“We couldn’t go back home without a visit to the most secluded and romantic beach in all of Hawaii.” Damien was busy dousing me in dimples. He had brought wine and plastic glasses, along with a snack platter.
“Parvati, come stand on this so it won’t blow away, please,” Dax asked of me. “Thank you.”
“Of course. I’m always down for a late-night picnic.” I glanced over the food and let out a soft laugh.
“What?” Damien caught me judging his choices. “We already agreed that you like ham.”
“I do,” I said, softening my shoulders. “It’s just… I could have made a charcuterie board for this.”
“I wasn’t going to bother you. Besides,” he set the platter on the blanket and pulled back the plastic, “little cubes of cheese and butter crackers are my favorite.”
I covered my mouth, laughing as I watched Damien shove a piece of cheese into his. “I love it all. Thanks for thinking of me.”
Daniel handed me a glass of wine. “We know you well.”
“Oh, you do, huh?”
“Oh, yes,” he whispered in my ear. It made me shiver with delight, remembering the other night when he had me tied to his bed. Those sweet whispers and trembling excitement ran through me as a memory of desire. “I know exactly what you want and need.”
I looked up at him after a long sip of my wine. I wasn’t sure what to say to that. As one of the last few nights together, I thought, why not let loose? And though I was all in for teasing and playing around in front of the twins, I wasn’t sure how far Daniel would go.
“Come sit with us,” Dax offered, patting the blanket as he got comfy. I sent him a smile, then joined him as Damien came and sat at my other side. “It’s a beautiful view, isn’t it?”
“Very.”
“Wouldn’t it be great if we could stay here forever? The four of us, watching the world go on in the distance.”
“Dax, that’s very profound of you,” I said to him. I wrapped my arm around his and leaned my head on his shoulder. Everything was so sweet and lovely, but there was a growing desire building deep inside my gut that told me I wouldn’t be satisfied with only a picnic. I wanted more from each one of them, and it made me feel selfish, almost like I was out of control with my own emotions.
“Want more?” Damien tilted the wine bottle toward me. I didn’t even realize until then that I had already finished my glass. I gave him a nod and a little shrug and then tilted my glass to take all that he would give me. After he recorked the bottle and set it into the sand next to us, we all sort of leaned back and let out a heavy breath.
“I feel terrible.” I lowered my head in a shameful, soft laugh that made each one of them blabber compliments and excuses.
“No, really, you guys,” I waved my hand around in the air, “I truly do.” I ran my hand through my long bangs, pulling back my hair so it was out of my eyes. “I feel so selfish sitting here wanting each one of you to be with me.” I swirled the wine in the glass as I felt the heat hit my face.
“Hey,” Dax rubbed my back, “you don’t have to pretend with us. I think it’s safe to say that we all feel the same.”
I faced him abruptly, nearly spilling my glass all over my lap. “But that doesn’t make it okay.” I looked at each one of them and they all had the same expression on their faces. They were sad that our vacation was coming to an end, but also hopeful in what the night would hold.
“It’s okay as long as we all want the same thing.”
“Dax, you don’t have to be so sweet all the time,” I said to him. And he truly was. Always thinking of others and trying to help make everyone feel better. “You can be mad, bothered, upset.”
“And why?” He leaned against me with that boyish smile of his. “I’m here with you. Why be mad?”
“Oh, you really get under my skin sometimes!”
“I know!”
“Don’t mind him,” Damien hissed at my back. I turned to see him and those charming dimples that kept me drooling. There was something truly alluring about him under the dim light of the evening moon. His hair lay in all directions, his brows thick and bushy concealed the hint of curiosity in his eyes. “He isn’t capable of feeling anything other than sunshine and rainbows.”
Dax reached behind me and slapped Damien on the shoulder.
I put my arms out to separate them. “Alright, that’s enough. I won’t have you two competing all night.”
Damien let out a sharp laugh, to which Dax made a face that hit me deep. I turned back and forth to see them, but with each turn of my head, they only shot each other glares and scoffs. Finally, I faced forward and yelled, “What is going on?”