Chapter 10: Mediterranean Sunrise

Isra changed into black joggers and a hoodie, and headed out. Her head was still heavy from sleeping only two hours last night, yet her body felt as if it was floating on her heels as she walked into the promenade. She still couldn’t get over what happened last night. The kiss. Lucas. His masculinity. His warmth. Everything about him. The comfort she felt when he held her in his arms. The security he made her feel after he rescued her from Franco. She felt good, actually too good, but something still troubling. She was falling in love with him and the attraction was too strong that she couldn’t tame herself anymore. Anytime, she could completely give into the feeling which could anytime could hurt Lucas as well. 

It’s still 20 minutes past 6 am. There were few figures walking along the beach creating silhouettes from the distance. The dark grey skies of dawn hinted faint stars glistening and slowly losing its charm behind thin clouds as the first light of the day started emerging from behind it. She breathed some air in as she strolled along the lonely promenade.  The air was surprisingly warmer and dense coming from the shore and the briny molecules left a sting on her throat. 

“Are you an early- riser too?” a voice jolted her from behind.

“Lucas!” She gasped, her heart almost leaped out of her chest.

Lucas giggled. He was wearing a blue hoodie and black running shorts. “Do you get jet lags at all?” he asked curiously as he picked up his pace beside her.

“I do, but only for a day. My body clock adjusts quickly.” She answered rather coyly as his sparkling eyes scanned her face.

“Good for you.

“Why? How about you?” she asked as she started walking briskly. She wanted to run away, shy at the her own thoughts earlier as if she said it out loud.

“Not that quick.” He chuckled. “I mean not like you.

They jogged from end to end along the promenade while fighting the urge to talk through their panting breaths. 

“Do you exercise daily?” he asked through muffled breaths as the breeze from the seas brushed through them.

“I do. It's like a therapy. Although I don't jog outside but I have a gym at home. You?” she asked despite the fact that it was too obvious from the way Lucas looked from his toned muscles.

“I do." He flashed her a boyish smile. "It’s amazing how similar we are in several ways.

It’s true. And I am getting nervous. This closeness. I wish we didn’t meet Lucas. You disturbed my peace. Now my emotions are in chaos. But its a beautiful chaos. And I don't know what to do.

After they covered the whole 1 km length of the beach, they brisk-walked half the way back and stopped to watch the glorious sunrise as they sat reclining on the sands.

“Magnificient.” Isra mumbled as she inhaled some sea breeze as she watched the hues of red and orange melting into pale heather skies.

Lucas took in long breaths too. “You should be here on summer. It’s more spectacular. The skies are like flames and cobalt blue. And stars are a multitude at night.

“I should.” She smirked.

Lucas side- glanced at her with a smile on his face. “Promise?

“Uhh- I am bad at making promises. But I would definitely come back here one summer, if not soon.” She mused. This part of Spain has its warm charm; something her mind and soul seem to have longed for a long time. Something about this place made her feel home. But was it because of Lucas? 

Lucas looked at her dreamily as he tilted his body to get a full glimpse of her, staring at the view ahead of her. He reached for her hand behind her and covered it with his and he felt sublime. Touching her felt like magic. Like the kiss she gave him last night. He could still feel it when he closed his eyes. Her soft lips and playful tongue. The breeze was chilly but the thought of their kiss brought warmth to run through his body. His lips curved into a smile as he looked at her. You’re so beautiful. I don’t know what magic spell you got to make me fall am madly in love with you, Isra. I have not felt this with anyone. You are different. You make me restless when I am not with you. I want this every morning I wake up. I want you for the rest of my life. 

The sound of the sea, the serenity of the moment, and with Isra on his side felt like a Utopian dream he wished would never end.

