Chapter Three: Grace

Chapter Three

POOLSIDE TRYST

GRACE

I’m not sure why I can’t look away from him. Even when he catches me staring and stares back, I can’t seem to stop gawking. Arriving at the pool with my girls, I’d made a cursory glance around the area just to get a layout of the land and I’d caught sight of the most gorgeous guy I’ve ever seen. Relaxing on a lounge chair, his ripped, Adonis-like body on full display, he looks like he’s walked right out of an ad for some fancy cologne or something. Even though he’s wearing sunglasses, I can tell he’s staring right back at me. Why can’t I look away?

“Grace? You good?” Skyler suddenly asks, turning to look at me. I blink and finally manage to jerk my gaze away from Mr. Panty-Dropper, but it’s too little, too late. While Rylee and Sutton are busy slipping through the crowd to get to the bar, Skyler’s been focusing on me and caught me staring.

“Huh?” I gasp, blinking as I look at her. “What was that?”

She glances across the pool and when she spots the guy, her lips curl into a knowing smirk.

“Oh ho,” she whistles. “That was fast.”

“What are you talking about?” I sound breathless, which makes me wince.

She gives me a playful nudge with her elbow. “You’ve spotted a good one, Gracie. He’s sinfully hot. You should go say hi!”

“Oh, I don’t think that’s a good idea…”

“Come on,” she says, cutting me off with a wave of her hand. “Remember your plan? Your determination to let loose and get laid? I bet that guy knows what he’s doing between the sheets. I’d shoot your shot, unless you’d rather go for the sexy giant next to him.”

“No,” I murmur, peeking back over at both Adonis and the Heracles next to him. There is a definite resemblance between the two, making me think they’re related. Maybe cousins or even brothers. They’re both ridiculously attractive, but there’s something about the first guy that’s practically hypnotized me. “I want the leaner one.”

“Then go get him,” Skyler encourages me. “Come on! What are the chances you run into another guy as stupidly hot as that one? Go over there and talk to him. You’re on Spring Break, remember? One week of fun before you go back home and become a responsible bookworm again.”

Biting my lip, I look between Skyler and the hottie several times before sucking in a deep breath.

“All right,” I nod. “Okay, you’re right. I just need to go over there and talk to him. No big deal. If he turns me down, it’s not like I’ll ever see the guy again, right?”

“Exactly,” Skyler replies in a confident tone. “You got this. Now get your cute ass over there and charm the pants off that guy. Literally.”

I release a burst of laughter. “Okay, I’m going!”

I turn to walk around the pool and as I start to leave her, Skyler smacks my butt with her hand. I glance back at her with a squeak of surprise and she winks at me. I blow her a kiss, and then I make my way around the pool, slipping through the crowd and keeping my eyes locked on my target. He continues to watch me as I draw near, a small smile peeking from the corner of his lip. My heart flutters and I feel giddy, the majority of my nervousness melting away to be replaced by excitement.

By the time I reach his chair, he’s sitting up and lowering his sunglasses. I get a flash of his deep green eyes and I feel myself flush as he looks me up and down.

“Hey,” I say, my voice surprisingly low and sultry. I’m careful not to look too pleased with myself for sounding so confident.

“Hey,” he replies, his deep timbre making me shiver. “I’m Jensen.”

“Lynn.” I give him the second half of my name, Gracelynn, thinking that it’ll help keep things more anonymous. It’s a spur-of-the-moment decision that I hadn’t planned on before, but strangely, I feel even less nervous knowing he doesn’t have my real name.

The corner of his mouth crooks up into a half-grin. “Lynn. I like that. I’m glad you came over, Lynn. I was going to hunt you down if you didn’t.”

My smile widens. “Oh? Is that so?”

“Don’t mind me,” the giant next to him says with a chuckle. “Just chilling back here, being invisible.”

Jensen reaches back and smacks the other guy’s arm.

“This is Tyler, my brother. Ignore him,” he tells me. “He’s just jealous you’re talking to me and not him.”

“Oh, yeah?” I tease.

