Coming to Port Dickson with him was probably a mistake. Or maybe not a mistake in the grand scheme of things, but definitely a massive miscalculation in terms of my comfort zone. I'd envisioned a breezy weekend getaway, maybe some nice seafood dinners and quiet strolls on the beach with Ben. What I got was a crash course in... well, something I hadn't even fully imagined existed outside of those, ahem, websites my friends sometimes giggled about.
The initial red flag, in hindsight, should have been the villa. I'd assumed "resort villa" meant a small apartment-like space. Separate rooms, definitely. Privacy, absolutely essential. Instead, it was... open. Stunningly open-plan, with a gorgeous outdoor plunge pool and direct beach access, but also startlingly lacking in walls in the areas where walls really mattered. Like the shower.
After an afternoon of surprisingly enjoyable swimming -- Ben was actually really fun outside of the usual junior college hallways -- I desperately needed to rinse off the salty, sticky feeling of the sea. The open shower, tiled in cool, smooth stone, was visually appealing, like something out of a magazine. But the complete lack of doors or partitions? It was practically a stage, exposed to the entire villa interior.
I peeked around, hoping to confirm Ben was still out on the beach lounger, presumably dozing off in the humid afternoon heat as he'd said he might. Silence. Taking a deep breath, I decided I couldn't stay salty and sandy all evening. With as much speed and furtiveness as possible, I slipped out of my bikini top and bottoms, folding them neatly on the small bench inside the shower area.
The water was blessedly warm as it streamed over my skin, washing away the salt and sunscreen. Relief washed over me too, momentarily easing the tension in my shoulders. I reached for the fruity-smelling shower gel I'd packed, squeezing a generous dollop into my palm. Just as the first fragrant lather began to spread across my chest, a shadow fell across the open shower entrance.
My heart leaped into my throat. "Ben?" I squeaked, my voice barely audible over the sound of the water.
He didn't reply. He just stood there, framed against the bright sunlight filtering through the villa's glass doors, his gaze fixed on me. He'd changed out of his swimming trunks, and... oh. Oh. He was completely naked. And very, very clearly aroused.
My breath hitched. My hands, slick with soap, froze mid-motion. I was paralyzed, a mix of shock, embarrassment, and something... else... bubbling up inside me. It wasn't fear, exactly. More like a dizzying rush of anticipation mixed with sheer, unadulterated panic.
Without a word, he stepped into the shower. The cool tile felt suddenly slick beneath his feet. He closed the small distance between us in two strides. My mind blanked. This wasn't supposed to be happening. Not like this. Not ever, maybe. But... I couldn't look away.
He reached out, his calloused fingers gently taking the tube of shower gel from my trembling hand and placing it on the shelf. Then, slowly, deliberately, he reached out again and cupped my face. His thumbs brushed across my wet cheeks, his eyes locked onto mine. There was a question there, unspoken, but undeniably present in the intensity of his gaze.
Before I could even attempt to form a coherent thought, let alone an answer, he lowered his head and kissed me. Not a gentle, chaste kiss like we'd shared before. This was... different. His lips were firm, demanding, opening mine with a confidence that made my knees weak. His tongue slipped inside, exploring, tasting, igniting a fire in my belly that I'd never known existed.