Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime of unpacking, I was finished. Picking up the first bikini that I got my hands on, I smiled over at him. “I’m going to change. I need to see if that water feels as good as it looks,” I grinned happily, snagging a bottle of sun lotion from the side and skipping off to the bathroom.

Once I’d stripped out of my clothes, I pulled on my black bikini, tying little bows at my neck and hips. Twisting this way and that, I looked at myself in the mirror and chewed on my lip. It was incredibly revealing, and not something I would usually choose, but I’d picked it because it would be the one that would allow me to tan without getting huge tan lines on my back and shoulders. I made a mental note not to wear this one on the beach, I couldn’t have other people see me in this; I almost felt indecent in it even though I was entirely covered.

After spreading on a layer of sun cream to all the places I could reach, I strutted out of the bathroom, seeing Ashton in a pair of black swim shorts and nothing else. I stopped short, my mouth popping open in shock and awe as I watched the muscles ripple on his chest and arms as he smothered white sun cream over his chest. My mouth was dry. My hands were itching to take the bottle from his hands and smooth it over his soft skin for him. I realised then how crazy I was about him.

He looked up as I walked out, and his hand stilled on his body. His eyes widened as they raked down my body slowly, his bottom lip rolled into his mouth. The blush crept over my face as he carried on staring, not seeming to care that I knew he was looking. “Want me to do your back?” I offered, nodding at the lotion bottle in his hand.

He swallowed loudly, looking down at the bottle in confusion as if he’d forgotten it was there. “Er… yeah. Thanks.”

I walked out to the terrace, knowing he would follow me. When I turned back, he was standing by the sun lounger, still watching me avidly. I smiled and took the bottle from his hand, nodding towards the sun lounger, motioning for him to sit.

Rubbing sun cream on his back was a sensual act in itself. I did it slowly, letting my fingers explore the tanned skin of his back and shoulders, making sure not to miss a spot. The simple action of rubbing cream on his body was making me tingle all over and a burning ache start between my legs.

The whole time I was fighting my inner slutty side that just wanted to push him down on the sun lounger and ravage him until I passed out from exhaustion. There was a fairly good chance that I wouldn’t get a tan at all on this vacation if my hormones had anything to do with it!

When I was done, I pulled my hair into a messy bun and held out the bottle of sun cream to him as I turned on my seat and offered him my back. “Will you do me?”

He didn’t reply, just squeezed a blob of cream into the palm of his hand before rubbing it into my back in small circles. I closed my eyes and focussed on my breathing, trying not to let his touch send me over the edge. Finally, he was done, so I turned back and smiled. “Thanks.”

He stood. “No problem. Can’t have you burning on the first day, can we?” he joked. Ashton turned and stalked off towards the stairs, leaving me there with my insides melted and my heart beating excitedly in my chest as I watched the muscles in his back and legs tense as he took a step. As he dipped his toe into the water, he moaned in appreciation. “It’s so warm. You’re gonna love this!”

As he dove off the first step and into the water, I sighed dreamily. This place, his touch, the thought of his hands on my body and his mouth on mine, all of it was so overwhelming that it almost felt like a dream. After Jack had died, I never thought I would be happy again, but Ashton just seemed to be able to make everything better with one of his little smiles.

I stood and walked to the edge of the terrace, leaning on the wooden railings. The water was about five feet below, kind of like a second diving board at a pool. As Ashton resurfaced and shielded his eyes from the sun, looking towards the beach, I smiled and raised my foot to the bottom railing. Leaning over slightly, I looked towards the beach but couldn’t see anything at all. Our villa, as Kyle had suggested it would be, was totally cut off from everyone and private.

“Is it deep?” I called.

He looked down and then disappeared beneath the water before few seconds before he broke the surface and whipped his head back, flicking the water from his hair. My stomach fluttered, and a little moan of appreciation slipped from my lips. “It’s probably about ten feet,” he shrugged, looking unsure. I smiled excitedly. Ten feet was adequate. As I raised my bare foot and started climbing up the railings, Ashton gasped. “No, Anna! What the hell?”

As I got to the top railing, I held my hands out for balance and shook my head at his overprotectiveness. “Chill, Pretty Boy.” After taking a deep breath, I linked my arms over my head and dived off the side. As the warm water touched my skin, I closed my eyes at the sheer luxury of it. It was perfect, like diving into a warm bathtub. Kicking my legs, I swam a little way underwater before breaking the surface, rubbing a hand over my face. As I opened my eyes I couldn’t help but laugh at the stern and disapproving expression that was plastered on Ashton’s face.

“Don’t do that again. Jesus, Anna, what if you’d cracked your head or something? I was only guessing at how deep it was,” he scolded, scowling at me.

I bit my lip and nodded, trying to appear appropriately abashed as I swam over to him slowly. It was time to set the rules. I didn’t want any body guarding crap on this vacation. Ashton needed to loosen up and have fun too. “Ashton, seriously, I can dive off the railing. Come on, lighten up. We’re on vacation, just the two of us, privacy, views of the ocean, room service. Please relax and have a good time,” I begged. As I spoke, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer to me. It’s time to start the fun right now! As I thought about what was about to happen, my whole body was thrumming in need.