After setting my bag onto the porch, I run back inside to close the kitchen window.

“Ready, Freddy?” Mia bounces in.

“Yeah, I think so.” I toss my keys into my purse, making sure my charger is in there as well. “Did you give your mom my house key?”

She rolls her eyes. “Yes, Lolli. She’s got the cat, mail, and plants covered for the week.”

“Okay then, I think… Wait!” I turn and dash to my room.

Pulling my bedside drawer open, I grab my camera. Running my fingers over the top, a smile graces my lips.

This camera was supposed to be used for happy memories on my birthday the year my parents gave it to me. My grandpa was there; my parents were going to be there.

“I’d say it’s time, huh?” I whisper, looking over my shoulder at Nate.

He’s leaning against the door frame, arms crossed over his chest, his soft brown eyes on me. Kicking off the door, he walks over and wraps his strong arms around me. He pulls the camera from my hand, and lifts it in the air before dropping his lush lips to mine, kissing me slow and gentle.

A flash goes off and he pulls back, winking at me.

He’s quick to snag the Polaroid before I can, pulling it into his chest. “This one’s for me.” He winks again, nodding his head toward the door. “It’s time to go. We’ll bring the camera.”

With a nod, I loop my arm through his.

The flight is smooth sailing and by nightfall, we’re checked into our rooms and dressing for dinner.

It’s March thirtieth. My birthday’s in two days and I’m okay. I don’t have a constant headache, I can breathe easy, and I don’t have the urge to jump ship. I’m calm and collected, happy even. And I have Nate to thank for it.

Speak of the devil.

His soft knock sounds at the door, and I hustle out of the bathroom to open it.

Nate rushes in, picking me up swiftly, and spins me around.

Laughing, I lay my arms over his shoulders.

He peppers my lips with kisses. “Tell me again why we even bothered with separate rooms?”

“Because when we booked, your ass was getting sent home to sleep.”

He smiles and kisses me one more time before setting me on my feet. “Yeah.” He smacks my ass as he walks backward onto my balcony. “Now you beg me to stay.” His smirk is cocky. “See how that worked out in my favor?”

I slink up next to him.

“Man, your view is killer.”

I nod, looking out over the resort. The moon is shining against the ocean, creating a silver glow in the sky. “You act like you can’t see the same thing.” I nudge him playfully and his arm wraps around me.

“Yeah, well. Yours looks better somehow.”

“You’re, like, what? Four doors down or something?” I laugh, walking back into the room.

He grins, spinning to lean his arms and back against the railing. “Yep. How you like the colors?” He raises an eyebrow.

I look around the room, taking in the cast-iron, renaissance theme. The walls have a golden crown molding that blends into a pale pink color, with wrought iron crafting hanging sporadically along the walls. The bed is large with iron posts that climb to the ceiling and a golden satin lay across the tops, tying around each beam.

There’s an antique-looking dresser with fancy knobs that match the curves of the plush chairs that surround the small table in the corner. An identical set of table and chairs sits on the balcony.

My eyes find Nate’s and my chest swells. “You made sure my room was colorful, didn’t you?”

He nods, his brown eyes roaming my face, and any piece of me I may have still owned just became his. “I love you.”

He smirks and saunters his strong body toward mine.

He’s dressed for dinner. His dark jeans stretch nicely across his thighs, laying a little loose down his legs. He has his long-sleeved, gray button-up untucked, with the arms folded to his elbows, and he’s wearing a pair of black boots. His hair is mussed perfectly in an unkempt, clean and sexy kind of way.

When he reaches me, he holds my eyes captive while his hands skim up my thighs, lifting my dress up and over my hips. He bends his head and peeks down, a groan leaving him. He backs me into the edge of the table. “I knew you couldn’t possibly be wearing any panties in this thing.” He runs his fingers under the cups of my bra.

“I didn’t want the panty lines.”

“You know how much I like to push ’em to the side.” He pretends to pout, dipping his head to kiss on my neck.

“Yeah, well.” I grip his shoulders tight, squirming as he slips a finger inside me. “One less… step.”

“Mmm… ” He bites at my shoulder, adding a second finger, while bringing his thumb to my clit. “I wanna hear you, baby.”

My eyes squeeze shut. “Everyone’s waiting for us.”

“Let them wait.”

“Our food will be cold.”

“We’ll ask them to warm it up.”

“But-”

His hands slip from me and he chuckles when I protest.

“Okay, fine.” He walks to the bed and drops down. “Put your shoes on and we’ll go.” The asshole reaches into his pocket, pulling out his phone.

