Chapter 5

They left Uncle Jim right where he deserved to be, in the middle of his fabulous resort with his mouth ajar. Whatever he had planned to say, Fitz nor Olivia was going to hear it today. Olivia had seen her uncle walking towards Fitz as she entered the grand foyer. No doubt her father had called the man and encouraged him to intervene in her private affairs. This wasn't a new tactic but she wasn't having it today. This was her day to start to know the man she had apparently chosen. Chosen for what, she was exactly sure. He fit the category for so many things that she wanted him to be. Friend, lover, confidante, her special guy?

Whatever it was that was happening between them was occurring at warp speed. Olivia hadn't been this excited since her parents dropped her off in Atlanta, Georgia over seven years ago. She hadn't known a soul and she was only fifteen. It had been her very first grand adventure. Her parents, especially her mother had wanted her to attend college on the island. She had been determined to take another route. Her father at first skeptical eventually thought it would be good for her. He had wanted her to an independent woman he had said. Well, she had become one and today she was an independent woman not to be thwarted. She was going on another grand adventure!

"Whatever Uncle Jim said or was about to say to you I apologize. On his own, he is simply an over-protective godfather. When influenced by my father he can revert to uncouth behavior. I hope nothing was said to offend you. He's really a very nice man."

"Actually, you cut him off at the pass Olivia. He had just called out to me and was about to read me the riot act, I'm sure. I got the distinct impression last night that he wasn't thrilled that I was holding your hand in 'that back corner.' I really don't want to cause a rift with you and your family Olivia but I'm really hoping they won't stand in the way of our friendship. I'm very attracted you and I want to explore whatever this is between us. I'm hoping you feel that way too, enough to not let them influence your decision about me, about us. About where our friendship will go."

"I love my family Fitz and for the most part I listen to all of their comments and recommendations. However, I make my own decisions. And especially I will make my own decision about you, about us. I'm here today because I'm very attracted to you as well and I very much want to explore that attraction and friendship. I'm looking forward to it very much."

Olivia had been holding his hand throughout their entire conversation as they walked along. She had been looking down at her feet as they walked. She felt a little awkward expressing what she felt about him so early in their friendship. She had never been this frank and upfront about anything before and she felt very vulnerable. She did however look directly at him when she said she was attracted to him and wanted to explore a friendship with him. She had looked directly at him and gripped his hand a little tighter.

Fitz took their joined hands and brought them to his lips. He lightly kissed the back of her hand. For just a minute he stared into her eyes not saying anything. Finally, he spoke.

"Olivia, you have made me the happiest of men today. I'm so grateful that you have decided to take a chance on whatever this is between us. It's a momentous leap of faith to embrace a complete stranger and invite him or her into your space. This thing between us, you aren't alone wondering if you are doing the right thing. Your family has a right to be skeptical. I would be skeptical myself, a rich guy on holiday seeking out a beautiful woman. Rest assured Olivia that I will honor you every day of our friendship. So how are we to begin our day?"

"I'm hoping you are okay with a motorized bike ride. You will be my passenger today. Somehow, I imagine you as adventurous, notorious international playboy that you are. We are off to pick up our lunch and then we head to the western side of the island. We will be away from all the hustle and bustle."

"Today, I'm just going to be Fitz, your handy companion. You know how to ride a bike?"

"Of course. I'm a full-blown thrill seeker. I was the island's most notorious tomboy when I left for the states seven years ago. I was a skinny teenaged girl on her first real adventure alone. Things happened. I came back after four years refined, almost three inches taller, and with adipose tissue deposited in the right places."

"You are really a thrill seeker? I imagined you most prim and proper. And needless to say, you carry that adipose tissue well. I never saw you as a child but let me assure that you have grown into a most beautiful woman. So far there isn't one thing about you I would change!"

"You say that now, handy companion. Wait until you get to know me! Did you bring your trunks?"

"No, but we can go back and get them."

"No, we aren't going back to the resort. We will pick up some on the way."

They kept walking and holding hands. Her bike wasn't far, it was parked around the corner. It wasn't what he expected. This wasn't a bike; it was a motorcycle! In fact, it was a Harley. Olivia got on the "bike" and instructed him to sit behind her. He had never been on a motorcycle in his life. His parents had forbidden it when he was growing up. Motorcycles had an ominous history in his family's past. He thought about that past briefly, very briefly before he jumped on behind Olivia. He couldn't think of one single thing that would keep him off of the back of that cycle and this adventure with Olivia!

"Helmets are optional here but I practice total bike safety. Helmets on and we let's roll. Hold on to me and you will be fine. I observe all the traffic rules. It's less than a ten-minute ride to pick up our food. There's a clothing shop for men two doors down from The Coop. You get you some trunks while I pick up the food. I hope you like hot and spicy. You can't really enjoy certain foods here without hot and spicy."

"No problem. I assure you I like hot and spicy."

"Hold on to me then and we are off."

He had wrapped his arms around her and it felt so good. Believe it or not there wasn't the usual jolt of lust he was expecting to feel. It just felt right. It felt like he was where he was supposed to be. Her scent engulfed him. What was that, vanilla, lavender? It wasn't overwhelming, it was just there. He was holding her and he was in heaven. The ride was short and Olivia definitely knew what she was doing. She handled the cycle like pro. In a few minutes they arrived at their destination.

"Look on the corner down there. You see Jack's Ensembles? It's one of our finest shops for men. You should be able to find you a decent pair of trunks there. There's Coops on the opposite corner. I will meet you back here."

