Chapter Four
Despite some grumbling, May and I managed to get all four of us down to breakfast the next morning. We attempted to cure our hangovers with bacon, eggs, pancakes and coffee, while trying to decide what to do for the day. It took very little debate before we decided that most of the morning and all afternoon should be spent laying out on the resort’s private beach, as it called to us from beyond the windows of the breakfast room.
While the other two were up helping themselves to more food, I turned to Ruby. “Can you come with me after breakfast? I want to get Marcus’s jacket back to him.”
“I didn’t know you were the type that likes to be watched.”
“Will you please be serious?” I begged her. “I’m just not ready to see him alone. Not just yet. I need a buffer in case I get nervous and make a fool of myself.”
“So, you do want him to like you?” Ruby grinned.
“Of course.”
Ruby’s tone changed from teasing to genuine. “I’m here for you, baby. Whatever you need.”
After changing into our beachwear and sending our beach bags with the girls, Ruby and I made our way along a balcony, up on the third floor of the south apartment block, looking for room 304. Ruby had agreed to wear a cover over her tiny leopard print bikini this time, much to my relief.
We found the door and I took a deep breath as I knocked. This is crazy, I thought, why am I so nervous about simply returning this guy’s jacket? Then I realized something. I wasn’t nervous, I was excited. I wanted to see him again. My heart beat loudly and I could feel my skin tingling. I hadn’t felt this way since those early flirtations with Josh, years and years ago. I hope he answers the door with his shirt off, I found myself thinking.
“I hope he answers the door with his shirt off,” giggled Ruby. I rolled my eyes and knocked again, a little louder.
“I guess we missed him,” I announced.
“Or he could be sick and unconscious,” said Ruby, trying the door, “or trapped under something heavy, desperate for our help.”
To our surprise, the door opened. Ruby let out a shrill gasp as she smiled wide at me, before pushing the door wide.
“Oh, my God, Ruby!” I hissed. “What are you doing?”
“It’s fine,” she whispered back, “no one’s home.”
“Then why are you whispering?”
“Good point.” Ruby stepped inside before I could stop her. “Woo-who? Anyone there?” she dragged me inside. “See, empty. We can just leave the jacket and go.”
I let her lead me through the apartment. The entryway led straight into a good-sized living and kitchen room, and I could see the door to the bedroom, slightly ajar, behind the couch.
“Okay, I’ll just hang it on the kitchen chair,” I said, before turning around to find myself suddenly alone in the room. “Ruby!” I called. “Ruby! What do you think you’re doing?”
“Wow, Sarah, come and see this,” came Ruby’s voice from beyond the bedroom door.
“Come out of there,” I snapped. “We shouldn’t be in here.”
“Check out this bed,” Ruby laughed, turning and dropping herself butt first onto the huge mattress. “It’s enormous. It must be a California King.” She bounced back up. “Hey, you know what they say about guys with big beds…?”
I heard a noise outside the apartment. Someone was turning the door handle. “Ruby! Someone’s coming in!” I shrieked, as quietly as I could.
“Oh shit!” Ruby was still laughing. “In here, quick!”
She grabbed my arm and, before I could say a word, dragged me into the built-in closet, closing the door behind us.
“You’re going to get us arrested for breaking and entering,” I hissed.
“Shh!” whispered Ruby. “And we didn’t break anything.”
My heart was in my mouth as I heard someone moving around in the kitchen. I didn’t really believe we’d get in any real trouble, but the embarrassment of being found sneaking around in some guy’s room was more than I thought I could stand. And it would be even worse if it was Marcus that caught us. I peered out through the wooden slats in the closet door.
Sure enough, in walked Marcus. He looked sweaty and exhausted, as though he’d been really pounding it at the gym. I watched as he peeled off his tank top. Despite the situation, I felt a tingle between my legs. His chest was huge, toned, tanned, and lay above a six-pack that could have been carved from rock. His pumped arms dropped the shirt on his bed as he turned to step out, showing the sinewy definition of his wide back. He left the room and I heard the refrigerator open. I turned to Ruby.
“Are you okay?” I asked as she pulled a strange face.
“I’m gonna sneeze…” Ruby struggled to say.
“Don’t you dare…” I hissed.
