My alarm went off all too early as always, and I groaned as I rolled over in my bed. I hated waking up in the mornings. Whenever I saw commercials on TV about the person who was thrilled to jump out of bed and start their day, I wanted to slap them, convinced that there was no one in the world like those annoying people.

I grabbed at the nightstand next to my bed, trying to find the alarm. It was difficult with my head buried in my pillow, but I knew once I’d hit the snooze button, I would feel a lot better. Finally, my hand came down hard on the alarm clock and I sighed as I picked up the pillow on the opposite side of the bed and jammed it over my ears.

The clerk at the front desk had found it humorous that I’d chosen a room with a king-size bed for just myself, but I didn’t care. I had slept well that night, and I had to admit that I was glad when I woke up and there was no one there with me bright and early in the morning.

When my alarm went off once again, I knew it was time to get up despite the fact I wanted nothing more than to sleep in. I hadn’t gone out the night before. Quite the opposite, in fact. I had spent much of the night on my laptop, researching only the best venues to throw a last-minute wedding.

Most of the places I checked out were already booked up, and I was beginning to feel discouraged. Antonio was depending on me to pull this together in time for him and his fiancée to be married before I headed back to the States, and I wanted to make sure their day was perfect. Not only was this going to be one of the best pieces in my portfolio, I will be able to tell everyone that I got to organize a royal marriage.

I knew without the photos it would be impossible to get anyone to believe my work, and I silently prayed the bride wouldn’t mind if I had the pick of the lot when it came to the snapshots I put next to my name. Of course, I did my best work with every celebration I planned, but this was different. This was my chance to take my career to the next level.

I drifted off for a few minutes before waking once again with a start. I felt intensely aroused and, with a sheepish smile, began to recall the details from the dream I was having the night before. I could remember many of them quite vividly, and I couldn’t help but reach down and touch myself at the thought of them.

My dream had largely consisted of me and Antonio. I had been back on the beach looking for my shoe and he’d come out of nowhere. I had been far bolder in my dream, ready to flirt with him and make moves I never would have made in real life.

Much as had happened that day, it had started with a rather normal greeting—he’d come up to me and we’d begun talking. But in my dream, I reached forward and put my hand on his chest. It had been a strong, muscular chest that sent a shock through my entire body. He’d reached forward and hooked his hand behind my lower back, pulling me upward and inward toward him. I hadn’t had a moment to think before he’d pressed his lips firmly against mine.

The kiss began slowly, then grew with passion and hunger the longer we stood on the beach. Of course, being the dream that it was, I had no idea how long we actually kissed, but it felt like blissful heaven no matter how long it was. I’d let my hands explore him, peeling off his shirt and revealing his toned and muscular body beneath.

I’d had my hands at the belt of his jeans and eagerly undid the zipper. All the while, his own hands and mouth were caressing my body with passion, curiosity, and fervor. We explored each other, feeding into our lust and our passion all the while. A warm breeze was running up the beach, flowing through my hair and bringing out goose pimples on my skin.

As I lay in bed with my eyes closed, I thought about how satisfying an experience it had been, and how I hadn’t wanted it to end. Of course, in the dream I had no idea that I was doomed to wake up, and all I could think about was the thing coming next. I’d pulled down his pants, revealing his large, hardened self. I’d been so wet I didn’t need any more foreplay, and I remembered how I felt an intense pressure between my legs as he entered me.

I could hardly breathe, my body moving in the same rhythm as his own. I’d arched into him, allowing him to slip his hands beneath my hips and lift me toward him. In the dream, all my inhibitions had vanished, and I was a tigress, knowing exactly what I wanted and not being afraid to reach out and take it. I wasn’t sure how long it lasted exactly—all I knew was that I had woken all too soon.

From the feel of my underwear, I had grown wet just through the thought of it all, and I knew exactly what my next move would be.

Sliding out of bed, I had a sly smile on my face as I headed for the bathroom. The dream was still fresh enough in my mind, I knew it wasn’t going to take much for me to reenact at least part of it in the shower.