Olivia had ordered a take-out picnic. It was pricey but his was a special occasion. She had ordered jerk wings, conch salad, a loaf of Brac to mop up the jerk juices, and slices of rum cake an island favorite for dessert. There were four mini bottles of frozen wine and several small bottles of water. The frozen wines called "wine on the run' were the hot ticket right now. Those ten-ounce plastic bottles were excellent for picnicking. They thawed out in the Caribbean heat and would either become a slushy treat or chilled vino by picnic time.

Today was strictly going to be a day of learning about each other. She figured they could talk, eat, stroll the private beach, and swim a little. She had watched him swim at the pool. The man was in excellent shape. He was an excellent swimmer and his backstroke was masterful. The way he swam through the water had been so powerful. Without a doubt the man himself was powerful. She could only imagine what it would be like, to be on the receiving end of all that power in a sexual encounter. Was he as masterful between the sheets? Damn! She was off topic again. This was a friendly outdoor picnic. No way it was going to go a sexual realm. Back it up girl. This was only day one!

They were going to her secret spot. She and her brother, Tommy had explored this area to their heart's content as children. The had come here to play, swim, catch crabs, and do just about whatever they wanted. They had a very indulgent godfather. Uncle Jim had started bringing them here with him to retreat from what he termed the bane of their existence, tourism!

He had bought the parcel of land years ago and it was off limits to tourists. He hadn't decided exactly what he was going to do with it. He called it his retreat. Sometimes he came here just to get away from the hustle and bustle of the island. It looked like a deserted stretch of beach filled with beautiful foliage, crystal white sands, and spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea but it was more than that. Nestled amongst the thick trees was a single story get away. Uncle Jim had just about built the cottage himself. It appeared to be nothing special on the outside but the inside was lavish. Three rooms of magnificence. There was a state of the arts kitchen, a posh study, and a bedroom fit for a king. Uncle Jim said he came out here to relax and count his money!

Olivia had called Uncle Jim while she waited to pick up her picnic luncheon. She wanted to have a little talk with him. Whatever he had been about to say to Fitzgerald Grant has best have been friendly. She wasn't going to tolerate the interference of Uncle Jim or her father in the matter. There wouldn't be any intimidation of the man. She knew without a doubt her father had called his best friend and had asked him to intervene. Well, it wasn't happening!

"Olivia how did I know you would call?"

"You knew I would call because you were about to interfere in my business this morning. You and Thomas Pope need to stay out of my affairs Uncle Jim. I'm old enough to know when I want to date a man. I can choose anyone I want including an international "playboy" that's interested in only one thing. I won't have you intimidating him Uncle! My father called you right?"

"He did. He's only concerned about you Olivia. The same as I'm concerned. You are about to become a doctor. The man could ruin your reputation here on the island. It's not like the two of you wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb!"

"We wouldn't! There are several interracial couples and families on the island and you know it."

"I know that. This is a very progressive island but why rock the boat?"

"Uncle, we will discuss the merits of this conversation later. Rest assured we will. In the meantime, I'm asking you to respect the boundaries I've set for my personal life. It's mine to live. At the moment I see Fitzgerald Grant in it. Whether that's a good or bad thing, I don't know. And neither do you! Don't let Dad pull you into this. I'm asking you to remain neutral. I want to explore a friendship with the man nothing more. I'm going out to the Point today for a picnic. I'm telling you so you won't overreact when I let us into the Point. And under no circumstance are you to share this information with anyone. I mean it Uncle! Love me enough on this one to let me live my life! Will you honor my wishes?"

"Olivia, you up there at the Point all alone with a man you met yesterday scares me. Google only tells you so much. He could try and hurt you up there separated from everyone."

"He won't Uncle. Trust me on this one. Leave us alone. No spies please. And turn off the cameras, same as you did when Tommy took his "friends" down there! I need your word of honor on this one."

"Olivia!"

"Uncle! Stop it now. I have to go and I want your word. I'm off to a day of fun. When I get back, I'll give you a report. How's that?"

"How long do you plan to stay up at the Point on this fun day with a stranger?"

"I won't be rushed on this date Uncle. Your word, I want it!"

"Alright, call me when you get back."

"Talk to you later." Olivia hung up the phone. She was shaking her head. She was a grown woman. How was she going to put a permanent end to this madness with her family? She grabbed their bounty and headed back to the bike. She saw him standing there so handsome and looking so sexy. She had already seen the man in a bathing suit, he was gorgeous. Ready for a repeat viewing, she hurriedly walked over to him.

"Did you find you a pair of trunks?"

"I did. Do you have the food for our picnic?"

"I do! And the smell of it is making me hungry. I don't usually eat breakfast. I usually have coffee with my family in the morning, but no meal."

"You still live with your family Olivia?"

"I do. I have my own apartment on the first floor of the family home. I interact with my parents daily when I return to the island. With the turn of a lock however, I can declare my independence. I return to my childhood home daily but I declared my independence from my parents years ago. I live in their home but respect their privacy and they respect mine."

"I'm sorry. I'm asking too many questions. And the answers are your personal business. Let's go on our picnic. You are hungry."

"I am. Let's go."

Olivia packed their food stuffs into the saddle bags and they were off. It was obvious that Olivia had done this before. She had taken someone else on a picnic on her Harley. Again, Fitz felt a pang of jealousy. Why did it bother him that this woman had other men in her life in the past? It wasn't any of his business and he had never been bothered by a woman's past associations before. For some reason the idea of Olivia Pope being with another man bothered tremendously. He was jealous and he felt a degree of anger about it. He was being ridiculous and he knew. He held her close and inhaled her scent as they rode to their destination.

