34 - Joanna

34

Joanna

After breakfast, the manager personally escorted us to our new room. It was on the top floor, with a balcony that faced the ocean. There were even stairs going up to a private rooftop deck with a massive hot tub overlooking the ocean. Potted plants were arranged around the outside of the rooftop deck, giving privacy from the other penthouse suites.

There was only one problem: there was a single king-sized bed, rather than a pair of twins.

"We'll accept the upgrade," Landon said.

The manager appeared relieved. "I am overjoyed to hear that you are pleased. And of course, if you need anything else during your stay, please do not hesitate to ask. Our staff will bend over backwards to ensure you forget all about the incident last night."

"I'll bet they want me to forget," I muttered when he was gone. "A news story about getting roofied would be the kiss of death for a resort."

"That rooftop hot tub, though," Landon said. "And don't worry about the bed. I'll sleep on the couch."

"That's not necessary," I replied, gesturing at the bed. "Look at the size of it. You could host the summer Olympics on this thing. We'll put a bunch of pillows down the middle to split it in half."

"Only if you're comfortable with that."

"We're both adults," I said. "It's not a big deal."

But the thought of sharing a bed with Landon gave me a strange feeling. Something close to excitement. I shook off the thought and began unpacking my bathing suits.

I wanted to relax by the beach all day, but by now everyone had heard about the incident last night. I felt like a queen on the end of a royal receiving line: everyone stopped by my beach chair to make sure I was okay. Even members of the wedding party I hadn't met, like two of Bradyn's cousins, visited my spot by the beach to chat about it. And for every person, I had to solemnly nod my head and assure them I was perfectly fine, and not traumatized at all.

The only thing traumatizing me is having to talk to so many people , I thought to myself.

Finally, Theo came strolling up to my chair. "No," I said, aiming an accusatory finger at him. "If you apologize and try to take responsibility for what happened, I'm going to throw myself into the ocean."

He held up both palms defensively. "I was just going to tell you that sparkly gold bathing suit looks great."

"Oh. Thank you very much."

"And I was going to make sure you're okay," he added.

I let out an annoyed growl. "Here's what I've told the other hundred people who have asked. I'm fine. I feel fine. Everything is fine. I just want to sit on the beach and read my book and forget all about it."

He sat on the edge of my beach chair and looked at me. "Sorry. I didn't realize."

"It's fine," I repeated. "I heard you lost your shit last night."

Theo winced. "A little bit. Austin had to tell me to calm down, or everyone might get suspicious. I just…" He shook his head. "When I realized what the guy had done, something came over me. I wanted to… well, I won't tell you what I wanted to do to him. I've never even gotten in a fight before."

"Wait, really? Never?"

"Never in my entire life. I like to avoid conflict. But last night I wanted to knock his teeth out. And that's saying something, because I know how hard it is to put teeth back in."

"You sound like a hockey player." I shrugged. "I'm touched that you wanted to defend my honor."

"The next guy that tries it? It'll take more than just Landon and Austin to hold me back."

"I certainly hope nobody else tries that," I said.

"Hey," Landon said. He had two frozen drinks in his hands. "Brought you another daiquiri. And I made sure nothing accidentally fell inside on the way here."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm going to be dealing with this all weekend, aren't I?"

"I was just making sure she was all right," Theo said, hopping up from the edge of my chair. "There are some real fuckers out there, huh?"

"You said it." Landon nodded at him. "Thanks for being there last night. It's good to know there are plenty of good guys around to protect my girlfriend."

Theo tensed. "Yeah, totally. You'd do the same for me, right? Those daiquiris are real good, by the way. Almost as good as strawberry martinis."

"Strawberry martinis?" Landon said when he was gone. "Wouldn't have expected a guy like Theo to drink those."

"Me neither," I muttered while watching Theo walk away.

At dinner that night, everyone made the same dumb joke about protecting my drink. Clark retrieved the bottle of wine from the serving table himself in order to refill my glass, and when I wasn't drinking from it, Danicka placed a coaster over the top protectively.

"I just hate that this happened under my watch," Danicka said gravely.

Oh God. Not her, too .

"It really is fine."

"I'm going to make sure you have a wonderful trip," Danicka said. "Aside from the lovely bride and groom, you're the most important person at this resort! I'll see to it."

I shared a look with Landon. I wasn't looking forward to discovering what she meant by that.

