The smooth sounds of Prince’s “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World” wrapped around the drum in Corinne’s ear. Her eyes fluttered open, and her mouth parted on a smile. It wasn’t the actual song, but Xavier’s deep humming voice that serenaded her with the lyrics. He was singing to her and trailing a finger down the outline of her ear, neck, and shoulders.

“We’re here, Bella Anima. Zambia awaits.”

Corinne stretched. Her limbs flexed like that of a cat but went right back limp when it was over.

“I have on a shirt,” she pointed out.

“You don’t remember putting it on?”

“Hmmm, no. Did you help me?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“You shivered a few times after I got up.”

“How do you know I shivered if you were gone?”

Xavier was quiet for a moment then he smirked.

“Because I’ve been watching you.”

Corinne smiled. “Normally, that would creep me out, but no, it doesn’t.”

Xavier laughed. “That puts me at ease. I like watching you sleep. You’re an angel.”

Corinne smirked. “Then that would make you an angel, too. My guardian angel watching over me.”

“I like the sound of that.”

Corinne’s smile held. “My body feels so light,” she said.

Xavier chuckled. “That’s because you’ve been emptied, love.”

Corinne had to agree.

“I have a warm bubble bath waiting for you. There’s no rush. We’re here for three days, so take your time.”

Corinne moaned and stretched again. “I’m sorry I couldn’t take off four. I know that’s what we originally planned.”

“That’s not a problem. We will make these three days count.” He paused, and she removed her face from his neck and stared up at him.

“What,” she asked, watching his eyes comb over her.

“You are the most beautiful girl in the world.”

Corinne blushed. “You’re just saying that because I sucked your soul from your body,” she teased. It brought a rambunctious guffaw from Xavier as his smile spread in a beautiful pearly display.

“Yes,” he admitted, “you did, but that is just icing on the proverbial cake.” He leaned down and kissed her lips, then her forehead, then her chin.

It was then that Corinne caught her first real look at him. He was fully dressed, and the spicy shower gel he’d used was coated on his skin.

“I’m holding us back, aren’t I?”

“Not at all. We’re on vacation. We’ll do what we want. If you would like to linger another day, we will, but I won’t promise to keep my hands to myself now that you’ve awakened the beast in me.”

The thought of another round of sexual bliss with Xavier heightened her body but also reminded her of the soreness between her thighs.

“I’m up,” she said, rising quickly.

He chuckled, and Corinne stood to her feet.

“Whoa,” she said, pausing and reaching out for the wall.

Xavier was at her side. “Careful, Bella Anima, maybe you should lie back down.”

Corinne steadied herself as the dizziness moved past her. “I’m good,” she said.

“Sure?”

She smiled. “Yeah.”

He pulled her close, bringing a glaze of heat as he kissed her lips. She felt so cozy with him she could live in that moment forever. She closed her eyes and inhaled then exhaled.

“Let me show you to the bathroom,” he said, taking her hand and linking their fingers.

She followed him through the spacious design of the luxury aircraft to the bathroom that boasted hardwood floors and a clawfoot tub. Rose petals led a path to the bathtub and more petals floated on top of an arrangement of bubbles. Around the outer edges, tealight candles were lit and a vanilla fragrance wafted from the room.

Corinne glanced up at him. “For me?”

Xavier pulled her close again to kiss her lips. “Who else would it be for?”

Corinne blushed; she could get used to being taken care of like this.

“I’ll tell you one thing, if you spoil me like this who knows when you’ll get rid of me.” She smirked.

“In that case, prepare to be showered.”

Corinne smirked and strode away from him. As she sauntered, she reached for the top button of his shirt that she wore and unclasped them one by one keeping her back to him.

“I’ll give you some privacy.”

But before he could escape, Corinne spun around with the shirt falling from her fingers. It fell in a pool around her feet and soaked up the dangerous gaze Xavier wrapped her with. Her body shuddered as she thought of the things his mouth had done to her, the way he tasted every plane on her body. Xavier, on the other hand, was hard as a rock.

“Are you sure you don’t want to bathe with me?” She turned her back to him and lifted her leg, deliberately sticking out her ass and giving him a peek of her mound.

