I wake to my phone and look at the screen. I snatch it up and answer.
“Lucas?”
“Who else?”
“Hi.”
“Were you sleeping, baby?”
“Yes, actually.”
“Sorry, I know you need your sleep, but I happen to be outside your hotel, hanging out on the beach.”
“You’re where?”
“We never dated back then. I know we won’t have a lot of time to do that, so I was just hoping maybe you can …” He sighs. “I don’t know.”
“Are you embarrassed?” I can’t help but smile.
“Baby, just come down. Look to the left of your hotel when you walk out beachside.”
“Okay.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes.” I hang up and run into the bathroom, brush my teeth, and then I try to make sense of my still damp mop of hair. I grab some shorts, throw them on, and then grab the first sweatshirt I can find.
I use the stairs, knowing that Clive or Serge will be stationed at the end of the hall near the elevator. I’m an adult and sneaking out. I laugh when I slide down the last three stairs on my ass.Damn flip flops.
I open the door and run out, feeling a rush of adrenaline for getting out unspotted. I stop when I see Lucas in a white linen top and khaki shorts that hit just above his knees, holding a single white flower.
I feel butterflies dancing around in my belly—the good kind—just like they used to with him.
Lucas is beautiful. He’s always been the American Abercrombie and Fitch hot kind of guy. Even now, at his age, he still is. He has thick, dark hair and his stunning green eyes, square jaw, and masculine features are flawless perfection. He was built like a quarterback back then and still is to this day. He was seriously intimidating to look at in his pro days, and he’s still buff but softer. He’s always cared what he looks like, and that will never change. His legs are thick, and his ass … even thicker. His deltoids, chest, and abs are defined and … well, let’s just say the defined V isn’t pointing to anything less impressive. He exudes confidence, and his looks demand attention. Just like him.Most of the time.
He tilts his head and looks a bit confused. That’s the Lucas I always fell for. The softer Lucas who allowed me to see past the natural confidence and into his vulnerable side.
I start walking toward him now and smile. His lips twitch up, but he holds back a smile. Then I begin to run, because my favorite part of Lucas is his arms, and I want them wrapped around me now. His big, warm hugs makes me melt.
“There you are. You stopped for a minute. You kind of had me going, and not in a good way either.” He lifts me so we’re eye to eye and softly kisses my lips. Then he sets me on my feet, steps back, and looks me up and down slowly. “You all right?”
“Well, back there, I was checking you out.”
“Yeah?”
“Uh-huh. You’re very nice to look at.”
He smirks and takes my hand, leading me into a darker and unlit area of the beach.
Not wanting to let on that my butterflies have the best of me, I laugh. “Before that, I fell down the last three stairs on my butt.”
He stops, hands me the white rose, and then turns me around. I look over my shoulder as he kneels down with his hands holding my hips and presses kisses on my butt over and over again. I laugh until I feel his strong, wet tongue running slowly back and forth just inside my waistband.
“Lucas.”
“Better?” He runs his hands up my inner thigh, and I feel my back arch slightly toward him.
“Yes.”