Page 12 of Not Your Basic Love Story

“Relax for a bit. We’re not in a rush,” he said.

So I did. His fingers trailed up, and down my arm, his exhales tickled the hair on the back of my neck, and even though I had just met the man I was so completely, utterly at ease. My whole body relaxed, sinking into the comfortable bed, his body enveloping mine, the cool breeze floating in off the ocean…

I woke with the sun streaming in through the windows. A light sheet covered my otherwise naked body, and my head throbbed slightly from the day of sun and chardonnay prior. Dev was fast asleep. He lay on his back, one arm over his head, his long dark lashes curled against his high cheekbones. I took a moment to admire this Adonis, with his luminous brown skin and dark chest hair, which trailed down his abdomen to his groin, hidden beneath the sheet. He was muscular, but not in an obtrusive way. It looked like he went to the gym to stay healthy but didn’t spend the entire time looking at himself in the mirror with dumbbells, working out his ego.

Reaching out, I touched his bicep before leaning in and kissing him on the cheek. He stretched and groaned, then opened his big brown eyes. A smile met his lips, which mirrored my own. The way he looked at me made me blush and glance away.

“Good morning, gorgeous,” he said.

I leaned in and kissed him, this time on the lips, in a gentle, tender way, as if we’d been lovers for years and not hours. “Good morning.”

His body responded immediately.

I raised an eyebrow suggestively. He grinned. As I made my way down to finish what I’d started the night before, my phone rang. I paused, looking at him.

“It’s okay. Answer it,” he said.

I got up from the bed and found my phone. It was Angelina. Oh shit! I’d forgotten all about her! I’d been so caught up with Dev that I’d left her out on the dance floor with those guys. I thought I’d be gone for an hour, tops, not the whole night. How could I do something so irresponsible? I was the worst friend ever, having completely abandoned her. Worry and guilt overwhelmed me as I answered the phone.

“Hey girl!” Angelina chirped.

“Hey! You okay?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “I lost track of time and fell asleep. I’m so sorry, I can’t believe I left you back there all alone.”

She laughed. “I’m fine. Looked like you were busy. You still at the party resort?”

“Um. Yes.”

“Good. Me, too. Meet me out on the beach in ten? Miranda’s called me like ten times. I think we’re late for something.”

“Yes, okay. I’ll see you in a minute.” I hung up the phone and looked to Dev, who was laying in bed making a tent with the sheets.

“Everything alright?” he asked.

I sucked in a breath through my teeth apologetically, shoulders up around my ears. “I’m sorry, but I have to go. Raincheck?”

He laughed. “Sure. I’d walk you out, but, uh. You know.”

Smiling, I found my clothes from the night before and pulled them on. Before I could forget, I asked him his number. He relayed it, and I texted him right away, his phone dinging from somewhere in the room.

Wedges in hand, I stumbled out the door, waving awkwardly as I did so.

In the elevator, I took a moment to collect myself but couldn’t shake the stupid grin off my face.

What. A. Night.

Just what the doctor ordered.

CHAPTER FOUR

Down on the beach, Angelina stood waiting, shoes in hand. She squealed when she saw me, and we gave each other a fierce hug. I was so, very thankful to have her there with me, a mini version of my bestie but a hell of a lot wilder. Actually, Miranda used to be wild like that. Then she grew up. We both did.

As we walked home, she filled me in on the rest of her evening, which involved two bisexual men who apparently made her feel like an absolute goddess all night. My face reddened at the lewd details. I told her tidbits about my night, about how we’d met on the plane and he’d thrown up on himself, how we both inexplicably had the same ridiculous luggage and got it swapped, and then met at the party when he saved me from his creepy cousin.

“It was a fun fling,” I said, ending my story.

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