I dont need a neon sign to know when youre aroused, she said. She unknotted the pareu from her waist and wrapped it around his, fastening it low on his hips. How is that?
Trey wriggled, enjoying the feel of the thin fabric on his skin. It felt much better than the damp khakis or his boxer shorts. The breeze just blows right up beneath it and makes everything verypleasant, he said.
Sophie giggled. You look nice in a skirt. Not many men can carry it off, but you can.
And what are you going to wear now? he asked.
She was dressed in just the shirt and her thong. Sophie picked up his boxers and held them up. We are a little short on clothing. I could wear these.
Trey shook his head. No, I think I like you just the way you are. The thong was sexy as hell, showing off the sweet curves of her backside. And the shirt was thin enough that he could see her breasts through the fabric. Any fewer clothes and hed be walking around with a perpetual hard-on all day. Any more and hed be depriving himself of his one true pleasure-looking at Sophies delicious body.
Sophie wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, arching against him as he held her close. See, already youre starting to adapt to the ways of the island.
Im wearing a skirt, Trey said, looking down at the brightly flowered fabric.
I know. But its practical. When you want to swim, you just untie the knot. And if it gets wet, it dries very quickly. Its the perfect thing. Youll want to buy five or six of them for yourself when we get back to Papeete.
Trey chuckled. It was a fair swap, but still, he liked the way she looked dressed in his shirt. It made him feel as if she were his and his alone-at least until they got off the island.
She grabbed her bag from beneath the shelter and rummaged through it until she found a brown plastic bottle. You should put some of this on.
She handed it to him and he screwed off the top and sniffed. He recognized the scent from her skin. What is it? Your perfume? First a skirt and now perfume?
Its called monoi. Its for the sun, to keep you from burning. It has coconut and sandalwood and jasmine in it. And citronella for the mosquitoes. They can get bad at night. She glanced around. Although, they shouldnt be too bad on an atoll like this.
Why?
Theres not a lot of standing water. And its always pretty windy. But it is the rainy season and theyre at their worst when its damp.
Trey sniffed it again. He liked the way she smelled, but he wasnt sure he wanted to smell the same. I think Im all right.
Sighing impatiently, Sophie grabbed the bottle and squeezed some of the oil into her hand. As she began to rub it into his chest, Trey started to believe in the benefits of the oil. Her touch was like a narcotic, relaxing him, yet exciting him all at once. The scent of the oil filled the air and he pressed his hand to the small of her back, pulling her closer.
That feels good, he murmured.
She smoothed her palms over his shoulders, then circled around behind him to rub the monoi on his back. Did she have any idea what her touch did to him, how deeply it stirred his desires?
With Sophie, even the most benign things became seductive. She could wiggle her toes in the sand and he got turned on. Or she could lick her bottom lip and hed lose himself in a fantasy about how those lips might feel on certain parts of his body.
When she was finished with his back, she put the cap on the bottle and tossed it on the blanket. There. Youre ready to go, she said.
Where are we going?
Youll see, she replied. Since we didnt have any luck at fishing, well have to find dinner. And I know the perfect place.
Are you asking me on a date?
A date?
He slipped his arm around her waist as they began to walk. I think you just asked me to dinner. Before we go, I want to make something perfectly clear. I dont kiss on the first date.
I see, Sophie said, giggling. Thats good. Because neither do I.
As they walked along the lagoon to the south end of the atoll, Trey wondered what other delights he and Sophie would share before the night was over. Once they settled in for the evening, there was nothing else to do but amuse themselves with sexual activities.
But then, there was always conversation. With Sophie, Trey enjoyed that almost as much as sex. This time together had proven one thing-they enjoyed each others company. For Trey, that was saying a lot.
There were very few women hed met that hed wanted to spend an extended period of time with. Mostly, he enjoyed their company in bed, and that was about it. The women hed known had usually been silly and shallow and interested in only one thing-his money.
But Sophie didnt seem to be aware of who he was, or of the life hed led. Their acquaintance began in the hangar at the airport and she didnt care at all about what had come before.
Tell me more about this resort you want to build, Sophie said, wrapping her arm around his waist as they walked. What would it be like?
Luxurious, he said. But primitive.
Sophie frowned. How is that possible?
