Thrasher (21 page)

Megan and I spent the next hour making room for all of the groceries before I wiped my hands with a dishtowel and leaned back against the counter. “I’m beat. I think I’m going to go take a shower so I’ll be freshened up for dinner.”

Megan agreed. “I’ll let the boys know.”

I looked out to the patio, and Duke and Tripp were relaxing with beers in their hands as the ocean waves crashed behind them in paradise. It was nice to see them outside of work, with no worries to distract them. I headed into my room and closed the door behind me. I undressed and climbed into the ornate master shower that was decorated to compliment the beautiful surroundings of the ocean.

Refreshed from the shower, I allowed the steam to billow from the bathroom before I started in on my hair and makeup. I stepped into the closet and scanned the things I’d brought. Spotting my favorite chevron romper, I dropped my towel to the floor and pulled it up over my naked body. I checked myself out in the mirror to ensure everything looked okay. “Perfect!” I said aloud before scooping the towel off the floor and making my way back into the bathroom for hair and makeup.

As I stood at the mirror putting the final touches on my face, I could see Megan bouncing into the bathroom. She sat down on the granite countertop of the his-and-her sink. “I left my foundation at home by accident. Do you have anything in my color?”

I pushed my huge bag of makeup across the counter and gave her full access to everything that was inside. “Use whatever you need. Just don’t take my strawberry lip balm. I have that just for Duke. He likes the way it tastes.”

The face she made was priceless, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m kidding. Like I said, use whatever you need. I’ve got everything. MAC cosmetic department doesn’t have anything on me.” Winking, I reached for my coral lipstick and matching gloss.

“Do you smell that?” Megan asked.

I inhaled deeply, and the aroma filled my nose; instantly my stomach began to groan in hunger. “That smells delicious. Who in the world cooked?”

We rushed out of the room all dolled up from head to toe and ran directly into Duke and Tripp, who were both standing on the patio as the glowing sun set behind them, obviously proud of the spread that was before us.

“Dinner is served,” Tripp said smugly, while Duke pulled my chair out for me and motioned for me to be seated at the table.

I sauntered over to him, gripped his ass in my hand, and placed a kiss on his lips. “Have I told you lately how amazing you are?”

He kissed me back harder. “Not today.”

As they prepared our plates, Megan asked the question that they probably both knew we were thinking. “Where on earth did you learn to cook like this? I mean, we know you can grill, but this is just to die for. It’s like you were both contestants on
Hell’s Kitchen
and actually won the grand prize.”

Tripp leaned in, kissed the top of her head, and then turned to Duke. “Should we tell them?” he asked, obviously trying not to laugh.

Duke lifted his beer to his lips and shrugged his shoulders. “I’m sticking to the story that I helped prepare all of this.”

Tripp’s head flew back, and his laugh echoed for miles. “While we were in town at the market, we met the owner of the store. We told her that we were here with the loves of our lives and wanted to ensure that they ate well during our trip. Her initial reaction was to laugh in our faces, knowing full-well that we probably didn’t know our way around a kitchen. So she offered to help us with everything we’d need for a delicious meal each night we were here and then promised to come over and cook for us. We were going to introduce her to you both, but the timing was perfect, and she arrived just after you two went to take showers. We knew once you began to get ready, we’d have at least two hours on our hands, so when she packed up and left, I thought it’d be fun to pretend that Duke and I had been slaving away in the kitchen all afternoon.”

We all burst out in laughter. Only these two could find someone to come over each night and cook for us. I poured a glass of wine, filled Megan’s glass, then lifted my glass to toast. “To a delicious meal prepared by a lovely lady who we’ll hopefully get to meet. May this trip be one we never forget.”

Our glasses met their beer bottles, and we all toasted to our first night in paradise.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

The next day was spent almost exactly like the first. Megan and I worked on our tans while the guys chased each other on Jet Skis all afternoon. That night Duke and Tripp took the two of us into town for a taste of local cuisine.

After a delicious dinner, the four of us were back at the house relaxing on the patio as we continued to consume exorbitant amounts of alcohol.

Megan leaned over to me and did her best to whisper into my ear. “What do you think about an evening swim?” she practically shouted.

I nodded my head up and down as a grin appeared on my face. “Oh yes.” I jumped out of the chair, knocking my beer bottle over in the process, and stumbled to my feet. Duke picked up my overturned beverage.

Not even thinking, I gripped the hem of my tank top and ripped it over my head then darted to the drawstring of my lounge shorts and began untying it. I heard a low growl from behind me as I slipped my shorts to the floor, exposing my thong.

Duke’s voice was deep when he spoke. “Brianna, you either put your clothes back on or go change into a bathing suit. Now.”

I spun on my heels as Megan laughed behind me. “Oh please, this is fine. It shows just as much as my bathing suit does.”

The look he was giving me told me I was about to be in serious trouble, so I spun and darted off toward the water.

My feet were pushing as hard as possible, giving my calves a total workout as I pressed through the soft beach sand. They finally met the cool dampness of the shoreline, and, before Duke could catch me, I dove in, using my arms and legs to take me as far from shore as I could get.

When I finally came up to gasp for the air my lungs needed after I’d swam as far out as possible, I flung myself around and stared at Duke, who was standing on the shoreline, his lips pressed together and fists clenched at his sides. “Too nice of a night to be a sourpuss on the shore. Why don’t you get your sexy ass in the water with me?” I shouted to him.

He stood there, arms now crossed over his chest — as if that would make me listen to him — and I could see he wasn’t thrilled with my actions. “I’ll get in when you change.”

My brow lifted, and I couldn’t help but smirk as another harebrained idea popped into my mind. “Fine, I’ll change.”

