I group call my A-Team while sitting on the ledge of the tub. It has five faucets. Water streams out of each like a fountain. I pour essential oils into the bath. One by one, they enter the chat. "How is it?"

"I bet it's super colorful; send pictures!"

"Good, you got there in one piece. Take anti-acids in case you get nauseous."

"You okay, princess?"

"Yeah, I'm okay, dad. I don't think there are any anti-acids here. I recorded a vid. I'll make a group chat and send it. This place is insane! There's a literal servant robot in my room."

"How very high-tech!" My mom praises.

"Which dress are you wearing tonight?"

"The beige bikini with the skirt."

"Ooohhh, Yass!" Jess cheers.

"Do you feel safe? If anything feels wrong..."

"Dad, I'm safe. Jace isn't a killer."

"Your father will never trust any man you get with. It's his job. So, where is he? Are you two sharing a room?"

"He's in his office working, and no, I have my own room."

"Hmm... separate rooms," Mom mumbles. "That's nice of him."

"Because he respects her," Lil adds.

"How long will you be staying?" My father is the only one who's critical.

"I'm not sure yet; there's no set date."

"Dear, stay as long as you can. Not just for him, but for yourself. You need a vacation. No one deserves it more than you. I bet you're so at ease."

"I am," I admit. I am at ease. Everything is so serene, so peaceful. The thrashing sea outside my room summons me. I leave the tub's ledge and to open the window. "You guys have to see the view from the bathroom." I yank at the edge, then tap along the frame. "That's if the window opens." I chortle. I go on tapping before remembering the snap. I rub my thumb and index finger together. The glass of the window inverts to the side. A greenhouse, freshwater scent flows in. I go to my camera and take a photo, then send it.

"Oh wow, wow!" My mom yells.

"That must look amazing at night. Curl your hair and wear rose gold jewelry." Lil orders. "Be the beach!"

"Will do." I hurry over to the tub to twist off its faucets before I flood the bathroom. "I gotta go. I'll update you guys later with pics. Bye."

I soak and scrub for 30 minutes. My eyes can't stop staring out the window, so a few more minutes are added. I sit in the water, viewing the gentle waves and the high sun beaming on white sand.

When I get out, I search around for a shower to rinse off. There's a bare wall about ten feet long. I go to it and do the tapping method in random places. I'm unlucky. "Where is the shower?!" I fuss and pat harder.

"Shower opening." The AI voice sounds from the ceiling. The wall divides in the middle. The shower is so gigantic! I thought it was another room until I spy a 5-foot showerhead. When I walk forward, its glass departs. Oh wow. This shower is at least 20 feet wide! As soon as I step under the showerhead, it beads down cool water. I giggle and spin, dowsing my whole body.

The pressure is fantastic! I don't even have to exfoliate!

I rinse my body for five minutes and consider doing a handstand to wash my lower half. When I bend over to begin it, the shower squirts me from all angles. The water tickles. I squirm and snort goofily.

I dress and curl my hair with a hot iron. I clean my face with glycolic toner on a cotton pad. Primer, tinted moisturizer, and sunscreen follow. My eyeliner needs fixing from the shower, so I tidy it up. When ready, I put on white sandals and spray on perfume. Marc Jacobs Daisy. I tour the palace since it's only noon.

Every room has a spectacular view of the tropical island. There are six bathrooms, twelve bedrooms, three recreational areas, and two theaters. Double living and dining combos, five lounging spots, three kitchens, and an enormous staircase. It's like the one from Beauty and The Beast, only lighter in color.

The dropped ceiling is so high and has a domed skylight at the end. This is too good to be true! Me being in this fantasy house doesn't make sense. Jace has to want something more than talking and dinner. What's his motive? Does he want something serious? Or is this just a summer fling? I have to ask him these questions.

I travel a maze of doors. I'm not sure where to start. I go right because I'm right-handed. I open door after door, library, sauna, art studio, photo booth, computer room, and lab room. I reach the next door, ready to open it, until I hear Jace's voice. "Yes, the lab will fulfill mass production by Wednesday. Ten thousand Humbots, guaranteed."

I tiptoe to the left side of the corridor. The first room is gray-themed with ashy marble walls and stone pillars. The bed is gray-black, as well as the furniture within.

This must be his room. It's so neat. I thought men were junky? There are hanging portraits of Noble Prizes and Samaritan Awards. Strygent's LLC, and a blueprint of the industry's lab. I walk to the wall gallery and roll my eyes at another frame,

THE WORLD'S SEXIEST MAN.

I read on.

