Juliette’s lips twist in thought. “Well, if I was doing my math homework, I’d sit down and get out my papers. Then I’d realize I didn’t have a pencil, so I’d get up to get one. After working a couple problems, I’d decide I was thirsty, so I’d get up again to get some water. And so on and so forth.” The wind catches a strand of hair that escaped her braid, and she tucks it behind her ear. “So basically, she taught me tomake lists. Lots and lots of lists. Dr. Hough gave me a sparkly little pink notebook and a matching pen, and I had to write down every single thing I might need when doing a particular task. Then, before I sat down to get started, I had to make sure I had everything on the list within arm’s reach. There were a lot of other things too, but that’s what sticks out the most in my memory. I still use a similar notebook.”
My heart flips over at the wistful tone in her voice, and I imagine an adorable little girl with blonde pigtails who didn’t understand how her mind worked. I grip Juliette’s hip and roll her toward me, cradling her cheek in my palm.
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I think you are absolutely brilliant, Juliette. You are such a talented writer, and I think a lot of it is because your brain works differently than other people’s.”
Her smile lights me up inside. “Maybe you’re right. Sometimes, I just close my eyes and let my mind take off in all different directions like a herd of wild horses. Then it’s like I can see ideas in the air and lasso the ones I want. It helps when I want to come up with a trait that makes one of my characters unique. Or a plot twist that no one sees coming.”
I laugh. “Your plot twists are fucking diabolical.” My finger follows a droplet of sweat that makes its way down her temple. “Want to get in the water and cool off?”
Juliette nods. “Sounds good. It’s hot as Hades out here.”
Standing, I reach out a hand to pull her to her feet. She’s in a red-and-white striped bikini that makes me have some very wicked thoughts. I’m already sporting a chub from rubbing suntan oil on her luscious body earlier.
As soon as Juliette steps onto the sand, she winces and does a little tippy toe dance. “Damn sand is hot.”
“Hop on,” I say, presenting her with my back. A second later, I feel her weight on my back and cradle her thighs with my hands. Then I take off running, jostling her as much as possible.
“You’re a maniac,” she shrieks with laughter. “Doesn’t that hurtyour feet?”
“Nah, the bottoms of my feet are tough as shoe leather.”
A few of the other beachgoers catcall, and I get a wink and a thumbs up from a huge dude sitting on a low lounge chair near the water.
I’ve noticed this quite a bit the past couple of days when people have seen Juliette and I on the beach or at dinner. Lots of smiles and nods of approval. It seems the entire resort likes us being together.
Juliette echoes my thoughts when I slow down and walk us into the water. “You ever feel like the people here are pulling for us? They’re like our own personal cheering squad.”
“I was just thinking that,” I tell her, taking us farther out into the crystal water until I’m in chest-deep. I pull her around to my front, and she koala bears me, legs around my waist and arms over my shoulders.
“This place has a very positive vibe. Everyone is simply here to have fun, and I love that.” The bottom of her blonde braid swirls in the gentle current. “Even though I’m not into this lifestyle, I think I’d come back here.”
“I would too,” I tell her, surprising myself. Just a few short days ago, I’d been ready to abandon this vacation and go back home. But then I met Juliette, and my entire outlook changed.
She unwinds her arms and leans back, floating in the cool water with her legs still looped around me. Stretching her arms out to her sides to float, she closes her eyes, a serene smile coasting across her pretty lips. My cock instantly morphs from a chub to a hard-on as I support her lower back with my hands.
When she wiggles her center against my crotch, she notices my obvious change in dick status, and her eyes pop open. Arching her eyebrows, she pulls herself back up and presses those perfect tits to my chest.
“I don’t know how you’re getting hard right now,” she muses. “Aren’t guys supposed to get shrinkage in cool water?”
“You’re here,” is my simple explanation, my eyes counting the cute freckles scattered across her nose. “My dick defies the laws of shrinkage when he sees you.”
I lean forward to trace my tongue along the tan line over one breast. The swimsuit top she wore yesterday was slightly larger than this one, so she has a sliver of white peeking out, and it’s begging to be licked.
“Don’t get me all excited,” she pants as her nipple pebbles against my chin. “Remember I have a pedicure appointment later.”
“You sure you wouldn’t rather stay with me?” I cajole, trying not to sound like a needy little bitch. I drop my hands to cup her ass. The striped bottoms she’s wearing are also smaller than yesterday’s suit. Not a thong, but definitely cheeky enough to grab my attention.
Oh, who the fuck am I kidding? Juliette could get my attention wearing a potato sack.
She arches into me and lays her tender lips on mine. “You could come with me,” she suggests. “Turn those shoe leather feet as soft as a baby’s butt.”
A nervous laugh escapes me. “Sparkly toenails aren’t exactly my thing, dream girl.”
“Oh, you don’t have to get sparkly ones. You don’t even have to get them polished at all. Lots of men get it done.” She bites into her bottom lip and her nose scrunches adorably as a blush seeps up her neck and to her cheeks. “And I don’t know… I was actually thinking about canceling because I’d rather hang out with you some more, but if you went with me…”
My heartbeat intensifies so much, I’m concerned I may attract hungry sharks. Because I want to spend every minute of my last nine days with her too. Her eyes stay locked with mine, the hue of her irises set off by the sea. Not the water directly surrounding us. That’s too light. And not the deep blue near the horizon. No, Juliette’s eyes perfectly match the aqua a few feet away from us.
“And you promise there will be no glitter polish?” I verify.
