Swell, page 6
When we reached the top of the stairs Cain turned me towards him and traced his finger across my lips.
His eyes that had seemed so black and menacing now sparkled as if they were on fire, reflecting the heat between my legs.
One minute his lips were pressing against mine, the next I was lying in the centre of a four-poster bed the size of a limousine with his mouth tracing every inch of my naked torso. I writhed beneath his touch, his hands following his tongue, massaging me and making me feel so alive.
I pressed my eyelids together and let the sound of the ocean outside the open window cascade over me. The tropical breeze wafting across the bed cooled the heat of my body just enough to make his sensual touch bearable.
What am I doing? I asked myself. This is not like me at all.
It must only have been five o’clock on a Friday afternoon and there I was in Hawaii being licked all over by the surfing champion of the world when back in my real world I would have been sitting alone in front of my computer eating liquorice allsorts and hoping for inspiration.
There was not much searching to do. Inspiration had found me.
I opened my eyes and had to bite my tongue to stop myself crying out when I saw the naked body of Cain Ohana straddling me. He was lithe yet muscular and the colour of espresso. Across his firm chest was tattooed the outline of the Hawaiian Islands.
I groaned as he moved down my body and I offered no resistance when he pulled off my knickers. The only time my brain kicked into gear was when he moved to enter me without a condom.
‘Sensible girl,’ he said and reached for a condom but the look in his eye told me he was not used to being told what to do by a woman.
Finally he was ready and, judging by the feeling between my legs that was as moist as the ocean outside our window, I was ready too. He licked me then moved up my body and when our lips met, he thrust his tongue inside my mouth at the same time as he thrust himself inside me. I cried out but his mouth absorbed the sound.
‘I don’t usually do this,’ I gasped while we moved together. ‘I’m never impulsive. I’m not that kind of girl.’
‘Sure you’re not,’ he said, thrusting harder.
He was vigorous and confident. He made me relax and he made me explode with lust. He was everything I imagined a champion of the world to be. When he came, he lay on top of me breathing heavily until his body fell limp. I did not climax but neither did I complain. It was admittedly a selfish outcome, but my body was celebrating nonetheless. For once, being impulsive felt fantastic.
We showered together then Cain returned to the party and left me to get dressed. I smoothed cocoa butter from the bathroom cabinet all over my skin, revelling in my own sensuality. The moment replayed over and over in my mind when I stood at the open window gazing out at the turquoise ocean stretching to the distant horizon. I smiled. It was not love of course, it was lust. I was not looking for love and neither was Cain but we had connected and enjoyed each other for what it was. I slipped into my clothes and took one more look at the horizon. Since arriving in Hawaii, life had felt so much bigger and full of prospects. Just seeing the sunset every night had opened my eyes to what was out there if I took a moment to stop and look. I had not, however, that morning expected to experience a moment of dangerous passion I would remember forever.
When I walked back downstairs, I watched Cain mingling comfortably with people I had only seen in gossip magazines. He walked with a swagger. He was desirable; he knew it and I had simply reinforced the fact. I allowed myself a smile. Squeezing past two girls who were comparing their real diamond belly button piercings, I poured myself a glass of champagne and enjoyed the fizz of the bubbles on my tongue.
‘You know like you shouldn’t be so stoked about what just happened. Cain only slept with you because you’re Jason’s girl.’
The bubbles popped. I turned to see Mimi and her entourage lined up behind me like a firing squad.
‘Excuse me?’
Mimi pushed out her already pert breasts and spoke very slowly.
‘I said, bitch, Cain only fucked you because you’re Jason’s girl and not for any other reason.’
‘Gosh you do have a way with words but I have to disappoint you, I’m not Jason’s girl.’
‘Sure you are,’ said Mimi with a well-practised pout, ‘you live with him right?’
‘Yes but only in a professional capacity.’
Mimi nodded towards the Tiger Sharks. They flanked Cain who was chatting away animatedly and laughing. When he began to add actions to his story, my stomach tightened sharply towards my spine.
‘Then you’re like totally his girl. You’re part of Jason’s crew and they love messing with Jason’s crew. D’you get it?’
I stopped and watched open mouthed as Cain made unmistakeable gestures with his hands. I prayed he was not doing what I thought he was doing but he was clearly not playing charades.
‘Yeah and like Cain totally hates Jason,’ said Janey.
I turned mechanically to look at them, my face set in an expression of grim acceptance.
‘He did you to get at Jason,’ said Kirsti with a self-satisfied smile.
‘He’d do anything or’ – Mimi looked me up and down as if I was something on the sole of her shoe – ‘anyone just to mess with Jason’s head.’
I had no witty response. I just blinked at them and shakily replaced my glass of champagne on the counter.
‘And you like totally fell for it.’
‘Yeah like hook, line and whatsit.’
‘My God like how humiliating?’
Their laughter made my hackles stand on end.
‘Shit, girl you have got like so much to learn,’ said Mimi.
She clicked her fingers and turned on her Manolo heel.
‘Sooo much,’ said Janey, ‘like totally.’
‘Welcome to the tour, bitch,’ said Kirsti with a wink. ‘Just like Jason, you lose.’