TOP SCIENTIST, TECH WIZ. TIME MAGAZINE flaunts a spicy photo of Jace on a motorcycle. The sound of footsteps alarm me. I dart from the room and to a wall. I act as if I'm admiring its artwork. "I saw you. You're not as fast as you think." Jace snickers.

"I have no clue what you mean."

He leans on the wall. "What are you hungry for?"

"It's not on the menu." My stifling voice chimes.

"You're being bad."

"I am...maybe you should spank me."

"Is that why you were in my room?" I zip my lips with my finger and fling away the key. "Alright, since you're a mute, you won't protest when I do this." In one motion, he swipes me over his shoulder and goes to his bedroom.

"Jace! What are you doing?!"

"I'm going to spank you." He flops me down on the bed and kneels above me. "You can't show this much skin without punishment." I lower my eyes to his waist. It's too far away. "Get your mind out of the gutter."

"I can't."

He spanks my bare stomach. I arch my back and sigh. Jace slaps below my bra with both hands. "Is your mind still dirty?"

"Yes, sir." My fingers clutch the sheets. His olive eyes travel to my breast. "Kiss them." I dictate. Jace slaps them. My boobs jiggle. I exhale sharply. "Do it now...or I'll make you."

"Okay...make me."

I wring my fingers around his neck and tug it forward, smothering his face into my cleavage line. He licks, chews, sucks, and tongues my bubble boobs. I groan and heave. His mouth is massaging my breasts! My skin particles melt. The stickiness of his lips on my skin arouses me.

I arch my waist higher to grind on him. I hear muffled moans from my chest. Unfiltered and harsh. I ram into him. My vag catches onto his sleek pants. The ridge of his dick cuts me. I yelp. He retreats from my breasts and flattens me onto the bed. My skirt rises...revealing the thong I have on.

A savageness works his eyes. Jace gapes at the underwear, inhales roughly, then gets off the bed. "No..." I whine.

"Yes."

"You need to stop doing that!"

"I told you I want more than sex." He holds out a hand.

"What do you want with me?"

"Let's discuss it over dinner."

I huff and decline to take his hand. "I thought our foreplay is supposed to be intense."

"That's what we agreed on."

"Then why-"

"You need to wear more than that for the agreement to be successful." He beckons me with his hand. I refuse and cross my arms. "Fine, I'll give you time to cool off." Jace goes to a wardrobe and selects shorts and a pink button up. I watch him decode the wall, which is another shower. He steps inside. I bounce from the bed, eager to see him undress. He strips out of his vest and dress shirt. The definition of his muscles liquifies my mouth. Jace smirks at my excitement. "See you later." I don't move. I want to see him naked. He snaps his fingers. The wall shuts me out.

I furiously march from the bedroom and down the staircase. I exit through a window and stomp on the sand. He's being unfair. He can't stop right when I'm close to getting off! Ugh!! I tread the beach. I can wear skimpy clothes if I want! It's not my fault he can't handle it! I thought his endurance was high??!

I sit in a beach chair and scowl. The sunset is magical. I close my eyes and listen to the waves. He doesn't do what I want him to. Why? I don't think this is going to work.

The night sky brings an explosion of dots. I eye it and meditate until my mind is clear. I recall how chanting helps me deal with obstacles. So, I use this technique. Relax. Slow is the way I want things to go. Be thankful that Jace has the strength to stop...unlike my ex.

I need to calm down...my lust is getting the best of me. I can't let it...this time has to be different. I mellow my mind before standing from the chair.

"Are you better now?"

I turn to face him. His pink button-up against the khaki shorts fit the beach well. Jace's chest and abs are exposed in a wide gap down the middle. Silver chains dangle from his neck, and his black hair is pushed back. 

I study his bare skin. Irritated. "Hypocrite."

"I'm showing less than you."

"You're annoying." I pass him. "Where are we eating?"

He covers my head start in a few paces. He leads the way to a wooded path to a candlelit table set for two. There's a tree above. Its branches hold hanging strings of white light. I'm reminded of a Christmas tree.  

Jace pushes out my chair. "I'm prepared for your questions."

"Good." I sit.

He takes a seat across from me. "I'll answer the last one."

"The one from the airport too. Tell me why you feel invincible around me."

"Alright." The candlelight heightens his sculpted face. "You make me feel powerful. I thought I already accomplished that status. I was wrong. As for what I want from you. I want exclusivity."

"English, please."

"I want to date."

"Oh..." I glimpse at the sea beside us. "You want to date?"

"Do you want something different?"

"No." I stare at him. "I'd like that. The only thing is, will it be serious?"

