✿ Aileen's POV

The boat in question is enormous, with a wide lower deck, a plush indoor area with a bar and grill, and an upper rooftop deck in the full, bright sun.

While the rest of the group finds places to stow their bags and get snacks, Reid and I head straight for the bar, grab drinks, and make our way up the ladder to the empty rooftop.

It’s too warm so I take off my cover-up, Reid takes off his shirt, and then we’re both half-naked together, in broad daylight, drowning in silence. We look at anything but each other and suddenly I wish we were surrounded by people.

“It's a nice boat,” I say.

“Yeah. But I've seen better.”

Ugh, sure you have.

“How’s your drink?”

He shrugs, “Cheap liquor. It’s fine.”

The wind whips my hair into my face, and Reid holds my sangria while I pull a rubber band out of my bag and tie my hair up. His eyes dart from the horizon to my red bikini and back again.

“I saw that,” I say, a small smile on my face.

He sips his drink.

“Saw what?”

“You checked out my chest.”

“Of course I did. It’s like having two other people up here with us. I don’t want to be rude.”

I chuckle. As if sent by the devil, a head pops up at the top of the ladder. Ethan's, and of course, followed closely by Anika. And I swear I can hear Reid’s soul scream. They climb onto the deck, holding margaritas.

“Hey, you two!” Anika says, approaching. “Oh, my goodness. Isn’t it gorge?”

“So gorge,” I agree, ignoring Reid’s horrified expression.

We stand together, the world’s unlikeliest foursome and the uncomfortable tension between us only grows. A seagull flies overhead. The boat rocks as we push through the waves. I don't realize I've reached the bottom of my drink till I loudly suck watery air through my straw.

Eventually, Anika grows tired of shooting me glares I don't respond to and decides it’s time to sit with her fiancé. The two make their way to a padded bench directly across the deck from where we’re standing. And they're close enough that we’re very clearly sharing the same general space, but far enough that we no longer have to attempt conversation or hear whatever disgusting thing Ethan is currently whispering in Anika’s ear.

Reid clamps an arm around my shoulder. With ease, I reach up, sliding my hand around his waist. I’d forgotten he was shirtless, and my palm makes contact with his bare skin. Reid stiffens a little beside me, so I lean in fully, stroking his hip bone with my thumb.

His skin is sun-warmed, firm, and distracting.

It’s like having a single bite of something delicious. And I want to go back for more. The point of contact where my thumb touches his hip is suddenly the hottest part of my body.

With a cheesy growl, Ethan pulls Anika onto his lap, and she kicks her feet up, giggly and not a hair out of place. After a stretch of silence during which I really should have seen it coming, Reid sits, too, jerking me down onto his thighs. I fall far less gracefully—far less 'hair out of place' when I land.

“What are you doing, Armani?” I ask under my breath.

“God, I don’t know,” he whispers, pained.

“It doesn't have to be a competition.”

“I know. But just go with it, Lee.”

I shift.

“I can feel your—” I gesture down in the air.

“You can say it.”

“Say what?” I ask and immediately regret it because now I know where he's headed.

“Penis. Dick. Vagina Miner. Throat Scraper. Dangus.”

“Please stop” I shoot him a look.

He bites back his smile and shifts beneath me.

“Why is she up here?” he hisses. “There’s an entire boat to explore!”

“You guys are so cute over there,” Anika calls, smiling. “So chatty!”

“So chatty,” Reid repeats, smiling through clenched teeth. “Can’t get enough of this one” he pinches my cheek.

“Me neither,” I add, pinching his cheek a little harder than planned.

Reid yanks my hand away from his face and pulls me back into his chest, trying to get me to relax.

“Is this comfortable?” he mumbles.

“No.”

“Then turn sideways.”

“What?”

“Here...” He guides both of my legs to the right, helping me curl into his chest. “Better?”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

“Bummer. If it wasn't I'd have asked you to straddle me.”

“Do you ever take a day off, Armani?”

“No. And I thought we've had this conversation already.”

I roll my eyes with a smile. Reid stretches his arms across the deck railing and I wrap an arm around his neck, trying to look like someone who enjoys frequent sex with him.
When I glance up, he’s just looking up from my chest again.

“Wow, Armani. Very subtle.”

He looks away, blushes and an electric zap travels down my neck.

“They are pretty great, you know,” he finally admits.

“I know. All natural too” I indulge him.

“Can I touch?”

“Try it and it'll be the last thing you do.”

“Oh, what a happy way to go.”

I chuckle.

“But they look much better in that pink dress.”

