Mad Love (6 page)

I walk inside and grab my iPhone out of my purse and plug it into the dock in the room. I quickly search for some music and stop on Rhianna’s “We Found Love.” I blast it and walk back outside to watch my friends.

“Get in the water!” Orie demands.

I look down at the water and shrug. Ocean, especially deep ocean, has always scared me. I think of sharks and sting rays. Mainly sharks.

Okay, just
Jaws
.

“It’s too deep over here. I prefer the shallow area where you can see what’s beneath you.”

“Why?” Orie asks in surprise.

“She’s scared of sharks.” I can hear the laughter in Erik’s voice.

“Girl, there are no sharks here. At least not the ones that bite people. This water is crystal clear.”

I shake my head at him and point down toward the sandy beach, which seems far away but in reality is probably a five-minute swim. “It’s clear over there. Not here. We’re too far out. And there are sharks. Bikram specifically said they have the black tip sharks here.”

“Those don’t bite. And they’re two feet long,” Orie answers.

“They could. They’re sharks. That’s what sharks do. And the way my luck is going, I’ll be the first victim of a shark attack in the Maldives.”

“She’s got a point, Orie.”

I nod at Erik, silently thanking him.

“So you’re never going to get in the water? You’re not going to snorkel?” It seems that Orie is unable to let this go.

“Of course I am.” I roll my eyes and point to the shore. “But I’m going to get in the water over there and I’m going to stay over there.”

“Where it’s barely even two feet deep?” Orie cocks his head to the side and looks at me like I’ve grown two heads.

“Uh-huh,” I say.

I sit down on the deck and let my legs dangle over the edge.

“Considering the island people think tomorrow is the end of the world and you’re a virgin, don’t you think you should take some chances?” Erik asks. I can’t stop the laughter that escapes me.

“Why are you so funny?”

“I don’t fucking know.” He swims farther away and I squint to see if I can see any fins. “I’m serious though. What if tonight is your last night in the world?”

“Then she’s fucked,” Orie laughs.

“Well, we hope she’s finally fucked,” Erik practically shouts before dunking under the water and disappearing.

That’s when I remember who my neighbor is.

Before I can start obsessing, I hear a splash and see a body move through the water, right into our space. The space in front of my deck, to be exact. And it’s him. Clayton. He swims up and treads water near Erik and Orie. Holy shit. He didn’t hear this conversation, did he? I hear another splash and see his two male friends swim over.

I wave at him awkwardly and am suddenly self-conscious of my half-naked body. I feel exposed on the deck by myself, my figure up for his perusal. I fidget nervously, wondering if it would be weird if I stood up and covered myself with a towel. No, not a good idea. I’d have to walk to get it and then he’d have an even clearer view. What if he thinks my butt is too big? Or too skinny? Or that it’s flat? I stop myself instantly by choosing to remain utterly still. I try not to breathe, because inhaling and exhaling, as we all know, makes the stomach stretch in and out.

“Hey man!” Erik says. “I’m Erik. This is Orie, my boyfriend. We didn’t get to meet you earlier.”

“Clayton,” he says politely in that voice that is amazing. “This is John Maitland and Eduard Percy.” John is slightly overweight and has strawberry-blond hair and Eduard looks like the famous Ralph Lauren Polo model. The guys exchange pleasantries.

“I know you’ve met Sophie.” Erik says.

“Yes. I had the pleasure.” Clayton looks directly at me when he answers the question.

“Nice to meet you, guys.”

I start to feel the burn on my skin and it has nothing to do with the sun. It’s him. He’s staring at me again, in that crazy way that makes me think he’s not from this planet or something. How can he make me feel like this from a distance? Just from a look? He holds my gaze while he asks Erik, “Did she tell you about my party this evening?”

“No, she didn’t,” Orie chimes in, raising a brow at me as he treads water.

“I’ve invited my friends to my villa for dinner and drinks. I’d love you guys to join us.”

The sun hits him in all sorts of delicious ways. His hair is slicked back, his blue eyes are like bright beams shooting out of his face. His shoulders ripple as he easily treads water. His body is perfect, sculpted like he works out hard- and often. It’s all a girl can take. I’m about to tell him that of course we’ll come and ask if we can bring something, when Erik answers for me.

“We actually have dinner reservations at the restaurant, but maybe we’ll stop by after.”