She followed her friends like a proud little duckling. I could still hear them laughing when I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.
‘Did the earth move?’ Cain called after me over the noise of the party.
I froze, my hand shaking on the door handle. I pressed my lips together and forced myself to turn around and face him across the room. My eyes narrowed to hold his victorious stare.
‘I didn’t feel a thing,’ I said nonchalantly and walked out of the house with my head held high.
CHAPTER TEN
I had never imagined an evening in Hawaii could be so utterly painful. The house was empty so I sat by myself staring at the four walls. I could not believe I had allowed myself to fall for Cain’s charms. I was no better than Mimi and her friends whom I had been so ready to mock. Regret weighed heavily on my shoulders.
I resisted the urge to call my sister and confess all, which showed the extent of my desperation. We did not have the tendency to tell each other everything. In fact, my sister and I had the sort of relationship that could well have fizzled out were we not connected by DNA.
Joanna was ten years older than me and had a grand house in the neighbouring county, but lived a life several planets away from my own. She had trained as a doctor and had always been the power-suited career woman type until our father committed suicide when I was fifteen and she was twenty-five. My father lost everything we owned on a horse called Donkey Jacket. The clue was in the name.
Joanna subsequently married the first wealthy father figure she found who made her feel safe. Gerry was a pompous arsehole who did not deserve her. I suspected she knew this was true but could not admit it to herself. Her situation frustrated me but I still loved her. I also adored her son, my only nephew, Zac. As for Gerry, we had an understanding. He understood I disliked him immensely and I understood he could not give two hoots what I thought of him because I was wholly insignificant in his world.
I found my own security in deciding never to rely on a man for my happiness or financial means again and so I concentrated on my career. All that remained of my father were memories and an antique sports car that we had succeeded in hiding from the creditors. It was my inheritance and I loved it as if it were part of my father. I had also inherited a desire never to gamble the way my father had, which was why I had enjoyed a life free of risk. Right at that moment, however, I felt like my father’s daughter. I had indeed gambled and lost.
Not being able to face Joanna’s doubtless judgemental reaction to what I had done, I craved the company of someone completely self-centred who would not focus on the sort of day I had had. I picked up the phone and called Chuck.
‘Chuck, where are you?’
‘Bailey, dude, I was just gonna call you. I was in a hot tub enjoying myself with some bikini model chicks but now I am freaking out at the airport.’
‘Why? What’s happened?’
I was rather relieved to hear mine was not the only problem.
‘What’s happened? Man, Jason is totally tripping this time. He calls me this morning from Kona, says he’s gonna retire, for real. RE-TIRE! I mean, goddamnit, how can he even think about retiring now? What the fuck is he gonna do, and, much more importantly, what the fu-uck am I gonna do, you know what I’m sayin’? How can he do this to me the selfish prick?’
I relaxed a little, pleased to be able to concentrate on helping somebody else.
‘Well it must be hard to deal with losing a world title, not to mention a multi-million dollar bonus, Chuck.’
‘WhatEVER. Like I lost fifteen percent of that bonus, but, you know, get over it, dude. Move on. Make a different few million. Don’t just be a freakin’ loser and give up.’
‘Well I guess Jason has been doing this for a long time. He’s been a pro surfer since he was, what, seventeen? He’s won a dozen titles. Maybe he’s just had enough and wants to relax for a bit.’
Chuck clicked his tongue.
‘Bullshit, Jason doesn’t do relax. This is his life, man. The fame, the competitions, and the travel. He’s not ready to settle down and especially not with you know who. Without the tour, he’ll fall apart, for real. B, if we don’t sort this right now we are fucked with a capital F U C K E D.’
‘We? What do you mean we?’
‘Well for one you won’t get a year on tour on the world’s best beaches.’
‘Bugger.’
‘And for two if he can give up on the tour just like that he can give up on the book, you know what I’m sayin’? He’s in a bad place right now and I know Jason. When he’s in a bad place he closes in on himself. He’s not gonna wanna go shouting about his life in some book.’
‘OK I’m listening.’
‘Portia’s in his ear like the freaking devil on his shoulder telling him this and that and shit and asking him to quit the tour to go hang out in Hollywood. I know it, for real.’
I stood up and gazed out of the window at the view. The reflection of the full moon floated on the glassy ocean. I should have known a life like this was too good to be true, especially for a girl like me who was not genetically predisposed to tanning evenly.
The day was turning out to be a disaster but I was not willing to let Jason give up on our book just on a whim and I was damned if I was going to let Portia get her way.
‘Portia doesn’t like me, B, but she sure as hell hates any other woman having an influence over Jason. Especially one as smart as you,’ Chuck said as if reading my mind.
‘Well I am not giving up that easily Chuck. I need this job.’
‘Now you’re talking, girl. Look I’m at the airport collecting him from the Kona flight. Thank God the bitch has gone back to L.A. for Botox or an ass reduction or some shit. We’ll be an hour then we’ll swing by and treat you to dinner up at Turtle Bay. You gotta help me fix this thing fast.’
