“Are you ready, baby?” Hudson asks me as he strolls onto the decking wearing a pair of Bermuda shorts slung low on his hips. The sun has already darkened his tanned skin, offsetting the bright green of his eyes and making them even more startling than usual.

“Yes, I’m ready. Where are we going exactly?” I ask, taking a last sip of my pineapple juice.

Hudson leans over and snatches a slice of apple from my plate. He chews on it thoughtfully.

“It’s a surprise. Come on, you’ll love it,” he says, holding his hand out for me to take.

“Do I need to bring anything? Should I change?” I ask, looking down at the navy-blue bikini with turquoise gems scattered across the material.

“Nope. We have everything we need on the boat.”

“Boat?”

“Yep, I think it’s about time we explored this beautiful coast a little more.”

Hand in hand, we leave our bungalow and step down onto our private beach. Even though it’s still early, the sun has already warmed the sand to an almost unbearable temperature and we hurry to the shoreline and the relative coolness of the water.

Hudson points to a jetty further along the shore and the sleek white of a speedboat floating alongside it. “That, Louisa, will be our ride for the day,” he grins.

“Who’s driving us?” I ask, kind of bummed that someone we don’t know will be a part of our excursion.

“Me, of course.” Hudson untwines his fingers and pulls me against his side. “This day is just about you and me.”

“Bryce and Max are cool with taking the meeting?”

“Yup, they’ve got this, and today I get you,” Hudson says, grinning.

Even though they had all agreed that starting a rota on this holiday wasn’t what they wanted, one has begun to form naturally and for now it seems to work.

“Well, that’s perfect then,” I say, matching Hudson’s grin with my own.

A couple of minutes later, we’re on board the speedboat with Hudson at the helm. I relax on the plush seats and watch him as he turns on the ignition and flicks a few buttons. The engine purrs to life beneath us and I feel the vibration of it through my seat.

“Ready?” Hudson asks over his shoulder.

“Ready.”

Putting the gear into drive we move forward, gently at first, then picking up speed as the boat heads out of the bay and into deeper water. Feeling the air rush by my ears, the sun on my face, and seeing Hudson control something so powerful and sleek, is thrilling. Once Hudson decides we are far enough out to sea, he spins the wheel to the right, turning the boat parallel to the coastline. For the next ten minutes we speed along like that, Hudson the captain of our boat, and me his adoring passenger. Eventually, he turns the wheel ninety degrees, the muscles in his back flexing, and we head towards the shore once more. As we get nearer to our destination, a beautiful cove opens up. High rocks curve around a pristine, white, sandy beach. The water is so clear I can see a shoal of colourful fish swim beneath the surface and the shape of the coral spread across the ocean floor.

About thirty feet from the shore, Hudson drops the anchor and switches the engine off. Turning to face me, he leans back against the dash. “So, what do you think?” he asks softly.

“What do I think? I think this is probably the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. Thank you for bringing me here.” I get up and, holding my arms out for balance, walk towards Hudson.

“What are you doing?” he laughs, watching me with amusement.

“Trying not to fall over. You might have been a pirate in a former life, but I most definitely don’t have sea legs.”

“A pirate, eh?”

Before I can reach him, Hudson strides forward and pulls me into his arms. “I like the sound of that,” he says, burying his head into the curve of my neck and nipping the skin there. “Ooh arr, matey,” he jokes, before slapping me playfully on the arse.

Giggling, I pull out of his arms as he steps away and opens a low white box fitted into the side of the boat.

“What’s in there?” I ask.

“I brought you here for a reason,” he says, holding up a snorkelling mask.

Five minutes later we’re in the water, both of us holding onto the ladder fixed to the back of the boat.

“Are you ready to give it a try?” Hudson asks. His hair is slicked back from the water, tiny droplets running in rivulets over his skin. Even with a snorkel mask on he’s still delicious.

“Are you kidding me? I’m itching to take a look.”

“Then let’s do this.” Hudson puts the snorkel in his mouth and gives me a thumbs-up sign. I pull the goggles over my eyes and do the same, nodding to him that I’m ready. He pushes off the side of the boat, keeping his head above water, and waits for me to join him. Once I do, he takes my hand and we both place our faces under the surface.

I am so stunned by what I see that it takes me a moment for my brain to catch up. Beneath us, a beautiful, multicoloured bed of coral is home to an abundance of bright fish that move and weave below us, oblivious to the two intruders floating about them. I squeeze Hudson’s hand and point to a large fish that looks like a rainbow, its scales shimmering like iridescent pearls in the underwater light. I have never seen such beauty before. Hudson and I remain like that for a long time, happy and content for this glimpse into a world that is so very different from our own. Eventually, my stomach rumbles and then my need to eat and drink outweighs my need to stay just where I am. Tipping upright, I wait for Hudson to do the same. He breaks the surface of the water, pulling out his mouthpiece and lifting up his goggles.