Ruby held it, screwing up her face tight, until she could take no more. I braced myself, ready to be given away, but all she managed was a cute little kitten sneeze, almost inaudible. I half smiled until Ruby wiped her face and looked back up at me, then I smacked her on the arm.
“Ow!”
“Be quiet, will you? He’s coming back in.”
Marcus strolled back into his bedroom. The bed was close enough to the closet. I could see the small beads of sweat that ran exciting trails down his muscled torso and found myself involuntarily licking my lips. It felt so wrong to be spying on him like this, but it felt good as well. Marcus turned away from us and a quiet gasp escaped from Ruby, as he stooped to slide off his shorts.
“Oh, fuck me…” Ruby sighed, her eyes glued to Marcus’s taught, tanned buttocks.
He turned as though he heard something, displaying his full length to us hidden voyeurs. I heard Ruby stifle another moan and I just managed to wrap my hands around her mouth before she exclaimed even louder. Marcus shook his head and headed off to the bathroom.
“Goddamnit, Ruby!” I whispered, letting go of her head.
“Holy shit!” she enthused. “He’s hung like a horse! Sorry Sarah, but if you don’t jump him, I will. He looks like he could pound you into a coma.
I smacked Ruby’s arm again. “Don’t say that!”
“Stop whacking me!”
The sound of the shower running came from the bathroom. “Okay,” I announced, “here’s our chance.” I took a deep breath and pulled Ruby from the closet, my friend resisting all the way.
“We can’t miss the show,” Ruby complained.
“No! Let’s go!”
Steam began to gently curl out from the slightly open bathroom door and we could hear Marcus starting to sing an old Tom Jones number.
“Come on,” grinned Ruby, “please let’s stay. Imagine the look on his face when he finds two hot chicks waiting for him as he steps out of the shower… it’s pretty much every guy’s fantasy…”
Seriously? I thought, is she really proposing we have a three-way? Right now? I’ve never done anything like that in my life! “You’re incorrigible,” I found myself smiling at her. She meant well, after all. “Let’s go. I see more than I need to of your body every time you sunbathe, thank you.”
I finally managed to drag Ruby into the lounge and back out through the front door. However, when I looked down at my left hand, there was Marcus’s jacket, still in my grasp. I swore and made Ruby stand still as I dashed back in to hang it on the kitchen chair, then stole out as quietly as I could, closing the front door behind me.
*****
We rushed back to the main resort to find May and Daphne. Ruby was giggling all the way. We found the other girls lounging on the soft golden sands, on beach towels, with a large umbrella shielding their backs from the breeze. Of course, Ruby couldn’t contain herself and began telling the tale as soon as we arrived.
“And girls?” Ruby announced with a smile like the Cheshire cat. “He’s huge!” She whipped off her nearly sheer wrap, unleashing her latest in porn star chic, and sat down on her towel. “Seriously, a dong to die for! Long, thick…”
“Okay!” I cried, laying back on my own towel. “That’s enough out of you. You know she suggested we double team him right there!”
“And?” asked May.
“Why didn’t you?” inquired Daphne.
“I really am struggling to understand how we’ve been friends for so long,” I sighed. The other girls burst out giggling and insisted Ruby go back over the story, leaving out no details at all.
“Honestly though, darling,” drawled May, as the others wiped away tears of laughter, “he does seem ideal.”
“That’s what I was telling her,” agreed Ruby.
“Babes, if you don’t at least take him up on the offer to show you around,” began Daphne, “you’re crazy.”
“At the very least you’ll have a nice time and some good company,” added May.
I still wasn’t sure. He was attractive, definitely. He seemed nice. He appeared to be into me. However, where could this go? Was I supposed to keep up a fling with a guy that lived half a world away? What was the point? In five days, I’d never see him again.
“I’ll think about it more,” I told them.
As the afternoon wore on, we decided to head back to our rooms, rest, shower, and dress for dinner. We planned to head out of the resort and find some local eatery and sample the culture. Agreeing to meet at the resort bar again, we split up. I was grateful that Ruby had decided to lay off hounding me to sleep with Marcus, as we fussed about with our outfits, messed with each other’s hair, watched TV and gossiped like we were teenagers.
Finally, we both chose to wear jeans. Ruby paired hers with a white tank top to accentuate her glowing tan and draw focus to her cleavage, with some nude, three-inch pumps. I tried not to dress for Marcus, tried not to imagine the look on his face if we ran into him. But I still chose some sexy four-inch strappy sandals to make my lengthy, slender legs look even longer, and slid on a sleeveless, strapless black top that hugged my shapely boobs and tight tummy. We both eschewed necklaces in favor of shiny earrings and, as we stood together examining one another in the mirror, we both smiled at what we saw.
Downstairs, May and Daphne were already at the bar. Daphne had on her skinny jeans too, curving sexily over her slim butt, with a red halter that left her lean back exposed. May had gone all out, about as far as one could when doing smart casual, looking devastating in a black mini-dress and silver jewelry.
‘There you are,” smiled Daphne, as Ruby snuck up and spanked her lightly on the ass.
“I think we may have chosen our rally point poorly,” smirked May, turning around on her stool to greet us.
“What do you mean?” I asked. The two girls at the bar moved aside to reveal Marcus, smiling, and pushing a Sex on the Beach towards me.
“Well, that’s torn it,” giggled Ruby. “We’re not getting out of the resort now.”
I ignored her. “I thought you said you were busy tonight,” I muttered to him, unable to stop my eyes moving all over his body, seeing him as though he were still naked.
“Thank you for returning my jacket,” he kept smiling, his eyes traveling up and down my form, as well. “How did you get it back into my room?”
My heart stopped. I went to speak but could find no words. I froze, feeling the seconds tick by like hours as he stood before me, smiling his wide, bright smile. Lucky for me, his name came over the reception announcement and he excused himself.
“Well, I guess we’ll see you later,” said May, getting up off her stool.
“What do you mean?” I asked, snapping back into the moment.
“You’re going to be here all night,” smiled Ruby. “If not in reality, at least in your head. Stay, talk, and flirt. We’ll check in with you two later.”
“Us two?”
“Yeah,” she gestured behind her. Daphne was laughing with that bronzed Adonis from the pool the day before, touching his arm and playing with her hair. “May and I will leave you ladies to it.”
They turned and left before I could object. I looked back at Daphne, who was completely caught up in the guy she was talking to. I looked back to Marcus. He glanced over from the lobby and gave a quick smile, but was busy talking to some guy in a suit. How could they do this to me? I asked myself. I didn’t want to leave them and go hang out with some guy, but they can ditch me whenever they feel like it?
But what if I did allow myself to loosen up and enjoy some time with this guy? Would it be the most terrible thing in the world? I felt a sudden wave of guilt wash over me. I checked the time. It was still early and I had a feeling Aruba was in the same time zone as Florida, so I pulled out my cellphone. I dialed Josh’s number and said a little prayer of thanks for International Roaming. He answered on the third ring.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Josh. It’s Sarah.”
“Oh, hi. Is everything okay?” he sounded concerned.
“Yes, everything’s fine here. I just wanted to check in with the kids. I miss them.”
“It’s been less than forty-eight hours,” I heard him chuckle, “but sure. Here’s Henry.”
There was a rustle and some muffled noises as the phone was passed over. “Hi, mommy?’
“Hi baby, what are you doing?” In my periphery, I caught sight of Marcus heading to the pool area with another older man in a suit.
“We’re going to have dinner,” Henry announced. “We’re having pizza!”
“Pizza again?” I laughed. “Let me talk to your sister, I love you.”
“Hi,” came Samantha’s small voice, “I can see Anna and Ariel.”
I smiled wider, infected by my sweet daughter’s excitement at seeing her favorite Disney princesses in the flesh. “That’s great, baby. I’m glad you’re having fun. I love you. Can you give me back to Daddy?”
“Hi again,” Josh offered. “Are you having fun wherever you are?”
“I am,” I replied. I turned to see Marcus still in view, just beyond the doors. He checked back in my direction and his eyes went to my butt. A warm thrill ran through me, boosting my confidence. It was wrong, but I felt good talking to my cheating ex while being eyed up by a handsome hunk that would fuck me ten times better than he ever had. “I just needed to hear their voices. Have a great time, love to Clare!” I hung up. “You know what I want?” I turned back to the barman.
“Sex on the Beach?”
“You bet,” I giggled. “But a drink first, please.”
The barman laughed and reached for the bottles, tossing them flamboyantly and catching them. I felt amazing. Knowing Marcus was into me was making me feel sexy and attractive again for the first time since I’d discovered Josh’s cheating. However, I was determined not to just be a quick hookup for Marcus. I wanted to make him put the time in, make me feel worth it. To make me feel wanted. No matter what, I wasn’t giving it up tonight. No matter how good he looked as I watched him.
