When Mike invited me for a round on the jet ski, I declined with a polite smile. I didn’t know why I felt uneasy all of a sudden. It looked fun, but I didn’t feel like riding. I watched and took pictures from the shore as my friends enjoyed their day. I was content with the distraction that often paraded shirtless along the beach.
The change in the atmosphere and the sea’s exceptional calming effect kept my mind in check. For the first time, I wasn’t pulled deep into the depressing memories of the person I tried hard to forget.
When everyone returned to the shore, I stood and pulled on my now dry trousers.
“The sun will set soon. Let’s ride the jet ski and meet back at the yacht for dinner,” Enrique suggested, and everyone agreed except me. I thought we would get ready for the evening and then walk. The pier was just about fifteen-to-twenty minutes’ walk from here. On the jet ski, you had to go around the small island to get there.
“Orlando, hope you don’t mind taking Ari with you,” Mike yelled as he dragged Skyler to his jet ski.
I watched in horror as all the couples left me without a second thought, and now I was stuck with Orlando.
“You don’t have to…” My voice wavered as I admired my toes, my breathing erratic. “I don’t want to be a trouble.” I couldn’t tell him the thought of being out on the sea unsettled my stomach. I had never been in the ocean before.
“You’re no trouble.” His tone was clipped as he turned and walked to his jet ski.
I took it as my cue to follow him. Climbing on wasn’t hard, but there was no place I could hold on to. My eyes darted to the vast ocean as my mind supplied all the worst possible scenarios. Fear crept up my spine. Looking at it from a distance was one thing, but being out there, surrounded by nothing but the water, was unnerving.
“You’ll have to hold me if you don’t want to fall off.”
I barely had time to register his words when the engine powered up, and I jerked forward, holding onto him with all the strength I had. When we shot forward, I was breathless, literally.
Everything was a blur, and I didn’t know what was happening. Suddenly, the spinning stopped, and Orlando shook me.
“Stop screaming! We’re not moving.”
It wasn’t until he told me that I realized I was screaming. My mouth shut, and when I looked around, I lost it.
“Oh, God! No, no, no, no, no.”
I began breathing through my mouth.
“Take me back!”
My panic rose.
“Take me back.”
Water surrounded us.
Deep and taunting.
“Oh, God! This is…”
I saw nothing but blue.
“Orlando…”
“Relax, Arianna.”
“Please take me back.” Somehow, the sight was suffocating me. I decided the sea was not for me. I couldn’t explain my fear to him. Being out here made me so vulnerable, though, to what I didn’t know. I felt helpless, and I didn’t like it.
“Okay. We can go back once you’ve settled down.”
Orlando’s voice was calm and controlled. My friends were nowhere in sight.
“I’m calm,” I lied, all the while trembling inside. My hold on Orlando hadn’t relaxed.
“I’m going to turn around, and we’re going to go back, okay?”
“Okay.”
I felt his chest expand under the tight grip of my arms before he powered up the engine.
“Wait!”
“Now what?” he snapped.
“I’ll sit in front.”
“You want to drive?”
“No. It’s just…I’m scared.” I hesitated before voicing my fear. I didn’t know if I could handle the trip back, and I’d already embarrassed myself.
Orlando seemed to contemplate my words before he pried my hands off him, only for me to tighten again. “You do realize that you can only move if you let go of me, right?” His voice held a tint of amusement. “I suggest you close your eyes.”
I obeyed immediately. I wanted to smack my head as I loosened my grip and allowed him to guide me to the front, my eyes closed all the while. Orlando practically lifted me up and settled me down in front of him.
“Can we go now?” he asked.
My position was uncomfortable at best. I sat facing him, and the handlebar was behind me. It was awkward, but it was also a welcomed distraction from the view of the sea.
“Why aren’t you wearing a life jacket?”
“I don’t need one.”
“What if you fall?”
He ignored my question. “Why did you come if you’re afraid of the water?”
“I’m not usually afraid. Being out here in the open makes me uneasy.”
