One Week Later…

I stood nervously on the steps of the small house. This was a nice, quiet house in a nice, quiet neighborhood.

Nice and quiet. Those were words I would have associated with Chanel, and our vacation, until I really got to know her. There were two sides to her.

Nice and quiet was only one side.

Wild and intoxicating, that was the other.

After tiptoeing around our attraction to one another, we were busted by her sister. Rose was pissed when she learned we slept together. She wanted to preserve her sister from going too far too fast in a situation that wasn’t going anywhere.

I was fully behind her in that aspect, because I didn’t see anything happening with us.

Until we went all the way. Until I felt her soul merge with mine, and tasted the hunger for us to become one. Until I realized fate brought us together for reasons that went beyond a simple weekend in paradise.

Samantha’s cheating crushed me. I loved that girl. But the truth is, you can’t lose anything that was never yours. One taste of Chanel, and I realized, Samantha was never mine to begin with.

And just like that, my heart was set free.

Listen, there are plenty of women who would have loved to take that vacation with me. This vacation would have been great regardless. But none of them would have given this trip the impact Chanel had.

She had the charm, the sex appeal, and the wanton purity I never knew I needed, until she walked into her desires.

Beauty was skin deep on looks alone. But the connection we made at several points during the vacation indicated timeless beauty was soul-deep.

From the moment she slammed the door on Rose and Yelena, (who I ended up leaving a detailed sexual harassment complaint about), Chanel declared her intentions. We were going to enjoy every minute we had left of our vacation, in bed or out of it, and not kill ourselves trying to keep the passion at bay. If we wanted to kiss, we’d kiss. If we needed to fuck, we’d fuck.

“We owe it to ourselves to relax and let go, otherwise what’s the point of even going on a vacation?” She said.

We did just that, and we avoided Axel and Rose until it was time to go. Now, that wasn’t difficult to do. Anytime Rose saw us, she huffed and pulled Axel in the opposite direction. He shrugged in a carefree manner, as if he knew what happened, but could care less to begin with.

Axel honestly didn’t care. He was getting high every day on the island, enjoying the best weed, wine, and food the place had to offer. If anything, he simply took another pull of his joint, and would calm Rose down with another passionate sex session.

The flight home was just as fun. Chanel and I were satisfied, tired, and completely in sync with taking sleep pills to avoid our anxiety (and Rose’s glares). When we parted ways at the airport, I kissed her at the Uber and thanked her for such a wonderful time.

It was dope. She was dope.

But I couldn’t leave her - or our potential - behind. We were meant for more than just those deliciously sinful - and sentimental - memories.

So here I was on the front steps of her house, knocking loudly on a Friday morning, praying she was up to answer.

Someone peeked through the door before it opened.

There she stood, barefoot in that gorgeous pink polish, eyes wide with shock as she registered my presence.

“Hunter? Hi, what are you doing here?”

My eyes trailed down the plain tank and yoga shorts she wore. Her wild black waves were up in a ponytail, and her tan was still strong. The dark caramel tones in her skin made her smoky grey eyes stand out even more.

I craved to lay her on the floor and pound her then and there, looking into her eyes while she screamed my name.

We’d done a lot of that before we left.

“I came because…” I paused, pushing the Venus ET Fleur box toward her. “I wanted to give you this.”

“Oh Hunter, these are beautiful!” She inhaled them, her eyes rolling from the freshness in the fragrance.

I didn’t want her to thank me. I didn’t want her gratitude. I just needed her to hear me. I wanted her to feel my desire.

“Chanel, I came because that weekend we shared wasn’t enough for me. From the moment we connected, it was explosive. And I want more… I need to know if you want more too.”

Chanel’s grey eyes were almost unreadable, save for the small sparkle in them. We were on the same page, but she wasn’t sure. “But Hunter, you’ve only been single a few weeks. Are you even ready for more than a tropical… fling?”

She said the word with a small flinch, as if it hurt to downgrade the experience.

“I know real passion when I feel it.” I stepped closer, closing my eyes to inhale that decadent strawberry, vanilla, and honey scent that smelled like whipped sex coming off her skin. “I know it when I smell it, hear it, see… and taste it too.”

I opened my eyes, and let them drop between her legs. It was my way of saying I remembered the flavor of her sweet pussy, that sacred honey pot, on my lips. If I were to be honest, the scent of her cunt was still embedded in my nose hairs. It was fucking intoxicating. She had no idea how much she warped my mind.

“Darling, if it’s any indication,” I pulled a velvet box out of my back pocket. “I’m a man who works hard, plays hard, and loves hardest. You’re a hidden treasure, and you don’t need to keep yourself away from the world anymore.

“I know you’re dealing with a lot. I’m not trying to get in the way of any of it. But I also know a strong, capable beauty like yourself needs a determined man like me. I’m willing and able to help you with your bills. I’m willing and able to help you manage your tuition. I’m willing to help you get what you need for you and your mother - no expense too big - to help you both recover from your challenges.”

I dropped to one knee, and popped open the box, revealing a sparkling blue sapphire ring.

“Are you proposing to me?” Chanel gasped.

“I have no solid idea of how far or fast to move things with you,” I humbly admitted. “I just know I’ve gotten a taste of paradise - of you - and I don’t want that taste to end.”

“It’s… that ring is… beautiful.” She looked like she was about to pass out.

Thank God Rose could be bribed to give me screenshots from Chanel’s Pinterest account. “Dream Gifts from Bae” gave me plenty of ideas.

“Beautiful, like you.” I grit and ignored the discomfort of my knee on concrete. “And it’s yours to have. But whether you’ll become my bride or my lady, either way, will you say yes to a chance at something real with me, love?”

“Oh yes, baby!” She squealed. “Yes, yes I do!”

“Great - wait. One more thing.”

“Yes.”

“You can have this ring - but only if you’re willing to admit you made the first move.”

She stuck out her tongue along with that pretty manicured hand. I laughed and kissed the top of it, and then slid her ring on the appropriate finger. As I stood to my feet, she wrapped her arms around me and hiked her legs up. I felt my heart melt as our lips met, and my nose was overwhelmed with the sweet domination of strawberries, vanilla, and honeyed sex as she leaned into my body.

This was my lady. This would be my woman. One day she would be my wife.

But for the rest of my life… she was definitely my paradise.