Olivia had said she rarely spoke when she drove her bike in order to totally concentrate on her driving as well as those around her. The danger to a motorcyclist in the Caymans was much less than the states. Island laws and limitation of speed limits made accidents like you saw in the states all but impossible. When she had gotten the bike, she had promised her parents never to ride one in the States. It was entirely too dangerous in their perspective. Their ride to the Point wasn't a silent one though. As she approached specific sights, she told him about them. It was a scenic and informative ride. Fitz enjoyed the entire twenty-eight minutes. The ride along tour was great but what was really thrilling was the fact that he was holding Olivia. He wouldn't quite call it in his arms, but he was holding her.

Olivia turned off of the main road and traveled for about another ten minutes and they were at their destination. Uncle Jim cottage was off the beaten path and it wasn't really a cottage at all. The cottage, all of it was separated from the island by a huge mechanical gate basically hidden by trees and foliage. You entered the place by lock combination which Olivia knew. They went through the gate and entered a rich man's hideaway. It was a rich man's hideaway and to a degree it looked it. Fitz knew well built and money when he saw it. The "cottage" was unique as it had its own wrap-around porch. There was a gangway to the pier and a boat was docked there.

"The family getaway?"

"Not really. My family has its own getaway. This place belongs to my uncle."

"Do you come here much?"

"I used to come here a lot with my brother in the beginning. It was our special spot to play and get away from the family. As an adult I have come here to study, be alone, and to get away from the family. Some things never change. When Tommy and I first started coming here, there was just trees and foliage. Uncle Jim had brought the property because he could see the future and he knew this was prime real estate. We came down here with him one day and fell in love with the place. He made us promise never to come alone and we didn't until we got older.

My brother started bringing his girlfriends up here and I was odd women out. So, I basically stayed away for several years until college. By then Uncle Jim had built the cottage and it was a great place to study and get away from all the tourism. I love the place. The solitude takes you to another place."

"Did you ever bring your boyfriends here?"

"No, I didn't."

"Not even the current one?"

"No, I didn't. In fact, I no longer have a current boyfriend I ended it last night. The relationship wasn't going to move forward, we were incompatible. I'm free to move on with someone else."

"I'm delighted to hear that Olivia. I'm delighted that you are free to move on with someone else."

Olivia looked up at Fitz with a bright smile on her face. She was indeed free to move on with someone else. She was free to pursue whatever this was between them and she wanted him to know. And this place, a place where so many wonderful things had happened for her, was just the right place for their relationship to gain it initial footing. She had so many good memories of this place! Electrifying and majestic, it was a place filled with wonder. It was filled magnificent trees, some of them brilliant with color. Many of the trees and foliage was already here but her uncle had imported many of the wonderful things here. Uncle Jim had cultivated his own orchard of fruit trees. Olivia was thinking that she and Fitz could come back on another day and feast on the fruit from the trees alone!

"Let's unpack our blankets and stuff and head for the beach. See that area over there. That bright red umbrella has seating and everything. Don't forget your trunks. Are you hungry?"

"I'm always hungry Olivia but I don't act on it or I would weight three-hundred pounds. I do basically eat what I want but I keep it low carbs except for one meal. It works for me and I'm an exercise wonk. I exercise every day if I can swing it."

"I eat what I want all the time. I don't diet but I work out every day. Usually early in the morning. If I have to miss it, I do it late night. And I swim a lot. I love swimming everywhere. I particularly love swimming in oceans and seas. There's nothing like a dip in the Caribbean. I imagine you have dipped in it several times since you have been coming here since you were young."

"For sure. We didn't have the vacation home build until about ten years ago. My family got one of its first Time Shares here. Once the family began coming here my mother fell in love with the place. As a youngster I spent many a vacation in France since my mother is from there. We started coming here so very long ago and it became a family favorite. It was a toss-up between here and Vegas. Vegas is nice but compared to a Caribbean Island, it loses. Plus, as I said, my mother loved it here and whatever my mother wants she gets. My father is still completely in love with her."

Olivia was taking their lunch from the saddlebags. She told Fitz what she wanted him to carry and they walked to the red umbrella. As they walked over to the table Olivia thought of what Fitz had just said. His father is still completely in love with his mother. She was hoping that didn't mean that his father had something in common with her father. Believe it or not, Olivia believed that her father still loved her mother but he was simply too flawed of a man to be true to her in every aspect of their life and marriage.

The marriages of other families of others in their clique on the island that she knew of seemed stable. Not that looks weren't deceiving! She had spent considerable time at Darcie's growing up and her parents seemed normal. As far as she knew her father wasn't a cheater according to Darcie. Peter's parents seemed stable and loving. Few men on the island had the notoriety of her father that she knew of. It could be that no one had the number of mistresses that he had. And of course, no one dared to address Thomas Pope to his face about his unflattering lifestyle. Anyway, she wondered if Fitz' father had mistresses. Even if he did it didn't necessarily mean that Fitz would be that type of man as well.

Look at Tommy. He still loves his wife and remained faithful to her even though he knew she was unfaithful. Tommy had told Olivia that he would never be a man like their father no matter what happened in his own marriage. 'No one will never get to say I'm just like my father Olivia. I would never treat my wife the way my mother has been treated,' Tommy had said years ago and he had meant it.

Olivia had looked up at Fitz when he had spoken of her parents. All sorts of thoughts were rolling through her head. She so hoped that Fitzgerald Grant would be a one-woman man. Why? Because she didn't want to fall in love with a man that would cheat and disrespect her. When she did fall in love, she wanted fidelity. Was she falling in love with a man she barely knew? All she could say at the moment is that she thought that she could be!

"So, do we eat at the table or on the beach?"

"Which do you prefer Olivia? You get to call the shots today."

"Let's eat right here. Then you put on your new trunks and take a walk and then hit the water. There's a place to shower and change on the other side of the cottage. I just have to take off my top and bottoms and I'm ready. I brought some of my favorites for our picnic luncheon today."