His gray eyes assessed me for a moment. “Now that your position is changed, do you think we can go for a round?”
“I don’t know.”
“Hold on to me. If you aren’t comfortable, then we head back to shore, okay?”
I cast a nervous look around before meeting his gaze again. “Okay.” My cheeks heated up as I noticed his naked torso. So close.
It was a task to hold him without showing my discomfort or embarrassment. Fortunately, he didn’t comment. When we moved again, my legs came up, hooking around his waist, and my arms tightened their hold as I buried my face into his neck.
The water, the sound of the engine running, or the bounces it caused never mattered as I focused on not blushing. Being so close to Orlando made my insides flutter.
A feeling somewhere between sinful and uncomfortable crept in. Sinful because a part of me enjoyed the closeness. Uncomfortable because I’d never been so close to him before.
When my eyes opened a few minutes later, my insides were calm. But a new fear made my body tremble as I saw the island growing smaller in the distance.
“Orlando…we are…oh, God!”
As if on cue, the engine sputtered before shutting off.
“What’s happening?” My panic rose.
“I forgot to check the fuel tank.”
“What? You forgot to check your fuel tank?”
His serious expression didn’t change even after a minute. Large hands cupped my face and stopped me from turning around.
“Don’t look.”
“I…I…” I couldn’t help the panic. Even though he stopped me from looking around, I could still see behind, and it wasn’t helping my situation. Water was everywhere. I shouldn’t have agreed to come here.
“Arianna…” he said, “look at me.”
When I looked at him, I couldn’t help but admire his chiseled face inches from mine. Butterflies fluttered in my lower belly. Oh, uh. What the hell was happening? It must be the sea.
“I don’t want to die yet,” I squeaked. Not what I meant to say, but it was the truth.
“You won’t.”
While his hands stopped me from turning, there was no stopping my eyes from taking a stroll. That was enough. But before I panicked, I saw Orlando’s face coming closer.
A warm tingle ignited as soon as our lips connected. Orlando Cortez is kissing me. A gasp of disbelief was all he needed to deepen the kiss. Oh, boy, was he a good kisser.
His tongue swept against mine briefly, and I was too shocked to respond. Just as it started, it finished. I blinked to clear my hazy vision. I realized I was doing that a lot these days.
“Turn around.”
“Huh?”
“Unhook your legs from my waist.”
“Oh.” I didn’t know if my cheeks could get any hotter as I untangled my legs from his narrow, muscular waist.
“Stand up and keep your eyes on me.”
My body behaved as if it was on autopilot as I did as I was told. In an instant, I sat facing the ocean, and I couldn’t take my eyes off the sight before me.
Orange sky greeted me above the blue sea. The sun was about to set, and I basked in the golden glow. I’d never seen a sunset this close. We had an excellent view here with no disruptions of buildings or people.
My brain registered the peaceful silence around us. The only sound was the slight tapping of water on the ski as the gentle wind brushed my skin.
“It’s so beautiful,” I whispered as I watched the sea slowly swallow the fireball.
“It is.”
His hot breath on my right ear made me jump slightly, but my eyes weren’t on the sunset anymore. When I turned, our eyes locked. There was an unreadable expression on his face as he lowered his head.
***
Neither of us spoke about the kiss again, and everything went back to normal. Orlando lied about the fuel in our jet ski. It had been a day since our kiss, and that was all I could think about that night as I lay on my bed.
“Ari, can you hand me that brush?”
Rosie’s voice distracted me from my thoughts. I obeyed silently as Rosie worked on my hair. I was certainly not looking forward to the event this evening. “Should we really be going to this thing? I thought it’s only for their business associates.”
Rosie chuckled under her breath. “You agreed to be Orlando’s date, remember? He said he’ll be here to accompany you shortly.”
I snorted, not amused by the idea. “If this is anything like the parties at my parents’, I’ll be back in my room in no time.” Orlando could manage alone.
“That’s up to you.”