His brother snorts and relaxes back against his chair. Jensen stands up and I have to tilt my head back in order to meet his gaze. Damn, he’s tall. I have to remind myself not to gawk. I’m supposed to be playing it cool and seductive. Charming. Grace might be awkward in social situations, but Lynn isn’t. Lynn is confident, cool, and sexy.

I give him what I hope is a flirty little smile and say, “My, my, they build them big wherever you’re from.”

He laughs at that. “I suppose they do. I forget sometimes how big I am compared to most people. You can see what I grew up with, after all.”

I glance behind him toward his brother, who’s chugging a beer and pretending he can’t hear us. Looking back up at Jensen, I say, “Well, I suppose it’s all about perspective, isn’t it?”

Jensen’s eyes sparkle with amusement. “Absolutely. And right now, my perspective is looking pretty damn good.” He gestures to the lounge chair next to him. “Care to join me, Lynn?”

With a playful flip of my hair, I lower myself onto the chair beside him, feeling a rush of exhilaration at being so close to this hunk of a man. The setting sun casts a warm golden glow over everything in sight, and I can't help but be grateful for the magic of this moment.

“So, Lynn,” Jensen begins, his voice smooth like melted chocolate. “What brings you to this paradise?”

I tilt my head, letting my hair fall over my shoulder as I reply, “Just some much-needed relaxation and fun before heading back to reality. What about you and your… giant of a brother over there?”

Jensen's expression flickers with something unreadable as he glances at Tyler, before focusing back on me. “We’re here for a little getaway too. Needed a break from the daily grind.”

“Sounds like we're in the same boat then,” I muse. “Maybe we can make this vacation one to remember.”

A newly mischievous glint enters Jensen's eyes as he leans closer. “Oh, I plan on making it unforgettable, Lynn.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” I murmur, holding his gaze.

“Why don’t you invite your friends over and hang out?” he suggests. “We can get a few beers and chill by the pool for a while.”

“Sure!” I exclaim, pushing to my feet. “Hold on. I’ll go get them.”

I turn and rush back to the other side of the pool where Skyler, Rylee, and Sutton are still trying to elbow their way to the bar.

“Hey!” I grab Skyler’s elbow and catch her attention. “Those guys invited us to hang out with them.”

“Sweet,” Skyler replies, smacking Rylee and Sutton on their arms to get their attention. “Let’s go hang with the hotties, ladies.”

“Oh!” I declare, after only a few steps. “Just a heads up, I told him my name was Lynn.”

Skyler’s brows shoot up and Rylee and Sutton both appear just as surprised.

“Really?” Skyler says, her lips curling into a delighted grin. “All right, Lynn . We’ll play along, but that just means you’ve got to seal the deal with…”

“Jensen,” I offer.

She nods. “Jensen. Got it. Anything else we should know? Any details of a mysterious or scandalous past we should hint at but then never actually go into depth about?”

I laugh and shake my head. “No, just my name. And don’t mention where we go to school or give him any contact information for any of us. Especially me, please. Remember, this is just for the week. Nothing more. Now, play it cool, okay? Don’t blow this for me.”

“Don’t worry, that’s not the type of blowing I have in mind for today,” Rylee snickers.

I gasp and playfully punch her shoulder. Skyler rolls her eyes with a smirk while Sutton snickers at Rylee's joke. They all link arms and saunter over to where Jensen and Tyler are lounging by the pool, their laughter carrying through the warm evening air.

Jensen stands as they approach, a charming smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

“Ladies,” he greets them collectively, his gaze lingering on me for a beat longer than the others. “Glad you could join us. I’m Jensen.”

Skyler takes the lead, introducing herself and the others with her usual confidence, putting everyone immediately at ease. Rylee winks at Tyler, who raises an eyebrow in amusement, and Sutton strikes up a casual conversation with Jensen about the beautiful view from the resort.

As the evening wears on, drinks flow freely and laughter fills the air. I find myself drawn to Jensen, our conversations becoming more intimate, though I’m careful not to give away too many details about my life. There’s a magnetic pull between us that I can't deny, and I feel myself falling for this stranger in a way that both thrills and terrifies me.