I see the laughter in his eyes; he knows damn well what he’s trying to do. And it’s working.

I cross my arms and frown.

His head falls back and deep, rich laughter flows from him.

Pissed off, I turn to grab my shoes off the floor, but he’s quick and has me on my back on the bed before I even get them in my hand.

His hand is between my legs again in an instant, his erection pushing against my hip.

His fingers sink into me slowly, and his mouth comes to my ear. He blows warm breath across my neck, working me slowly at first. Then, he adds more speed, pushing down on my clit with his thumb.

When my breathing speeds up, he bites my earlobe, then sucks away the sting.

My fingers clutch at his skin, holding him tight as my orgasm builds.

He pushes in deep and freezes.

I try to roll my hips into his hand, but he pushes his pelvis into me, forcing me still.

“Nate-”

“Are you gonna stop me next time?”

I squeeze my eyes shut, pushing down on his fingers as much as I can, squeezing him from the inside.

“Tell me,” he growls. “Tell me I can touch you, please you, whenever and wherever I want.” He licks my neck. “Tell me…”

“You can do whatever you want to me, Handsome.” I look over at him. “I’m yours.”

His lips crash into mine and I ride his hand like I’m at the damn rodeo.

“Fuck me,” I beg between kisses. “Please.”

“Fuck,” he adds another finger. “Then we’ll really be late.”

“So what, this is our vacation, too.”

“Shh,” he chuckles against my mouth, working me into frenzy until I come on his fingers.

When he pulls out, I relax into the comforter, watching as he kneels in front of me, running the warm rag over my sex. It’s gentle and meant to clean me, but my eyes close and I moan into the pillow.

“Damn,” he rasps, his fingers replacing the cloth. He runs them up and down slowly, and the bed dips. “You need more, baby?”

I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but, yeah, I do. But I don’t have to say it, he already knows.

Right when his warm breath hits my thigh, someone starts pounding on the door.

Nate groans and drops his forehead on my leg.

“Would you stop cock-blocking them all the damn time!” We hear Austin’s laughter.

Mia grumbles and I can picture her stomping her foot in a fit. “No! I won’t! Not when we’re waiting on their asses.” She pounds on the door again. “Bitch, I know you hear me. Let’s go!”

Laughing, I pull myself into a sitting position.

Nate rolls his eyes and steps off the bed. He pulls me up and kisses my forehead. “I’ll take care you tonight.”

I stand on my tiptoes and kiss him gently. “I know.”

We don’t bother opening the door until my tan wedges are buckled and my hair is smoothed down.

I’m wearing a coral, spandex-like dress that’s tight and slinky with two thin straps. I paired it with gold hoops, my hair is down and straight, and I put on some nude shadow, mascara, and a soft pink lipstick.

“Finally, assholes.” Mia loops her arm through mine. “No one wanted to order until everyone was here. Guess who was last to arrive?” She pins me with a glare.

I shrug, and peek over my shoulder.

Nate winks at me, so I turn back and let Mia drag me along.

Once we’re all seated, everyone says hello and starts on their drinks.

Turns out Mia’s a damn liar because the hotel is buffet-style and on twenty-four seven as part of our all-inclusive packages. I don’t mind though, because it’s kind of fun to have such a large group eating, laughing, and drinking together.

The room is a large open area with different foods lining the right wall, a kitchen tucked behind them. The center of the room is nothing but cherrywood tables and chairs scattered everywhere, while the left side is an open dance floor with a DJ booth in the corner. There are large open panels along the whole left wall, allowing you to look out at the ocean, letting the night air flow through the area.

There are at least eighty other students from Alrick that booked, all from different crowds, and staying in different areas in the hotel. Our floor though, is full of rough and rowdy football players and their groupies.

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Jarrod staring at me, so I shift my body toward Nate’s.

His hand squeezes my thigh in acknowledgment, and he continues talking to a guy I recognize but don’t know his name.

“Lolli Bear!”

I turn, searching for Parker in the masses on the dance floor.

He waves me over.

I throw back another shot and stand. Nate catches my movement and nods his chin in question. I kiss his cheek quickly. “Going to dance,” I tell him and hustle away.

Parker holds a hand out to me, shifting his shoulders to the music. I slide my hand into his and he pulls me in.

We dance along to the beat of the high tempo music. A few minutes later, a bunch of others join us on the dance floor. Parker turns and starts dancing with both Ashley and Alyssa, who have pancaked him between them, not that he’s complaining.

