Page 33 of The VIP Package

But somewhere along the way, I forgot what it feels like to have fun. To chase my own pleasure for the sake of pure bliss instead of just counseling patients to do it. There’s that old saying about the cobbler’s kids going shoeless, and if I’m honest with myself, that’s been me. I’ve urged so many patients to better their sex lives, while Hayden and I slowly drifted apart. When’s the last time we had sex anyplace other than our bed?

Orinbed, for that matter? At least three weeks. That’s been our pattern these last few years, and I own at least a piece of that. It’s not like I bought sexy lingerie and asked Hayden to come home early. Or surprised him in his office with a blowjob like I might have done eight or nine years ago when he worked late.

As mad as I am at Hayden for forgetting our wedding, I forgot romance for much longer than that. We both did.

A splash to my right pulls me out of my back float and I watch as Ash lowers the small boat beside me, then does whatever the hell sailor guys do to secure it. I tread water nearby, gauging the distance to the shore. It’s two hundred yards at most, but it’s nice knowing the dinghy’s here if one of us gets into trouble.

“Oh, look!” I point as a big school of bright blue and yellow fish ripples past. “What are they?”

“Fairy basslet.” He holds out a snorkel and mask. “Here.”

“Thank you.” I wriggle the mask on over my face, biting down on the mouthpiece of the snorkel. I probably look like a goober, but who cares? Ash points me closer to shore. “Halfway between here and the beach, there’s a really nice reef. Look for parrotfish.”

“Thanks.” I have no idea what a parrotfish looks like, but it sounds colorful. I paddle that way, delighted by bright-green angelfish and something with yellow and black stripes. A long, skinny fish thing glides past on my right but doesn’t pay me any mind. I’m not harming him, he’s not harming me. Perfect.

When a ray swims beneath me, I watch for a while before pulling my face from the water. “I just saw a giant a portobello mushroom with wings!”

Ash chuckles and slips into the water. A couple broad strokes bring him close to my side. “Having fun?”

“This is amazing.” I search with my toes before planting my feet on the sandy bottom. Tossing the mask in the dinghy, I open my arms as Ash reaches my side. “Thanks for this.”

“You’re welcome.” His slippery skin brushes mine as our limbs twine together under water. “How’s the skinny dipping?”

“Exhilarating.” I spit water on his chin by accident when I say it, but he doesn’t brush it away.

“Glad you’re enjoying yourself.” He pushes a wet hank of hair off my face. “Are you ready for the nude sunbathing portion of today’s planned fantasy schedule?”

“I’m not ready to get back on the boat yet.”

“Who said anything about the boat?” He nods toward the wide swath of sandy shore. “There’s a perfectly respectable beach right here.”

I squint at the pristine white sliver of sand. At the gigantic mansion beyond it. “Won’t the rich snobs who live there get mad if I wander buck-naked onto their property?”

“Let me check.” Ash stares blankly at the house for a moment. “It doesn’t appear so, no.”

“Wait.” I blink. “That’syourhouse?”

“Indeed.”

“Holy shit, Ash Hole.” I gape at the mansion, trying to see where the structure starts and ends. The part I can see looks massive, and more of it vanishes into the jungle. “Are you housing all five-dozen consorts there?”

“If you’re going to mock, you can’t use my beach.”

“Sorry, sorry.” Twisting my fingers behind his neck, I wrap my legs around him. Anchored in place like this, I’m in a better position to study the house. Huge panes of glass reflect the surrounding palm trees and lush vines. The woodwork blends naturally into the foliage, and even the deck looks constructed to be part of the forest. “Is that a barn and a paddock on the other side?”

“It is.”

“You have horses?”

“I don’t.”

“You keep ill-behaved consorts there?”

He chuckles and kisses the edge of my jaw. “Just resort guests who show up without a reservation.”

I laugh as I tip back my head, giving him access to kiss down my throat. “You should get ponies.”

“Is this some sort of pony play joke?” His voice sounds muffled as his mouth moves over my skin.

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