There was a knock at the door. “He’s here.” Rosie went to open the door, and I followed. All I wanted to do now was to stay in and watch a movie or two.
“You look gorgeous.” An appreciative tone brought me out of my sulking thoughts. My eyes snapped to Orlando, who appeared as handsome as ever in his gray suit.
“Thank you.” My smile couldn’t be helped as I looped my hand in his elbow. The self-consciousness I normally felt around Brian was absent when I was with Orlando. My shoulders straightened, and my strides grew more confident with every step I took.
“Thanks for joining me, Arianna,” Orlando said softly as we drew closer. “I’m not really looking forward to this, but being a host, I can’t skip the event.”
“No problem.” Though I wasn’t looking forward to staying, I decided to try for Orlando’s sake.
I stifled my yawn and focused on the brunette who was making my ears bleed. She was going on about all the designer brands that were in her closet and the number of fashion shows she had hosted in her career. The worst part was she recognized me as a Swanson and didn’t miss a chance to sing my parents’ praise.“If you don’t mind, Ms. Weston, I promised my girl a dance.” Orlando arrived to rescue me. The woman’s mouth went slack as I graciously accepted his hand with a sigh of relief. “Sorry for that. I got caught in a conversation and couldn’t get away,” he said as he led me to the dance floor.“This party is boring as fuck.”Orlando’s brows rose in question before he chuckled under his breath. “Don’t say that too loud. I’m their host, remember?” he casually joked as we moved around the dance floor.I couldn’t help but compare him with Brian at times like this. Brian would get offended and didn’t appreciate my cussing. Had it been him, he’d have lectured me for an hour, unlike Orlando
Rosie caught up with me just as I exited the pond, throwing a towel at me. “I have something for them to mull over,” she said and winked.“What did you do now?” I knew immediately she had posted something on Instagram.Rosie giggled as she swiped her thumb across the screen. My breath hitched as soon as the post came into view. The sudden rush of blood to my brain drowned all the sounds around me. I recognized the moment she’d captured, and the memory warmed my heart.Orlando had his hands around my waist as a pristine smile adorned his lips. My orange gown with gold embroidery contrasted well with his gray suit. It was his first real smile in a long time. My eyes were mesmerized as I looked at him, and the camera had captured it all.“When did you take this?”“Oh, I was passing by and saw two birds picking sticks to build their nest. Couldn’t help but capture what I thought would be one of the many best moments to come.”Goose bumps erupted on my flesh as my eyes widened. “Rosie…” My
Silence.So comfortable.A gentle breeze ruffled the material of the tent as I tried to sleep. My heart fluttered and did a somersault thinking about being so close to Orlando again. I fell asleep with him twice before, but this confined space felt too intimate.My body stiffened when I felt him move. I hadn’t changed my position, pretending to sleep. A few excruciating seconds later, I felt his hand snaking around my waist and pulling me closer.“Good night, Arianna,” he whispered.A gasp escaped my lips as my belly dipped. He continued to bury his face in my hair, and his sigh of contentment brushed my skin. I should’ve pretended to be asleep and slept like that, but I couldn’t help the grin that lit my face.I turned around in his arms and pressed my cheek against his warm chest, realizing he had removed his shirt before lying down. “What a loser,” I mumbled and snuggled closer.“Huh?” Orlando said hesitantly.“I said she’s a loser,” I repeated and felt his heart racing. That was a
“Hey, Rose, Jeff is looking for you,” Mike said, his free arm slung over my shoulder as he nursed a fancy drink.“Oh, I’ll be right back.”“So, what’s up, Ari?” Mike asked. “Or should I say, sister…”“Mike…”“I’m so happy for you, Ari.” He kissed my forehead. “I know I warned you before, but I see how much Orlando has changed. Hoping for the best for you two.”“Thanks, Mike.”“Don’t thank me yet. Look, I don’t know what future holds, but I can tell he would never hurt you like Brian did. I know that much.”Before I could respond, the music stopped, and I saw Jeff climbing over a table. My eyes widened. Oh, my God! This is it. My phone. I patted down my hidden pockets, finding my phone in a hurry, not wanting to miss this beautiful moment. I’d been waiting for this for what felt like forever.The crowd parted, clearing the path for Rosie as the lights dimmed. Two spotlights illuminated the couple as Jeff laughed nervously. Someone handed him a mic. “Rosalinda…” Jeff breathed. “I’ve bee
