Twisted (17 page)

My God!
 
"Is that a
threat?" I asked, a smile hanging on the edge of my parted lips.

"Abs, you always look good, but I must say you
definitely made it worth my wait."

I smiled, absorbing his compliment.  "I’ll take that, considering
I got all of two hours sleep last night, thanks to you.”

"It was nice.  Peaceful.  At least I loved it,” Edwin
said, unwilling to put words into my mouth.

I swallowed some yogurt and fixed my stare on his soft, pink
lips.  "I liked it to," I agreed. 
At least the part where I was
in his arms.

After gazing into each other's eyes, I stole mine away to retrieve
my bottle of juice and take a healthy swallow.  I was relieved that everything
went down and was settling just fine.  “Ready?” I asked, standing from the
table to toss out my garbage.  When I turned to leave, I caught Edwin staring
at my ass. 
Men.

"You
do
look really nice today," Edwin said,
his words clean but his heated stare dirty.  He followed me to the patio doors,
his eyes following the gentle sway of my hips.  His hand cupping my ass, "You
look amazing babe."

I swatted his hand away, but he caught my wrist and clasped
our hands together.

“You buttering me up for something?" I asked, raising a
suspicious brow.  I knew I looked good, but all of those compliments were
starting make me question his intentions.

When he didn't respond, it only ramped up my curiosity, his
smile devoid of information.  We walked in silence, until we reached the front
lawn of our cabins.

"Speaking of buttering you up, I got you
something."  He stopped me and I gazed up into his dark aqua eyes, accentuated
by his new blonde hair.  Edwin reached both of his fists out face down. 
"Don't you want to know what I got you?"

"What is it?" I asked, admiring his new look.  Just
a hint of highlights, but it made him look super-hot.  I couldn’t help but
stare.

"Pick one," he said, smiling.

I held his stare, expecting him to open his hand, but he
didn't budge.

"Pick!" he insisted.

"Fine."  I pointed to his right hand.

He opened his left.  "You were supposed to pick this
one."  A dainty bracelet sparkled in the sunlight.  He undid the clip and
refastened it on my wrist.  "So do you like it or what?  Don't keep a
brotha waiting.”

"I love it," I said.  I held up the bracelet to get
a closer look, and as it dangled from my wrist, the sun made it sparkle.  I
flashed Edwin an appreciative glance.  “Thank you.”

His hand cupped my face, then he leaned down to kiss me, soft
and slow.  "I'm glad you like it.  I saw it in the gift shop and thought
of you."

He swept a lock of hair from my shoulder and my heart began
to race with desire, as his knuckles gently brushed along my collarbone.  He
propped my chin up with his forefinger.  I closed my eyes and waited for his
kiss.  When it didn't come, I was left feeling confused and embarrassed.  I
reopened my eyes, and his aqua blue eyes pierced me with an electrifying gaze,
stirring an awareness that any person within fifty feet of us would have
detected.

He knew he had me.  "You’re a special breed Abs.  You're
one unique woman that can't be classified with anyone else I know."

Suddenly aware of our audience, I was feeling incredibly sensitive
about sharing our private conversation.  Softly, "I may be an individual,
but I'm no different than you," I said, squinting up at him.

Edwin remained calm and confident, while I was flustered beneath
his penetrating gaze.  "Don't fight it Abs.  I love you.  You love me.  Is
it such a crime that I think you're special and I want others to know that
you're mine?"

Feeling awkward discussing the depth of our relationship,
with our friends gathered only paces away, I curled into myself.  I needed a
minute to collect my scattered thoughts.  And while there was no doubt that we
were very attracted to each other, there has to be more to it.  The baby thing
is a make or break kind of deal.

Instead of giving me another second to pull myself together, his
hurt filled eyes made me respond.  It took all I had not to fling my arms
around him and gush an apology, but when he looked at me with such intensity,
his eyes darkening to a midnight blue, I couldn't resist him any longer.