We all eventually make our way to the Mexican restaurant inside the resort for dinner. Jensen sits next to me, his knee pressing against mine under the table.

“So,” he grins. “Are you a tequila girl?”

I chuckle and say, “Usually, yes. Tonight? I think I’ve had enough. I’m just going to stick to beer from this point onward. And water. Lots of water.”

Laughing, Jensen glances toward my friends and his brother, who are already ordering tequila shots. “We need to make sure they drink some water too,” he says.

I sigh and nod. “Don’t worry. My girls might be small, but they can probably drink your giant of a brother under the table.”

Jensen looks impressed. “Damn. That’s saying something.” His gaze turns back to me. “What about you? Not the partying type?”

I take a sip of the water that’s been brought to me and shake my head. “Not really,” I say. “I keep myself busy in other ways.”

“Like what?”

“I like to read,” I answer.

Jensen stares at me, clearly expecting more, but when I don’t go into detail, he chuckles.

“All right,” he replies. “Keep your secrets.”

He gently shoves his shoulder against mine and the simple contact sends heat rushing through me. His leg presses more firmly against mine, and when he reaches for the chips and salsa, his arm brushes against mine. I’m pretty sure it’s intentional.

By the time we’re done with dinner, that same arm is around me and I’m resting my head on his shoulder. Our group moves onto the resort’s bar, and Jensen keeps me pressed against his side.

Rylee, Skyler, Sutton, and Tyler disperse into the crowd. I watch as guys start to flock around my friends, and girls flock around Tyler. When I’m satisfied that my friends have found new people to party with, I focus on the man I’m with. Jensen and I stay a little separate from everyone, wrapped up in each other as we sit at the end of the bar.

“So, tell me something about yourself,” Jensen says when we get our beers. “Something real. It can be something vague, if you want, but just give me some little crumb of who you really are.”

I bite my bottom lip, unable to resist his request.

“All right. My favorite book is Pride and Prejudice , which I know is kind of cliche and basic, but I can’t help myself. I’m a hopeless romantic at heart.”

“I like that,” he murmurs. “I don’t think it’s cliche or basic at all. It’s a classic. Who doesn’t love a good classic?”

We continue talking as everyone parties around us. Eventually, Jensen leans in closer to me.

“Lynn,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my ear. “Would you like to take a walk with me along the beach?”

My heart races at the intimate suggestion, and without hesitation, I nod. Standing up, we leave the group behind and make our way down to the shore, where the gentle waves lap at the sand.

Under the moonlight, with only the sound of the ocean as our companion, Jensen takes my hand, his touch sending shivers down my spine. We walk in comfortable silence for a while until he stops and turns to face me.

“I’m glad you came over to talk to me,” he says softly, his eyes searching mine. “There’s something about you, Lynn.”

“I’m glad I came over to talk to you too,” I murmur, a hint of Grace breaking through Lynn’s bravado.

We stare at each other for a long moment, and I can tell what he’s thinking. It’s obvious in his gaze, and I want it too, but I need to set some firm boundaries so that there’s no danger of this week-long fling turning into anything more. School is my focus and relationships of any sort are simply not something I can afford to be distracted by. Better to protect my heart from the start and make my plans known.

“I know you're going to kiss me now,” I say in a soft voice. “But I want more than just a kiss. I want to know if you’ll give me an unforgettable week, Jensen, but that’s all. Let’s avoid making it personal. No talking about our lives back home. No strings. At the end of the week, we part ways with nothing but the memories we make together while we’re here. What do you say?”

He tilts his head to the side, studying me for several moments. Crap, did I go too far? Was I too blunt? What if he decides I’m not worth the effort?

Before I completely spiral and freak out, though, he grins and nods. “Yeah. I’m all right with that.”

A wave of relief washes over me. I smile and Jensen cups the back of my head, gently drawing me to him. When our lips first meet, I gasp, parting mine in return. He slips his tongue into my mouth and I completely melt against him. He starts slow and gentle. His first kiss is like a tasting, a sampling, before quickly growing more demanding and insistent. His control slips as his tongue tangles with mine. His moans mix with my whimpers as a fire burns within me. He moves his hands to my waist and grips me tighter as our kiss becomes more frenzied. That fire within me explodes. I feel a tingling low in my belly.

