I twisted to face him, breathing accelerated. The gloom of darkness whispered magically as I listened to the waves hissing on the shore.īrax tipped the bellhop and closed the door. I squealed in childhood amazement and dashed to the balcony. Hand woven rugs in purples, reds, and yellows littered the hardwood floor. The room was perfect Mexican décor of carved wood and bright paintings, the bedspread was a fiesta of colours and textures. Once he placed the card in the little holder by the door, soft light illuminated. “This one, if you please, sir,” the bellhop said, pointing to a door as we walked.īrax grinned and inserted the key card. The corridor was a wide balcony, open-air with huge potted ferns and little cosy seats arranged for privacy. His blue eyes were warm and content as we disembarked the lift, making our way to our room. I hoped Brax saw what twinkled in my soul. My hair was a tangled bird’s nest, my sheer blouse crumbled and ready for a wash, and my grey-blue eyes sparkled with lust and love. The mirrored interior reflected in every direction. We entered the lift, and the bellhop squeezed in, too. A bellhop stood behind, smiling indulgently. More than ready.īrax swivelled me in his arms, taking my luggage at the same time. I gasped, landing against hard muscle and wrinkled clothing. The soft slap of waves on sand enticed skinny-dipping and making love under the moonlight.Īrms banded around my waist, pulling me backward. I wanted to explore and walk along the beach I heard in the distance.

I didn’t care we’d been awake for twenty-four hours. The resort was a living jungle: palm trees, ferns, and exoticness in every corner.

A fountain jetted water so high, it almost touched the three story ceiling.Ī bellhop took our luggage and Brax checked us in. We pulled up to a sweeping resort with huge carvings of sombreros and tropical fruit. What if the real me wasn’t worthy of Brax? To stop being Tess, the girl who hadn’t stood up for anything in her life-the girl who morphed into what others wanted-and evolve. This trip would allow me to inspect who I truly was, to be honest, and find the real me. I’d gone my whole life thinking I was timid, brow-beaten, and unwanted by my family, only to find I was a lust-filled dancer, with so many dark desires. I wanted to dance, to rub against Brax, to drink yummy cocktails, and enjoy ourselves. Every bar we passed, pumping with Salsa dancers and spicy tunes, dispelled my sleepiness.

Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters