The island and beach in front of us sparkled even in the limited light of the setting sun. The sand was almost pink in colour and seemed to be made of glitter rather than glass.
Trip slowed down the jeep as we descended into what looked like another time and place from the world we’d left far behind us. To the left of our view was the ancient lighthouse, which although it had additions to it over the years still stood tall and proud as it guarded the ancient peninsular. To the right was the small chapel I’d read about.
‘Okay, so you two have exactly five minutes to grab your bags and jump out. Kendall and I are staying back here in the village and you two are walking over to the island where you’re staying tonight.’
‘Pardon?’ I questioned, making sure Trip could hear my hesitancy.
I watched him jump out from the driver’s seat and run around to help Bee down.
‘You heard,’ he shouted out laughing.
‘I know it’s not going to be a proper bed, Nico… and that you have certain standards. But what Nonna and Trip have organised here sounds like fun and something the two of you will never forget,’ Kendall added.
Nonna and Trip? Of course.
‘I bet,’ I whispered as I reluctantly got out of the jeep and offered Kendall a smile.
Fleetingly, I looked at the woman who was holding on to Trip’s right hand as she carefully lowered one beautifully shaped, long, bare leg out the confines of the jeep and I swallowed hard.
‘There ya go, Mrs. Morello.’ Trip grinned at her as he lifted her hand up to his lips to place a soft kiss on it.
Watching that simple act made my stomach turn over with jealousy.
Jealousy?
I had gone out of my way not to lay eyes on my wife whenever possible today and hadn’t, apart from where necessary, touched her since I’d kissed her head as she sat up in bed this morning. It had killed me to take in just how hurt she looked at my lack of response to her being there, when truthfully, I hadn’t slept all night knowing she was close beside me. I had sat on the couch doing battle with all of my senses. Listening to her soft sighs, the way she whimpered and moaned in her sleep. Watching pictures in my head of just how compliant she had been, coming apart while I’d finger fucked her only a few hours before. Even worse was inhaling her light floral perfume which was floating on the air in our bedroom. Every time I breathed in, I inhaled more of her and truthfully, I knew I was struggling.
So this morning, like the bastard I was, I told her how I wouldn’t be touching her, and I’d watched as the pain I’d caused her ran down her cheeks.
She didn’t need a man like me in her life. I’d battled with that thought over and over again as I’d lain awake last night. But right now, it was essential for both of us that we carried on with our agreement. I’d promised myself as I tossed and turned in my bid to find some sort of peace, that I would work harder on keeping a distance from her and that was how I’d spent today, with that newly sworn promise to myself driving me forward. What I hadn’t reckoned on was just how hard it was going to be.
I’d tasted her plump lips.
Caressed her tongue with my own.
Watched her eyes roll high up into her head as she’d come apart on my fingers.
And even now I could still taste the sweetness of the woman after she’d orgasmed on my tongue.
Her moans, movements and taste were my new addictions and I was struggling hard to deny myself.
Her addiction was being fought. Mine on the other hand was becoming more impossible to ignore by the minute. Wanting her was becoming all-consuming and so fucking strong that I could hardly think straight.
With the weight of her addictions being aired, the debt and threats off her shoulders, the woman was transforming before my eyes and becoming more beautiful by the day. The constant anxiety I’d watched her experience for the past few years had abated. It pleased me that I hadn’t seen any sign of it since I’d propositioned her back in Vegas.
I had to keep reminding myself that I was helping her by having married her and by staying with her. Whatever hell I had to walk through while trying to keep my hands to myself I would gladly do to keep her happy. The one thing I absolutely knew, was that she definitely didn’t need an attachment to a bastard like me, because when it was time to do so, I would most definitely be walking away.
But now Trip was touching her.
I inhaled deeply making my nostrils flare and then exhaled loudly. His eyes lifted over her head and I widened mine at him in silent question. When he laughed in response, I stared all the harder.
‘Thank you, Trip,’ Bee offered.
‘Come on then, you two. The water is shallow enough now at low tide for you to walk over to the island. It’s uninhabited, but you will find a luxury tent erected, food, water and everything you need for your twenty-four hours in paradise.’ He turned his head to aim the next bit more predominantly at me. ‘Because it’s uninhabited once the tide comes in you will be cut off from the rest of civilisation, so although security will remain back here with us, it is of course guaranteed that you’ll be safe…But, you do need to start making a move.’ Trip moved nearer to me as he spoke. Then he spoke again out of the earshot of our wives. ‘And this lifechanging moment is brought to you by The Beatles - All You Need Is Love.’ He grinned his fait accompli at me and waggled his eyebrows.
‘You’re an asswipe of a friend, Trip.’
‘No, I’m the best sort of friend…’ He lifted his hand and smacked the top of my arm as if to drive his message home. ‘And you know it. This, as I see it, is your chance at a real life, a chance to no longer be a sideliner who watches everyone else live and I’m the friend who’s making you take it. This is only one night, but watching the two of you it’s fairly evident that it could be more… We’re helping you to understand that.’ As his words hit home, I knew he meant him and my grandmother.
‘We’re not…’ I was shaking my head at him, but couldn’t find the words to describe what Bee and I weren’t.
No fucking way was I accepting this.
I had never felt so confused in all my life.
‘The water’s still warm.’ Bee’s shrill voice, childlike in its exuberance, broke through my reluctance at being backed into a corner and the joy captured within it warmed my insides. I turned my head to look at her. She was holding her flip-flops in one hand and jumping in and out of the gentle waves that were washing over her feet as she waited for me to go with her to the island.
It was one night.
Surely, I could cope with one night.
I couldn’t deny her that, could I?
‘Wait up,’ I called over to her and with a nod of my head in thanks to Kendall and Trip as they climbed back into the jeep, I left our bags on the sand and jogged over to my wife who was stood up to the middle of her shins in the calm water. I kicked off my sliders and entered the sea next to her.
As I appeared beside her, she turned her head to look at me and for the first time all day I permitted myself to look back at her properly. Her long blonde hair was blowing in the warm breeze that danced around us. I watched as a piece of her hair whipped into her mouth and lifted my hand to pull it free with my fingers. Then without thinking, I gently caressed her cheek with my thumb before I took my hand away. Her eyes sparkled, the blues and greens captured there welcomed and invited me in further.