Page 5 of Derius

When lunch was over the men policed the picnic site with military thoroughness and then the others went to play beach volleyball. Nikko had reserved a net for this time slot. Derius refused the offer to rotate in and out with one of the other men to keep the numbers even and walked to the hotel. Anxious about Leonie he was uncomfortable enjoying himself when she was miserable. Knowing her state of mind was all his fault, stemming from his craven decision three years ago didn’t help. But how was he going to fix things if she wouldn’t agree to hear his explanation and apology?

When he walked into their room, she was sitting at the table, the remnants of a room service lunch at her elbow, working away on a large handheld, data chits and other devices scattered within convenient arm’s reach. She looked up, startled and he had to fight not to lose himself in her deep blue eyes. He strode to the table, pulled the central device away from her and said, “You shouldn’t be working your fingers to the bone on such a lovely day with the entire planet out there to explore.”

She blinked. “I can see the ocean from the balcony window.”

“Seeing it is not the same as sitting next to it or wading out into the waves. Listen, I know you don’t want to spend time with me but I hate to see you working when you could be out on the beach relaxing. And knowing it’s because of me. If you’d met any other Ardannan for this date you’d be out there having fun. Instead you’re avoiding me. If I promise not to bother you, will you change clothes and come to the beach?” Guilt ate at him that she was denying herself any relaxation or recreation simply because of him and his massive screwup three years before.

“I don’t know if you remember but I told you I’m an independent management consultant. I’m working on my proposal for a new job, which I’m excited about and which would pay my bills for a year if I get it.”

He blocked her from retrieving the device from his side of the table. “Babe, really, tell me the truth. If you were here in this room with any other Ardannan, would you be working on a proposal?”

Obviously torn between admitting he was right and the temptation to lie Leonie licked her lips and fidgeted with her handheld. “No.”

“I rest my case. I’ll wait while you change and then I’ll escort you to the beach, make sure you’re set up with a chair and a cute drink with an umbrella and then I’ll leave you alone.”

He was sure she’d refuse him but he had to try. The moment lengthened as Leonie stared at his face, her lips pursed. Then she gave a brisk nod, put her hands on the tabletop and rose. “All right. I’ll concede a bit of downtime between jobs might be a good thing. You don’t have to escort me down there.”

“I’ll wait,” he said. “I want to be sure you get set up the way you’d like and at least close to our group.”

She didn’t say anything as she crossed the room and went into her bedroom. He heard the lock click and sighed. She was never going to trust him again, was she? And he deserved her suspicion and reserve. But at least she hadn’t said no to the beach. That was a start, maybe.

Leonie re-emerged in ten minutes in a colorful two piece bathing suit, hot pink beach sandals and a striped coverup, carrying a bag with cavorting sea creatures on the side in vivid colors. “Lead on,” she said with a gesture at the door.

He waited while she grabbed her handheld from the table and stuffed it into the bag, then opened the door to the room and allowed her to precede him. It was a short walk from the hotel to the spot where his group was established for the day. Despite the crowd of Ardannans and their dates, Derius was able to get one of the comfortable beach chairs with its own umbrella for her and set it up close to the spot where he and his friends had their chairs and towels. Without asking he jogged to one of the many bar stations and got her the promised fruity tropical drink with an umbrella and brought it to her as she was arranging herself and the book she’d brought to read in the chair.

“I remember your drink order from…well, from before, so I ordered the closest thing they had on the menu,” he said, handing her the frosted glass.

“Nothing for yourself?” she asked, taking the feelgood and drinking a tiny sip. “Oh yeah, that’s good. Thank you.”

“I’ll have refreshment later,” he said. “I’m going back to surfing now so enjoy your book.”

He wanted to stay and try to talk to her since she’d unbent a fraction but he sensed it wasn’t the time to push so he turned and ran to the waves, diving under an incoming breaker and emerging on the other side stroking hard. The ocean always had a calming effect on him and he reveled in using its power to body surf. Out here he could stop thinking too much and hoping for a breakthrough with Leonie and exist in the moment, savoring the rush of riding a wave with only his muscles and instincts to save him from disaster.

Chapter Three

Leonie tried to read her book. She really did. But her attention kept drifting to wherever Derius was. The man had an amazing physique. She shifted in the chair a bit as she watched him emerge from the most recent wave, shaking his shoulder length hair, water dripping down his perfectly chiseled abs, leading her eyes to the sculpted Adonis belt. His swimsuit clung to every inch of his body, outlining his ample endowment in great detail. She remembered how long and thick his cock was and how it had stretched and filled her. He’d been an amazing lover, matching her mood as the evening progressed—tender and leisurely or hot and hard, driving the headboard into the wall with the force of their coupling. But it wasn’t only the physical side of their one night together that left her so broken when he disappeared. Before she’d invited Soldier up to her room they’d spent hours in the hotel bar talking and she’d had the inescapable sense—although she’d never believed in love at first sight despite the steamy romances she loved to devour—he was her soul mate.

And then to awaken in a cold bed, with all signs of his presence gone and no note, no further word from him…

She shut her eyes against sudden tears. Angry at herself, she sipped the fruity drink and struggled for self control. This was a mistake, letting him talk her into coming down to the beach.

“Hey, are you all right?” a woman asked softly.

“I’m fine. The sun is a bit too bright for me,” she said, opening her eyes.

The other woman stuck her hand out. “I’m Kath, Nikko’s date? The guy over there in the red trunks?” She pointed and one of the men waved a hand. “Listen I don’t know what’s going on with you and Derius but I’m glad to see you made it to the beach. It’s a pity to waste all this glorious private beach.”

“I was working,” Leonie said a bit stiffly. “I’m an independent management consultant.”

“Sounds interesting,” Kath sat in the sand at the foot of the chair. “I’m a dentist myself and the other girls in our group do a variety of things. We decided Fern had the best job—she works in the trideo industry and her last gig was a blockbuster action thriller with Kev Stevens. Nikko is pretty built and drop-dead handsome like all these Ardannans seem to be but still I can swoon over an action star, right?” She pointed at Leonie’s book. “I’ve read that one—no spoilers but it’s really good. And did you know there’s a sequel now too? I heard it might even be made into a trideo.”

Leonie allowed herself to be drawn into a conversation because Kath was so friendly and it was against her own nature both personally and professionally to be rude. Her problem with Derius didn’t involve anyone but the two of them. Eventually the other girls gravitated to them and they were talking about their plans for the evening and the next few days, with a lot of laughter and blushing. Nikko bought them all a round of the resort’s special feelgoods with the absurd decorative touches but didn’t stay once he’d delivered them.

She had to admit he was good looking but in her eyes Derius was head and shoulders above any of these other men. She played with the mermaid olive pick in her second feelgood and realized she was relaxed and content at the moment. Derius hadn’t hovered or tried to bring up their last disastrous encounter and in her life she rarely had time to sit and talk with any girlfriends. In fact, she could probably count on one hand how many true friends she had left from her days at college or even her first job at one of the Sectors’ huge consulting firms. A lot of useful contacts and networking names but actual friends? People to sit and talk about books and trideos with?

Yeah, none.

“So tomorrow we’re going to check out all the neat shops on the strand,” Kath said to Leonie. “We were hoping you’d be free to join us. Girls’ lunch at the cozy little bistro near the hotel. The guys are going spearfishing.”