Dinner at a posh restaurant and a battle of wills was the last thing I felt like doing, but if I was going to salvage anything from the day I had to help Chuck.
‘I’ll be waiting,’ I said.
I suspected changing Jason’s mind about anything would be like trying to hold back the tide with my bare hands but I could be just as determined as him. My career was all I had and success was not going to find me like a bee looking for pollen on a sedentary flower. I had to be the bee and find my own sweet reward.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
We were shown to the best table at a beautiful open-sided restaurant on the beach. Flaming torches lit the ocean in the sheltered bay and relaxed waves drifted lazily onto the shore. Palm trees sheltered the glass ceiling like umbrellas that had been shredded in the wind. When Chuck walked into the restaurant the manager stood to attention. When Jason strolled in behind, the manager bowed so low I thought he might pull a hamstring. I was a nobody to them of course but I was happy to enjoy the kow-towing-by-proxy.
‘Champagne, Madame?’ asked the manager, proudly displaying a bottle of Cristal.
Would anyone refuse?
I sipped the golden liquid. It tasted as if each bubble had been individually wrapped.
‘How much is this per bottle?’ I whispered once the manager had finished lavishing us with complimentary small talk and had scurried away to bully his staff into making us feel even more special.
‘That, oh I dunno about three fifty,’ Chuck shrugged.
I spat the mouthful across the table.
‘Three hundred and fifty dollars?’
Chuck hooted with laughter.
‘Yeah so that’s like thirty bucks you just spat out.’
Jason grinned.
We clinked our glasses together and drank a toast.
‘To the team,’ said Chuck.
‘The team,’ said Jason quietly.
We had all been unnaturally bright and jovial on the way to the restaurant, skirting around the issue we were there to discuss as if it were too hot to handle and we had to wait for it to cool.
I sipped what might as well have been liquid platinum and smiled my thanks to our waitress who nervously delivered a plate of raw fish poke to the table. A mouthwatering aroma of sesame and coriander wafted into my nostrils from the dish of thinly sliced tuna adorned with fresh purple orchids. I grabbed a generous portion with my chopsticks, popped it into my mouth and rolled my eyes at the taste that was nothing short of heavenly.
Chuck nudged my foot under the table and waggled his eyebrows, urging me to speak.
‘Say something,’ he mouthed.
I grimaced.
‘Shame, I was so looking forward to sampling wonderful foods like this around the world on tour with you next year,’ I said eventually.
I looked pointedly at Jason.
Sensing the intensity of my gaze, Jason lifted his head and looked at me through a lock of blond hair. He lowered his chopsticks to the table.
‘So Chuck told you.’
‘Yes Chuck told me. So let’s talk about it.’
Chuck clapped his hands.
‘Why do you want to retire now? Because you lost? I thought you desperately wanted the thirteenth world title.’
Chuck shoved a huge mouthful of poke into his mouth and his eyes bulged.
‘I did want it but I don’t need it. I’ve got twelve and that’s enough.’
‘Nine might be good, brilliant in fact but twelve is not thirteen. Thirteen is a record-breaking number; it’s never been done before. That’s what drove you. Pardon me if I got it wrong but I thought you wanted to do something remarkable.’
Chuck’s eyes bulged even more. I was goading Jason on purpose because, from what I knew of him already, I thought I had to challenge him. I almost had to dare him not to retire to have any hope of changing his mind.
I took a sip of champagne. Jason weaved his fingers together and rested his elbows on the table.
‘Are twelve titles not remarkable enough? Where does it end?’ he said.
I shrugged. ‘Of course. It ends when you want it to end but won’t it be an anticlimax slipping away quietly after losing to your Nemesis?’
Tyler visibly bristled. ‘It’s not healthy to just focus on getting thirteen world titles. What if I never get there?’
‘What if you do?’
Jason ran his tongue across his lips and stared intently at me.
‘So you think you know how I tick already?’
‘Isn’t that my job?’ I paused and took a breath. ‘Or are you going to give up on that too?’
‘No of course not. Retirement is the perfect time to release a book and anyway I am not giving up.’
He made inverted commas with his fingers.
I raised one eyebrow.
‘Looks that way to me. What do you think, Chuck?’
Chuck looked like he might choke.
‘Yes, Chuck, what do you think? It’s not like you to be so quiet. Join the game.’
Jason’s mouth was set in a firm line. The waitress approached the table to clear the plates but Jason raised his hand and said – ‘Leave us, please.’
She scurried away as quietly as she had approached.
‘This isn’t a game, Jason,’ said Chuck. ‘Why do you wanna go listening to Portia at a time like this? Why give all this up?’
He waved his long arms wildly, almost decapitating a passing waiter who apologised as if it was his fault for taking up too much space in the world.
Jason sat back in his chair and smoothed his hands through his hair.
‘I’ll say it again. I am not just giving up and I sent Portia home. This has nothing to do with Portia.’
‘Does too.’
‘Does not.’
‘Does too.’
‘Does not.’
My God, how old were they, twelve?
‘Whether or not Portia is instrumental in your decision to retire is not the issue here. We just have to make sure it’s the right decision for you and that you won’t look back and regret not trying for the title again.’
