Thursday

The sun stroke softly over Sara's skin and made her smile. This was a lovely way to start in a new day. With the sunrise on the beach, a hot coffee in her hand and no plans for the day. She was able to do whatever came up her mind. If she felt like snorkeling she could do that. Or finish her book. Or treat herself with a horseback riding trip. A canter on the beach, a walk through the water or a trot in the forest.

Before hands closed her eyes she could smell a familiar perfume. Then her world was dark.

"Let me guess…you're a hot blooded Latin lover."

"No."

"A mysterious voodoo priest?"

"No."

"The call boy I ordered?"

"You don't order call boys."

"Not boys, a call man. Over six foot tall, full of muscles and with an equipment that makes my day and night. A few times."

"I didn't know you're a…that desperate." Sofia sat behind Sara and kept her in her arms so that Sara could lean into her.

"Absolutely. A desperate island queen."

"There's a Latin lover on the island, maybe he can help you out."

"No, he's into blonde. I saw him busy flirting with two blondes yesterday and I'm sure he tried everything to get into your pants last night when he was over at your place."

"Jealous?"

"No."

"Why did you watch him?"

"I didn't. I came along your island and saw his boat there."

"You came along…don't tell me you were swimming again."

"No, I was on a boat."

"Explain that."

"I had a date."

"What?"

"Yes you're not the only one who has dates."

"Whom did you date?"

"Not your business."

"As your future bungalow mate I have to know. I can't give you a key when you date shady guys."

"I date only very respectable guys."

"Will I find this respectable guy in your bungalow?"

"No. I'm not that kind of woman."

"Good….hey, what's that?"

"What?"

"You've got a tattoo on your neck."

"Oh that."

"That wasn't there before."

"No, I got it yesterday."

"You dated a tattoo artist?"

"No, my date got me to one."

"It looks…interesting."

"A voodoo sign for love and trust."

"Since when are you interested in voodoo?"

"Since I had my date."

"I'm a little bit surprised. You get a tattoo on your first date."

"It's not a real tattoo. All natural colors and apparently it tastes good. Even if I can't imagine it. It's a tattoo."

"A tattoo with a taste? Impressive. Let me test it." Before Sara could say a word Sofia's lips were on the tattoo. Softly she let her lips run over it and kissed it lightly.

"What…are…you…doing…?" Sara had problems not to shiver too much. Sofia's lips made her whole body be covered in goose bumps. And her breath wasn't even anymore.

"I taste…sweet grapefruit. Amazing. It's a black color I had expected something."

"Like chocolate?"

"Believe me Honey, if this tattoo tastes like chocolate I'd lick it off your skin right now. Who made you this?"

"I can't remember his name."

"Don't tell me you forgot the name of your date."

"It wasn't my date, it was a his friend."

"And you dated whom?"

"Why does that matter? You were busy with Mister Universe."

"I sent him home at ten because I wanted to go to bed."

"Alone?"

"Yes."

"When we came along his boat was still there, it was well after midnight and we heard something that didn't sound like sleep. Not the kind of sleep you have when you're tired. More the kind of sleep you have when you get tired out."

"What?"

"Somebody had sex on the beach and I'm not talking about a cocktail to drink."

"He took a woman to my island?"

"If he wasn't banging you yes."

"That was why he cancelled our run for today. Said it doesn't satisfy him."

"He got some satisfaction."

"He'll get something else when I see him in an hour. It's one thing when he comes over after I invited him it's something different when he takes a bimbo over to bang her."

"Your own fault and I'm sure you were his first choice."

"I'll be his nightmare."

"Be glad he didn't invite you to join them…or that he didn't invite himself in your bed for a second round."

"He tries that and he won't be interesting for the rest of the women for a long, long time."

"You've strange friends."

"Tell me about it. A model ex who thinks he owns my place, a voodoo priest who knows me better than I do and a brunette with a tattoo that tastes like pineapple."

"The brunette booked a flight and room for you."

"I get my own room?"

"You're not happy about that?"

"No."

"Shall I change it into a twin room?"

"Double room?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Because it will be my birthday and I want to fall asleep with you in my arms and wake up the same way…even if you maybe didn't want to hear that I said it out loud because I don't want to pretend anything anymore. Last night I made the decision I want you and I'll try everything to get you…until you tell me to stop it or to fuck off."

"You think you'll get lucky and laid when we share a bed?"

"I think I've a bigger chance to be close to you when we share a bed."

"You can try to sneak into my bed when I'm asleep."

"No, that's not fair. I play fair, Sara."