“I’m sure If I get in there with you, we will spend the day on this jet.” Xavier’s voice was rough, and he was trying like all hell not to rush her. Unfortunately, his resolve was broken when Corinne stepped in the tub and dipped her body in the water then stood back to her feet.

Wet bubbles slid down her form, coasting over her brown skin, dark areolas, flat belly, and apex of her center.

“Fuck it,” he said, removing his clothes piece by piece.

He’d already been in the shower, but it wouldn’t hurt to clean up again after getting dirty one more time. He scooped her up in his arms, and Corinne laughed out loud then moaned once her legs wrapped around his waist and connected with his ridged shaft.

“Uuuuuh…” She threw her head back, and they made love throughout the afternoon.

Xavier and Corinne were able to salvage some part of their day. Although it was late evening, the sun was still high in Zambia, and they took advantage, being met with a hatch-top safari vehicle. The heat index was sweltering with high humidity and the normal subtropical wet-dry atmosphere. But they were none the wiser as they sat comfortably leaned into one another as the cart drove over the rugged terrains.

“What do you think we’ll see today?” Corinne asked.

Xavier was spaced out, and Corinne peered at him then asked another question.

“Hey, where are you?”

Xavier glanced down at her. “I’m here with you.”

Corinne twisted her lips. “For a second you were gone. Where’d you go?”

Xavier’s gaze flipped back to the road in front of them when he spoke.

“My family is in a bidding war with the Rose’s over The Fairburn Development. It’s going to get nasty before it’s resolved.” He sighed.

“How important is it to your family to have?”

The cart rocked slightly as they rode over a rough patch of terrain.

“Can you keep a secret?” He asked.

“Yeah.”

Xavier licked his lips. “Hunter wants to gift the property to Camilla as a wedding gift. I’m sure you’re aware that Camilla wants to start her charity by housing the homeless in the hotels.”

Corinne’s eyes widened and she nodded.

“Wow, that’s incredible of Hunter to do.”

“Yeah, but he may not get it.”

Corinne frowned. “If you think that then you’ve already lost,” she concluded.

Xavier smirked then leaned down placing a fiery kiss against her cheek.

“You’re right. Thank you for reminding me.” He paused. “Enough about business. You asked about the animals we might encounter. I’m thinking, maybe a few lions or elephants. Should we ask?”

“Oh.” She smiled. “I didn’t think you heard me.”

“I always hear you,” he said holding her with a steady gaze. “Excuse me, sir,” Xavier called to their driver Phillip.

“How can I help you?” Phillip returned, his accent thick and deep-rooted.

“My lady would like to know which animals we might see today. Have any idea?”

“Oh, yes,” Phillip said with a wide smile. “There will be, giraffes, lions, and surely elephants.”

Xavier wiggled his brows at Corinne with a jaunty smile and an “I told you so” expression in his eyes. Corinne laughed and slapped his chest with a playful tap.

“However,” Phillip continued, “if you’re really adventurous, you could ride the elephant.”

Corinne’s eyes widened.

“Would you like that, Bella?”

“Is it safe?”

“Perfectly,” Phillip responded.

“No, I mean for the elephant,” Corinne said. “I’ve heard a thing or two about the dangers of riding their backs. I don’t want to ride for the sake of my own selfish reasons if it’s unethical to the animal.”

Xavier stared at her in shocked silence but truly, he shouldn’t have been surprised. He knew Corinne was a caring person. It was her personality trait that made him love her that much more.

“Elephant trails with our company are limited to thirty minutes tops. It’s usually around one field and only so you can have the experience of seeing the land from up high,” Phillip responded. “Our elephants are well taken care of, and we would not put them in harm’s way for anyone, or anything.”

Corinne bit the corner of her lips, pondering Phillip’s words.

“I’ll tell you what. My assistant and I will help you two on top, and if it makes you feel better, you don’t have to move, just sit for a second and take it all in.”

Xavier studied her. “What do you think?”

“Hmmm, maybe.”

Xavier pinched her chin. “All right Phillip, we’re game.”