Page 61 of Everything She Wanted

“I brought you both some tea refreshments.”

Samantha is at the door with two tumblers filled with ice and an amber liquid.

I move off Nick, slowly. My head dizzy and my breath ragged. He wipes the sweat from his brow.

She looks at us and then quickly looks away.

“I’ll just leave this here for you.” She places the tray on the lower bench near the door and rushes out.

Nick gets up, walks toward the lower bench, and takes the glasses from the tray.

He walks back to where I am, hands me one, softly clinking his glass against mine.

I gulp the tea down in one go as he takes a few sips and then places it down.

“I don’t even know what time it is. We should probably head back,” I say, trying to pull myself back to reality even though I don’t want to.

“We should.”

But neither of us move. I bring the cool, empty glass to my cheeks trying to cool down all the conflicting emotions burning within me.

I slowly get up, wobbly on my feet. Nick steadies me with a hand on my shoulder. I smile at him, and he takes my glass from me, setting them both down on the bench.

I walk backwards to the door, not wanting to take my eyes off him, until my back is pressed up against it.

“Let me help you cool down.” He takes out an ice cube and stalks toward me like a lion approaching its helpless prey, but I’m not afraid. I already know I’d let him devour me.

He outlines my lips with the ice cube and I close my eyes to fall deeper into the sensation. Then he brings it down to my neck, following its cool trail with his lips. I shiver despite the high temperature in here. He brings the melting ice cube down in between my breasts and then he kneels before me, like he wants to worship every part of me. He brings the ice cube to my stomach and it disappears into nothingness, melting into the sweat on my skin. He licks me and kisses my stomach, going lower, until I grab him by the shoulders to pull him up. He brings his lips to my neck, biting and sucking as I wrap my arms around his broad bare shoulders, writhing against him.

Someone nudges the door behind us to open it and I shift forward, almost falling into Nick. He catches me as two ladies enter. I know they’re staring at us, but I can’t bring myself to look at them. I only have eyes for him.

He takes my hand and leads me out the door. The cool air feels refreshing and my skin tingles with goosebumps. The real world comes rushing at me, but I wish I could stay in this one, with him.

He leads me to the lounge where he wraps me in one of the robes that are laid out for us, and then gets me a glass of cucumber water.

“You good?” He sits on the next lounge chair and brushes my hair out of my face.

“Yeah.”

I down the water and then turn the glass in my hands. I have to say it. I look at his face, wondering when it became so familiar, so comforting. There are still a few drops of sweat on his brow.

“Nick.”

“Yes.” He looks at me like no one else exists.

“I think about that night, too.”

He swallows and I watch the Adam’s apple in his throat, wanting to touch him there and everywhere.

“I used to think about what it would have been like to be with you, to touch you...”

To love you.

Then I get up slowly and head to the change room. Because after confessing that, I’m afraid I’ll confess something I’m not ready to.

When I head to the reception area, Nick’s already there. He looks fresh and rejuvenated, but I feel like a hot mess. Washing my hair would have taken forever, so I just rinsed off and quickly changed. My insides churn with the pressure of everything I won’t let myself feel for him.

“I hope you enjoyed your visit,” says Samantha. She shoots us a knowing smile.