// Hours later - Coogee Beach, Australia //
Anthony invited me to the Coogee Beach. He said it was only a few minutes away and it was rude not to agree to his offer.
He said he couldn’t remember the last time he went to the beach because he was always into work overtime and accepting sidelines like plumbing and construction work.
We left the city center from Wynyard railway station, where Anthony’s apartment was closest in proximity, to the place he called Randwick, and to the suburban Victorian-era hotel building where we left our belongings before heading to the beach.
And there, a 15-minute saunter down the hill from the Royal Hotel, I knew right there and then, I was starting to fall in love with Anthony.
If my phone was here, I’d call Yvonne right away and then Jeffrey. I wanted to tell them I met someone else.
I waved my hands hello when Anthony started screaming my name. He was in the water now, as I stood from across the beach.
Anthony was in his Hawaiian trunks which I couldn’t help but notice it complimented his eye color and sexy torso.
“Natalie!” He yelled not only once. And those abs and biceps that gained shape each time he went against the waves, they said it all.
I got weak when he approached me to the shore. He bared this smile, curious at why I wasn’t in the water yet.
Then, out of nowhere, he carried me to his might and threw me carefully into the waves. He was so fast I did not even have time to react. I could just feel the cold seawater thumping against my back.
He joined me, afterwards, and got both of us laughing. Waiting for the next waves. That feeling I couldn’t hide when he began to surround his arms around me, around my belly, and his breath against my cheeks.
He said I looked ravishing in my beach wear. Red bandage bikini of velvet fabric, with a compliment of sparkling gems across the connectors. There were no flirtatious smiles needed for Anthony had already gave me the looks. Like he was about to land a kiss on my lips.
The bigger waves arrived, and in the middle of it, he kissed me in the most luscious way he could. Even the waves were unsuccessful in their attempt to separate us.
Anthony was strong enough to hold me tight and lock his lips to mine.
It was a magical sunset. A new found love in this unexpected getaway. The seabirds soared freely above us, and the sun settling down into the depths of the sea.
Anthony held me tighter, his lips still unto mine, like he would never let me go. At last, my heart was at peace.
***
// At night - Royal Hotel, Australia //
“We just met. I can't fall in love this easy.”
I whispered these words to Anthony as we held each other tight, back in the hotel.
His body over mine and his eyes about to prove it all. He only looked at me straight to the eyes, wordless, and kissed me again on the lips leisurely, nipping and tasting, deeper and deeper, allowing the desire break into strong waves upon another.
The loveliness of it all. My emotions spilled, like the rush of flooding water, and I clutched to him tightly, my face pressed unto his shoulders as his manliness melted down my feminine softness.
That moment, I needed no more adventures to find the answers. Or questions about the past heartaches. Rather the affirmation that love can be found even in a simple twisted fate, with a simply wonderful man named Anthony Evans.
***
// In the morning - Royal Hotel, Australia //
In many ways, I felt like I’d been living a lie. But today, with a fair weather here in Australia, and the line of sun rays underneath the window shade, some things almost felt real and clear.
My body is relaxed, in the state of afterglow, but my mind was racing, wrestling with every thought about what I’ve done, how this blossoming relationship would work, and whether it would last.
It may be the fist time with Anthony, I may have known him just for a while but all those emotions we’ve poured in last night felt like vapors of us being together for centuries. I could almost wish to the stars he should be the one. I want Anthony so badly in my life. He’s different. A constellation so rare that comes only for a while.
Face down, I cleared away Anthony’s hair strands that covered his face as I lay naked, too, in bed. He looked calm and tired.
Anthony has a better body than any guy in my past. Aside from his good-smelling underarms, his muscular back narrowed perfectly to his waist, down to a gorgeously curved bottom.
A different sensation I felt when Anthony pulled me closer and curled me against him.
“Hey there, sunshine,” he spoke softly, sliding an early smile, his eyes still unopened.
There was nothing I could do but look dearly at him and caress the strength of his facial bones. The more I weakened when he finally opened those ocean blue eyes and drowned me instantly into the depths of his dangerous charm.
“I need to get us our breakfast,” I whispered cautiously when he wouldn’t unleash me.
I repeated and he still didn’t want to.
“Stay with me for a while,” he whispered at last, sounding like he was the king, and I was his subject. “We can fill our stomachs later, but my heart needs some more attention.” Then he grabbed me by the waist and locked his lips to mine, not allowing me to make any further movement.
Gently, he knelt over me, looked me in the eye, and came inside of me for the nth time around. I shut my eyes close and held unto him tightly as I could. Passionately as I could. My soul moaned in excitement each time he proved his mighty strength upon me.
Then I felt the hot sting of tears in my eyes. I didn’t want Anthony to see me crying. Didn’t want him to get destructed. I wasn’t hurt or scared. Maybe I was hornier than I thought.
“Natalie?” Anthony went to a halt when he noticed my gasp of breath and the stubborn teardrops that covered my face. Then he grumbled, checking me, as I caught the ting of worry in his voice. “Did I hurt you?” He studied me as though he’d broken a bone in my body.
“No!” I asserted, my head swaying and my hands smothering the tears, disappointed of myself that I messed up the steamy atmosphere, especially when the concern in his face worsened.
“What’s wrong?” He leaned closer. For a moment, I couldn’t speak. I just looked at him straight to the eyes, wishing I could prevent myself from another out-pour and bold enough to tell him why.
“What?” He asked again, struggling to look unperturbed. Ashamed, my impulses pushed me to say, “I think I’m in love with you already. I’m sorry.”
Unexpectedly, Anthony bestowed me a broad smile, then volunteered to wipe my teardrops away and held my hands to stop them from shivering.
“Natalie…” Anthony’s eyes were lucent as he put my hand against his chest, allowing me to feel the pounding of his heart. “Natalie Park…” He repeated, glaring at me, making sure our eyes were locked and my ears wide open. Then he unleashed the greatest wizardry out of his mouth. “I think I’m in love with you, too.”
My heart joined the pleasure his heart just shared, disbelieving the beauty of it all. Before I could speak another word, Anthony had already kissed me. Time and again, he rolled us over and over, as we plunged deeper into each other’s desire.
We were foolish for each other. Foolish for love. And I could only wish I was doing the right thing this time.