Sebastian takes Melinda’s hand as they leave the dance floor of Casa De Amigos. They weave their way in and out of the crowds. The crowds have built up the bar is now busy with local Cubans and tourists, enjoying the ambience of cheap cocktails, beers, the wide screen TV and small dancefloor to salsa.
As they exit the bar into the late afternoon sunshine, the humid heat does nothing to cool down their perspiring bodies hot from all their dancing.
“Sebastian, which way from here? I have no idea where I’m going.”
Sebastian looks down at Melinda fanning herself with one hand. With the sunshine on her smooth brown skin, Sebastian can’t deny that his attraction toward Melinda is growing. His eyes sweep up and down her curvy body as he admires her sundress and wedge heels. He wonders to himself what’s underneath her sundress, his mind runs wild as he fantasises about the kind of underwear Melinda likes to wear, and the kind of underwear he would like to see her in. Tearing his eyes away from her he hides his smile.
“Hmm, let’s try this direction.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
With a warm glow inside of each of them they take off in the opposite direction from where they came. Walking along the hot pavement they admire the colourful array of pastel colour buildings and downtown hotels they pass, as they walk deeper into the town. Local youths pass them on moped bikes zooming down the main road, along with 1950s era Cadillac cars which catch Sebastian’s attention.
“The cars out here are really something, a real throwback in time.”
Melinda follows Sebastian’s gaze over to the main road as he smiles and admires the retro Cadillac cars.
“Totally, there’re amazing aren’t they. But totally fitting with the Spanish architecture and colourful buildings.”
Within a twenty minute walk the sea comes into view in the distance.
“Well, look what we’ve found.” Smiling Melinda tugs at Sebastian’s arm.
“C’mon let’s go check out the beach, we have time for a stroll before we head back.”
“What about food?”
“That’s what the hotel’s for.”
Melinda calls over her shoulder as she takes off jogging toward the beach. Sebastian smiles, then ups his pace to keep up with her.
“Wow, this looks like some kind of paradise.”
Melinda kicks off her wedge heels as she steps onto the warm sand. Sebastian joins her removing his comfortable plimsols.
“Sure does, the water is so blue.”
They walk farther onto the beach toward the water’s shore. Melinda and Sebastian take in the ambience of the beach. Palm trees slightly lean to one side as they sway in the light sea breeze. The sand is clean with a bright sugar white colour. The beach is calm but busy with sun worshipers stretched out on their beach loungers, and groups of friends playing volleyball. A few teenagers splash around in the sea making fun of each other. Taken back by all of Santa Maria del Mar beach’s beauty both of them lower their shades as they walk along the coastline at a leisurely pace, with the warm sea water washing over their feet. As they stroll farther up the coastline a secluded area of rockery comes into view, they head over and settle themselves on the sugar white sand to admire the aqua blue sea.
“So tell me a bit more about yourself Sebastian, other than work how do you spend your time?”
Sebastian thinks for a moment of late his free time has been consumed with morning the absence of his late girlfriend Anna, and what he could have done to ensure Anna felt needed and valued as his partner. A vision of Anna appears in his mind’s eye as he stares out into the calm sea. Sebastian rubs the back of his neck and tries to push his vision of Anna’s face to one side.
“Ah, to be honest … not much. I guess I’m kinda boring.”
Melinda let’s out a small laugh and looks up at Sebastian.
“I’m sure you’re not, seriously you have no hobbies or interests?”
“Hmm, I like music— a lot, and to work out I guess, books interest me too.”
“What kind of music and books? I love them both.”
“I listen to a lot of classical, flamenco and modern music. When it comes to books obviously, crime is my thing.”
“Of course, Mr. Detective. And …”
“And that’s about it Melinda. I never realised how boring I am until you asked me that question.”
The pair crack up laughing.
“No girlfriend back in London then?”
Sebastian looks down at Melinda sitting by his side, his reflection in her large oversized sunglasses stares back at him. Damn she looks hot in those shades runs through his mind. Suddenly he feels overwhelmed and confused. He loves Anna and is still not quite over losing her. At the same time his attraction to Melinda is becoming more obvious to him. Her style, beauty, rhythm to a salsa beat, and bubbly sense of humour appeal to him in a major way.
“Did I say something wrong Sebastian? You’re looking at me like I’m some kind of alien.”
Sebastian snaps out of his weird trance of heartache over his late girlfriend, and lust over the ebony skinned beauty with exciting potential by his side.
“No sorry… I don’t have a girlfriend as such no.”
“As such? What does that mean?”
“It’s complicated—I”
With disappointment Melinda cuts Sebastian off as she gazes out at the deep aqua sea.
“Hmm, it always is with you men isn’t it.”
Thoughts of all the wasted dates she had been on over the last year run through her mind.
“No, I mean it’s complicated as she… she died almost one year ago.”
Melinda looks up at Sebastian as he stares off into the sea again.
“Oh, my Sebastian I’m sorry I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s okay, honestly by now I should be coming to terms with my loss. Well at least that’s what my shrink tells me.”
