Penny’s thoughts swam with emotions she had never thought would surface on a vacation. It was crazy, she knew. As if she were sliding off a cliff, she’d lost her equilibrium, spinning toward the ground. But as Chase put his arm protectively around her shoulder, whispering sweet nothings, she’d stopped trying to regain control. Somewhere between making love to him and their walk back to his villa, she’d released her trepidation. For far too long she’d held on tight, wearing her professional mask for everyone around her. Here, in the hedonistic tropics, no one cared who she was or what she did. Chase encouraged her to be the free spirit that until now, she’d only dreamed of being.

She tried to work through in her mind how it could be possible to see him when the vacation ended. Penny knew she shouldn’t go there, but when she’d lain quietly in his embrace, his skin on hers, she’d imagined dating Chase. The distance was a showstopper. Working long hours, she’d barely be able to see him, even if he actually lived in the city, let alone across the country.

When he’d asked her to go with him, she’d vacillated between hiding in her hotel room for the rest of the vacation or simply ignoring all reason, pretending that she’d discovered her next boyfriend. She’d love nothing more than to indulge, making love all night. But one brief encounter had already left her light headed, a tiny crack in her previously impenetrable heart cleaved open. His compelling argument had been difficult to resist, and within seconds she’d agreed to spend the night with him.

As he flicked on the lights in his villa, she took in her surroundings, realizing his accommodations were far more luxurious than anything she’d known existed at the resort. Like a condominium, the spacious foyer led to a living room and dining area. Through the open-aired, screened doors, the moonlight reflected off the waves.

“Come on in. Make yourself at home,” he told her, picking up the phone. “I’m going to call room service and order some snacks.”

“Thanks.” Penny set her shoes down in the foyer and scanned the extravagant suite, white marble surfacing the floors. Its opulence caused her to wonder again about what Chase did and where he was employed.

Working in Manhattan, she was no stranger to the luxury her clients expected. Within the mahogany-paneled walls of her office, one could taste the power and affluence. But Penny, who’d just recently paid off her college loans, lived modestly but comfortably in her one bedroom apartment on the Upper East Side.

As Chase ordered their food, he gave her a smile, his gaze bringing warmth to her belly. The roar of the waves called to her and she walked out onto the lanai. She leaned her forearms onto the wooden railing and breathed in the sea air. Relaxation rippled through her despite the excitement, expecting they’d make love again.

“Cold?” she heard Chase ask.

Strong hands wrapped around her waist, the heat of his chest to her back. She weaved her fingers into Chase’s hand, shivering as his soft lips brushed her temple.

“A little.” As if they’d been lovers for years, she leaned back onto him, resting her arms over his.

“I’ve been neglecting my warming duties.”

“I’m kind of sandy, too.” She laughed.

“As am I.”

Penny took a deep breath and exhaled.

“Regrets?”

“Oh no.” She laughed. “I think sex on the beach is underrated.”

“Definitely.”

“People don’t know what they’re missing.”

“Exactly. I like how you think, counselor.”

“Hmm…don’t call me that. Reminds me of work.”

“Ah, I see. Shall I call you mermaid? I’ve been partial to thinking of you as one.”

“Much better.” She smiled. Penny didn’t want anything to remind her of the real world that waited for her at home.

“Perhaps we should take a shower?”

“Are you trying to get me naked again?”

“Me? Nah? I’m just very interested in skin care.”

“Skin care, huh?” She laughed.

“I’m very thorough, did I mention that? After all, I am responsible for your sandy state.”

“I think it’s only fair, then, that you take responsibility.”

“I suppose I need to make sure to pay careful attention to all your delicate areas.” He squeezed her tightly.

“I expect nothing less. I’m very dirty,” she teased.

“Are you now?”

“Yes I am. I think you need to do something about it.”

“You like to tease me, do you?” Chase spun her around in his arms, caging her against the rail.

