Player in Paradise by Rebecca Lewis Page A

pillow-top, he swiftly removes my underwear and grabs a condom from his shorts. He glides it on before plunging into me. The initial sensation forces my eyes closed and a breathy, foreign sound bubbles out of my throat.
    I grab onto his sides tightly and flex my hips faster, finding the perfect rhythm. I want him to kiss me again, but I don’t know if he will. I lift my eyelids to find his face contorted above me. His eyes are open, but unfocused, as if he’s on another planet. I sneak my line of sight further down to watch him enter me with quick, deep thrusts.
    The pressure builds and he’s almost got me at the finish line. I claw at his back, waiting for him to take me over the edge. I press myself against him and he throws my legs over his shoulders, pushing even deeper.
    I’ve never reacted so animalistically to sex before, but then again, my past experience in the sack mostly consisted of sloppy, meaningless throws with drunken frat boys.
    “You like tha t?” he says as I scream out. I scrape my nails along his back as I finally climax.
    He moans discreetly as his pace slows, before crashing down on top of me.
    Our chests rapidly r ise and fall against each other, and I twirl my fingers in his hair as my heartbeat slows back down to a normal rate. He moves to the side and wraps one arm around me so that my head falls comfortably in the crook of his shoulder.
    “Morning sex,” he says with a chuckle. “Gotta love it.”
    “What time is it anyway?” I ask, searching for the clock on the bedside table. “Shit, we’re late!”
    I pop out of his arms, jumping from the bed. “We were supposed to be downstairs fifteen minutes ago!”
    “Who car es? This is all bullshit anyway.” Austin yanks me back to the mattress.
    “I care, and so should you. Just get ready, ok ay?” I grab his arm and spring him off the bed with me, shuttling him to the adjoining door.
    I scramble to take a ten-second shower and swish with mouthwash again. Throwing my hair in a ponytail, I slide on a bikini and sundress and grab my bag.
    I knock on Austin’s door. He opens to greet me in board shorts and sandals.
    “You ready yet?” I ask.
    He rubs his wet hair with a towel and finds a t-shirt in his dresser. “Is this charade really still necessary? I mean, tomorrow’s the grand finale of public deception, so what does it matter if we play hooky for one day?” 
    Ugh , tomorrow’s engagement day. I really didn’t want to be reminded of the upcoming nuptials, and worse, the impending end of this work vacation.
    “Nice try, but Cassidy would call Priscilla and I don’t even want to think about how much trouble I’d be in.”
    He shrugs his shoulders. “Hey, you have uh…” he laughs, pointing at my neck.
    I turn to the mirror and see a giant hickey staring back at me. “You suck!”
    He grins with his hands on his hips. “Yes, and apparently I do it well.”
    “This isn’t funny, Austin.” I take my hair down and do my best to cover the obvious bruise, but I know it still shows.
    He stifles a laugh. “Yeah, it kind of is.”
    “Shut up!” I elbow him in the ribs.
    “Ouch!” he screams. “My publicist is abusing me! Call 911!”
    I cover his mouth with my hand before dragging him to the elevators. One of the hotel staff members rushes over as soon as we step out. “Good morning Mr. Ford, Ms. Kelley,” he says with a smile. “Your group already went to the beach to get settled for the parasailing excursion.”
    My stomach burns as I pace back and forth. “Do you think we can catch up with them?”
    The staff member checks his watch. “Sorry miss, I’m afraid the boat’s probably in the water by now.”
    I pull the ends of my hair. “Shit.”
    Austin crosses his arms against his chest and leans back with a laugh.
    “What’s so hilarious?” I snap.
    “Now we can follow my plan to screw your stupid itinerary! Come on, let’s get something to eat.”
    My arm links with his as I drag him toward the beach.