In Too Deep(8)

"You know, part of me wants to invite you in right now."

"And a lot of me wants to accept," I said. "But a bigger part of me wants to go back to my room and take a cold shower because I want to have more than one night."

Melina grinned in mixed relief and happiness. "I was thinking the same thing. So tomorrow after breakfast?"

I nodded. "And if I run into you at breakfast, all the better. But no plans on that."

"Good night, Cam." Melina opened her door and slipped inside, closing it softly behind her. I stared at her door for a good minute before smiling and shaking my head in disbelief at my amazing good fortune.

"Good night, Melina."





Chapter 5





Melina




The next day, the sky was perfect, with little cotton balls of clouds breaking up the perfect azure. I was wearing a pair of shorts with my swimsuit as I rode one of the bicycles around the lower roads of the island. I was tempted to try climbing the big mountain in the middle but wasn't ready for that much exertion yet. Maybe if Cam wanted to give it a try, but that morning I just wanted to get my blood flowing and think.

The night before, after kissing Cam goodnight, I'd laid in my bed for nearly two hours, my mind and my body unable to calm down. I think it was pretty understandable in hindsight. He was a very good looking man and showed interest in me, and when he'd kissed me, there was real passion and tenderness behind it.

Even better was the fact that he didn't want to push his luck. I’d lied just a little bit when I told him that only part of me wanted to invite him into my room. The girl inside who struggled with her self-image on a daily basis was screaming the whole time that I needed to strike while the iron was hot, to seize the moment. You won't have a chance like this again, that voice inside my head screamed.

I could pass it up because there was something I wanted more than just a quick lay. The one thing I wanted was someone I could actually mesh with more than just physically. While it was only a short time, I felt in those two hours we talked at dinner like I could open myself up totally and not be afraid of being judged.

That was why I lied at the door. The night was perfect, and I didn’t want to risk ruining that. The only question I had as I pumped my legs and cruised along the asphalt path was how long I could resist my body's urges. Sure, I could talk about my spiritual and mental desires, but the body wants what the body wants.

I reached the far end of the island and watched the water for a while. The gulls circled and wheeled over the water, diving occasionally for fish.

I heard a laugh behind me, and I turned. Looking around, I saw nothing, until the laugh was repeated. "This is so naughty," a girl's voice said, followed by the unmistakable sounds of kissing. "What if someone sees us?"

"Then they see us. I'm only seeing you," a man's voice answered, and I heard more rustling. I could easily guess what was going on, and the polite part of me wanted to let the couple have their outdoor privacy, but with thoughts of Cam so fresh in my mind, I instead got up and walked closer, making sure to keep quiet.

They were just about ten feet off the bike path, in a grassy little area in the overhanging tropical forest. I crouched behind a tree, my eyes fixed on the scene in front of me.

She was older than me, maybe in her thirties, but was in decent shape. Her long brown hair was spread out on the grass while the man, a young man whose skin practically glowed in the sunlight, was all over her.

As I watched, the voyeuristic thrill adding to the arousal I was already feeling, I couldn't help but imagine Cam doing the exact same thing to me.

Finally I tore my eyes away and found my way to my bicycle, checking my watch. I had about an hour until our parasailing reservation, and I needed to get back to the main resort and get a little bit of lunch beforehand.

After turning in my bike, I stopped at the poolside grill, indulging my appetite by grabbing a bacon cheeseburger. I was about halfway through when I saw Tiffany — Cam told me my apparent nemesis' name — and her friend come out. They were both cruising for guys again I could tell, I guessed Tiffany's frat boy of the night before hadn't been as good as she’d hoped.

I rolled my eyes and finished my burger, wiping my mouth and picking up my plate.

I was walking along the pool deck when Tiffany tried taunting again. "Careful Madison, wide load coming through."

The two clutched and laughed at her stupid joke, ignoring me to their detriment. With a pop of my hip, I nailed the sidekick in her butt, knocking her head-first into the pool. Splashing and sputtering, she came to the surface, her eyes staring daggers at me. "Oops," I said in mock regret. "I guess you should listen to your friend's advice more often. Do excuse me, I have a date to get to. You know, the hottie who turned you two down?"

Chuckling loud enough to know they could hear me, I took my plate over to the window and dropped it off, walking away without needing to look back.





Chapter 6





Cam




When Melina came down the dock, she had a funny little smile on her face. "What is it?" I asked. "By the way, you look beautiful."

Melina's smile deepened and a little blush came to her cheeks at my compliment. "Thanks. I had another little run-in with our friend Tiffany and her sidekick. Her friend accidentally fell into the pool."