A groan left my lips as I rolled over in bed. Morning hunger was gnawing at my insides, reminding me I had eaten nothing last night.When I couldn’t stand it any longer, I got up and went to the bathroom, quickly brushing my teeth. I washed my face and pulled my hair into a ponytail before I went downstairs. I was still in last night’s clothes. My attire was presentable, and I didn’t bother to change. The Cortezes had known me since I was a child, and this wasn’t new.“Good morning,” I called to no one in particular and grabbed a piece of bacon from Mike’s plate before taking a seat beside Orlando. Mike filled my plate while I grabbed another bite from his.“What a tramp!”My sleepy eyes snapped to the woman I hadn’t seen before. Did she just call me a tramp? My eyes narrowed to slits as I swallowed the bacon.“You call this thing your girlfriend? What a shame to the Cortez family,” she continued as if I wasn’t present.“And who might you be?” I asked, oblivious to the tension in the
Nine days had passed, and three days since our conversation. A lot had happened, and I was happier than I’d been in a long time. I never knew just a few days was enough to take my mind off certain things. But in truth, I was never over the crush on Orlando. It felt right in every sense. Sometimes, I thanked my fate for bringing Brian into my life. If it wasn’t for the heartbreak, Orlando wouldn’t have felt the need to get closer.Isabel was removed from the property, and everyone was back to normal after that. The wedding date drew closer. While Brian poked his head in my mind once in a while, all I felt now was shame and anger at myself. I was furious for not seeing through his facade. Shameful for trusting him and for allowing him to jerk me around.I had no way of knowing. Even moving in again with my parents was temporary. I was going to move out as soon as I found a job, which I already had with Orlando’s recommendation.A smile broke past my lips at the thought. This morning, he
I lay breathless, my eyes rolled back into my skull as his lips took possession of my mouth again. His fingers were still buried deep in me. Orlando’s thumb applied pressure on my bundle of nerves, making my body jerk. Climbing down from the high, every inch of my apex was still sensitive to his touch.When his lips finally released mine, I opened my eyes to peer into his lust-filled gray ones. That was my best and first orgasm at the hands of a man. A gasp left my mouth when he pulled his fingers out. I looked between us to see my virgin blood coating them, and I felt a blush creep onto my cheeks.“I’m sorry about that,” I muttered, mild embarrassment lacing my voice.Orlando’s smile was unfazed. “This isn’t something I’d be embarrassed about,” he whispered thickly. “This is an honor. Thanks for giving it to me, Arianna.”His words dumbfounded me, and I felt those weird feelings snaking into my heart, taking possession. What is he doing to me? “You’re welcome, I guess.”Orlando pecke
Brian Schultz“Brian…that’s too much carb. You have to be fit for our wedding.”My jaw clenched as I glared at Alana before pulling the bowl closer. “Stop telling me what to eat,” I hissed under my breath as she looked around the table, smiling sweetly.“Others are listening.”“Then you should just shut your mouth and concentrate on your food.” There was only so much a man could take. For the third time today, she made me question my decision to marry her. Maybe I should’ve waited. But it wasn’t like I had a choice.Alana turned her attention to her friends, chatting while I shoveled my favorite chicken casserole into my mouth. It had been a week since I’d had proper food. She tried to control every aspect of my life, which I didn’t appreciate.“Here is your dessert, sir.” The waiter placed the delicious chocolate mousse in front of me.“I think you brought the wrong order. We ordered fruit salad.”“That’s my order.” I cut her off.Her face changed, not that I gave a damn about it. I