Later that night, we learned that the couple who tried to roofie me had done this before. Despite the guy's pick-up line about it being their twenty-year anniversary, they had only been married five years and had pulled similar stunts at other resorts around the north coast of Jamaica.

"I'm glad my experience led to the arrest of a serial offender," I said while enjoying the rooftop deck. Landon and I were relaxing in two chairs, enjoying the ocean view while drinking a very expensive bottle of white wine the manager had delivered personally.

Landon chuckled. "I've never heard of a pair of people doing that. It's always some creepy guy."

"Trust me: that guy was creepy," I said.

"Sure, but I meant creepy and alone . I never picture guys like that having a wife as an accomplice."

"I'm just glad my first threesome wasn't like that," I blurted out.

I'd been drinking. Hell, I'd had an alcoholic drink in my hand pretty much since arriving at the resort. So I didn't really want to mention to Landon how I wanted my first threesome to go. It wasn't a topic I expected us to discuss at all .

"Oh?" Landon asked casually. "How do you want your first threesome to go?"

Once the subject was breached, I didn't shy away from it. Again, the alcohol may have played a role in my forwardness.

"Firstly, I would be a consenting participant," I said. "That's pretty crucial."

"Of course."

"Beyond that… I don't know. I've always wanted to try it, I guess."

"Good to know," Landon said. "I'll start asking around if there are any women at the resort who want to spice up our fake relationship with a fake threesome."

I turned and smirked at him. "Who says I want the third to be a woman?"

Landon's eyebrows rose. "Oh. Excuse me for assuming."

"I mean, if you were having a threesome, wouldn't you want it to be two members of the opposite sex?"

I was probing him, I realized. Wondering how he would feel about a "devil's threesome" with two guys. Not for any particular reason. I certainly wasn't planning on inviting him into bed with Theo and me.

But I was curious.

"Good point," he admitted. "Although I've actually had a threesome before."

I sat up in my chair and twisted to face him. "Really? When? Where? With whom? How?"

"One question at a time."

"When?" I was excited, now.

"Back in college."

"Tell me more."

"I was at a party with some friends. A buddy and I both had our eyes on this one girl who lived in our dorm. Both of us were trying to take her home. And in the end… both of us did."

"Your threesome was with a guy!"

"Yep."

"Was it hot? I bet it was hot."

"You're a little too excited about this," he teased.

I shrugged. "I'm just curious. I've never had one. I don't think I even know anyone who has."

Landon chuckled and rested his arms behind his head. "Want to know the worst part of it?"

"Obviously."

"I was drunk," he said. "I barely remember it."

"Aw, man. That's a nightmare."

"Tell me about it. I had to get most of the details from my buddy the next morning." He hesitated. "Also… I had to fake my orgasm."

I stared at him. "What."

"I had to fake my orgasm," he repeated.

"Guys don't fake orgasms. Women do."

"Like I said: I was drunk. I was able to…" He searched around for a polite phrase. "I was able to rise to the occasion, so to speak. And perform. But I definitely couldn't come."

I crossed my legs underneath me on the chair while staring at him. "So you made a bunch of fake orgasm noises?"

"Mmm hmm. Then I went into the bathroom and took the condom off, and we all passed out in bed. That's pretty much all I remember."

I had so many questions for him. What positions they tried. Who suggested the threesome in the first place. If he would ever be willing to do it again.

But I didn't want to seem too excited. Because I was very excited, with curiosity and sexual energy. I was looking at Landon in a totally different light, now.

I wonder…

"So that's my story. Had a threesome and can't remember it. And it'll probably never happen again. That kind of experimenting only happens in college."

"Right." I smiled at him. "The last time I was here, the partners at my firm hired a bunch of Jamaican prostitutes. If you want to have that threesome, I can hire two of them."

I made sure to say two of them so that Landon knew I wasn't including myself. But I was most certainly imagining myself involved. How could I not?

He raised an eyebrow at me. "I would enjoy it more if they were willing participants, not prostitutes."

He held my gaze for a few seconds. Long enough to make me wonder if he was trying to drop a hint. Surely not. I was reading into things.

"Are you implying prostitutes aren't willing?" I teased.

"You know what I mean."

I do know what you mean , I thought while laying back in the chair and sipping my wine. I know exactly what you mean, Landon .