"What are we eating?"

"Jerk chicken and conch salad. Rum cake for dessert."

"I love jerk chicken. I've never tried the conch salad. Yummy on the rum cake. I have always loved rum cake.

Olivia laid out the spread. "Let's eat.

"Is that a new style rum cake?"

"No, that's bread. You pull it apart and mop up all that delicious wing drippings. This is rum cake."

Olivia picked up her plate and dug in. She ordered half drumettes and half flats. She preferred flats. She got several flats and a generous helping of conch salad. She broke off a chunk of bread. She opened a bottle of the chilled wine. She sipped directly from the bottle.

Fitz filled his plate and grabbed a bottle of wine and sat across from Olivia. She looked simply gorgeous today. He had wanted to kiss her silly since she had rescued him from her uncle. He was watching her eat. She was dipping the bread in the sauce on the place. He followed suit.

"Damn that is good. That sauce is out of sight. I love the heat and the spices are magnificent. That bread it melts in your mouth."

"I know. Honestly I don't even have to eat a wing there's so much flavor in that sauce."

"I've had fried conch but I've never tried the conch salad. What's in it?"

"Conch bites, peppers, onions, celery, tomato, and citrus juices. The citrus juice actually cooks the conch."

"What do you mean cooks the conch."

"It's raw Fitz. Fried conch is good, but until you have had fresh conch salad, you haven't eaten conch. Try it."

He did and she was right it was delicious. The jerk wings, salad, bread, and wine ignited the palate. They devoured all the wings and most of the salad. He had two bottles of the eight-ounce wines. Olivia only had one. Fitz had never tasted rum cake that was so moist and delicious. It was heavenly. This picnic was special and so was the food.

They talked as they ate. Asking each other questions about the other. Olivia asked questions that filled in where a Google search left off. Though the dossier had been thorough, Fitz filled in some blanks that he had concerning Olivia. They both had a pretty good assessment of the other after asking their prospective questions. And to be honest they both were impressed and eager to extend their friendship.

"Let's walk a bit and then we'll hit the water. Around the side of the cottage is a changing and showering stall. You may change there and I will meet you at the beach. Hang your clothing on the rack."

Fitz did as he was told. He changed and walked down to the water's edge where Olivia was standing facing the Caribbean. She had placed her hair up in a knot atop of her head. From the back he could see there wasn't an ounce of fat on her body. She had on a bikini and it was purple. It was his favorite color. His eyes however were glued to the bikini bottom and her ass. She didn't have on a true thong but it was "thongy" enough for him to give thanks to the creator of it. She apparently heard his approach and turned to face him and smile. The front of her enticed him just as much as her rear.

"I can't wait to get in but we need to walk off some of that loaf of bread we just ate. Did you enjoy lunch? Somehow, I think you did. I enjoyed watching you eat. I love to watch people that enjoy food. I love this area of the island. Until I come here, I haven't really been home. Shall we walk?"

"Let's. Lunch was delicious Olivia. I love good food and that was good. When you told me the conch was actually raw, I was skeptical. That was good stuff! Honestly, it was the best meal I've had since I've been here. Of course, it may have had something to do with the pleasure of your company Olivia. You add such vitality to everything around you. By the way, you look beautiful Olivia. Purple is your color."

"You look striking yourself. I would say you take very good of yourself. And blue is your color. It matches your eyes. I'm glad you enjoyed lunch and I enjoyed your company very much. We must do it again. I want to show you some of the things that so fascinated me and Tommy as children. Uncle Jimmy has built this little piece of heaven for himself but he very specifically wanted the environment around here to remain untouched. And it has. Only from an aerial view would you know his little cottage existed. As I said I love this place and I'm grateful that I'm allowed the use of it."

They walked for about forty-five minutes before turning around to head back. Olivia was an excellent tour guide. She secretly loved talking about her home. This particular place was filled with hundreds of trees. Some of them the most beautiful things Fitz had ever seen, barring Olivia of course. Every time she looked at her, her beauty was more captivating. And she was so smart, so intelligent. He totally admired beauty but there was nothing in the world like a super intelligent woman. It radiated as much if not more than beauty.

Olivia knew the name of every tree and shrub they encountered. She was amazing. The most heavily populated tree on the property was the Silver Thatch Palm which is unique to the Caymans. One tree simply stunned Fitz. The beauty of it was overwhelming. It was nicknamed the Weeping Cherry Tree. It was officially known as the Royal Poinciana or tree of fire because of its unusual red coloring. The Tree of Fire. Fitz closed his eyes briefly and he saw Olivia backed against that tree inviting him in for a kiss. Damn that was vivid. He had shaken his head to clear his mind and to banish away the flash of desire that rippled through him. She was so damned sexy and the thing was, she wasn't trying to be!

There was a place that she and her brother had found where for some reason crabs chose to congregate. They simply brought two buckets down lowered a bait filled string and filled the bucket to the brim with crab and took them home for dinner. The island was known for its crystal white sands but the beauty of it on this particular tract of land was like no other. He believed Olivia when she said it. He had done the tour thing here as a young teen with his parents and later as an adult and a member of multi-billion-dollar company. This private excursion with Olivia was the most amazing and most perfect.

She ended the tour and suggested they walk back to where they started and take their swim. On the walk back they asked each other questions about their lives. The touched on a little bit of everything including his marriage. Fitz described it as lacking and something that should have never happened. He insinuated that Margot Lily hadn't been his choice. Should he marry again it would be a woman of his choosing and one that he loved. Olivia didn't push but she wanted to know more about his marriage to that actress. How in the world could you ever give up on a marriage to the man with the blue eyes she was now looking into?

