Just One Kiss

Chapter 11

"I can't do this" China repeated over and over as she looked over the cliff, the crashing waves hitting below. She crossed her arms over her chest as she shook her head, the sound of the waves on the cliff pushing her further and further away.

"I promise you it's not as bad as it looks" Nicolas said, standing next to her in his black swim trunks. They had left their clothes, her skirt and cover-up with his T-shirt, in the backseat of his black four-wheel-drive as they stood on the edge of the cliff.

"I'm sorry it's too scary" she said, turning around and walking back to the car.

" Come on Chi" he continued to encourage taking her shoulders and turning her back to the cliff, " I'll even do it with you if it makes you feel any better."

"It doesn't" she said, defensively, "You're from here, you're used to this. I've never done this before."

"There's a first time for everything" he said to her, taking one hand from her chest and rubbing the back of it with his thumb to soothe her.

" I don't know" she said, enjoying the warmth of his hand in his, despite the setting sun shining on her skin.

"Please, for me" he begged. She looked at him, a sparkle of adventure in his eye.

"Okay fine, screw it" she nodded her head. In excitement, he grabbed her and spun her around, making her yelp in glee.

He set her down closer to the edge of the cliff, taking her hand back in his. They both stood at the edge as he counted down: three, two, one!

They both leapt off the cliff, her hand grasping his tighter as she tipped off the edge. She screamed as they flew down, their bodies hitting the cold water below. She let go of his hand to swim the surface, a huge smile on her face as she did.

By the time Nico swam up to the surface, China was laughing and squealing to herself, saying " I can't believe I did it, I jumped" over and over again. He left as he floated next to her, catching her attention.

"I can't believe I did it" she continued to squeal, swimming towards him and wrapped her arms around him, causing them to sink down ever so slightly. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist and gripped her arms on his neck tighter. He held her thighs as they floated, not wanting her to go any further. He floated around with her as she continued to laugh in shock.

"That was the craziest and most amazing thing I've ever ever done. Thank you for making me do it" China said, still panting from the adrenaline.

" I told you you could" he said, not letting go of her. Fueled by the adrenaline pumping through her, heartbeat in her ears, China's lips crashed onto his, making him smile. They stayed like this in the water until the sun went down, kissing, splashing, swimming, and talking, as time flew past them into the dark.

They jumped the cliff a few more times before it got too cold and too dark to continue. Every time China would take the jump, Nico would hold back for a few moments to watch her. She kept tying her long black braids in a bun on her head every time she leapt off the cliff, but it would unravel down to her lower back by the time she resurfaced from the water. He couldn't take his eyes off her figure, getting a glimpse of her own smaller tattoos that graced across her ribs, down her right thigh, and down her back. The sunset made her skin look like melting chocolate with the water dripping down her body every time she got out of the water. As he looked at her, he finally began to understand the term bittersweet.

After taking in the last of the day's sun to dry themselves off, they changed back into the clothes and drove back to her hotel, her hand not leaving his the whole time he drove.

"Thanks for dropping me back" she said as he pulled his car to a stop in the parking lot of the hotel.

" Anytime, I had a wonderful day", he said " I kind of don't wanted to end"

" It doesn't have to" she said. " I just need a quick shower and maybe we could go for dinner"

"I have a better idea. How about I cook for you a proper Spanish dinner at my house" he offered.

" You can cook" she asked making him smile.

" Of course I can how do you think I survive as the 'hunky billionaire'' " he said, making her gasp.

"You know" she asked, covering her face and embarrassment.

"That's what Duke called me when we said goodbye last night" he said laughing, "Don't blame him, blame the alcohol."

They agreed to meet at his house within the hour, giving each other their traditional last kiss goodbye before they both went their separate ways.

As China wore her light brown strapless bodycon dress, her smile had not left her her face since the moment she jumped off the cliff for the first time. She had never felt that kind of rush in her before. The closest she had felt was when she was on the tracks in Indiana and Barca, but this was different.

Her blood rushed to her ears, her mind was quiet, just her body embracing the elements the best way she could. She finally got to experience the thrill she only dreamed of behind her Cape Town desk watching YouTubers live their dreams and journalists boasting of their travel successes.

Her mind still couldn't settle; Daisy's words still lingered in the back of her mind. Biting her lip, China quickly opened her phone and sent Charles a quick text, saying that she was down for the day and going to bed. She typed "I love you", but deleted it as she shook her head. She was already lying about what she was doing, adding that would be a painful anecdote.

The more she thought about it, she realized that she always felt that rush, that freedom, when she was with Nico. Maybe it was the environment around them as they spent time together, or maybe it was the games they played with the secrets they kept between them. Whatever it was, China was on a high and she never wanted to come down.