Inside the hut, the women led Octavia to a full-length mirror.

“A quick lesson,” the first lady said.

“What’s your name, honey?” Octavia asked.

“Leinani,” the lady responded.

“Leinani,” Octavia said. “That’s a pretty name.”

“Thank you. This is Kalama,” Leinani said, introducing the lady by her side. Kalama glided behind Octavia and began untying Octavia’s sheer wrap. Alarmed, Octavia glanced from Leinani to Kalama.

“Okay, somebody start talking,” Octavia said.

“I’m going to give you a quick lesson. For your mister.”

“For my mister?” Octavia said.

Leinani reached behind her and grabbed what appeared to be a skirt made with dried leaves. Wide eyes and a bright smile fell upon Octavia’s face. “You’re going to teach me how to hula?”

Leinani and Kalama were agreeing with head nods and pleasant smiles. Octavia laughed, throwing her hands up.

“Okay,” Octavia said, “we should probably make this fast because I don’t know how long my mister is going to sit out there and wait before storming into this tent.”

The ladies laughed and moved about hurriedly. Leinani and Kalama helped Octavia into her hula attire and offered her a few basic moves. After fifteen minutes, Octavia and the two women left the hut headed for Jonathon. He’d been moved from the table and chairs to a fluffy beach blanket on the sand. He sat upright with his legs pulled up just enough to plant his feet. Leaning comfortably with his arms resting across his knees, Jonathon watched as Octavia approached. An overabundance of emotions coursed through Octavia. She had only been gone a few minutes, yet Octavia was relieved to be in his company again. She inhaled a breath of fresh air and smiled at him. Jonathon’s handsome face went from relaxed to heightened by the edge his jaw now took on and the ebony gleam in his eyes.

As they neared, Octavia spoke, “I’m so proud of you.”

Purposefully, his gaze roamed over her. The hula dress was no match for Octavia’s curves as they waved boldly underneath the skirt. Brown legs made of silk rode into bare pedicured feet. Jonathon was as hard as a box of rocks, almost forgetting to respond to her comment.

With a voice gruff and threaded with a sensual depth, Jonathon responded, “Why are you proud of me?” He hadn’t made it back to her eyes yet, and it tickled Octavia that he’d seen her naked but looked at her now as if seeing her for the first time.

A tropical beat played, and Octavia began to move her hips. Slowly at first then with a repetitious wave. The braided leaves that hung around Octavia’s neck covered her breasts just barely with a peek of her brown bosom teasing Jonathon through the bottom. It was when Octavia turned her back to him as she rolled her hips did he catch a look at her bare back and shoulders. Her chocolate skin ran the span of her spine and disappeared inside the natural skirt only to be found as her thighs sprouted beneath. Jonathon bit back a harsh expletive, his libido at an all-time high.  

Octavia’s voice was sultry, smooth and covering Jonathon’s skin like a wave of heat. “You didn’t go all cave man and come looking for me.” She continued to move her hips in circles as she spoke. Meeting up with her breasts, Octavia waved her arms and twisted her wrists in sync with her gyrating hips. 

 Leinani and Kalama stood in the background on each side of Octavia, moving in the same order as her. Jonathon, however, couldn’t pretend to pay them any mind as he fought with strength and determination not to pull Octavia into his arms and sit her on the hardest part of him.

“I was halfway to the hut when someone stopped me and assured me you were okay,” he said. “They pulled me over to this spot, and I gave them sixty seconds to—”

Jonathon’s sentence trailed off when Octavia took a bold step forward, gyrating into a dip that brought her practically to a squat as she leveled with him.

“I’m proud of you for that,” her sultry voice beckoned. “You could’ve easily— Ah!”

Jonathon had held all the patience he could, and the end result was Octavia straddling him. With her hands resting on his shoulder in a firm grip, Octavia’s mouth hung slightly open, still caught off guard by his brisk shift. Jonathon put his fingers to her chin and ease Octavia’s lips to his. He invaded her mouth, moving his tongue across hers in a mated exercise.

“Mmmm,” Octavia moaned, relishing in the taste of his tongue. Together, they held on to each other. Octavia eased her arms further around Jonathon’s neck and his arms coupled around her waist. When his restrained manhood bobbled against Octavia’s panties, she yelped and shuddered with a smile.

“Down, boy…” she purred. “We still have an audience.”

A growl vibrated from his throat. “That can be easily resolved,” Jonathon promised.

A tinkering laugh skipped from Octavia. “Oh, I’m sure.”

Jonathon feigned offense. “You don’t want to be alone with me, O?”

Octavia kissed his lips. “Of course.” She kissed him again. “In fact, there’s no place I’d rather be.”

Jonathon sucked in her lips one at a time needing to taste every corner and crevasse of her mouth. A round of giggles grabbed their attention as they both smiled into each other’s mouths before pulling back slightly to peek at their company.