Once they got back to their starting point Olivia suggested that they hydrate and hit the water. She loved swimming in the Caribbean Sea. It was like nothing else on earth. She was ready to test the waters!

How far do you want to go out? I was thinking we would swim out to that buoy for a couple of laps. I can do three with my hands tied behind my back. Think you can keep up California boy?"

"That sounds fine Olivia. I assure you I can keep up with you in all things. This California boy just might surprise you."

"For some reason I don't think I will be surprised at all Fitz. I think I'm expecting grand and great things form you. Come on. Let's go swimming!"

Both were exceptional swimmers and it showed. They swam the laps neck and neck. After three laps they both stopped at the water's edge and sat down. They both were a little winded so they both were sitting there watching the clear blue sky reflected in the sea.

"This is a beautiful place, Olivia. Thanks for sharing it with me."

They both had their legs stretched out in front of them. Both were propped on their elbows. The position accentuated Olivia cleavage. They were two perfect mounds of mocha perfection. The purple on her lips was still shiny and bright. He had never wanted to kiss someone so badly. He had never asked permission for a kiss in his entire life. If he wanted to kiss someone, he took the initiative. He had spooked her once by moving too fast. This was only day one but he really needed to kiss her. He reached out with his hand and grasped her chin. He turned her face to his.

"I've wanted to kiss you since the moment I met you, Olivia. I have needed to touch you in some way. I don't want to frighten you but the attraction I feel for you is so intense. I've never in my life felt anything like it before."

"I know. I feel the very same way."

She reached out to touch his face. Her hands trembled as she gently cradled his face. Her index finger traced the outline of his lips. She looked into his eyes. They weren't sky blue anymore. They had turned. A bunch of unruly curls had fallen on his forehead. Olivia brushed them back and smiled at him.

"I've dreamed of your lips touching mine. I've dreamed of you touching me. And I have never wanted anything more in my entire life."

Olivia laid back in sand and pulled his face down to hers. Their eyes met and unknowingly for them their hearts meshed, and in all probability, it was for a lifetime.

"Kiss me," she said. And he did. At first it was gentle. Their lips met and mild energy surged through them. He gently prodded her lips with his tongue and she opened her mouth to him. At that point the gentility was gone. He started to devour her. Also, at that point Olivia knew she had never really been kissed before. This was a real kiss and she gave over to him and whatever that entailed. Needless to say, her body was heating up. She was on fire and it wasn't from the Caribbean heat.

Olivia had never in her life been kissed liked this. She was totally amazed by his kisses and what they made her feel. He had nibbled at her lips. He had pulled her tongue into his mouth and greedily sucked on it. He had sucked on her lips. His tongue had gently made a 360 around her entire mouth! The feelings he was eliciting from her felt so good. She was moaning as she was literally melting from his kisses. She started to replicate the things he was doing to her. She pulled his tongue inside of her mouth and started to greedily suck just as he had. Her tongue had darted out to touch lips. For the first time she heard a moan that wasn't her own.

The woman was unmanning him. It was only kisses but his body was on fire. Fitz pulled back from her to look at her face to see if he could gage where they were. Olivia pulled him back down to her. He placed gentle little kisses all over her face. He had to reign them in! No doubt she was enjoying their kisses as much as he. He could see the passion in her eyes. As for him this bout of kissing had put sex back on the table. Of course, he wanted her right here and right now! Yet, he was afraid if he took this to another level, he could live to regret it. Olivia had made it clear she didn't do first date sex and for sure she wasn't a one-night stand. And based on all he was feeling right now, for him she never would be. One night with her was never going to be enough!

"I wanted you to kiss me Fitz. I thoroughly enjoyed your kisses. They made me feel warm deep inside. Why have you stopped? Did I do something wrong?"

"No, you did absolutely nothing wrong. In fact, everything you did was right, all of it was perfect. Surely you could tell how much I enjoyed your kisses. They made my heart soar to heights I didn't believe it could go. That kiss, those kisses they were so intense Olivia. They could lead us to a place I don't think you want to go to right now. This is technically our first date and I have enjoyed every minute of it. I want us to have many more. I wouldn't want you to think I would take advantage of you on a first date."

"Fitz, I never agree to doing anything I don't want to do. Once you know me better you will understand that. Right now, at this moment I feel so connected to you. Wherever those kisses were leading us felt so right, so meant to be. It's hard for me to believe that the place those kisses would lead to isn't where we both want to go but I get your point. We mustn't move too quickly and spoil what we have, right?"

"Right. We simply need to pace this thing between us out a bit."

"I hope that doesn't mean you won't kiss me again in the next six days?"

"No, it doesn't mean that Olivia. I'm just saying kissing you makes me want to touch you. When I touch you, I imagine certain things will happen. Even then, you only have to say no or stop just once Olivia and we stop. We only go as far as you say. Do you understand what I'm saying? You are the boss."

"Well then, you know what I say? I say kiss me to your heart's content. I've enjoyed your touches too. I want them." He had rubbed his hands up and down her arms. And his hand at one point had lightly stroked across her belly. All of it, everything he had done, she wanted it. And quite frankly she wanted more. She had never in all the years she had known Peter had she wanted him to touch her anywhere! This man she craved his touch.

He was about to say something else and Olivia silenced him by pulling him back down to her. "Fitzgerald Grant, I know you are an attorney but you are talking entirely too much. Let's just go with the flow and see what happens."

"Are you sure Olivia?"

"I'm sure."

She pulled his mouth to hers and started to kiss him. Within minutes they were right back where they had left off. She had said she wanted his touches. He could see that her nipples had responded to their kisses. They were hardened and pressed against the lightweight fabric of her bikini top just as he was hardened and pressed against the fabric of his brand-new swim trunks. In fact, it had become uncomfortable but he didn't want to adjust himself and let her know just how out of control his lust for her was. She had said she wanted his touch and God knows he wanted to touch her intimately.