As I kept myself afloat treading water, I reached behind me and unhooked my bra, slipping it off, and then shimmied out of my panties. I held them both up in the air and threw them in the direction of Duke. “All changed. Happy now?”

His face contorted, and he quickly glanced over his shoulders. My assumption was that he was looking to see where Tripp and Megan were. When he saw that they were both splashing around in the pool, not paying a bit of attention to the two of us, his legs began to rush into the water.

As his body flew through the water toward me, I couldn’t help but belly laugh; my tough man couldn’t bear the thought of anyone but him seeing my naked body.

When he finally reached me, his arm slung around my waist, and he began swimming closer to shore, not saying a single word — yet everything he wanted to say was clearly written across his face. When his feet could touch, he shook the water droplets off his eyelashes and stared at me hard. “Clothes on, now,” he ordered, and I couldn’t help but laugh again.

“Oh, calm down. Tripp can’t see a thing from here, and Megan has seen me naked more than you have.” I watched him with a smile on my face as his jaw clenched. “Besides, don’t you like having my body wrapped around yours, sans clothing?”

I hooked my legs tightly around his waist, pressing myself up against his sculpted abs and then linked my arms behind his neck.

His eyes were squinted as he glared at me, but I could tell by his growing erection that I was slowly persuading him to let me stay naked.

I leaned in and took his bottom lip between my teeth, tasting the salt water on my tongue. “Mmmm,” I moaned before releasing his lip. “I don’t care about Megan and Tripp. Hell, I don’t care about anybody. I want you, Duke, right here, right now. I want you to fuck me. Fuck me good.”

My arms unlocked, and I slipped one between us and grabbed his hardness. I watched his head tip back slightly. His lips parted, and a low growl escaped from his throat. All of that told me he was about to give me exactly what I wanted — no, needed.

His body began moving through the water, taking us closer to shore. When he finally stopped moving, he laid me down, my bare backside meeting the coolness of the soft sand. His fingers made handy work of his shorts, and seconds later, he was slipping his firm erection between my legs, filling my body with everything I desired.

Duke’s eyes held my gaze as he slowly pumped in and out of me, the moonlight glistening behind us as his hips met mine, thrust for thrust.

My fingers clawed at his back as I took his full length, and I couldn't help the sound that escaped me. Moans were ripping through me as he gave me exactly what I craved most, and before I knew it, our bodies were reaching their peak together.

My release finally exploded as Duke came just as fast and hard as I had. My body fell flat against the sand, and he rolled over and collapsed next to me, the waves crashing against us as we lay there, our breathing labored.

“Do you think this will ever get old?” I whispered, utterly spent as my hands slid across the wet sand and met Duke’s fingertips.

“Not a chance.”

My lips curled up, and in that moment, I knew he was right. Being with Duke Thrasher would never, ever get old.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Duke, Megan, Tripp, and I had made the very best of our last day on the island, and it was finally time to rest before we were up and on the plane the next morning. The four of us were all lounging on the patio, talking about the trip, when Duke slipped his fingers between mine and lifted my hand to his lips.

“Want to take a walk?” he asked as one of his eyebrows lifted.

I couldn’t help but grin with my response. “I’d love to.”

Duke tugged on my hand, and I stood and followed him toward the beach and away from Tripp and Megan, who couldn’t have cared less if we’d stayed around during their current make-out session.

We walked along the shoreline as the waves crashed into the sand. The water flowed up to meet our feet that were sinking into the soft, wet sand with each step. Our fingers were laced as we continued on in silence, just enjoying each other’s company.

We’d walked about a mile when I stopped to take in our surroundings. I leaned back against Duke’s massive frame and relaxed into his body as I gazed up at the crystal-clear night sky. The moon reflected off the blue water.

“Thank you for bringing me here. This trip has just been perfect. I don’t think there is anything that could possibly top this moment here with you.”

Duke’s lips met my neck as one of his arms hooked around me, bringing my backside even closer against his chest when he whispered, “Might be wrong, babe.”

I tilted my head to the side and looked up at him. “Oh yeah? How so?” I asked curiously.

His smile widened as he fidgeted with something.

Meanwhile, I looked back at the water. “Well, I’m waiting for an answer,” I teased.

And that was when Duke’s other hand slid around to my front. His chin rested on the top of my head, and he held up a diamond ring between his thumb and pointer-finger. The light of the moon caused it to sparkle.

“Me and you, forever…?” he asked, but it was more of a statement.

All I could do was stare at the ring. I had completely been caught off guard yet so happy. I stood there in shock as he slipped the ring on my finger before I could even comprehend what was taking place.

When his fingers pulled away, I lifted my hand up to admire the new piece of very expensive jewelry that adorned my left ring finger, and the huge smile that spread across my face caused my cheeks to hurt.

As I turned to face him, I hooked my arms around his neck then jumped up and wrapped my legs around him as I took his mouth. Our tongues twisted as every nerve ending in my body surged to life.

Duke’s hands gripped my ass and held me up, and my hands darted to his cheeks as I pulled back from our kiss. Lightheaded as tears spilled down my cheeks, I stared into his glistening green eyes. “Are we really doing this? Am I going to be your wife?” My tone was full of excitement as I awaited his response.

Duke’s head nodded up and down. “You and me, babe. Forever.”

****

The next morning we were headed back to the States, and all I could do was lounge next to Duke and admire my ring. It was gorgeous and completely flawless. The round three-carat diamond that rested on a platinum band fit perfectly on my finger, and I couldn’t help but stare at it.

Megan was in a heated debate with Tripp when she glanced over and caught me shifting my hand, allowing the rays from the sun to bounce off the diamond. “Your face is priceless,” she said, causing me to look up at her.