“For you, mister and misses,” Leinani said, offering over a gift basket that had been weaved from natural plants and materials.

“Oh, thank you so much, you shouldn’t have,” Octavia said, grabbing the basket and sliding to Jonathon’s side.

“It was our pleasure. Inside you’ll find some of Hawaii’s home-grown fruits. Pitaya, known as dragon fruit, strawberry guava, poha berry, egg fruit, and papaya.”

“Thank you,” Jonathon said.

Leinani put her hands together and bowed slightly before turning to take her leave. Jonathon removed the basket from Octavia’s hand and set it to the side to gather her back in his arms.

“Now, where were we?”

Octavia squealed and halted Jonathon’s forward progress with a firm hand to his chest. “Wait,” she smiled, “aren’t we going to try some of this fruit?”

Jonathon lifted a brow. “Right now?”

Octavia giggled. “Yes, right now.”

Jonathon hesitated. Octavia had no idea how long Jonathon had longed for a moment like this with her. But he remained mindful that too much too fast could push her away, so he complied.

“Whatever you like,” he said.

Octavia leaned in and kissed his lips, and Jonathon gave her a warning glare.

“If you start that, then don’t stop me when I—”

“Okay, okay, okay!” Octavia shouted with a laugh. She wasn’t sure if she could ever get used to being so beloved, but it was a welcomed relief.

Jonathon called to a nearby server and asked for an empty plate and steak knife. When the server returned with the items, Octavia pulled out the dragon fruit and opened it with one swift slice. With their legs mixing and mingling on the beach blanket, they bit into the fruit and a drizzle of juice spilled down the corner of Octavia’s mouth.

She reached for a napkin but Jonathon captured her chin and licked up to her lips. Octavia shuddered. If being with him gave her this uninterrupted euphoria and she was truly in a coma, then she never wanted to wake up. Together they tasted the samples of the fruit going from one to the other. Sweet and tangy layers of juicy flavors assaulted them as they indulged.

“I think this one’s my favorite,” Octavia said, taking a bite out of the papaya.

“I’m sure we can get that back at home from the store. What do you think?”

“Not like it taste here.”

“Hmm, you might be right.”

“Of course, I am.” She smiled then sighed. “I could lay next to you right here and fall asleep.”

Jonathon sent out a curt whistle, and a server approached.

“We’re heading back to the hotel,” he said, sliding his hand in Octavia’s as they rose to their feet. Jonathon gave Octavia a once over. “My lady needs her clothes,” he said to the server.

“Clothes? What are those?” Octavia mentioned. She giggled at the way Jonathon’s lids lowered as he pulled her close.

“Don’t play with me, woman.”

“Miss,” the server said, “this way.”

Slowly, Octavia removed herself from Jonathon’s grasp and followed the woman until she disappeared into the hut. While he waited, Jonathon cleaned up their area, taking the half-bitten pieces of fruits and adding them back to the basket. Another server appeared to help him.

“Thank you,” Jonathon said. He turned to watch the shoreline as he pondered on a future with Octavia. With his T-shirt now thrown over his shoulder and his chiseled chest on display, Jonathon sank his hands in his shorts pockets. He thought of the many ways he could treasure her and wanted to show Octavia every day that his actions would be a never-ending presentation of how he planned to love her for life. When a warm body sank into his back and heated arms circled his waist, Jonathon’s eyes fell to a close. Octavia’s hands roamed up his chest and fell over his heart, taking in the special beat of its rhythm. With her face pressed against his back, she breathed in deep, exhilarated by the thrill of her own.

I love you. The thought ran through them both, and simultaneously they inhaled and exhaled as they both sought ways to spill these sentiments without making the other uncomfortable. To Octavia, as much as Jonathon showed his love for her, saying the words was something else entirely.

For Jonathon, his reasons remained the same. Taking things a little slower was better. He’d rather live in this moment than risk pushing her away for coming on too strong all at once. The thing was their connection was so naturally raw that every second, Jonathon second guessed himself. Surely, Octavia wouldn’t be thrown by his love for her, but because he couldn’t be absolute, still, Jonathon waited.

Octavia turned her face into his smooth skin and pushed a kiss into his vertebrae. A wave of warmth ran through them, and Jonathon pulled a hand out of his pocket to reach for her hand. Bringing her fingers to his lips, he kissed them and exhaled.

A power boat coasted down the shoreline to a pause. “Our ride’s here,” Jonathon said.

Octavia moved to his side to grab his hand, and they strolled out to the floating vessel. Once there, Jonathon wrapped Octavia in one strong arm lifting her as she sat on his firm biceps, and with an agile leap, they were inside the power boat. The rush Octavia felt with the cock-strong movement was heart pounding, and her arms clung to him as she looked down in his beautiful face. Their breaths tapered across each other’s mouths, and slowly Octavia slid down his length as Jonathon sat her on her feet.