He palmed her entire breast in his hand and savored the feel and weight of it. Then he began to rub his fingertip back and forth across the fully covered nipple. Olivia didn't hesitate she turned fully toward him to give him better access. His actions had sent ripples throughout her body and those ripples went straight to her private parts. Encouraged that she hadn't resisted but had encouraged him, he placed his hand inside her top and cupped the entire breast in his hand. He let out the breath he had been holding and sucked in oxygen through clinched teeth. She felt so good! His fingers immediately sought out the hardened nipple and began manipulating and teasing it.

Olivia was lost in a sexual haze as the feelings in her private parts intensified. She was moaning out loud, she couldn't help herself. He had been kissing her fervently through it all. Their tongues were mating as they sucked and pulled, each one of them seeking dominance. Suddenly he left her mouth. Olivia felt bereft that his mouth had left hers. She was preparing to pull him back to her when she felt his mouth on her breast. His mouth closed around the nipple and he began to suck.

The pleasure engulfed her so quickly she had no time to prepare. He was sucking and delivering little love bites to the nipple. They weren't hard enough to actually hurt but believe it or not they produced extreme pleasure! It was too much for Olivia. She knew the beginning of orgasm thanks to her friend Darcie. Her hands involuntary went to his head and clutched those glorious curls as she pulled him more closely to her. She closed her legs tightly ready to receive the pleasure she knew to come. Olivia savored the intensity of it. She called out his name as her head lolled back in perfect bliss. "Fitz!"

Her last thoughts before she cried out his name was that he hadn't even touched her really. He had suckled at her breast and the intensity of it had made her come. What an inexperienced island bumpkin he must think she is! She had tried to stifle her moans but she couldn't. He had to have known what had happened. She had literally pulled hair from his scalp at the peak of the orgasm. It was even better than the one in her dream. Her body had not yet quelled. Her walls still contracted. Her head and hair now lay in the sand as she tried to bring her body back down to earth. Gentleman that he was, Fitz still laved, bit, and licked at her nipple until she let go of his hair.

When his head raised up Olivia looked away. She'd had an orgasm while the man sucked at her breast! Who does that? He would know that she didn't really know shit about sex other than what she had read in medical annals, seen in staged pornography, and from watching her previous "boyfriend" ejaculate into a towel. Who does that? She felt small and silly.

"Olivia what's wrong? What is that look on your face? Why are you turning away from me? You didn't stop me, you didn't say no. What's wrong."

She wasn't going to lie. It wasn't her MO. She was looking directly at him and for some reason her eyes began to fill with tears. Oh hell no! Surely, she wasn't going to cry about this. Olivia Pope had stopped crying years ago. She closed her eyes, hoping to back up those tears, took a deep breath, and she faced him.

"I'm sure you know what happened. What you did to my breast triggered an orgasm from me. I'm embarrassed for me and for you. I'm not very experienced when it comes to sex Fitz. That was a new experience for me. I've never had anyone do that to me before and it overwhelmed me. I couldn't stop it. It was such an intense feeling. It felt so good. I'm sorry. Whatever this is between us I wanted it to be a mutual thing. I wanted us to come together as one. We are supposed to give each other mutual pleasure and I jumped the gun. I'm sure you don't know what to think."

Fitz looked at her and smiled. He didn't laugh so Olivia was encouraged. Next, he took her hand and brought it to his lips and laid a gentle kiss upon it. He looked at her for what seemed like a long time before he spoke.

"Olivia you are such an amazing woman. In fact, to me you are the most amazing and beautiful woman I have ever seen. From the day I met you, which was yesterday, I knew I wanted to share things with you. I knew I wanted to spend time with you. Today has been wonderful. It was the best day I've ever had as a first date. It has been wonderful. These kisses and touches we have shared here on this beach I will never ever forget them. I will never forget that look of awe of your face when you called out my name moments ago. Never be ashamed to receive pleasure from me Olivia. I promise you are going to have a lot of it. Giving pleasure to one another is part and parcel of a relationship. However, nothing is carved in stone about how it is done. Nothing says it has to be done a certain way! I fully expect us to be a relationship. I simply didn't want us moving too fast because I value where we are going to go. Today was a good day. Your experiencing sexual release is a good thing. There's nothing in the world to be embarrassed about. Nothing at all."

"But if it's a mutual thing, what about you? You didn't receive anything back for my pleasure. Real relationships are give and take. One person can't or shouldn't receive all the benefits. Shouldn't you have had sexual release as well?"

Naturally she had thought of Peter and the one-way activity they had practiced during the last year. There had been a total six times they had practiced the ritual. There had been four times at his place and two different times when he came to visit her in Cambridge. She had never entertained him at that level at her place. When he visited her a Harvard they had gone back to his hotel. Thankfully that part of her life was over. She only thought of Peter because she could still see that Fitz was aroused. She wondered if he had ever ejaculated into a towel while moving the hand of his "girlfriend" up and down his shaft. Somehow, she knew it wasn't his style now and probably never had been. What was his style? She was very eager to know!

"Olivia, I triggered a very distinct sexual response from you tonight. It doesn't matter why. Like you said it was new to you, maybe it's been a while. It doesn't matter. I wanted to give you pleasure. I want to make you happy."

"I want to give you pleasure and make you happy as well. This thing between us I think I'm going to treasure it. I don't want it to go awry because we have miscommunicated on some level. I realize things are moving fast but I'm not bothered by it. We have decided to spend the rest of our prospective holiday together. I expect things to happen quickly Fitz so don't hold back. I want to know what your needs are."