Suddenly, Jensen scoops me up into his arms. I let out a yelp of surprise and wrap my arms around his neck.

“What are you doing?” I ask in a breathless tone.

“There’s a spot just up ahead,” he says as he begins walking. “It’s hidden behind some rocks. No one will be able to see us from the resort.”

How does he know that? Wait, scratch that. I don’t actually want to know how many girls he’s taken to this secret spot of his. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I’m the one he’s taking there now.

We come upon this sort of rocky alcove against a tall bluff near the water. Jensen sets me down in a spot that’s soft and sandy. The moment my feet touch the ground, Jensen is kissing me again, his touch rougher and more dominating than before. It’s like something has snapped inside him and what control he had previously maintained is gone. My own desire burns hotter and hotter with each moment that passes, and I reach up to grip his shoulders, silently urging him to give me more.

His hands move from my waist to cup my face, deepening the kiss as his fingers tangle in my hair. The world around us fades away, leaving only the sensation of his lips on mine, and the taste of salt in the air from the nearby ocean. I press myself against him, feeling every line and curve of his body fitting perfectly against mine.

As our kiss grows more passionate, Jensen’s hands begin to explore my body, touching me like he owns me. Without breaking our kiss, he pushes me up against the cool surface of the rock wall behind me.

I'm intoxicated by the heat between us, by the intensity of this moment. I want him with a hunger that surprises me, a craving that demands to be sated. His fingers run down my neck, my collarbone, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. My breath comes in short gasps as he explores every inch of me, setting my skin ablaze with desire.

When he finally pulls back slightly to look into my eyes, his gaze is filled with a raw hunger that mirrors my own. I draw him back to me, unable to resist the magnetic pull between us any longer.

He moves his hands to my breasts, pushing my flimsy bikini top aside. The next thing I know, he’s sucking one of my nipples between his lips. I gasp and rest my head back against the smooth rock behind me. He moves to the other sensitive peak, and I’m stunned at how good it feels. I’d never realized I was so sensitive.

Jensen glances up at me with a grin.

“Want me to keep going?” he asks, with a teasing lilt in his voice.

I bite my bottom lip and nod. Chuckling softly, he kisses a trail down my chest and belly and drops to his knees in front of me. I stare down at him as he slides my bikini bottoms down my legs. Instinctively, I press my thighs together. I’ve never been in this situation with a man before, and I can’t quite fight my shyness.

Jensen holds my legs, looks up at me, and growls, “Open them.”

His commanding tone electrifies me and I obey him without hesitation. As I watch a sultry smirk cross his face. “Good girl.”

There is something about the way he commands me that makes me want to bend to his every whim. Like a cosmic connection that has slowly awakened a deeper part of me that has longed to submit to a man. A man like him.

Lowering his head between my legs, he drags his tongue along the edges of my opening before he wraps his lips around my clit, sucking hard. The sensation is something I have never felt before and as a rush of pleasure cascades across every nerve of my body, I cry out. My fingers tear at the locks of his hair, ensuring that he can’t get away.

“Oh my God!” I exclaim. “Jensen!”

He doesn’t give up. He licks my pussy with wild abandon, his tongue driving me crazy. As one hand grips my hip, pinning me in place, his other moves to my opening, slowly slipping a finger inside me without warning. A shriek escapes my throat as I shove my fist into my mouth to muffle the noise. Jensen is unrelenting as he continues to pump his finger in and out of me while he ravages my clit with ravenous hunger.

“Holy shit!” I gasp. “Jensen, I’m going to cum…”

My words seem to stop him in his tracks as he lifts his head, stealing the pleasure away from me. I gasp. “Jensen, what are you…?”

“Say please ,” he says, with an infuriating grin on his gorgeous face.