“Maybe,” she whispered with a coy smile. Her heart sped up as he leaned into her, his lips inches from hers.

“How about we get clean so we can start our sleepover?” He winked.

“What about room service?”

“They’ll set it up for us.”

“You sure?”

“You bet. Let’s get going. I have a date with a mermaid and I can’t wait a second longer.”

As Chase led her by the hand into the villa, Penny felt breathless with anticipation. Larger than life and compelling, he was like a force of nature, pushing her to look within herself. Penny’s stomach flipped as he glanced back to her and she knew in that moment that she’d have a hard time saying no to anything he proposed.

The hot spray pelted her face and she giggled as his slippery cock brushed against the small of her back. She turned her face to him and tilted her hair into the shower. Arching her back, she purposefully jutted her chest toward him.

“My little tease,” he began. He twisted her back around, reaching to cup her breasts. Teasing her nipples into hard points, he gently bit her shoulder.

“Ah,” she cried, the sweet pain spearing desire straight to her pussy.

“It’s my job to clean you, remember?”

Penny exhaled sharply as he released her. Unsure of what he’d do next, she smiled as he worked shampoo into her hair.

“We’re going to have a lot of fun playing tonight. I do enjoy water.” His fingers scrubbed her scalp, and then worked to rinse out the bubbles. “You’re spectacular when wet.”

“I think you’re the dirty boy, now.” She laughed.

“The things you do to me.”

“Have you always enjoyed the water?” she inquired.

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“Yeah, I’ve been around water ever since I was a kid.”

“How’d you learn to scuba dive?” She squealed as his soapy hands glided down her shoulders to her fingertips.

“My parents used to take me to the Bahamas when I was younger. My grandparents retired there. Pop taught me how to snorkel when I was ten.”

“And the diving?”

“I didn’t learn that until I was fifteen.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“Ah…” Penny sighed as his fingers passed through her folds. “Hey now…I need to concentrate.”

“Why would you ever want to do that?” He laughed.

“Because we’re talking. Isn’t that what happens at sleepovers?”

“I suppose.”

“Why do you still dive?” Penny pressed. She slid around to face him. Her palms to his chest, she gently pushed him under the water. She pumped shampoo into her hands and reached up around his neck. Standing on her tiptoes, her fingers speared into his hair. While she worked the lather, she grazed her breasts against his chest.

“You’re distracting,” he breathed. “What?”

“Why do you still dive? What do you like about it?” she asked.

“It’s like sex, darlin’. Until you do it, you don’t know how good it can be and once you do it, you don’t ever want to stop.”

“Hmm…sounds pretty great.” Penny laughed. “How about college? Where’d you go?”

“MIT.”

“And?” Her voice sang as she soaped underneath his arms and down the flank of his sides.

“Short version. I got my doctorate. Filed a few scientific patents.”

“Patents, huh?”

“Yeah, they’re important for protecting intellectual property.”

“I hear that’s true,” she joked. “You didn’t tell me where you worked…”

“No I didn’t, but I didn’t think we were talking about work, remember?”

“Thank you for reminding me, sir. Duly noted.” Penny’s eyes met his and she smiled. Her fingers trailed down his body, tracing the v cut of his abs. Delving between his legs, her pinkies grazed the sides of his testicles. She gripped his erection, stroking it clean.

“Penny…”

“Hmm…something wrong, Dr. Abbott? Just returning the favor.” Penny fisted him with one hand and cupped his balls with the other. She held his dick up into the spray, rinsing him clean. Her courage rose as she knelt before him and slowly licked its plump head.

“What are you doing, darlin’?” he asked.

She raised her gaze to his, the fire in his eyes burning hot. The quiet moment between them lingered as his crown passed through her lips, but as she took him all the way into her throat, his loud cry reverberated throughout the stone enclosure. His fingers plowed into her wet locks, and his head lolled back against the granite tiles. She dug her fingernails into his hardened glutes, allowing him to guide her as he fucked her mouth.