"Good." Sara her upper body so that she could see Sofia. "We take the boat at six on Sunday evening, the flight to Vegas is at ten and the return flight is Tuesday evening at seven. Don't make too many appointments for Wednesday morning in case we'll party a lot in Vegas and you don't get enough sleep.

And tell your Latin lover he isn't invited. If he thinks he can invite himself I'll shoot him."

"You really don't like him."

"No. You deserve better."

"I don't want him."

"Good. Want a breakfast with me?"

"Absolutely. I need energy for the day."

"Why? Got special guests with special treatments?"

"Yes. First I'll have Mister Universe and after that I'll satisfy myself with two guys for the rest of the afternoon. Like every blonde I need a lot of men to be happy."

"There was a job description: wanted six men for a tough job – or one woman."

"Is that an offer?"

"No."

"What a shame. I like the pineapple taste." Sofia kissed the tattoo again. "Really good."

"Get a tattoo yourself."

"I'll ask. What taste would you prefer?"

"I don't want to eat your tattoo."

"Okay. What smell do you like?"

"What? Why?"

"Tell me. Maybe I can get a room perfume so you like our bungalow even more."

"Open the window and we have the smell of the ocean. That's perfect."

"You are so not romantic. Oh well, time for breakfast before all tourists are at the bar and get the good stuff."

"I am a tourist until next Thursday."

"You're special." Sofia got up and pulled Sara on her legs. "Very special."

"I'm hungry."

"And I want another taste of this pineapple."

"Get lost!" Sara pushed Sofia away and started to run to the bar. Sofia ended on her butt, got up and chased after Sara. This way she got a little morning run.

"Can I lure you away from the good looking guy and his cocktails?" Sofia asked Sara.

"Depends on what you offer."

"Dinner at my place."

"He offers dinner too and I don't even have to pack."

"I don't mind when you sleep in my bed in your birthday suit."

"Golden Treasure, get yourself out of the gutter." Rhys laughed.

"Why? She knows about my feelings there's no reason to hide them anymore. I changed my tactic and try it straight forward now. By the way the tattoo you got her is really delicious."

"You tried it?"

"Yes. She couldn't run away so I took the chance. Can I have one too?"

"Which taste do you want?"

"If I can reach it chocolate."

"When you get a chocolate flavored tattoo that's within reach of your mouth it won't be there for long. You need it in your neck too."

"Can I scrape the taste off?"

"You won't get one at all."

"Do I get you?" Sofia looked at Sara.

"For dinner or as your dinner?"

"Both would be perfect but I'm also happy with only one of them."

"I get my stuff."

"Yeah! Victory." Sofia popped Rhys' shoulder. "Sorry man, you lost."

"Mhm be nice to her and let her sleep. We had a long night."

"So she told me. With some extra entertainment from Marcus. He wasn't happy when I told him I don't want him on my island anymore."

"He was there without your permission?"

"Yes. Thought it's a good place to impress a young woman and make it obvious to me that he doesn't need me. She had the fun I could have had."

"You don't want him to have fun."

"Somehow it's difficult for him to understand. I wonder if I'm the first woman who ended the relationship with him. If it's usually him who ends it."

"That's my guess. He doesn't really talk to me because he knows we're friends but for a man like him you hurt his ego more than he can handle. The only way to get back on track and feel like a real man again is to make it obvious to you that he's your loss and you have to feel sorry that you don't want him anymore."

"It's over since one year, I thought he's over it by now."

"The ego of a man needs a lot of more time – if it' ever recovered from something like that."

"Sometimes I'm glad I'm a smug woman and not a smug man."

"You're a very sensitive woman."

"I'm a cool diving instructor and a former tough cop."

"You're my Golden Treasure. Come here, Baby." He pulled Sofia in his arms, lifted her up and placed her on his hips. "I love you, you know that?"

"Yes. Like I love you."

"Good. If this monkey on a poster gives you a hard time let me know. We let the voodoo handle him."

"Okay. Thanks." Sofia kissed Rhys. "I hope that won't be necessary. He isn't a bad person only a little bit offended."

"He can suffer like a man and not pout like a baby."

"I might tell him that later."

"No need to rush that. There's your lovely brunette, ready to go with you to your island. Enjoy your evening with her."

"I will. We can make some plans for Vegas."

"Don't you dare to come back married. I want to be with you when you marry her."

"I think you're talking about a fantasy future, Rhys. A nice one but nevertheless a fantasy future. See you tomorrow."

"Bye." He let her back down. "Have fun, Beauty."

"Thanks Rhys. You too, don't flirt too much with all the women at the bar."

"Me? Never."

Sara grinned. He did nothing else. In a very charming way so that nobody was annoyed. Rhys was not only the perfect bartender he was also the perfect gentleman.