“Seriously?” I moan. He winks at me and kisses just above my clit, but doesn’t go lower, which makes me whimper, “Please, Jensen. Please make me cum.”

With a satisfied grunt, he goes back to work on my aching core. Fingers pumping, lips sucking, tongue lapping. It’s so good, and I’m so close. I just need a little bit more. Finally, I can’t take it anymore and I beg again, “Jense, please…please let me cum.”

He grins up at me — a look of pure masculine satisfaction — as his fingers continue to work me.

“You want to cum, baby?”

I nod and plead, “Yes, God, yes!”

“All right,” he snarls. “Cum for me.”

The moment I get his permission, my body explodes. My head is thrown back as a guttural scream of ecstasy escapes my lips, my mind slowly praying that the crashing waves are able to drown out the sound of my pleasure. Otherwise, God knows who would find me like this.

He draws my orgasm out until it’s almost unbearable, but before I can say anything, he surges to his feet and cups my ass, lifting me up as I wrap my legs around his waist. He presses my back to the side of the rocky bluff as his fingers dig into my skin. The way in which he manhandles me as if I weigh no more than a feather causes my heart to race with anticipation.

“You ready?” he asks with a growl.

“Yes,” I reply breathlessly and without hesitation—y mind a racing stream of what ifs, as I realize that in only a moment I won’t be the virgin girl I once was, but a woman that has finally experienced a taste of freedom I have longed for. He pauses and pulls a condom from the pocket of his trunks. I furrow my brow.

“Have you had that the whole time?” I ask.

He grins and shrugs.

“And you thought you were getting lucky?” I tease.

He chuckles. “I wanted to be prepared for any possibility.”

He maneuvers us so that he can put the condom on. Lining his cock up with my entrance, he pushes into me in one swift, hard motion. I bite back my yelp of pain as he unknowingly rips through my virginity. I don’t want him to know, though. I don’t want him to treat me any differently than he would any other one-night stand.

“You feel amazing,” he groans, the delight in his voice making me smile. His head resting on my shoulder, his breaths coming out in heavy pants as he attempts to hold on to the last strings of control.

I cling to him, overwhelmed by the feeling of fullness and the dull pain throbbing through me. My mind becomes a warped tunnel of acceptance as his eyes finally find my own once more just before his lips descend upon mine with another searing kiss. The kiss distracts me from the worst of the pain, and the more he pumps in and out of me, the more my body relaxes and the pleasure begins to take over my senses. Burying my face against his neck, I attempt to muffle my cries. But it isn’t long- lived, as he reaches between us and begins rubbing my clit in tight, hard circles, causing me to grow wetter and wetter. The remaining twinges of pain instantly dissipate, replaced by pure pleasure.

“Jensen, don’t stop,” I beg. “Please, don’t stop.”

He holds me tighter, his hips pistoning into me with relentless pleasure as my core tightens around him causing me to explode in utter ecstasy. I cry out, unable to stop myself, and moments later, Jensen releases a muffled roar as his body jerks and trembles against mine.

It takes us both several long moments to come back down to earth. When we do, he looks down at me with a smile, gently pushing the hair off my sweaty forehead. A grin spreads on both of our lips as our breaths come out short and hollow.

Mind-blowing sex on a beach with a near-stranger. Lynn is off to an excellent start, I think, and I wonder what else she’ll get up to as the week continues on.

“That was fucking fantastic,” he says, his voice rumbling in his chest.

I nod, momentarily speechless as my body continues to hum with the aftershocks of what we just did. He slowly pulls out, removes the condom without looking, and tosses it away.

Suddenly, he gives me a mischievous grin. “We should clean up.”

I furrow my brow in confusion.

“How?” I murmur. My arms and legs are still wrapped around him and I hug him tight.

Before I fully comprehend what he’s doing, he turns and runs toward the ocean. I let out a yelp of surprise as we splash into the cool waters. He laughs and kisses me, holding me close and I cling to him in turn, all other thoughts vanishing from my head as I focus solely on Jensen.

As I look into his eyes and think about what we just experienced, something deep within me tells me this is only the beginning… and I can’t wait for what comes next.