“Your opinion is so important to me, Armani” I say sarcastically and shift, wondering why I’m so flushed. “And I can feel your Dangus again.”

“Of course you can,” he says, with a tiny wink. “It’d be hard not to.”

“Is that a size joke, or a boner joke?”

“Uh, definitely a size joke. Wanna see?”

I gulp my drink and then exhale directly into his face so that he winces from the fumes of cheap alcohol.

“Never, Armani.”

Squinting, he says, “You’re a real seductress.”

“Oh, I hear that a lot.”

Reid smiles. And as much as I hate his hot and cold... I don’t mind us.

“Have you ever snorkeled?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“Do you like it?”

“Yes.”

“Did you really take these trips each year with her?”

Reid pauses, then after a few seconds, replies.

“Yeah. But it was nothing romantic.”

I hum. We fall back into silence. And across the deck, there’s only the wet sounds of Anika and Ethan making out.

“You've taken lots of trips, right? What’s your favorite place out of all the places you've been?”

He looks at me with a sigh, “Do we have to do this?”

I nod over toward his ex and her new fiancé, who look like they’re only seconds away from dry humping.

“Would you rather watch them?”

“No, I'd rather kiss you.”

My breath hitches to the back of my throat and I take a moment before breathing and speaking again.

“Armani... we've spoken about this.”

“But have we really, Aileen?”

I lick my lips.

“Yes, Reid. We have.” He winches a little when I say his name. “You asked me never to kiss you again and so I won't. And that's all the talking we'll do on that topic.”

He visibly groans.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No, Aileen. I didn't bloody ask you to never kiss me again.”

“You...”

“When I said that, I meant to never come between me and putting someone who doesn't treat you right in their place.”

Oh?

“And before you say that someone is my family, I'm telling you that I don't care if that someone is my twin brother. He fucking touched you, Lee. And no one... no one but me, touches what's mine.”

Oh.

I can't stop the warmth from filling my chest from the way my lips curl into a small smile.

“Well... that's good to know, Armani” I whisper, shamelessly glancing down at his lips, “But I'm afraid I have to point out that I'm not—”

He holds a finger to my lips and stops me from finishing. Then he just stares at me with tenderness in his eyes as he scans my features.

“Armani...”

“Shh,” he whispers, gently stroking my cheek with his thumb.

“What are you doing?” I speak anyway.

“What do you think I'm doing?”

“Trying to seduce me” I whisper.

His lips curve, “Trust me, when I seduce you, you won’t stand a chance, Teresa.”

He said my name.

And the way he does makes my heart stutter and my core pulse. Reid whispers his knuckles across my jawline.

“You’re one heck of a woman. Has anyone told you that, Lee?”

I flush even more.

My cheeks must be scarlet by now.

“I don't want to make you uncomfortable, Lee. And hell I'd never ask you not to touch me or grab me by the collar and fucking kiss me like that again. I'd never deprive myself of such... bliss.”

All the pores on my skin seem to pop.

“Can I kiss you, Lee?” he rubs his thumb across my lower lip. “Because God, I want to kiss you so badly.”

A small laugh escapes me.

“God, I want that equally bad if not more too.”

So then he pushes up to kiss me. A brush of his lips—soft, barely there. A feather-light whisper of emotion dances over my skin, sinks into my blood, warms the space around my heart, and melts the barriers I’d built up against him, against the world, against anything that could hurt me.

“Armani...”

“Shh! It's okay” he whispers against my lips, “Let me take care of you, Lee. Don't deny us this” and then he deepens the kiss.

Reid nips on my lower lip and swipes his tongue across my mouth with such intensity that I melt. I ooze into a puddle in his arms. He curves his arm around my shoulders and yanks me impossibly closer to him. He crushes me to that beautiful, broad, gorgeous chest of his, and kisses me, and kisses me. My head spins and I swear I see stars.

I grip his sleeves, and when I hear that moan from him, I kiss him back. I open my mouth wider, shift in his lap, and grind my pelvis into the hard column that tents his pants. I pour myself into that connection between us, where his mouth takes from me and I offer myself up... completely, wholly, absolutely.

Reid's hand comes up to cup my neck, he tilts his head, and softens the kiss, until it’s his lips on mine, nibbling on my mouth, brushing over mine, tasting of me, inviting me, enticing me, to slide my tongue inside his mouth, to partake of him, to drink from him, to open myself to accept what he is offering.

When he finally breaks the kiss and leans back, I sway toward him.

“Easy, angel” he smirks, tucking the straying strands of hair away from my face.

I realize I'm now face to face with him and...

Shit! When did I even straddle him?!

But I don't mind.