If we were in a club, the music would have come to an astounding scratching halt. I look over at Orie, and even he seems shocked. Huh? I think I see a flash of real annoyance on Clayton’s face before it’s politely disguised.

“That’s too bad. Sophie didn’t mention that when we spoke.”

All eyes turn to me. I stare at all the men in the water, trying to figure out the right thing to say. I’m saved from stammering out a ridiculous excuse from the same friend who put me in the situation in the first place.

“That’s because Sophie didn’t know the plans. Orie and I made them while she was napping. It’s our first night here and we want to celebrate together.” I’m wondering what Erik’s game is. He’s usually the first to be spontaneous. But not this time. This is when he decides to play it cool?

Just my lousy luck.

“Of course. I hope you’ll make it after dinner,” Clayton says quietly, looking at me in that way that literally makes my toes curl. I want to launch
myself at him from the dock and ask that he take me to his villa and have his way with me but I can’t. I just met him. I don’t even know how old he is. Or what he does for a living. Or his sign. I know nothing about him, and yet I can’t deny the intense desire and undeniable attraction I have for him.

“Sophie.” Clayton nods at me, then disappears into the water and swims away. His form is perfect, quite beautiful actually. He’s like a great God of the sea. No joke. Literally, a god. His friends follow suit and when they’re far enough away, I narrow my eyes at Erik.

Orie takes the words right out of my mouth. “I’d like to know why you did that.”

“That makes two of us,” I whisper furiously. Erik swims up to the deck and Orie follows. He does not look apologetic. He grabs hold of the wooden railing on the stairs that sink into the ocean.

“I have my reasons.”

“Care to share them?” I’m annoyed and it shows. “He’s the best looking, most spectacular guy I’ve ever encountered in my life!”

“I know. You’ve been eye-fucking him the whole time you’ve been sitting here.”

I flush in embarrassment.

“In your defense, he’s been eye-fucking you, too.” I flush again for all sorts of other reasons.

“Really?” I’m so pathetic.

“Sophie!” Erik is irritated and acts as though he’s speaking to a child. “This guy is the real deal. He’s got pussy flying at him from every direction.”

“I resent that. I’m not that obvious!” I say to him even though I’m not quite sure. But how dare he even insinuate such a thing? Well shit, I was just daydreaming.

“You got caught red handed with your fingers in the cookie jar. I can see it, smell it, a mile away.”

I blush. “My version of the cookie jar is way different than yours.”

“I know, babe. Your version is the G-rated one where you hold hands and peck, with a goddamn pre-school song playing in the background. But mine and Clayton’s is the X-rated one. Hard core. Straight up. Porn.”

My heart is in my throat. Visions of Clayton’s hands, mouth, and tongue run through my mind.

“Are you serious right now?” I ask in shock.

They both look at me like I’m the crazy one. Erik raises a brow.

“Fine. Since you prefer the lecture, I’ll continue.” And he does. “You’re in way over your head right now and I’m going to bring you back to reality before this turns into a shit storm. You need to play it cool, bitch. Cool as a cucumber.” Erik pauses a moment. “And Orie and I need to teach you what to do with that cucumber, by the way.”

“Pronto,” Orie finally speaks.

“Oh my God. I don’t need to know what to do with a cucumber. Actually, I don’t
want
to know what to do with one. Thank you for the offer, though.” I stand and put my hands on my hips as I stare down at the two of them.

“Yes, you do,” Erik says as he climbs onto my deck. “You’ve been dying to know what sex is like since you set eyes on that man. And I don’t blame you. But I sure as hell am not going to let you go to him ready, willing, on a goddamn silver platter waiting to be taken. What kind of friend would I be if I let that happen?”

I try to stay angry, but I can’t. Fine. He has a point. But what is all this talk about platters, and willing, and sex? Sex! I dated and knew Jerry for … how long? In fact, if I’m honest with myself, I probably could have pushed him into an intimate relationship. But now I think there was a part of me that just didn’t want it with him.

And before Jerry there was only one other guy that I ever even came close to being intimate with and it was such a traumatic experience that it scarred me as an undergrad. His name was Adrian and I met him freshman year at UCLA. He was a junior and played for the varsity tennis team. We met at a party on campus and instantly hit it off. He was two years older, super charming, and boyishly handsome and had the cutest dimples. He asked me to go to the movies with him the next night and I agreed. The only film that wasn’t sold out was
Toy Story 3
and since we were practically
the only ones in the theater we ended up making out through the entire feature.