“You see a doctor?”
“Yeah, I have been for a while now. He helps but I know that the main bulk of the work to deal with my grief is down to me.”
“It’s hard, grieving is different for everyone.”
Melinda places a sympathetic hand on Sebastian’s upper shoulder for comfort. The comfort comes as a surprise to him. He takes her hand in his and squeezes it. Before he knows what’s come over him he places a light kiss on her hand, then slowly makes his way up her arm with gentle kisses. Melinda does not resist him as he leans in closer and places a light kiss on her collar bone. The warm light breeze, aqua sea and lazy palm trees, mixed with too much Tequila and beer arouses them both. Without hesitation, their lips lock in a deep passionate kiss. Sebastian takes full control as he explores Melinda’s mouth with his tongue, while running his hand up her right thigh. Her skin feels smooth and clammy to touch as he raises the hem of her sundress and parts her thighs.
As his hand travels farther up her thigh she hesitates for a moment conscious of where they are sitting, under a palm tree fully exposed to passers-by. Even though they are sitting in a much more secluded area of the beach, they left the crowds behind. Melinda breaks away from his kiss, not because she wants to but more for the sake of embarrassment, should a passer-by see them. Sebastian’s kisses are soft and gentle. It feels very much to Melinda like one of the sincerest kisses she has had in a long time.
“Let’s go for a swim.”
Sebastian laughs out loud.
“A swim? With no bathing suits?”
Melinda gives him a cheeky smile as she lowers the straps of her sundress, then stands up and steps out of it. She reveals a matching lime green bra and panties set, the colour emphasises her smooth chocolate skin tone.
“Who needs bathing suits, there’s no one here and this could pass for a bikini did you see what those other girls were wearing back there?”
Melinda points back toward the direction they came from and laughs.
“No shit, those bikinis were out there.”
“C’mon last one in pays for the taxi home.”
Sebastian gets on his feet and removes his cotton shirt and shorts as quick as he can. Glancing around nervously he dumps his clothing and Rolex watch next to Melinda’s sundress, and then races down to the shore. He catches up to Melinda and scoops her up from behind, as he runs with her down into the warm aqua sea. She playfully screams and shouts protesting to be put down, secretly the thrill makes her heart race. Melinda can’t remember the last time she let herself go and had some fun, done something crazy and completely let go. Today, almost five thousand miles from her west London home is the day she let go, with a total stranger. It occurs to her that her safety could have been at risk by wandering off with a strange man on an island. She looks on the flip side, then again Sebastian is a detective, from her home town in London too. He’s there to serve and protect the public— you can’t get more safe than that.
Playfully launching Melinda into the water Sebastian dives in, then picks her up again by her legs this time. Playful screams escape Melinda as she holds onto him as tight as she can and looks down at him. She wraps her legs around his body as he cradles her with a firm grip on her behind.
“You are crazy Sebastian!”
“Me, crazy? What do you call going for a swim with no bathing suit, in broad day light?”
The pair crack up laughing as Sebastian lowers her to her feet in the water, they stand face to face in the warm sea with slight waves crashing around them. Sebastian’s six-foot-three well built frame towers over Melinda’s five-foot-six height. Melinda looks up into Sebastian’s large brown eyes and for the millionth time she takes in the handsome Spaniard’s face with sharp features, his low cut hair and great body, large brown eyes and tanned olive skin. His tribal body art tattoo covering his whole shoulder and arm area to his wrist, emphasises his sex appeal. Taking a deep breath to regulate her heartbeat she melts at the sight of him, standing in front of her with the strong sunlight behind him. Melinda’s senses are awakened by his playful side and the paradise surrounding them. Her lust over the gorgeous Spaniard kicks in. Taking the lead starting from his elbows placed at his side under the water, she runs her palms upwards over his strong toned arms, toward his shoulders. As she stops at his shoulders she takes a step forward in the water into Sebastian’s personal space. Without removing her eyes from his intense gaze staring down at her, she slowly continues to move her palms over his chest. Her heart flips at the curves which define his toned torso. Sebastian responds as her hands settle on both sides of his equally toned waist. Leaning toward her into her personal space he gently bends down and blesses her with another one of his gentle loving kisses. They embrace in a passionate hug in the water with Melinda’s arms wrapped around his neck and Sebastian holding her waist. Sebastian is not sure if it’s the warmth of the Caribbean sea and strong hot sun on his back, or Melinda’s curves he explores under the water that bring him to a complete arousal. His need to feel her more intimately take over, as he slowly moves both of his hands from her curvy waist line then stops under her ample bust line. With ease, he lifts the underneath section of her lime green bra now soaked and fully exposing the outline of her erect nipples as the thin material clings to her breasts.
A new stand alone office romance from USA Today bestselling author K.A. Linde…
K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of more than fifteen novels including the Avoiding series and the Record series. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, geeking out over Star Wars, binge-watching Supernatural, and dancing in her spare time.
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