After Hours

Chapter 27

Jasmine, Jackson and I are on one side of the net and the others are across from us. Zach calls out the score before serving. The ball goes in Jasmine's direction and she jumps up, hitting it with the palm of her hand. It goes over Sam's head and Dominic lunges towards it but misses. I give Jasmine a high five. "Good job."

"Thanks," she says before looking at Zach. "One more point and we win."

"Yeah, yeah," he mumbles.

The next person serves and the ball comes towards me. In order to hit it, I have to drop down to my knees. It barley makes it over the net, making it easy for Sam to hit. I watch Jackson as I brush the sand off my legs. The muscles in his back ripple as he stretches to hit it. Glancing over his shoulder, he grins at me but his look grows darker when he sees the way I look at him. "Eyes on the ball," he winks before turning around.

Taking a deep breath, I focus on the game. We win, of course, just as the sun begins to set. All of us walk back to the hotel, Zach brooding about losing. Jackson puts his arm around my waist and pulls me to his chest once we're all in the elevator. "We can meet in the lobby in an hour," Jackson says. "Dress casual but nice."

They nod in agreement before stumbling off the elevator onto their floor. The elevator continues up to the next floor and I find myself wondering why we're always on a higher floor than our friends. "Why aren't we staying on the same floor?" I ask curiously.

He glances down at me, his eyes filled with what I think to be love. "I like a little privacy. Jasmine would never shut up if she heard something through the walls," he says, causing me to blush. "Plus, I usually try to get one of the best rooms but they were all booked here."

"You spoil me, you know," I say with a smile.

He tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "I try my best to. You deserve the world and more."

"You are my world," I reply softly.

Just as I think he's going to kiss me, the elevator doors open breaking the trance. We walk hand in hand back to the bedroom where we shower together. After a quickly getting dressed, we head back downstairs to the lobby where everyone is waiting then head outside to the luau.

There are torches lit around the property and laterns strung above us. To the back is a stage where there is a shirtless man with tattoos covering his chest and arms twirling fire batons. Jackson leads us to a table and I look around, noticing a large bonfire off to the side in the sand. Plates are placed in front of us almost immediately. Salmon with some type of salad and another side. They fill our drinks with a sweet red juice that has a hint of pineapple. As we begin eating, a man comes around with leis. "May I interest you in one?" he asks politely.

I smile shyly. "How much are they?"

He shakes his head, his smile growing. "A beautiful woman like you does not have to pay."

He places it around my neck and I fix my hair. "Thank you," I say, glancing at the real flowers before gazing up at him.

"You're welcome," he winks.

He gives the other girls one as well and I realize that they're not charging for them. My cheeks warm a little and I turn to Jackson who smiles. "You have the entire male population bowed down at your feet."

I roll my eyes. "I do not."

"You're irresistible," he says, glancing up and down my body. I'm wearing a fitted black dress with an open back. It's dressy but not too much. He leans towards me and catches my earlobe between his teeth. "I love you in black but I can't wait to see you in white."

My heart expands with the love I feel for him but words cannot form. Instead of speaking, I caress his cheek before leaning in to his him passionately. I love him so much. I never want to lose him. The sound of drums puts an end to our kiss but I keep my forehead to his as I catch my breath. He presses his lips softly against mine once more before pulling away.

Sitting a bit closer, he touches me every chance he gets. The want and need for him grows with each touch and all I can think about is taking him back up to the room. But the hula dancers on stage effectively distract me and I find myself to block out his intentional gestures. Jasmine talks animatedly about the time she visited as a teenager and learned how to hula dance. One of the dancers takes a liking to Jackson and begs him to come and dance. I don't mind because I know he's mine and I trust him implicitly. "Dance with us," she says with a sweet smile.

Jackson glances at he and I think he's blushing a little but I can't be sure with lighting. "Go," I insist.

After pecking my lips, he allows the girl to take his hand and lead him up to the stage. They drape a maile lei around his neck and guide him on how to dance as a few other dancers invite other guests to join. "This is priceless," Jasmine chuckles. "I'm going to get closer for a picture."

I nod and sip on my drink while gazing at my man on stage. He's dressed in a black polo shirt - the buttons undone - and beige shorts. He looks mouthwateringly handsome as usual.

When I notice him leaving the stage, I stand up and meet him halfway. Without saying a word, he spins me once before pulling me against his chest. His hand captures mine and he begins dancing. Smiling, I lean my head against his chest and stare at the fire. This trip is just as romantic as our date in vegas. Hopefully we make some similar memories while we're here.

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