Sunshine Kisses

She stopped mid-stroke, looking up to find Finn kneeling at the edge of the pool, waving her over. She was dimly aware of Erik slipping back under the water and returning to the side further from them. As she made her way towards Finn, he swam laps of the width of the pool, only coming up for air each time he hit the wall.

‘I’m not stalking you; I swear,’ Finn said when she drew near. ‘My friend realised we could use this as a shortcut from the lobby to our rooms.’ He nodded towards a tall man with dark hair who was frowning at his phone.

Finn explained he was at the hotel for a leadership seminar—exactly as boring as it sounded, if he was to be believed—and was leaving on Sunday morning.

‘If you’re free tomorrow night, I’d love to grab that drink. But I wanted to say, the offer extends beyond the hotel. In case you’re, uh, otherwise occupied until then.’ His eyes flashed to the other end of the pool, where she could just hear Erik moving through the water. ‘I’d love to meet up again when you’re back in London,’ he continued, scratching the back of his head with a slightly awkward expression. ‘I had a really good time with you that night.’

It had been good. He’d slid onto the stool next to her in a bar, much like he had the night before. He had been pleasant company. Interesting, charming, intelligent. Attractive, obviously. When he had kissed her on the dancefloor, there had been enough of a spark for her to agree to go home with him. The sex had been good. Not earth-shattering, but Finn had been attentive, taking note of how her body responded and giving accordingly. On all fronts, an evening well spent. Until she woke up the next morning, feeling the deep sting of regret in the pit of her stomach.

But that was her issue, not his. And maybe more fun with a handsome not-quite-stranger was exactly what she needed to get over—

‘Abby?’ Finn looked amused.

‘Sorry,’ she muttered. ‘Yeah, yes, a drink sounds great.’ She attempted to inject more enthusiasm into her voice. ‘It’s just, um, lots of family stuff while I’m here? So I’ll let you know.’

His smile widened. ‘Great. Text me when you’re free.’

The water around her rippled gently as Erik slowly made his way back.

‘What did he want?’ His voice held an edge she didn’t like.

‘He invited me for a drink tomorrow night,’ Abby said archly, folding her arms across her chest.

‘What did you say?’ More anger dripped into his voice. It made her shiver, even in the tepid water.

‘I said I’d let him know,’ Abby said, taking a step backward.

Erik followed. She stepped again. He moved half a second later, backing her into the corner of the pool.

‘What’s there to think about? Pretty boy asked you on a date. You should go.’

‘Why do you care?’ Abby narrowed her eyes. ‘You’ve spent every minute of the last two days in my company, so don’t give me that bullshit about being jealous of someone else spending time with your friend,’ she spat.

‘I don’t care,’ Erik ground out, jaw stiff.

‘Good. Because you don’t get to be pissed about me hanging out with other people. Not when—’ Abby broke off, so close—too close—to breaking the one rule they had. Venturing too near the thing they had vowed never to discuss again.

Something dangerous glinted in those beautiful eyes. Normally soft, deep wells, particularly when he was talking to her, they were now hard steel. ‘When what, Sunshine?’

‘When you weren’t there.’ Her voice came out quiet. She regretted the words immediately, gulping a breath as she tried desperately to swallow them back down.

Erik dragged his bottom lip between his teeth, nodding slowly. He took a final step closer and placed a hand on the pool wall on either side of her, close enough that she could feel the warmth coming off his chest. An almost imperceptible tremble shook his arms. Almost, to anyone but her. Not when Abby was used to noticing everything about him.

‘If you want to go out with him, Sunshine, that’s what you should do. You made it very clear that I have no right to get involved.’ Dipping his head, he leaned in even closer, his hot breath fanning over her ear and neck.

Abby exhaled shakily.

‘If you want to drink with him, if you want to kiss him, if you want to fuck him—again, I’m assuming—go right ahead,’ Erik breathed. He pushed off the wall, floating backwards towards the steps, not noticing or caring that he’d left a quivering mess in his wake. ‘I’m going upstairs. You coming?’

They walked back in silence, breaking it only to mutter goodnight as they escaped into their respective rooms.

Abby peeled off her now sodden dress—she’d thrown it hastily over her dripping body without pausing to dry off—and bikini, leaving them in a heap on the floor as she collapsed into her bed, completely naked. Emotions circled through her.

Rage.

Confusion.

Arousal.