"You are so practical Olivia. I love the way you don't shy away from the real aspects of live. We've met and we both know we have a connection. I think at this point you know how much I wish to spend time with you and of course you know that I want you sexually. I simply want you to know you don't have to do anything you don't want to until you are ready. There isn't anything in our rulebook that says if Olivia has an orgasm Fitz has to have one as well. I don't have to Olivia. I'm fine."

"I'm basically already a physician Fitz and I don't need to be a rocket scientist about some things. I see that bulge in your pants. You don't want sexual release? I want you to be happy too. I want to please you!" In her bones, Olivia knew she had no qualms whatsoever to touching Fitzgerald Grant. In fact, she wanted to touch him everywhere!

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't want sexual release, but it isn't necessary right now. At some point in the next several days Olivia, we will become lovers, we both know that. There will be mutual satisfaction between us and I envision a number of sexual releases, whether they be simultaneous or otherwise. That's what I want Olivia. I want our bodies joined together bringing each other pleasure. I've seen it in my dreams and quite frankly I don't want to accept anything other than that as my first real sexual experience with you. Today was an anomaly, Olivia. However, I expect watching you explode won't be an odd occurrence. I expect during the course of our relationship it will happen again and again. You aren't to worry about pleasing me. The fact that you are here with me and that you genuinely want to be here pleases me."

She was looking directly into his eyes. They were turning blue again. How did he do that? She gathered his face into her hands again. For a long while, she just stared at him. When she spoke, it was with her heart on her sleeve. She felt as if she loved the man already. Her heart was beating so fast. Whatever this was between them she didn't want to lose it. She was prepared to go all in. She knew that now and she wanted him to know that.

"You make my heart beat fast Fitzgerald Grant and no man has ever done that before in all of my twenty-three years on this earth. Whatever this is between us I want it. I want you. Our picnic is over. We've walked the beach and swam in the Caribbean and now we are here. What else would you like to do today? I haven't made any other plans."

"Whatever you want to do Olivia. I'm free and totally at your disposal. I had planned to tell you at some point today that I would like for you to meet my family. That's my mom, dad, and grandfather. My mother is having a dinner party on Friday night at the mansion and I'd like you to come. It's a black-tie type of thing. My mother rarely does anything small scale. Would you be my guest?"

"Today is Thursday Fitz. The few formal pieces I have are back in Cambridge. Absolutely nothing I have here would be appropriate for a black-tie affair. There are a few places on the island that have some nice formal things but finding anything in a size three isn't easy. There would have to be alterations. My best friend and I wear the same size but not even sure Darcie would have anything on that level that I could borrow to wear. I want to meet your parents Fitz but not in inappropriate dress wear."

"Then let me take you shopping this evening and you will find something appropriate. I can assure you for the right price any alteration is possible."

"Fitz, I can't accept gifts from you, we just met yesterday!"

"Olivia, can't you see that this relationship is going to be unorthodox where a lot of rules will be broken? We only met yesterday but we are on an accelerated course to somewhere and something. We are going to let our feeling and emotions lead us there. I for one am not going to questions anything that happens between us. Why? Because we are meant to be Olivia. I hope you are beginning to realize that. Every emotion, every nuance, everything between us is supposed to happen. I want to take you to this gathering because I want you there with me. I want to make a declaration Olivia. I want things to be clear about us right from the beginning."

"You want to make a declaration? What do you want to declare Fitz?"

He wanted to tell her point blank that he wanted to declare that she was his. She was and he knew it. They were meant to be on this path because their lives were going to be forever entwined. He hesitated to say outright that he loved her because he wasn't sure she was ready to hear it. It frightened him what he felt for this woman. Olivia was already skittish even though she was entering a specific door with him, he understood her hesitancy to believe what was happening between them. She was only twenty-three, younger that he had thought. It was hard for him at thirty-six to believe he was experiencing "love at first sight." For a twenty-three-year-old it might be even be harder.

When his lips had touched hers, he had known. With every fiber of his being he had known. She was the one he had been waiting for. Olivia had only had one serious boyfriend according to the dossier. She wasn't totally inexperience to the ways of the world. Plus, she was technically a doctor. She knew what went on between a man and woman. She had been involved in a relationship with a man for years. He had been tagged an international playboy because of his exploits with women since his divorce. He had sown his wild oats years ago so that hadn't been his reason for playing the field. He had wanted the last remnants of Margot exorcised from his soul. What a horrible mistake that had been.

He had embarked on a journey of sexual freedom and enjoyment of the sexual act itself. What he had shared with Margot had been debilitating and most of all unfulfilling. He was left cold after their loveless encounter. So, he had sought out women that enjoyed sex and wanted to share their bodies with him. He had been with all types of women and those he had chosen to bed had only been vehicles for his lust. Most of them knew that. A few had tried to change the rules of the game. He would simply go over the rules again. If they didn't want to play by those rules, the game ended.

He had been experiencing sexual attraction to women since he was fifteen. He knew what sex was all about. He wanted more from this woman. He didn't simply want to lie down with Olivia Pope, he wanted her for his own. He was in love with her. It wasn't a school boy crush either. In his bones he knew he was deeply in love with her. When he saw her yesterday Cupid's arrow went straight through his heart. What he had to do was curb his sexual need of her until she knew and admitted her feelings for him!

He had to get this shit right because he intended to keep her. And just so he was clear he meant as in to have and to hold until death due them part. He wanted her more than he had ever wanted anything in his life. His answer to her question had to be on point because he didn't want to frighten her nor did he want to make her feel as if she had to say and do certain things because he felt the way he did.