Sunlight streamed through the maple-colored curtains. I stretched under the sheets, relishing the soft texture caressing my bare skin. Orlando was missing from the bed. He was an early riser, unlike me. A tray of food and flowers greeted me. How can I not fall in love with this man? My body ached deliciously when I hopped out of bed and walked to the bathroom. I smiled to myself at the memories of last night’s events. A deep chuckle had rumbled out of his chest when he flipped me on my stomach. His hand caressed my tattooed ass cheek, giving it a squeeze. His chuckle soon turned into full-blown laughter. Why wouldn’t he laugh? The tattoo consisted of a dark-colored dick with thick red letters reading “fuck me harder.” The reason I always covered my bottom with modest underwear. His hand had given a tap, making it bounce. “Those words are encouraging.” He’d caressed the flesh before slipping his hands inside my dripping folds. The slow, torturous caress had driven me crazy. Orlando
A deep sigh escaped the confines of my lungs when Orlando allowed me to get up, and both of us adjusted our clothes. “Stay with me tonight,” he murmured as he looked at me intently. “Or I can stay with you.”“Why?”“Is that question necessary?” His brows rose. “I’m not done with you yet.”A smile crept on my lips as I watched him climb into the driver’s seat. I was giddy with excitement as I slipped between the front seats to sit in the passenger seat. “Your apartment is an hour away. I prefer you in my room tonight.”“Impatient, I see.”“Can you blame me?”Orlando’s free hand held mine as we drove back to my parents’ home.“How did you find me here?”“I was coming to see you. When I saw you crossing the road, I followed.”“You saw.”A slight pause before he responded. “I did.”“He’d been pressuring me to meet and said he wanted to talk. He said it was urgent.”Orlando raised my hand to his lips, pressing them on my wrist. “You don’t have to explain anything, Arianna. I followed you a
“Arianna, wait!”What did he want now? No matter how much I avoided him, he was determined to get me alone. Last night, he knocked at my door until I threatened to scream and wake everyone in the house. My heart used to ache for him. Now, the only emotion I felt for him was disgust.“What the fuck do you want?”His handsome features cringed. “Please…I want to talk.”“I told you there is nothing left to say.”“There is…please, let me explain.” His expression was pained. Though it shouldn’t bother me, it tugged at my heartstrings. “All I’m asking for is a chance to talk. Please…”My fingers reached to massage my temples as I considered his plea. “Okay, and after that, you should stop bugging me.”“I promise.”“We’ll talk tonight.”“The same spot.”“Fine.” I didn’t wait to see the relief flooding his face. My thoughts were on Orlando. His cell phone had been switched off for the past three days, and it had been driving me crazy. I was restless and restrained myself from calling Enrique.
When I woke up the next morning, Orlando wasn’t in the bed. The clock showed 10:15 a.m. The delicious aroma of crispy bacon, toast, and scrambled eggs wafted to my nostrils. I turned to look at the hearty meal as a smile graced my lips.An orchid with a note rested on top of a glass of water.Arianna,I’m leaving early for work. I’ll call once I’m done here.Orlando.The note was simple. I appreciated his responsibility as warmth coated my insides. After the heart-warming breakfast and a quick shower, I was just pulling on my dress when it came to my mind that we had to leave today. Crap. I didn’t want to leave yet.Remembering I left my slippers in my room last night, I hurried to pack.“I won!”I was greeted by Rosie’s squeal when I opened the door. The entire girls’ group was here, including Chiara. The girls chuckled under their breath as I made my way toward them. They were packing my clothes.“What are you doing here?” I asked Chiara. “I thought you wouldn’t surface for another
The wedding was perfect in every sense. Tears of joy streamed down my cheeks when Enrique kissed Chiara. The setting sun cast a golden shadow on the couple, and the photographers utilized the moment to capture the moments that would be remembered forever.Warm lips graced my bare shoulder, and I turned to meet Orlando’s stormy gaze. We moved aside, and I stayed by his side as he greeted the guests, introducing me to them.The function was a blur, and my cheeks ached with all the smiling I’d been doing that evening. We shared our first dance together, and I couldn’t help but admire how delectable he looked in his white suit.“That was such a wonderful moment.” Mike’s mom burst into tears.“It was.” Orlando smiled down at his aunt.“I’m so happy for you both.” She hugged me. “Ari and Rosa are my darlings. Take good care of her, Orlando. I don’t want to see any more tears in her eyes.”Orlando’s face tightened. Mr. Frisby was right on time for the rescue. He pulled his wife away with a w