"Yes...don't worry. I won't treat you like a toy chick. You have more meaning."

"You mean my aura? Do you have another theory yet?"

"My final guess is that your spirit is clean. Am I right?"

"More like untapped." I cover my mouth and snorkel.

"My turn to ask questions. What does that mean?" He lays his hands on the table, businessman style. The loose shirt still manages to showcase his god-like muscles. "Well?"

"I don't think I can trust you with the answer yet."

"Please, tell me?"

I shouldn't...so I'm not going to. I don't want him to know I'm a V yet. My mom was right about this being what I've been waiting for. Jace could be my potential husband. Still, I want to drag out my truth a bit longer until I know for sure. "Not yet."

"I need the answer."

"We have to spend more time together before I answer. I'll stay until I'm comfortable enough to share."

"Move in with me." My lungs expel all their air. "That way, I'll earn your trust in a timely manner."

"That's a big step!"

"It is...but a necessary one."

"I've barely been here a day. How can you ask that??"

"Madison...you've been living in my mind. Those two days won't leave me. I hated that I wasn't by your side when you woke up." My chest pumps in response to his confession. "Trust me, none of this is meaningless. You want something serious, right?"

"I do...but this is so sudden! You said you want to date...moving in should come later."

"I'll accept your decline once you say no. Although, we won't see each other very often. Our interactions would be limited to twice a week."

"How many women have you asked to move in with you?"

"None. All the others knew the deal, cash, and sex, no strings attached. Most left in the morning or a few minutes after. It was only business."

"How many women have you been with?"

"I don't want to disgust you." He types on his phone and peers at a low window.

A drone exits through its glass and drives to us. "How may I take your order?" Its robotic tone is polite.

"You can have whatever you want."

"You're avoiding the question."

"I'll answer once we're better established."

"You really think I'm going to be disgusted??" I scoff. "I can handle the count; I already know it's high."

"What do you want for dinner?"

I mean mug him. "I'm not hungry."

"Caviar and wine." He instructs the drone, the top of its head blinks white.

"No...I don't eat fish!"

He puffs air through his nose. "I thought you weren't hungry?"

"Well, I am...I haven't eaten all day."

Jace massages the bridge of his nose. "What do you want?"

"Sloppy joe."

The drone blinks. "Anything else?"

"Fries and Pepsi, thank you."

"You're welcome; ETA 10 minutes." The drone drives back inside the house.

Jace observes me with some irritation. "I should be the irritated one. You act like I can't stomach your answer."

"Madison, you judged me before over women."

"Things were different then," I murmur. "I didn't like you as much."

Jace's eyes go subtle, he's touched by my confession. "How much do you like me?"

My cheeks heat up. "I want to skip the question."

"Only if I can skip mine."

"Deal."

"Now, back to what you said..." He shares an incredulous gaze. "How don't you like fish? The finest fish, to be honest."

"I just don't."

"You have the chance to taste caviar, yet you swap it with junk food?"

"Yep." He's too overwhelmed to speak; he releases sputtering noises. "Junk food all the way."

"Now you're even more of an enigma."

I find it funny that a billionaire is eating junk food. I'm highly entertained by the huge bites he takes from the meaty burger. There's no conversation for a while, just the waves of the sea and rippling trees. I honestly think Jace is analyzing what I meant by untapped. Will he link it to me being a virgin? I sip on Pepsi, douse my fries in ketchup, and cut up my burger. It's unclassy to pick it up with my hands. I use a knife and fork.

When we're done with dinner, the drone clears the table to set out a chocolate lava cake. The way my eyes grow in size isn't right. "You're a chocolate monster!" Jace chuckles. I drop the classy way of eating and smother my mouth with the dessert. I stuff it, savoring the taste like an addict. Jace is astonished by how much of the cake I devour. Half of it is gone because of me. "Wow!"

"Don't judge me."

"Where are you putting it?!"

"Shut up..." I titter.

After dessert, he walks me back to my room like a gentleman. "I take that your answer is no?"

I halt at the door and shrug. "I don't know. Would we see each other that little?"

"Yes, I'm either at the lab, tower, arena, or attending conferences."

"And at the country club on Sundays."

"That too. But I wouldn't count that as spending time together. You're on the clock."

"And you're with your business friends."

"Investors." He corrects.

I scratch the back of my head. "I'm gonna need more time."

"How much time?"

"A week...maybe."

He's dissatisfied with my response. "Maybe sleep on it tonight and let me know in the morning. Could you try that?"

"I can."

Jace smooches my forehead. "Goodnight, Madison."

"Goodnight, Jace."

#Romance
#Love