"I'm simply declaring that I have met someone and I care enough about her that I want to introduce her to my family. It happens all the time. Even in an abbreviated relationship such as ours people make declarations Olivia. My parents are special people. You will like them. I want you to like them because you and I are going to be seeing a lot of each from this day forward, aren't we?"

Fitzgerald Grant was one smooth talker. She mustn't forget that he's a trained attorney accustomed to pleading cases and winning the majority of them from what she had read. What exactly did it mean that he cared enough about her already to take her to meet his parents?

She knew she had feeling for him and to have just met him yesterday they were off the radar. She had some very deep feelings for the man. She wanted to place herself in his arms and stay there. She wanted him to kiss her forever anywhere he would choose to kiss her. And she was afraid if he asked her to touch him, anywhere, she would do it. Why did she want to please this man so much? It was like he was a part of her. She couldn't really say she was confused, that was the coward's way of denying what she was feeling for Fitzgerald Grant. She was falling in love with a man she met only yesterday. Her heart already knew. It was waiting for her to accept it.

She cared enough about him already as well but to take him to meet her family? It would be folly. Her father had already tried to interfere. They would balk at the race issue and they had wanted her to marry a fellow islander with the hope that she would come back to the island. Tommy had made his choice in college and had never returned. It seems as if she were making one as well.

"Yes, we are going to be seeing a lot of each from now on. You can count on it. If you really want me to meet your parents tomorrow; I will meet them. I want to meet them. If not for your parents I would never have met you. We will have to shop tomorrow. The shop I mentioned isn't open on Thursdays."

"Good, that means we get to do something together tonight. What would you like to do? Dinner, a movie, a show someplace. Isn't there a jazz festival going on this weekend? What would you like to do Olivia? The picnic today was the best. Whatever you decide, I'm in."

"Okay. Let's get the sand off of us and get back to town." She stretched out her hand to him and he took it. Olivia picked up her accessory bag and they walked hand in hand to the shower stall. That is if you wanted to call a cabana a shower stall. There was a shower in the back of the place but it wasn't just a shower stall!

They entered the cabana and Olivia turned to him. She raised up on her tip toes and kissed him on the mouth. She proceeded to kiss him just the way they had been kissing on the beach. The kiss ignited a fire storm. He pulled her into his arms and she was no longer the initiator. He maneuvered them to a wall and he started to really kiss her. Using both of his hands, he grabbed her ass and molded her to him. The contact, though through layers of cloth made him hiss out loud. He started to ravish her. He plundered her mouth, he branded her as he sucked on her neck. He rimmed the whorls of her ears with his tongue. And then he was kissing her again like a man long denied. His dick was nestled between her legs and she was moving against him. Dammit he had to stop this! He stepped back from her.

"Olivia, don't tempt me Sweet Baby. I want you too damned much to resist you and you know it. This could happen for us but I want our first time to be a little more special. I want the comfort of a bed so we can savor each other. I want to learn your body and I would hope you want to learn mine. I love spontaneity. I can assure you."

"You do want me then, just not now?"

He took her hand and placed it atop of his trunks and along his rock-hard erection. She caressed the length of him without hesitation. He moved very succinctly into her hand and held himself there. Her touch was everything. He willed himself to be the voice of reason.

"Does that feel like I don't want you, Olivia? I promise you I could make love to you for hours right now in this place. This isn't the setting I want nor the one you deserve for our first time together. We both deserve a more intimate environment. We will come back here though, another day I promise you. Will you wait with me for a more special place for our first time?"

"I will. Fitz?"

"What Olivia?"

"Promise you won't think I'm crazy. When I was standing at the water's edge today waiting for you change; I closed my eyes and there we were. We were naked in a shower and were making love. I was against the shower wall and you were behind me. It was so vivid. I can't be sure that it wasn't this place but we were in a shower. The water was running over us. I could feel you inside me. It was so real!"

So, she had seen it as well. He wasn't exactly sure what was going on between them but of one thing was for sure. He had found his mate this time and he wasn't going to let her get away. He had a relationship to cement and he only had days to it. Olivia, it seems was as anxious to consummate their union as he was. The fact that she wasn't afraid to voice it on day one of their courtship was a good thing in his opinion. However, if he had to wait six days, six weeks, or even six months he had been prepared to wait for her to be ready. That wasn't the case and he was grateful. In six days, she would return to Cambridge. He had a huge grin on his face knowing she would be his by then.

"I have seen something very similar to that myself. We are destined to be together."

"I think we are. And I have no desire to fight it. I am disappointed that we aren't showering together this afternoon. To be honest, I think I was looking forward to it. Make yourself comfortable. I will rinse off but I also have to shampoo the sand from my hair. I had anticipated you would join me, oh well, it's not to be today. I'll be quick and then it's your turn."

She turned and started to walk to the shower. Olivia Pope had always been a daredevil. Her wretched father and her generous Uncle had spoiled her rotten since childhood. She rarely didn't get what she wanted. She wanted Fitzgerald Grant in all ways possible. In this thing, the timing of when and where they first made love, he wanted to make that determination. She would let him have his way. After all she had never done "it" before. Perhaps a stationary bed would best for their first encounter, he was the one with the expertise.

However, bold is what she was and had always been. Fitz had said she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She doubted that was true. Fitzgerald Grant had seen and entertained international beauties around the world, nonetheless he seemed to have chosen her. Today was her day with him. It had been a great day. Today she would be bold and beautiful. Olivia stopped in her tracks and turned around to face him. She reached behind her and unlatched the bra of her bikini and it dropped to the floor. Next, she stepped out of the bikini bottom and it dropped to the floor as well. She stood there in all her Nubian glory naked and unafraid. She smiled at him, turned and walked to the shower.