature and almost decadent. She turned to find Cairo watching
her with hungry eyes.

“I don’t know how to thank you for today and for
bringing me here. It’s a memory I will always treasure.”

“I’m glad you like it.” He shrugged off her thanks. “I just wanted to show you all the things I love about Jamaica, I want to share them with you and I hope you’ll let me.”
He said his meaning clear.

Storm looked deeply into his eyes. “I really appreciate how well you took the news that you have a son.” She started hesitantly.
“You could have chosen never to speak to me again, but I’m glad that you understood that there were circumstances that kept us all apart. That said, I want you to understand that my position on my son is non-negotiable. As much as I love Jamaica and you, I won’t just give Shane to you. I will share my heart, my body and everything else that I have but my son and I are inseparable. I hope you understand.”

Cairo was silent for several moments before he answered, “I only want what is best for all of us. Let’s not ruin our night with talk of separation. I want to be where you are, and where you are, Shane will be there as well. Let’s not worry about anything else.”

Cairo then turned to the rocks that formed a table and from underneath he removed a silver bucket and a bottle of champagne. He poured two glasses of the sparkling liquid handed one to Storm and then raised his glass in a toast. “To us and to what the future holds.” Cairo said, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes.

“To us,” Storm repeated after a slight hesitation. “There is an us isn’t there, Cairo?”

“There’s definitely an us.” He reassured her. “Tonight,
tomorrow, next year, I’m not letting you out of my sight. You’re mine.”

I’m yours.” Storm repeated breathlessly.

“Don’t worry, Jessica.” Cairo said a few minutes later, taking her glass then putting them back behind him.
“Put all your fears to rest. This time we will get it right. We have all the reason in the world to make things work between us.”

Momentarily
reassured, Storm walked into his arms and let the spray beat against their bodies and wash
away her fears.

They spent the night under the stars. It was very late when
Cairo lifted her sleepy form into his arms and strolled back with her to the bungalow suite. He placed her in the middle of the bed shielded by a canopy of mosquito netting. Storm peered sleepily at Cairo.

“Bring me to your room; let me stay with you for the rest of the night.” She whispered, gazing languidly at him from under half closed lids.

“Don’t tempt me.” Cairo warned.

“Why not, I want you and you want me. Give in, Cairo. You know you want to.” She urged.

“Of course, I want to.” He admitted his own
gaze languorous and direct. “I would be a fool not to want you. But I want to have a legal right to sleep in your arms every night. I want to be able to wake up with you every morning and know that you belong to me. Until that time comes, I will wait patiently. Marry me soon, Jessica. Don’t make us both wait longer than necessary.” He then cupped her chin and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

Storm’s body warmed at his touch, she wanted desperately to reach out to him, to pull him to her,
but she remained still. She wanted to make love to Cairo but if she played by his rules she would never know why they were together. She would never know if he was marrying her because he loved her or because he loved their son. It was a risk she couldn’t afford to take. She needed his love and would accept nothing less. Knowing that nothing would happen between them tonight, she let him tuck her under the sheets. She then silently watched him leave the room. The tears of frustration that gathered in her eyes were the only indication of how much she really wanted him to stay.

After checking on Shane and the nanny in the adjoining room, Cairo cursed himself for a fool as he walked into his suite. Tearing off his clothes, he threw the offending garments across the room in the only sign of frustration that he allowed himself to display. He was losing control fast. Storm wanted him and just being in the room with her heated his blood and his body. He was holding himself in check by a very thin thread but it was unraveling fast. He didn’t want Storm to know how much she affected him, how much power she had over him. Knowledge was power to Storm and he knew she would have no reservations about using any advantage to get her way. He couldn’t trust himself around her; she was too tempting. So he resolved within himself to keep his physical distance. He wanted Storm to be his wife and he couldn’t convince her of the urgency of getting a divorce if he found himself constantly and repeatedly in her bed. If he made her want him like he wanted her, maybe she would be that much more anxious to end her marriage quickly. Until that time, resisting her was going to be hard. Cairo looked down at himself and grimaced ruefully, damn hard. Thoroughly disgusted with himself, he stepped out of his underwear and headed for the shower.