“Penny,” he breathed, increasing his pace as he plunged into her.

“Hmm…”

“No, Penny…aw, shit. I’m gonna come…I don’t want to…”

She heard his protest, aware that he’d grown concerned, but the urge to take him whole, to pleasure him the way he’d done to her, drove her. Sucking hard, Penny gripped his shaft, pumping him into her warmth. She dropped a hand between his legs, applying pressure to the soft stretch of nerves under his balls.

“I can’t stop,” she heard him cry as he spilled his seed into her mouth. He grunted, grasping her hair, heaving for breath. His briny essence rushed down over her tongue, and she suckled his cock, milking his spasms.

As she released him, he clasped her wrists, bringing her into his embrace. She smiled, satisfied with her task, elated to have given him the ecstasy he’d brought her.

“You’re incredible,” he whispered, still breathless from his orgasm.

“I love being with you.” As she said the words, she thought perhaps she should restate her sentiment. But there was something refreshing about the brutal honesty of her statement that both cut and soothed her heart. It had been such a long time since she’d felt anything for any man, felt happy, and she meant what she’d said.

“Penny…I…”

“You don’t need to say anything.”

“I wasn’t expecting…”

“Chase, it’s okay. I’m not sure what it is…when I’m around you…” Her gaze fell to the floor, then returned to meet his. “I just feel like a different person.”

“It’s a good thing?” he asked with a small grin.

“I think it’s a rare thing…my work.” Her expression went flat. “I’m so busy. And…I was hurt.”

“Hey,” Chase said softly. He cupped her cheek. “I’m sorry.”

“No. It’s okay. It’s just…you have to know when I say I’m not usually like this, I really mean it. I’m kind of closed. I work a lot. But when I’m down here?” She paused, a sad smile crossing her face, “I can forget it all. Asshole exes. Bullshit bosses. Working a million hours to try to advance my career.”

“We all have baggage. Stuff that holds us down.”

“Yeah, but the way you live life on a daily basis, it doesn’t seem different than vacation. Doing what you want. Even the sex. And this between us…I’m terrified, because it’s not something I do. Letting go. What I just did.” She felt her cheeks heat and she put her hand to her forehead, coming to terms with the fact that she’d just given him a blow job without even thinking twice. “And it feels good. I just…”

“Penny, it’s going to be all right. All of this. I swear it.”

Her chest constricted as he lightly kissed her lips. Never making an attempt to deepen it, he hugged her to his chest.

“I don’t know where things are going between us but you don’t need to be afraid.” He pulled away, his eyes locking onto hers. “Let’s have fun tonight. This is our second date, after all.”

“I guess.” She gave a soft laugh.

“How about we continue our sleepover? Get to know each other? Nothing you say or do is wrong. You don’t need to be ashamed. I will never judge you.” He kissed her forehead and met her eyes. “How are you feeling? Like you’re a little out of control?”

Penny nodded.

“Maybe it’s life letting you know that whatever you were doing in New York was maybe not as great as you thought it was. Sometimes we have to push way outside our comfort zone before we realize what’s really important. Listen, I don’t know what we’ll discover this week, but I promise you we’re going to have a helluva vacation. I have plans for you, mermaid.” He smiled.

“You do?”

“Yes, I do. I think the food is here, so let’s get on with our slumber party. Okay?”

“Okay,” she agreed.

Penny barely registered the water dribbling to an end. He wrapped a warm towel around her, gently dabbing the water from her face and hair. She turned as he held out a robe, and she pressed her arms into the sleeves. Dressing her, he tied it closed.

Falling, falling, falling, Penny thought as she fell into Chase’s arms. Like a ball of tightly wound string, she was coming apart. With each small experience, she began to wonder what she was doing with her life. How could she be so incredibly happy in a matter of a day, all from meeting a stranger? But the bigger question, she knew, was how could she return to her bland life, going back to the grind, never feeling this way again?