“A beautiful drink for a beautiful lady,” Marcus grinned, appearing back beside me as I got my cocktail.
“Really?” I laughed. “Does that line ever work?”
He was silent for a second, the smile slipping off his face. “Now I think about it, I don’t think I’ve used it before.”
“Well, that explains everything.”
“If I promise never to use it again, will you let me take you around the island tomorrow?” he leaned in, putting his elbows on the bar and his face leveled with mine.
“As long as you promise,” I assured him. “So, what brings you to Aruba? You’re not a native.”
“California native, I’m afraid.” He looked into my eyes as he spoke. We were only making small talk, but I felt like he could see right through my clothes as he stood there. “I used to surf,” he continued. “But I’ve been in the Marine Corp most of my life. I just retired recently and I thought it was time to get back out on the waves.”
“Sounds… nice,” I smiled.
“Whatever, lady,” he grinned back. “I put in my time. Now I get to enjoy my life a little until I find a civilian job, but I’m in no hurry. Listen, I have to hang out with this buddy of mine for a while. Will you be around later?”
I looked back over at Daphne. She was smiling with her eyes shut as her man leaned in, either whispering into her ear or nibbling on it. Looks like someone’s getting lucky tonight, I said to myself. “Yeah, I’m going to keep an eye on my friend, I guess.”
Marcus promised to come back as soon as he could. As luck would have it, it was only twenty minutes before he reappeared. His buddy had some emergency he had to get back to, so he was all mine for the rest of the night, which he spent being very attentive. He kept leaning in close to me and making me feel like I was the only girl in the world.
He gave me subtle compliments about my appearance and listened as I told him about my home, my job, and my children. I was loving spending time with him, loving how he looked at me, and really loving looking at him. But all too soon, the evening came to an end. The bar was closing and all of the guests slowly slinked away.
Even Daphne and her newfound companion, who I spotted kissing, were walking off arm in arm when I looked back a moment later. Daphne managed to blow me a kiss over her shoulder and then disappeared.
“So?” came Marcus’s voice from behind me.
“Yes?” I turned around to him, smiling still.
“If I ask you something, will you give me a straight answer?” he leaned in again. It was forward, but he gently smoothed away a stray hair that was tickling my cheek. The slight contact sent another shiver down my spine. Just being this close to him, after our evening of flirty conversation, excited me. I couldn’t help letting my mind flashback to earlier that day, when I’d gotten a full view of the delights that waited under his clothes.
“Ask, and you’ll find out.”
“Here goes,” he seemed nervous. “I’m about ready to turn in. Is there anything I can say to get you to come back to my room with me? And please forgive the blunt approach. It’s been a very, very long time since I asked a beautiful woman back to my place.”
I kept my smile in place, but my head began to spin. He really did want me. Despite me having two kids and a cheating ex-husband, this rugged hunk wanted to take me home. I was so tempted to say yes and head off with him for a wild night; I felt myself get wet at the thought. It took some will to tell him no.
“I can’t, Marcus, I’m sorry,” I told him. His smile did little to hide his disappointment. “It’s not that I don’t think you’re wonderful. I do. I just don’t know you well enough yet.” Please don’t let him get scared off, please don’t let him get scared off, I chanted to myself.
“Okay,” he accepted. “How about this. You let me show you around the island like I said before. Say ten o’clock, after breakfast? I’ll take you to some places that aren’t in the guidebooks.”
“But my friends…” I began.
“Judging by what I’ve seen, I don’t think they’ll mind.”
He had a point. The whole vacation seemed to be becoming more and more about getting me laid, and I was beginning to get on board with the idea.
“Okay,” I finally agreed, a buzz running through my whole body as I took the plunge. “I’ll meet you outside the foyer at ten.
“Fantastic!” Marcus beamed. He seemed genuinely excited at the prospect. He was still sexy, even though his confidence may have suffered from me turning him down. I hoped that he still had some confidence where it counted, though. “One thing I think I should tell you,” he continued, “My apartment’s not that big, and there’s no way I’d miss two hot chicks sneezing in my closet or discussing threesomes just outside my shower. Just so you know.”