*****

Paloma woke up with a terrible migraine she could barely lift her head and she winced with pain as she turned to her side. The side of bed where Andrew slept was now empty. She realized she was naked and the soreness that lingered between her thighs indicated another rough night with Andrew which she barely remembered. They always have it rough when they had too much alcohol. The last two nights had been. Although she always loved the way Andrew drive her hysterical with orgasm, this time she felt awful. She couldn’t remember a thing except the elevator scene Franco and Alma started making out and the hallway to their room where she threw up, and the terrible feeling Lucas left her when he took Isra away. It felt as if he left her to die. She harrowed through her bag for pain killers just as Andrew emerged from the bathroom still wet from the shower. The towel was wrapped around his hips teasing Paloma with his sculpted abs as he unwrapped himself revealing a snug fit boxers molding his manhood.

“Hey sweetie. Good afternoon. You slept. I exhausted you, huh?” he winked as he dried his hair with the towel.

 “Fuck you. Diablo, you are. Can you give me some water?” she groaned as she popped a pill into her mouth.

 Andrew took a bottle off the fridge and throw it to her side on the bed with a smirk, “You were so wild last night, I never saw you like that.” 

Paloma swallowed the pill with the water and rolled her eyes. She couldn’t enjoy sex with Andrew anymore. All she wanted was Lucas. Her body was aching for him, aching how he would feel inside her, how his hands would caress her, how those eyes would stare at her lustfully as they make love. Her blood boiled again at the thought of him and Isra last night. They were too cozy with each other as if nobody else around them existed. A sharp pain shot through her head as she tried to imagine Lucas making love to Isra instead of her.

“Are you alright?” Andrew asked as he slipped into a pair of shorts and a red T-shirt.

She brushed him off as she winced with pain as she took another pill down. A hot bath might ease all the pain she felt. She stood up and walked across the room naked sending Andrew a taunt smile as she walked past him. Once inside, she run the hot shower down her head and back as she closed her eyes savoring the scorching of her skin where the water touched, until her scalp felt as if it was going  to fall off from the scalding heat as if she was deserving of it. Lucas. It should have been me. It should have been me who makes you laugh. It should have been me whom you hold hands. It should have been me to enjoy the pleasure of your bed. 

The water slowly turned milder as a pair of hands roamed the length of her spine and captured her breasts. A hard body of a male pressed against her from behind as his lips nibbled the side of her neck. One of his hands slid down to her hips then between her thighs, caressing the sensitive part of her that still felt sore from its last encounter as their breathing paced as they embraced the heat of the moment. 

“You are gorgeous and hot, Paloma.” He murmured to her ears. He moaned as she arched her body to him, invitingly, as she parted her legs and rubbing herself against him. Her soft mounds felt so good against his hardness. She moaned harder as he teased her with his length and a sharp gasp escaped her throat as he slid himself into her, and she moaned with great delight as he thrust into her slowly with full of passion until her breathing seemed labored. He enjoyed watching her, arching her body, loosing herself as she took all of him.

“Oh, Lucas!” she moaned. “Lucas.

At the mention of the name, a pit of fire erupted within him and he thrusted harder and faster, making her scream in joy and agony. He thrusted until her legs were shaking, as he was losing his mind with the moment like an angry beast whose pride was trampled upon. He had to give it to her fiercely until she would scream his name but he exploded inside of her before he could pull it out. Panting, he slid out of the shower. 

Paloma was left catching her breath grasping on the side of the walls. Her legs felt like jelly and her insides burned with the sensation. She could still feel the throbbing of her veins.  Although it was painful but it felt good. She had orgasm twice.

The faucet was running on the other behind the glass that separated the shower. She could see his silhouette. 

“Are still taking birth control?” he asked.

Alarmed, Paloma answered in a croaky voice “I am.” She had forgotten if she had taken her pills last night. "I think"

“You better be sure. Cos I think I came inside you. I was carried away. But not all of it. But I am sure some of my cum came out before I could pull it out.” He smirked as he peeped into her through the ajar door, his eyes expressionless.

“By the way, I’ll be meeting Frank in 10 minutes. We will have a dinner meeting with the lease manager. I will be late. Don't wait for me” He said before he closed the door behind him. 

Next chapter