“Do you mind if we stay up here... together... like this?”

I don't trust myself to speak yet so I just shake my head.

“Are you sure?”

I nod and Reid chuckles softly, tracing his thumb across my swollen and pulsating lips.

“Did I render you speechless, angel?”

The heat pooling between my legs forces me to go in for another kiss and when he forces me to break the kiss, I know I've become addicted.

“I don't mind staying here with you like this” I finally speak up. “I don't even wanna go in the water. I might mess up... my hair or clothes...”

What am I even saying?

“Please don't...” Reid shakes his head, leaning up to lay a long and deep kiss on my forehead. “I can't have you become her” he finishes when he pulls back. “I don't want you to be her” he whispers, placing a heart-stuttering kiss on the 'V'  in my neck.

The urge between my legs grows stronger and if I kissed him one more time...

God help me.

So instead I push myself closer to him and lay my head on his shoulder. Reid's soft chuckle tickles my ear before his arms close around my back. I sigh with satisfaction and then a small smile grows on my face. But my forehead slightly creases with a small frown.

When the heck did Malibu Barbie and Reedus leave?

✯✯✯✯✯✯

✿ Reid's POV

I glance at the time on my watch.

How long does it take her to make a phone call?

I crane my neck toward the direction she walked away in. We'd gotten back from the snuba trip we didn't even bother to take part in.

Who knew I loved cuddle time?

I chuckle to myself. She was stirring up things in me. Things I was beginning to like a little too much. And in moments like that, I'd lasso the moon for her if she asked.

We got back and she said she had to go make a phone call to check on Bonita. But I'd been over thirty minutes now and she wasn't back. I'd go look for her but I didn't know exactly where she was on this resort.

I glance at the time again and approach the reception desk.

“Oh, Mr. Dalton. Hello,” the receptionist chirps.

“Keycard, please. I'm tired of waiting.”

“For your...” I watch her struggle to say it.

“Fiancé yes” I finish for her.

“Right. Um... you just missed her.”

What?

I make a face.

“What?”

“Oh, she just um... collected your room's keycard almost ten minutes ago.”

That little...

“And she left me waiting here for her?” I mutter under my breath.

Maybe she just couldn't find you. It is a big resort, my mind chips in.

I shake my head.

No matter.

“Thanks” I take my hand off the desk and turn for the stairs. “Nope,” I say when I remember she's not with me so I can take 'shortcuts'.

I head toward the elevator and when it opens I step in and push my floor's button. The ride up isn't long.

“I can't believe she chooses not to take the elevator” I chuckle to myself just as the lock chimes and the double doors swing open. “Do you mind explaining to me why you abandoned me in the lobby?” I call out into the room, dropping my phone and wallet onto the couch. “Do you have any idea what you just put me through? Waiting and waiting and...” I hear her footsteps coming from the bedroom and I begin to lift my shirt.

But the head that pops out isn't covered with long dark and curly hair. And the eyes that stare back at me aren't the beautiful shade of light amber I enjoyed being downed in lately.

Instead, I get brunette hair perfectly styled and blue eyes.

Oh hell.

“Anika?” I pull my shirt back down, “What are... what are you doing here?”

She lifts a keycard.

“Wrong card?”

I hold her gaze. She chuckles and slides it onto a table nearby. Then approaches me.

“What are you doing here, Anika? I asked a question” I say firmly.

“I looked in your bedroom...”

Don't be creepy.

“Do you really sleep with her, Reid?”

I chuckle.

“You say it like she's supposed to repulse me.”

“She doesn't?”

My forehead creases.

“No. Why would she?”

Have you freaking seen that woman?

She hums and bobs her head slightly.

“You couldn't seem to stop kissing her on the boat.”

“You're one to talk” I shoot back.

She licks her lips.

“What are you doing in my room, Nikki? And why would you tell the receptionist you're my fiancée?”

“When I was barely regarded as your girlfriend? God, I don't know what I was thinking” she replies sarcastically.

“Nikki—”

“I know, Reid. And it was wrong for me to sneak into your room like this but I want us to talk.”

“About what?”

“Us” she steps even closer.

“There is no us, Nikki.”

“Oh trust me when I say I know that” she scoffs.

I sigh.

“For the last time, what do you want, Anika?” I glance around the room, “And where's Lee? Did you do something to her? Lock her in the closet maybe?” I take steps into the bedroom.

“She's not here,” Anika says as I'm closing the bathroom door.

Shit! Then she'll think I left without her.

“Dammit,” I mutter.

“Reid, do you really love that woman?”

My eyes flick up to her face.