“You okay?” he asks.

“I’m more than okay, this is possibly the best thing I’ve ever done, but I’m starving and a little thirsty.”

“Then let’s grab something to eat. There’s a picnic in the cool box on the boat.”

We swim to the ladder and climb out of the water. Hudson hands me a towel and I pull off my snorkelling gear and dry myself off whilst he grabs the cool box. Spreading a blanket across the bottom of the boat, Hudson pulls out an array of food. There’s pots filled with sliced fruit, seafood salad, and noodle dishes.

“Wow, this looks delicious. When did you do all this?” I ask, settling down on the blanket and grabbing a bottle of water. Opening the lid, I take a sip, relishing the cold liquid as it slides down my throat.

“I must confess, I didn’t do any of it. The hotel restaurant prepared it all for me,” he says.

“Well, it’s lovely. Thanks, Hudson,” I say, almost shyly. We eat in comfortable silence, enjoying the sweet fruit and delicious salads.

Hudson leans against the side of the boat and stretches his legs out, his plate empty and tummy full. He closes his eyes and tips his head to the sun, completely at ease in my company. I glance at his toned chest, the smattering of hair in the middle and the soft down of it on his lower stomach. I have the sudden itch to touch him, to run my fingers against his sun-kissed skin. Knowing exactly what I want, I take the opportunity to untie my bikini top. It slips from my skin, freeing my breasts. The sun is deliciously warm across my sea-salted skin and a low thrum of desire sparks in my groin at the thought of what I am about to do. Shifting as carefully as possible, I crawl towards Hudson and straddle his lap. His eyes startle open as I place the palm of my hand against his chest.

“Hi,” I say.

“Hey,” he responds. A beautiful smile almost as dazzling as the sun erupts across his face. “Hudson, make love to me,” I whisper, leaning in so I can press my lips against his. His cock hardens in response as he leans in close, his fingertips brushing back my tangled hair from my face.

“Baby, every second of every day if I could,” he says, before pressing his mouth against mine. I can taste the sweet tang of fruit and the salt of the sea on his lips. We kiss slowly, languidly, knowing we have all day to explore each other. Knowing that out here on the ocean we will be undisturbed. It makes me bold.

Pulling away from him I stand. The boat rocks slightly and Hudson grips my hips to steady me. He looks up.

“May I?” he asks, his fingers hovering over the straps of my bikini bottoms.

“Do you really need to ask?”

He grins as his fingers pull at the ties. My bikini bottoms fall to his lap and he chucks them to one side.

“Look at you. When did I ever get so lucky?” he says, gazing up at me.

I don’t answer because I can’t. The feel of Hudson’s lips against me forces all sense from my thoughts, all words from my brain, and all composure from my lips. Out here on the ocean with no one about us but the fish swimming beneath the waves and the odd bird flying above, I let my inhibitions go, rocking against the warm expertise of his mouth. Spots of light start to blur my vision as Hudson sucks, licks and fucks me with his mouth and fingers. A thousand nerve endings are firing under his touch and I want more. I want friction. I want to let it all go. I spread my legs wider, tangle my hands in his hair and pull him against me, forcing his mouth closer, his tongue deeper. Hudson doesn’t let up, he understands what I need, he takes me to the edge, and with one last firm press of his tongue I ride the wave of my orgasm, my core pulsating around his fingers. I am slick, open and wanting but it still isn’t enough. I need more. I want more. I want his fire, his passion. I want his damn cock. My legs begin to shake with the aftershock and I collapse into his arms, not able to keep myself upright a moment longer.

Hudson draws me tightly against his chest with one arm, and with the other swipes the content of our picnic to the side. Then he lays me down on the blanket, wriggles out of his swim shorts and settles his whole length against me.

“I love the way you kiss me, touch me. I love the way you make me feel,” I say, running my fingertips against his shoulder blades. There’s a smattering of freckles scattered across the surface, I hadn’t noticed them before. Being in the sun has made them darker.

Hudson brushes his lips against mine, then he lowers his mouth to the soft curve of my neck. “You have the softest skin. It’s like silk. Damn it, butterfly, you intoxicate me.”

Our eyes lock and there is innate understanding in his. Right now, we both want to lose ourselves to each other, blocking out everything until there is only the white noise of our pulses increasingy steadily. It isn’t about the sex, more about the connection. A joining of two people who, through shared experience and blossoming love, call to one another in the middle of an ocean.

Hudson doesn’t take his eyes off my face as he enters me with a firm thrust. He fills me with the length and width of his cock. He doesn’t wait for my body to adjust around him, he knows I am ready, that I am wanting, and by God do I want him.

Hard.

Firm.

Fast.

Slow.

Sweet.

Soft.

Always, any way, as long as we are together, joined as one. Hudson allows himself the freedom to let go completely and irrevocably, and here, bobbing on the waves, we make love surrounded by nothing but the vast ocean and the call of the terns overhead.