The Cortez estate glowed like it was Christmas again. The exterior expanse of the mansion and garden was decorated with lights. Bouquets made of natural flowers decorated every corridor. Unlike the exterior, the decorations inside were minimal. However, the grand interior design compensated for the lack of other items, and the fragrance of the flowers made the environment pleasant.Boxer stayed by my side as I ambled my way through the staff, buzzing with activities. Orlando asked if I could dog-sit for a night, and I agreed. The men were at the guest house celebrating Enrique’s last night as a bachelor. They whisked Enrique away, claiming he shouldn’t see the bride until tomorrow.“Arianna, did you see my daughter?” Chiara’s mom inquired when we bumped into each other.“She’s with the girls.”“Oh, she’s not answering her phone. I’m heading out with her dad. His brother and family are arriving tonight. Please look after her for me, will you? She’s so nervous.” Her face was full of con
Brian Schultz“Brian…that’s too much carb. You have to be fit for our wedding.”My jaw clenched as I glared at Alana before pulling the bowl closer. “Stop telling me what to eat,” I hissed under my breath as she looked around the table, smiling sweetly.“Others are listening.”“Then you should just shut your mouth and concentrate on your food.” There was only so much a man could take. For the third time today, she made me question my decision to marry her. Maybe I should’ve waited. But it wasn’t like I had a choice.Alana turned her attention to her friends, chatting while I shoveled my favorite chicken casserole into my mouth. It had been a week since I’d had proper food. She tried to control every aspect of my life, which I didn’t appreciate.“Here is your dessert, sir.” The waiter placed the delicious chocolate mousse in front of me.“I think you brought the wrong order. We ordered fruit salad.”“That’s my order.” I cut her off.Her face changed, not that I gave a damn about it. I
I lay breathless, my eyes rolled back into my skull as his lips took possession of my mouth again. His fingers were still buried deep in me. Orlando’s thumb applied pressure on my bundle of nerves, making my body jerk. Climbing down from the high, every inch of my apex was still sensitive to his touch.When his lips finally released mine, I opened my eyes to peer into his lust-filled gray ones. That was my best and first orgasm at the hands of a man. A gasp left my mouth when he pulled his fingers out. I looked between us to see my virgin blood coating them, and I felt a blush creep onto my cheeks.“I’m sorry about that,” I muttered, mild embarrassment lacing my voice.Orlando’s smile was unfazed. “This isn’t something I’d be embarrassed about,” he whispered thickly. “This is an honor. Thanks for giving it to me, Arianna.”His words dumbfounded me, and I felt those weird feelings snaking into my heart, taking possession. What is he doing to me? “You’re welcome, I guess.”Orlando pecke
Nine days had passed, and three days since our conversation. A lot had happened, and I was happier than I’d been in a long time. I never knew just a few days was enough to take my mind off certain things. But in truth, I was never over the crush on Orlando. It felt right in every sense. Sometimes, I thanked my fate for bringing Brian into my life. If it wasn’t for the heartbreak, Orlando wouldn’t have felt the need to get closer.Isabel was removed from the property, and everyone was back to normal after that. The wedding date drew closer. While Brian poked his head in my mind once in a while, all I felt now was shame and anger at myself. I was furious for not seeing through his facade. Shameful for trusting him and for allowing him to jerk me around.I had no way of knowing. Even moving in again with my parents was temporary. I was going to move out as soon as I found a job, which I already had with Orlando’s recommendation.A smile broke past my lips at the thought. This morning, he