A cocoon of butterflies fluttered through Octavia’s belly, and her nerves stood on edge.

“Good evening,” their guide said, breaking through their electrifying moment. He was the same fella who’d chauffeured them the entire day.

“Good evening,” they both returned in unison. Keeping their eyes on one another, Jonathon and Octavia smiled.

“I do hope you enjoyed your day. Shark diving, yeah?” the guide said, holding two thumbs up. Octavia finally pulled her eyes over to the man.

“I loved it,” she said, turning back to Jonathon.

“As did I,” Jonathon ensured.

“I’m glad you both had a good time. If you’ll get comfortable, I can take you back to your hotel, and if we hurry, we won’t miss the sunset.”

Octavia’s eyes stretched with an elated surprise. “I’d love to see that,” she mused, leaning into Jonathon.

“Then let’s see it,” Jonathon said.

They found a seat, and Jonathon stretched his long legs out and tossed an arm over the top as Octavia nestled into his nook. The guide escorted the boat-ski off the shoreline into the distance of the sea. As the floating craft picked up momentum, the boat skidded over a deep wave and water splashed overboard.

“Sorry,” the guide chuckled, “that happens from time to time.”

Octavia smirked. “We’re not worried,” she said, “we don’t mind getting a little wet.” She glanced up at Jonathon and shuddered at the wildly untamed look in his eyes.

Unable to resist her for another second, Jonathon leaned in just as Octavia did and they set off an explosive kiss that heated their mouths and burned within. Octavia was crawling into his lap when they hit another bold wave. The boat skidded across the water, and another layer of water splashed inside. She giggled as they rocked with the sudden impact. But their lips continued to move over and under their mouths completely breathing into one another. Sealed tightly, they nibbled, savored and sucked on each other. The thought ran through Jonathon’s mind to take her right then and there, and it wasn’t easy for him to resist.

Unbeknownst to Jonathon, Octavia felt much the same as their hearts and libidos fell in sync. With a dangerous grind, Octavia moved her hips and the friction between them sparked. With a reluctant draw away from her succulent lips, Jonathon took in a lungful of air as his head fell back against the rest. He closed his eyes and sank into a pool of lava as Octavia took her lips down his jaw, and neck, then nibbled over to his shoulders.

He didn’t want to tell her to stop. It wasn’t in Jonathon to prohibit himself from such ecstasy. But if Jonathon let this continue, he would most certainly make love to Octavia, audience be damned.

“Octavia,” his voice thundered.

“Mmhmm,” she responded without halting her make out session with his solid body.

Pulling his head back to glance at her, Jonathon caught Octavia just as she was getting ready to take her tongue across his taut nipple.

“Don’t do it,” he said with an urgent plea.

Octavia cocked her head to the side and looked into his smoldering eyes. Easily, her tongue waved out of her mouth to tease him.

“For God’s sake, woman,” he growled.

Octavia snickered.

“You’re not playing fair,” Jonathon spoke again.

“No?”

Jonathon shook his head.

“But I love making you feel good,” she oozed.

Jonathon shut his eyes briefly then peered at her.

“Would you like to give our guide the show of his life? Because I doubt that he has witnessed anything like what I’m going to do to you if you keep this up.”

Octavia’s eyes widened and she smiled modestly. “Is that right?”

Jonathon didn’t respond, opting to hold her steady gaze so she could be reassured that he meant what he said.

“Here it is!” The guide shouted from the bow.

A sea of an orange glow stretched across the heavens, sending a stream of gold highlighting through the sky. Octavia gasped and shifted herself in Jonathon’s lap while keeping an arm draped leisurely across his shoulder. A delighted smile spread over her face.

“This is so beautiful,” she said as the orange glow sailed across the sky as far as the eye could see. “I wish,” Octavia started.

“What?” Jonathon asked.

Octavia swallowed her words, and her stomach swirled.

“O,” Jonathon said, “don’t hold back. Tell me what it is that you wish.”

Octavia pressed her lips together then spoke. “I wish we could stay right here forever.”

Jonathon’s heart knocked against his ribs. “Forever?” he queried. “Are you sure about that?” Octavia didn’t have a clue there was a double meaning in his question. Or so Jonathon thought. Octavia indeed heard it, and she answered as if they were both outwardly aware of this.

“Yes.”

Their gazes held and even behind them, Octavia could see the orange glow in the distance. It seemed to go on for longer than a few minutes, and it was seriously like heaven on earth.

Trying with all her might to shake herself from a daze, Octavia turned her view back to the picturesque sight in front of them. As waves dashed past their boat and the currents of wind sailed through her hair, Octavia held on to a smile and took a mental snapshot. This, she would certainly never forget.