When the credits rolled he invited me to his fraternity house for an after-hours party. I was too naïve to see the writing on the wall, but Erik later said there was no way I could have anticipated what would happen.

It was a typical college party, everyone getting hammered, couples making out, and music blaring loudly.

Adrian leaned down and had to practically shout in my ear, “Wanna see my room?”

I desperately wanted to be cool so I agreed, against my better judgment. “Sure.”

As I followed him up the steps, I was pretty sure I was making a monumental mistake, but then I kept telling myself that Adrian had a good reputation on campus, and if he offered me a drink that I thought might be roofied (yes, I was that paranoid) I wouldn’t take it. He ushered me into his room. His walls were covered with Agassi and McEnroe posters and he had a white wrought iron queen-size bed with a hot pink duvet and pillows, which I did find rather odd.

“It’s dope, isn’t it?” he said to me with a smile.

“It’s very pink,” I said.

“I dig pink.” Adrian shrugged. “I’m totally in touch with my feminine side, ya know?”

“Yeah,” I said, thinking how sweet it was that he was so sensitive. “I totally get it.”

“You’re cute, Sophie,” he stroked my cheek. “Too cute.”

Was being too cute a good or bad thing, I wondered?

“Umm, thanks,” I said as I nervously tugged on my ponytail.

“I’m gonna use the bathroom and I’ll be right back,” he told me. “Don’t disappear.”

I shook my head. “No.”

I watched him walk into his private bathroom and my gaze quickly scanned the room and found a plastic folding chair in the corner. I moved it as far away from the bed as possible and sat down, crossed my boot-cut
jean clad legs (yes, I was wearing those), and nervously waited for Adrian to reappear. My BlackBerry vibrated in my pocket.

I wasn’t surprised to see that it was Erik.

Erik: I’M DYING. TELL ME EVERYTHING.

I smiled and quickly texted back.

Sophie: I’M IN HIS ROOM.

I knew that would get him thinking. The phone vibrated back immediately with his answer.

Erik: HOLY SHIT! ARE YOU NAKED?

I tried not to laugh.

Sophie: NO! DON’T YOU KNOW ME? HE’S IN THE BATHROOM.

Erik: WHAT’S HIS ROOM LIKE?

I looked around, trying to find an appropriate way to describe it.

Sophie: HE HAS A LOT OF TENNIS POSTERS … AND A WHITE WROUGHT IRON BED …

I could feel Erik thinking through the BlackBerry and then—

Erik: WHAT COLOR ARE HIS SHEETS?

I took a moment before I answered, debating whether or not I should tell him.

Sophie: HOT PINK.

The phone didn’t vibrate back and I was worried that Adrian would walk out of the bathroom and I’d be caught texting.

Sophie: GOTTA GO. CALL YOU WHEN I GET HOME. LUV U.

Just as I put the phone back in my pocket, the door to the bathroom opened and my worst nightmare was realized.

There he stood, a very naked Adrian in all his glory. His hands were on his hips and he faced me head on (no pun intended), forcing me to take it all in—and by all, there wasn’t much to write home about.

“So whaddya think?” he said as he lazily strolled toward me.

I was too shocked to move. Or speak.

“Cat got your tongue?” he smiled as he came to stand right in front of my face, his privates gazing back at me.

I closed my eyes in horror.

“What are you doing?” I stuttered.

“I’m getting ready for sex.” His hand patted the top of my head. “With you, kitten.”

As if!

I stood up quickly, brushed against his nakedness, and resisted the urge to jump up and down and squeal in disgust.

“Are you crazy?!” I shouted out at him and ran like the wind out of his room.

I never thought of Adrian again.

And now here I am, thinking about sex, imagining it with a man I just met. I wonder what this says about my moral compass? It can’t be good.

“You’re frowning.” Erik points out the obvious as he studies my face. “Wrinkles? Do you want them?”

“What are you thinking? Tell us,” Orie demands as he pops up on the deck.

“To be honest, I saw a flash of my night with Adrian.”

“Why in god’s name would he even enter your mind?” Erik demands.

“It’s the closest I’ve ever been to sex.”