I close my eyes and let my body flow. When I open them, a few verses later, Jarrod is standing in front of me and for once, he has his old playful smile on his face.

Cautiously, I keep a good distance, but when I realize he’s laughing and smiling at everyone around us, just trying to have fun like I am, I loosen up and allow him to step in closer as we dance.

Right then, the lights dim and colors slide across the rooftop of the dance floor, and a sultry song I’ve never heard before comes on, so I take a half of a step back, but Jarrod’s quick. He grabs my hips gently and starts to move his along with mine. When he doesn’t try anything else, I keep dancing.

Mia bounces up with a tray in her hands. “Shots, bitches!” Jarrod raises a brow and holds his out.

We clink glasses and down the cheap tequila.

“Ugh,” Jarrod cringes. “That’s disgusting.”

I laugh. “Maybe, but it was free, right?”

Laughing, he steps to me again and we keep dancing.

My eyes shift to Nate, and I see Liv has taken my empty seat. I almost laugh when I see the irritated expression on his face. She catches my eye and I flip her off.

“I’d watch out for her,” Jarrod whispers into my ear.

My head pulls back slightly, and I look up at him. “What do you mean?”

He shrugs and tries to keep dancing, but I halt his movements, grabbing onto his arms. “Seriously, Jarrod. Talk.”

He releases a deep sigh, leaning his body toward mine.

I pull back and narrow my eyes at him, but he grins, shaking his head. “I didn’t want to shout, that’s all.”

When my face smooths out, he leans in again. “I don’t know exactly,” he whispers, his hand finding my lower back. “I don’t trust her, that’s all. She’s always wanted Nate. She’ll probably try to make a play for him.”

I laugh when I hear his explanation. “I’m aware, trust me. She can try, but it won’t work.”

He pulls back and looks down at me. “How do you know, Lolli?”

“Trust me, Jarrod.” I smirk. “I know.” I look back at Nate, finding his eyes narrowed in my direction.

He pushes out of his chair, shaking off Liv’s hand as she protests and stalks toward me, his eyes dropping. I follow his gaze, realizing I’m still holding on to Jarrod’s arm, and his hand is still on my back.

I quickly let go of him and step back.

He laughs like he’s been waiting for this, and lifts his hands in surrender when Nate steps in front of me. “Get the fuck outta here, Hollins.”

Jarrod winks and walks a few feet away to dance with some others from our school.

He turns toward me. “What was that all about?”

“Just dancing.”

“Did he hit on you?” He clenches and unclenches his fists at his sides.

I smirk and lean into his chest. “No. He acted normal for once.” I shrug a shoulder. “I think he’s over it.”

“Over you, you mean?” he scoffs, raising and brow. “’Cause I highly doubt that.” His eyes run down my body, his tongue sliding across his bottom lip on their way back up.

“You jealous, Handsome?”

His jaw ticks, but he says nothing. He grabs ahold of my biceps, kissing me before spinning me around, gripping my hips tight and moving to the music.

After a few minutes, he leans in, his words a low growl in my ear. “Don’t let anyone touch, Kalani. I can’t handle it.”

I nod and push my ass into him, feeling as he starts to grow hard.

“I’m serious.”

I nod again and he chuckles, knowing damn well having his body against mine is doing bad things to me. The good kind of bad things.

We dance and drink the night away and, before we know it, we’re all creeping up to our beds just before the sun is set to rise.

Mia yawns, leaning up against the elevator wall, her black wedges dangling from her fingers, red hair sticking out of her forgotten ponytail. “Hangin’ by the pool tomorrow?”

We all groan our agreeance and shuffle out into the hall.

“Don’t call me, Mia. I’ll have my ass there when I’m good and ready.”

“Whatever.” Bringing her hand to cover her mouth, she yawns again, scrunching her face when she gets a whiff of her sweaty shoes. “Have your morning, but be ready to party tomorrow night, birthday girl.”

I flip her off and step into my room.

Nate and I drop onto the bed at the same time, laughing when the impact bounces us to the center.

He hooks his arm around my waist and pulls me closer, tucking my head into his chest.

“I still need to take care of you.” His voice is thick with exhaustion.

I grin, using the little bit of energy I have left to tilt my head and kiss his neck. “I can’t even undress, let alone get freaky,” I tell him, making us both laugh. “Tomorrow.”

He pulls me in impossibly tighter, and kisses my forehead.

“I love you, Kalani.” It’s the last thing I hear him whisper before sleep takes over.