The edge of his lips curled, with the knowledge that he had
worked me over without a word.  Ignoring our friends’ watchful eyes, he leaned
down to kiss me.  My lips held firm as he gently caressed my mouth, his hands
smoothing over me as he trailed kisses along my jaw, down my neck.  My eyes
fluttered shut and my knees grew weak.  His soft, warm tongue on my throat made
my head spin.  He was right.  I was fighting it.  But I couldn't fight him off
anymore.  I was too drawn in to his charming magnetism and the pure allure of
kissing him.

When his mouth returned to mine, I softened beneath him,
whimpering from the delicious give and take.  It wasn’t until his grasp on me
relaxed that I realized how tight he had been clutching me.  He felt safe that
I wasn't going to run off now, but I was still unsteady.  He retightened his strong
arms around me and titled his head to deepen the kiss.  His tongue slipped
between my lips, soft and sweet.

Edwin paused, but his lips never left mine, as I gasped on a
sharp inhale.  "I know, right?” he said with a soft growl.  We shared a
smile, our mouths touching, before continuing to lock lips.

Our company was getting impatient, all four sets of eyes
gawking at us without shame.  Maddie gasped, as we ignored their wandering
eyes.  She stomped down the path, her anger mounting, as she left the others to
interrupt us.

A hard finger poked Edwin's shoulder.  "I knew you guys
had a secret thing going on.  I can't believe you wouldn't admit it to me.  Why
don't you save it for the bedroom?" she squawked.

"Where's the fun in that?" Edwin said, releasing me
from his magical mouth.

Aliah burst out laughing.  I was fighting off a grin myself.

"Are you really that surprised?" Aliah asked.

Ignoring them all, Edwin turned his gaze back to me, and I
smiled up at him like he was the only other person in the world.  My hand dusted
over his hulking chest.  This hot man was all mine.

"She's just jealous," he said, then initiated
another kiss.  He tugged on my lower lip with his teeth, testing Maddie’s
determination.

"Whatever.  I'm not hanging around all this." 
Maddie flailed her hand at us, like we were a single entity, and spun off.  "Let's
get out of here," she snapped back at Aliah.

Aliah followed Maddie's path of destruction.  "Later
Abby.  Eddie."  She nodded at Edwin, then winked at me as she walked past us.

"Laters," TJ said, moseying after them with a
couple of fishing rods and bucket in hand.

Hunter followed with the tackle box, giving us a salute, his
smirk unreadable.

"I guess they thought we needed some space," I
said, smiling at the suddenly empty lawn.

"Was it that obvious?"  Edwin smirked and leaned in
for another knee weakening kiss.  "So what
do
you want to do today? 
I mean, aside from this; though I'm not saying I'm against doing this all day
if that's what you want."  A charming smile covered his daring mouth.

"Sorry, I'm a bit off right now.  This is all happening
so fast.  I didn’t think…"

"Even after last night?"  He seemed surprised,
disappointed even.

"I guess I've just been walking around blissfully
unaware of where we stand in this relationship," I admitted.

"Blissful though," he said smirking, "and
that's because of me."

IT WAS
IMPOSSIBLE TO be serious with Edwin when he was being so damn adorable.  Damn
that sexy smile.  I refused to admit it out loud but, yes: he was the reason I
was so blissful.  I was having difficulty taking my eyes off of his perfectly
tanned skin and full lower lip.  He had decided to skip shaving this morning
and it made him that much more rough and appealing.  I ran my fingers across
his delightful stubble and then playfully chewed on his lip.  How was I ever
going to make any progress with serious conversation when Edwin had me going
all gaga for him like this?

Going with my gut, I decided to take Edwin’s advice.  No deep
talk was going to crush my vacation weekend.  This weekend, I’d just go with
it.  Better to save it for when we get back to reality.  Home.

Edwin gazed into my emerald eyes.  "I can think of
something else we can do that would make this morning even more blissful,"
he whispered, stroking my hair.

I chewed on my own lip, to tease.  "Oh and what is
that?" I breathed.  Both of my hands skimmed over his massive chest, as he
drew in a sharp breath.  I liked to make him work for it; but then he smiled
and all was lost.  "There will be plenty of time for that later,” I said, running
my finger across his moist lips.  “I just got all dolled up and you want to
strip me down already?"

“That’s exactly what I want,” he replied, eyes darkening.

I started to laugh, trying to break the rigid attraction
arching between us.  I wanted him so bad, but sweaty bedhead wasn't exactly the
look I was going for today.  "We can do that anytime.  Why don't we check
this place out?"  If he said no, then there would be no more arguing.

Edwin sighed in defeat.  "If you insist.  You name it. 
Let’s do it."

"Come on then," I said, pulling him behind me.

I figured our friends hadn't made it far and Aliah wouldn’t
be too pleased with me if I left her alone with Maddie too long.  As Edwin and
I neared the main cabin, my suspicions were confirmed.  Maddie and Aliah were bickering,
hands on hips, chins out.  Would they ever stop arguing?  Surprisingly they did
when we walked up to them.

"Abby.  Thank God!"  She glared at Edwin, as if it
were his fault they were fighting.  "She's coming with me!"  Aliah
tugged my arm away from him and started to drag me back the way I came.

"Hold up.  What about Edwin?" I asked, stopping her
in her tracks.

Aliah glanced over her shoulder at Edwin, whose eyebrows were
raised, waiting for her answer.

"Sorry!  I'm stealing her away.  Girl stuff."  She
knew exactly what to say to send Edwin running for the hills.

"Why don't you go find the guys?" Maddie
suggested.  "They're out fishing.  My parents used to bring us here every
summer.  TJ’s a creature of habit.  I can guarantee you that he's gone to his
favourite place."  Maddie pointed toward a trail in the distance and Edwin
nodded.

"See you later?" I said, disappointed by how
quickly he gave in.

Maddie headed off, but Aliah didn’t budge, still clinging to
my arm as if he might steal me away if she let go.

Edwin pried her fingers from my arm and pulled me back to him
to hold me close.  He dropped a soft, patient kiss on my lips, while Aliah
tapped her toe.  His gaze locked on mine and he flashed me a reassuring smile
before kissing me again.  "Have fun ladies."

"Bye," I breathed, watching him as he walked away. 
Such a fine ass.  Staring after him, I hadn’t even noticed that my fingers were
lingering on my mouth savouring our last kiss.

"Truly sickening," Aliah snapped, breaking my
obsessive gaze.

"What?" I said, my eyes fluttering back to Edwin.

"Okay!  Enough of that!" Aliah shouted. 
"Let's go."  She yanked my arm, tearing my gaze away from Edwin, as
we headed back to our cabin.

After an in depth debate over who wanted Hunter more, Aliah
and Maddie agreed to call a truce so we could at least enjoy our lunch.  I
nibbled from the spread of cheese and crackers and nuts, and downed an ice cold
bottle of water.  It was so sweltering hot outside that I couldn't even imagine
eating another morsel so, while Aliah cleaned up the mess, I flopped myself on
the couch happy that our place had air conditioning.  "So ladies…"

"What are we gonna do now?" Maddie asked, finishing
my sentence.

"I could soak up some rays.  My skin could use a little
colour," Aliah admitted, flashing us her milky white waistline.

"I don't have that trouble," Maddie said, gloating
about her naturally tanned skin.

"I’d love to catch a tan," I said.

"I did bring all of those gorgeous suits.  I’d hate for
them to go to waste."

“Whatever,” Aliah said.  “I’m going to get changed.”

"Beach time,” Maddie cheered.  “Did you know there’s a
private beach right on the resort?  It's for guests only.  Why don’t we check
it out first?"

"That works for me,” I said.

While Aliah gawked at herself in the small mirror, I filled
my bag with all the beach essentials: lip balm, sunscreen, bottled water, a towel
and a volleyball.  It was so hot outside that I pulled on a pair of super short
cut-off jeans over my bikini bottoms and skipped a shirt entirely.