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Chapter Twelve
-Noemi-
THE BEACH CHAIR WASin a reclined position. To be discreet, I had to raise up on my elbows and lower my sunglasses to admire the view.
When I awoke on the third morning of our extended stay on Michael’s island, which I had since learned was called Smuggler’s Island and had a rich past all its own, I turned over and hugged the pillow, breathing deeply of Dante’s scent, the only part of him I had that early in the morning.
As expected, Dante was absent. During the three mornings we’d spent on the island, I found out he was an early riser and slept hardly at all. Most mornings, I was awoken before dawn by his wandering hands and demanding lips. We’d make love until the sunrise interrupted the darkness of the room, then, exhausted, I’d fall back to sleep while Dante went to do... whatever it is that Dante does in the early morning hours.
That morning, that “something” was taking a swim in the surf before breakfast. Normally, I wouldn’t have cared what he was doing. It was too early to be up, but after he’d told me that dolphins had joined him in his swim yesterday, I eagerly made myself get up, put my hair in a ponytail, put on a bathing suit and one of my coverups (this attire being almost all I’d worn for three days),and walked the path to the beach, stopping once, of course, to get a cup of coffee from the main house.
Dante didn’t notice me at first. I relaxed in one of the beach chairs while the sun came up and the tide continued to recede. The sunrise was on the other side of the island, but the sky was still beautiful with its shades of grays and blues. The early morning gulls screeched, and the sandlings kept me company as they hunted their breakfast along the shoreline.
Out past the breaking waves, Dante swam the length of the shoreline, back and forth, using something along the shore as a marker. I kept my eyes trained on him, anxiously waiting to see if a dolphin would join him again that morning. He was a good swimmer. He was much further out than I would be comfortable going, and he had more endurance than I could have dreamed of possessing. Back and forth, he swam, pausing a few times to dive under the surface or to catch his breath before he was off again. During one of his breaks, he must have scanned the shore and found his audience. He paused then gave me a quick wave before diving beneath the water once more.
After watching intently for the dolphins who never appeared, I switched to drinking my coffee and watching the sandlings scamper as they picked their meal from the wet sand.
When Dante’s imposing figure emerged from the surf, I gave up my zoological interests and focused on the dominant species. I should have balked at my sexist attitude, but I was just a girl, and he was just the man of my dreams, with broad shoulders, sculpted muscles, and washboard abs.
As he got closer, I followed the dripping path of ocean water as it trickled down his chest, glistening on the bronze of his skin, highlighting every hard angle along the way.
“Still shy after the last four days?” His towel fell to the ground as he lowered himself into the chair.
I chose to ignore his attempt to bait me. I kept my eyes trained on the horizon. “No dolphins today?”
“No, no dolphins today.”
“That’s too bad. I got up early just so I could see them.”
“You’re not a good flirt, Noemi,” he chuckled softly.
“What?” I turned to him, confused by his statement and even more by his uncharacteristic laughter. “I wasn’t trying to flirt with you.”
“Oh, I am well aware of that.” He laughed again as he pushed his wet hair back to reveal the warmth in his gaze.
Island life was good for Dante. Each day, I saw more and more of his humanity. With each meal eaten together, each moonlit walk, each night spent under the stars, Dante’s softer side revealed itself.
“You could have stroked my ego by letting me think you were up early so you could catch me in the water.”
“And that makes you laugh?” I teased. “You never laugh, but you get a kick out of my inept banter?”
“It’s not inept if it holds my interest.”
I tilted my head as I studied him. “I’m glad I’m here then. I get to save you from striking up a one-sided friendship with a sea turtle.”
“I’m sure a sea-turtle is an amiable companion. Quiet. Reserved.”
“The two of you would have a lot in common, but you’d never find out because neither one of you would ever talk.”
Dark, dominant Dante was heart-stopping sexy.
Smiling Dante was adorable.
“I’ve never seen this side of you before. I like it.”
The smile fell but didn’t completely collapse. “Must be the sea air. Or the sun.”
“Yes, the environment. I’m sure that’s what it is.”