“You don't get engaged to someone you don't love, Anika. And I think you of all people know that. You can do better than that douchebag, Nikki.”

She steps closer to me.

“Be honest with me, Reid. Does it bother you that I'm with Ethan?”

“You could do better, Anika.”

“We're both engaged, Reid. And yet you have this... this thing against Ethan.”

“Well, that's because I don't trust him” I shrug, “And it's not like you're tight buddies with my fiancée either. But I'm going to keep saying it, Anika. Ethan Holloway is not the man for you. Okay?”

“Why do you keep saying that, Reid? You don't even know him.”

“I don't have to know him to know you can do better, Nikki. I'm only looking out for you.”

She frowns.

“Are you going to tell me what this hot and cold attitude is, Reid? You want something. You always want something. You always want everything under your control. You always want everything to be the way you want. Why?”

“I think we've been together long enough for you to answer that question,” I say.

She takes in a shaky breath, lowers her eyes, then looks back up at me again.

“We moved the wedding date forward.”

When did they even set a date?

“We're getting married next week.”

My chest does something funny.

“What?” I frown. “Are you not listening to me saying that Ethan is not the man for you? C'mon Anika” I thread a hand through my hair in rising frustration.

“We were together for eight whole years, Reid. And I know it has always been very difficult for you to talk and express your feelings.”

I dart my eyes around the room with a small scoff.

“You wanna hear me say it don't you?”

I meet her eyes again.

“I'm jealous, Reid” she lets out and the funny thing in my chest comes back. “I hate that you're with that woman. And I hate that you've changed so much for her. Everything I wanted... everything I waited for... for eight whole years, you do it for her like it's something you've always done. I wanna be her, Reid. I want to be the one you look at like that. The one you kiss like that. The only person you have sex with.”

I feel like I should say something.

“Reid...”

But I don't.

I hear her sniff before I realize there are tears in her eyes.

That's a first.

In all our eight years of being together, I'd never seen this vulnerable side of her.

“Reid...” she sniffs and whispers again, “If there's even a tiny, tiny possibility that we're going to be back together in the future, all you have to do...” she reaches out to splay her hand on my chest, “all you have to do Reid... is say it...” she invades my personal space, “... right now... and I will leave Ethan today.”

I don't even hear the door to the staircase out back close till her voice reaches my ears and gets my legs working again.

“Armani?”

Shit!

At the sound of my Lee’s voice, Anika pulls away. I turn and Aileen's standing a few feet away, a paper grocery bag in her hand, and a smile...

Wait, why in fuck's name is she smiling?

“Anika” her smile doesn't drop, “Hi. It's so nice to see you...” she bites down on her lower lip. “What... what are you doing here?” she glances at me.

When Anika doesn't respond, Aileen nods and gestures to the paper grocery bag in her hand.

“Sorry I took so long to get back...” her pause indicates the  comment she's making in her head, “I err... they have a supermarket and I err... took a little detour to try and find the ingredients to make you the Indian sponge cake you like... since you barely ate this morning.”

She's going to make me dhokla?

I expect the funny thing in my chest to return but it doesn't. Instead only warmth and admiration for the woman in front of me... not beside... is all that fills me.

Aileen's eyes flick between the two of us and she chuckles a little.

“Okay. I'll just... get myself busy. Excuse me.”

She passes by us and straight into the kitchen, not sparing me a glance.

“Lee wait” I call out, going after her.

She sets the bag down and turns to me.

“Yeah?”

“Look, I swear...”

“Woah there” she chuckles and shakes her head with a smile. “You don't owe me any explanations.”

Why the fuck is she still smiling?

“Hey no, no—”

“You're staying to try some of the dhokla, right Nikki?” she looks to my side, cutting me off. “You can invite Ethan. I'm sure he'd love to join us.”

I frown.

“What are you—”

“Actually no” Anika speaks, “And I was just leaving.”

“Oh.”

Did she just sound disappointed?

“But thanks” Anika smiles her way. “And it was nice catching up, Reid.”

And like that, she's gone. I sigh and pinch my eyes.

“Lee—”

“Hey,” she stops me with a chuckle. “Seriously. You don't owe me any sort of explanation okay?”

What is wrong with her?

“Now if you're done here, can you help me make this thing? It's going to be my first time and I hope it turns out good.”

I sigh exasperatedly.

“Lee...”

“Thank you so much. I'll just go use the bathroom real quick” She doesn't stop smiling.

I stare after her in shock and confusion. Then I feel an intense burning sensation on my cheek that she touched before leaving.

Did she just pinch my cheeks?

Thank you for reading!
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Ciao
~the_atticwriter