I just wrap her in the blanket and fix my clothes, carrying her to my room.
There, we pick up right where we left off.
We don抰 even stop for dinner, barely breaking for water to replenish the sweat soaked into the sheets. I抳e fucked her three times梕very which way from Sunday梑efore I take the notion to pull her into a cool, crisp shower and call in a late-night food order to the kitchen.
I never showered with Aster. She was so private, always pushing me away when I offered.
With Eliza, it feels too natural, the way we take turns washing each other off between kissing and wandering hands. And when we抮e finally clean, we have to get dirty again, my hands guiding hers to the wall and my lips against her ear.
揇estiny lied. There抯 no badger in you. You抮e all fucking honey,?I snarl. 揧ou, Eliza, are becoming my fucking addiction.?
She replies with a loud moan, and I show her just how dependent I am, pounding her into the wall.
I wish we could spend an entire week like this, locked in the room naked. One long conversation spoken in shrill whimpers and guttural groans.
But she leaves around sunup, before there抯 a chance to truly discuss anything.
This pattern continues for a few more days梒arefully avoiding her during work hours so I don抰 have to talk about exactly what the hell it is we抮e doing at night.
I抦 worried my addiction might be literal. It hurts to go twenty-four hours without her.
Then one morning, I wake up to the hot sun pouring through the window, painting Eliza in a warm glow. She抯 still nestled in the covers with my arms around her.
She stayed.
More than that, I realize how much jealousy pulses through my blood, how I don抰 want her to be anywhere else.
I pull her closer, cradle her to my chest, and plant a kiss on her head.
This is the most taboo kind of ecstasy.
Not just because she抯 an employee.
My wife梩he only other woman I抳e ever shared this bed with梔ied within walking distance of here.
Having another woman here should be the worst kind of mind fuck.
Should be, but it抯 not.
Why does it feel so perfect, fucking her ever-loving brains out in this godforsaken place?
Is Kona turning my wheel of fate again?
I wonder.
Is there any chance Eliza Angelo could be my new beginning, rather than another heart-ripping disaster?
Hours later, I find Eliza at her fire pit, diligently working with no trace of the sex hair I left last night.
揂ren抰 you suffocating out here? It抯 noon and there抯 not a cloud in the sky,?I say, wiping sweat from my brow.
She shrugs. 揑 mean, yeah, it抯 hot, but I need to get this right. Eighteen years in San Diego got me pretty used to the sun.?
揌ow many drinks do you have ready with the peaberry brew? Including espresso.?
She thinks for a second. 揊ive.?
揋ood. Brock Winthrope is flying in with his team tomorrow for a personal tasting. I抣l need your best batch ready.?
She nods but her face goes pale with panic.
揇on抰 tell me you抮e nervous? Eliza, your drinks are impeccable, and I抣l do most of the talking. You just work your magic. Present your ambrosia, and if someone has a question, answer it. Otherwise, you抣l just be standing by for your accolades.?
She manages a weak smile.
揑 hope it goes that well. This is a high-end crowd and it has to blow their hair back.?She sighs. 揑 should probably kill the fire and start working on answers for question time. I know the presentation matters just as much as the drinks.?
揌ow long do you need to brew it in the morning??I sit down beside her.
揂 few hours for a big batch, if you want to showcase everything.?She looks at me with the most beautiful smile I抳e ever seen. 揘ormally, I抎 be terrified. I probably wouldn抰 sleep all night. But I have to say, the past ten days have been pretty incredible.?
揘o argument here.?I push a strand of loose brown hair out of her eyes. 揋lad you抳e enjoyed it as much as I have. Without you, this trip would抳e been a lot less enlightening…？
Before she can ask what that means, I bring my lips to hers in a feverish kiss.
She meets me with the same passion and urgency she always does.
This is the storm I抣l miss if Seattle means different weather. How the fuck can I live without her energy, her brightness, her sugar and spice and so much life?
We spend the next hour brewing another test batch, talking and kissing.
揑抣l miss the beach when we抮e gone. Same goes for the scenery,?she says.
The way her eyes sweep over me says she isn抰 just talking about the unique view.
揧ou visit home, don抰 you??
揑t抯 not the same. I don抰 even know if I抣l ever be on this island again. I should spend more time in San Diego, though. It抯 been a couple years…？