Spicy Desires: Love on Two Wheels and a Plate

Family business

Brett's eyes feel like a warm embrace that seems to wrap around me, and yet my heart races with a mix of excitement and insecurity. I try to tug on the ends of the towel as if to get it to offer me more coverage of my obvious vulnerability, but only wearing a towel seems to enhance my self-consciousness.

"Yeah, I'm ready," I say as I try and sound more confident than I felt.

"Good," he says with a smirk to me as his voice comes out low and inviting. "Follow me."

He leads me down the hallway. We step outside, and the sun shines over everything with a golden light, and I find myself on a deck that overlooks a pool that seems to vanish into the horizon.

"Wow," I say in complete and utter awe, and my tone comes out breathed out as I attempt to take it all in. The scenery was utterly breathtaking.

"Not what you expected, right?" he asks with a hint of amusement in his tone as he looks at me.

I shake my head, still completely awestruck. "Not at all. I never pictured you living in a place like this."

He chuckles ever so softly. "Most people don't. But my home and it's important to me."

With a gentle nudge, he tries to urge me closer to the pool's edge. "You ready to dive?" he asks as he looks at me with a smirk.

I look down at the water as it shines from the sun. "What if it's too cold?"

"Then I'll warm you up," he says with a tease, and a mischievous sparkle appears in his two-colored eyes. A wink with playfulness added to the boldness.

I cannot help but laugh at him and his boldness. "Okay, you're on."

"On three," he says as he takes a step back slightly. "One... two... three!"

Before I could process what was happening, he ran forward scooped me up, and jumped into the cold pool with me in his arms. The shock of the cold water suddenly surrounds me, and I gasp and instinctively wrap my arms around his neck.

When we surface, he laughs as his eyes sparkle with mischief. "I told you it wouldn't be that bad!"

"You're lucky I like you," I retort to him as I splash some water at him playfully.

"Lucky, huh?" he grins at me, and his expression shifts to something much more serious as he moves closer to me. The water glides off his toned body. "You have no idea how lucky I feel to have you here."

I feel my cheeks flush as a blush spreads the area. "Brett...Before I could finish my sentence, he leaned in, and I felt his lips brush against mine softly. The kiss was soft at first, then it deepened slowly, his hand finding its way into my hair as he pulled me closer. I melt into him, and I lose myself in the warmth of the moment; the coolness of the water now completely fades away.

He pulls back ever so slightly, and I still feel his breath warm against my skin. "I've been waiting to do that."

"Yeah?" I ask breathless. "What else have you been waiting to do?"

"Plenty," he replies with a smirk, and his eyes darken with desire. "I want to take my time with you. I don't want to rush anything."

"I appreciate that," I say softly as a blush spreads across my cheeks. "It's nice to feel wanted, is all."

"You are," he insists, his voice coming out sincere. "And I want to show you just how much."

With that, he pulls me back under the water.

We spent the next few moments splashing each other.

Eventually, we both pause and float side by side, and I feel the sun warm on my face. I turn to him. "So, what's the story behind this place? Why do you keep it a secret?"

He takes a moment choosing his words carefully, and his expression seems to grow slightly more serious. "It's more of a sanctuary for me. Away from the chaos of the city and the expectations of the family business. I bring people I care about here. It's well more intimate and serious for me."

"Intimate," I echo as I let the weight of his words.

"Yeah. It means a lot to me that you're here, Ali," he says softly, and he looks into my eyes. "I want to share my life with you if you're ready for it."

"I think I am," I reply, thankfully my voice sounds way more steady despite the nervousness that flutters in my stomach."But I still need to know more about you."

"Then let's make a deal," he suggests to me as a playful smile appears on his lips. "You ask me anything, and I promise to answer honestly."

"Okay," I say with a small smile on my lips. "What's the best memory you have from this place?"

He smiles, and obvious affection and happiness light up his face. "The first time I came here as a kid. My dad took me swimming in this pool. It felt like our little world. Just us. Now it's mine; it just feels different.

I could see the warmth in his eyes as he recalled the memory for me, and it made me want to know even more about him, his past, his family, and everything that had shaped him into who he was today.

"What about the worst?" I ask him carefully as I lean closer to him.

His look seems to shift ever so slightly, with pain appearing in his eyes. "When I lost my father. He passed away a few years ago, and this place felt too empty afterward."

I felt sorry for him. "I'm so sorry," I say softly and sincerely.

"It's okay," he says with a small smile as if to reassure me as he softly squeezes my hand. "But I want to fill this place with new memories."

I nod as I feel the warmth of his words. "I don't know much about your dad, but I would assume he would want that for you."

"Then let's make some new ones, Ali," he says, low and enticing. "How about we try out the slide?"

"Slide?" I ask.

"Yeah, come on!" He grins at me as he pulls me to a twisting water slide that goes over the pool.

We climb the steps together.
"Are you ready, beautiful?" he asks me as he looks down at me over his shoulder with excitement.

"Ready as I'll ever be!" I say back

"On three!" he says,

"Okay!" I reply, One, two, three!" he shouts.

We slide down the slide. Laughter fills the air around us.