Hed been turning the idea around and around in his head for such a long time that Trey was almost afraid to talk about it, afraid that if he did, the idea might not hold up to scrutiny. Theres a segment of the population, a very wealthy segment, thats looking for a completely unique vacation. I want to find a location so secluded that they can feel safe enough to relax and enjoy themselves.
She didnt say anything for a long time, but he could see she was thinking about what hed said. It will be very expensive to build on an island, Sophie warned.
He shrugged. Money really isnt a problem.
What about the other things? Youll need electricity and fresh water. A way to get materials on and off the island. A way to get guests back and forth to a major airport.
Youve thought about these things?
Well, havent you?
Yes, he said. Of course.
I live in these islands, Trey. I know what its like. Its not like living in a big city with all the conveniences. Everything is simpler there, yet its much more difficult, as well. Here, everything comes in by boat or plane and its expensive.
Well, if we build it right, then it will sustain itself, Trey said, pulling her to a stop. Well power everything with windmills. Well collect rainwater. Well sail our guests to the island. Well prepare simple meals with all-natural foods, grown on the island. Well serve the kind of meals that islanders have eaten for centuries. He paused. What do you think?
What does your father think? Sophie asked.
I havent told him about that part of the plan yet. Hes kind of a traditional hotel developer. He really doesnt have any imagination. Do you think its a good idea?
Yes! she said with a smile. I think its a marvelous idea.
They continued to walk, Trey suddenly more excited about the project than hed ever been. It was a good idea, but hed been afraid to talk about it, afraid that his father would immediately find fault or discount it completely because hed been the one to come up with the idea. But Sophie lived in these islands and she knew them well. If she thought the concept would work, then maybe it wasnt so crazy.
If youre bringing people by boat, your location needs to be closer to an island with an airport, Sophie suggested.
Im kind of flexible on that, he said. We could bring people in by plane.
Then an atoll is a better idea, she said. You can land in the lagoon or you can build a landing strip on a larger motu. And if theres a deep enough channel, you could bring boats right into the lagoon.
As they continued their walk, they discussed more of the details, Sophie listening quietly as he explained everything he wanted to accomplish. In the end, Trey felt as if the project were suddenly real. This wasnt just a pipe dream anymore. He could make this work.
But he could use Sophies help. Why not hire her? After all, shed be in on it from the very beginning. They could work together on the project. She certainly knew enough to coordinate all their transportation needs. And Madigan Air could use the business.
I should hire you, Trey said. Ill need someone here to be my liaison if the project goes through. Someone who knows the islands. Someone who can cut through the red tape.
Once the offer was out there, Trey realized just how stupid it sounded. Though they might get along quite well as lovers, stuck on a deserted island, what made him think they could have a working relationship once they went back to the real world?
I-Im not sure how much longer Im going to be in the islands, Sophie said. The business isnt doing real well and-
But dont you see? This would be an answer to all your problems. I could hire you to fly me back and forth. Id pay you well. And-
Well see, she said, cutting him off.
They continued the rest of their walk in silence, their fingers laced together as they waded through a narrow channel that fed the lagoon.
After five minutes of silence, Trey was certain hed made a mistake. Perhaps this was all they were supposed to have, just twenty-four hours on this island. She didnt seem interested in anything more than that. But he didnt want to believe it would end so soon. He was beginning to care about Sophie, and he wanted to know her much better.
He silently chastised himself. Hell, hed never in his life felt so vulnerable. And it was his fault, letting himself believe what they were sharing was more than just a temporary passion. From now on, hed accept the fact that their affair would end the moment they got off the island.
That didnt mean he couldnt enjoy the pleasure her body offered. He just wouldnt attach any expectations to their relationship. It would be purely sexual.
4
THE CLOUDS HAD BROKEN and sunlight filtered through the grove of coconut palms, illuminating the remains of the old resort. Trey stood at the edge of the beach, staring at the rotting fares, an odd expression on his face. He seemed almost perplexed by the ruins of the village, the scene putting a damper on his good mood.
Was he having doubts about his plan? Sophie wondered. The person who had tried to develop Suaneva thirty years ago had had big dreams, but this was all that was left of them. Maybe he just didnt know what he was getting himself into.