“Wake up, sleepy-head.”

I drift, drowsy from the soothing sound of the ocean. I’m having the the most amazing dream. I’m on a tropical beach, where clear crystal water laps the power white sand, and palm trees shade my lounger. And there’s a man. Mmmm. A gorgeous, sexy man stroking every inch of my body...

His fingers brush over my bikini top, playing with my breasts. I let out a moan.

“That’s right, baby.” He chuckles. He squeezes with my nipples through the thin fabric until they’re hard and aching. “Are you awake yet?”

“No,” I whisper, wanting to stay in the bliss of this dream. It feels so good.

“Hmmm... how about now?” His hand moves lower, over my bare stomach. I shiver. He traces lightly down between my thighs, stroking over my clit. Even through my bikini, the sensation spirals through me. I gasp, rocking up against his hand.

“Still sleeping?” he murmurs.

I smile, but keep my eyes shut. I want to see where this goes.

“You really are tired, poor baby. I wonder what’s been wearing you out?” He sounds amused.

“My boyfriend,” I murmur, still laying with my eyes closed. “He’s insatiable.”

“I don’t blame him.” He pushes my bikini bottoms aside and rubs my clit, a maddening rhythm that makes me writhe. “Just looking at you like this, I want to sink deep into that sweet pussy and fuck you slowly until you lose your mind.”

“So why don’t you?” I challenge, breathing faster as he strokes. God, right there. Yes.

He laughs. “Soon, baby. But it’s time to wake up. I’ve got something planned for us.”

“Does it involve your cock inside me?” I moan. He answers by sliding two fingers into my wet core. Fuck.

“You can bet on it.” His palm presses my clit as his fingers pulse deep inside me and I break in a delicious ripple of orgasm.

I open my eyes to find Vaughn kneeling beside me with a wicked grin.
“I was just dreaming about you,” I smile. The beach glitters, totally empty except for us. Vaughn leans down to claim my mouth in a hot kiss.

“Good dream?” He murmurs, stroking my hair. His eyes rove over me, dark and possessive.

“The best.” I let out a contented sigh, looking at the ocean, and the setting sun -- and him. “This is heaven.”

Vaughn lifts me to my feet. We stroll back to our beachfront cabana: the doors wide open to let the tropical breeze in. “You hop in the shower,” Vaughn tells me, “I’m going to get your surprise ready.”

I feel a jolt of anticipation. Vaughn loves surprising me, and his plans usually end with multiple orgasms. “Give me a hint?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “Not this time. Go on.”

He’s using that voice I love, the one that’s all man, so I follow his order and go shower off in the huge bathroom. It’s big enough for two, and we’ve definitely tested it out many times this vacation, soaping up for hours together under the jets.

When I step out of the shower, there’s a box on the cabinet, tied with red ribbon.

Wear this.
(And only this)

I open the box. It’s a gorgeous red silk dress, with a short skirt and tiny spaghetti straps. There’s nothing else in the box. No lingerie. I grin, slipping it over my head. The silk slides over my body in a shiver of sensation. The skirt flares mid-thigh, dangerously high, and my nipples are visible through the fabric.

Something tells me we aren’t going out for dinner tonight.

My cellphone rings just as I’m applying makeup. It’s Cam, holding down the fort back at the company.

“Hey boss,” he says, when I answer. “Still enjoying paradise?”

“I love it here, we might never come back.”

He laughs. “Don’t. We need you.”

“Everything running OK?” I ask, fixing my hair in the mirror to fall in loose, natural waves.

“Nothing that won’t wait. The police say Carter will do jail time for attempted murder, and there’s still no word from Brent.”

That reminds me. “Will you do me a favor?” I ask. “Check on Isabelle. I don’t know what’s going on with her, but I know she’s mixed up in something with Brent. I just have a feeling, she might need help.”

“Sure,” Cam sounds surprised. “I’ll keep an eye on her.”

“Thanks. I’ve got to run.”

“A busy schedule of beach and cocktails?”

I laugh. “Something like that.”

I hang up push open the bathroom door, stepping out into our suite.

“Vaughn?” I call, but there’s no reply.

Another box sits on the coffee table. I open it, my anticipation rising. Inside is a red satin blindfold and another note.

Later.

My pulse kicks. I’m going to like this surprise, I’m certain.

I hear movement outside. I step out onto our private patio to see a table laid for two with beautiful white linens and silverware. There’s delicious-looking food, and candles flickering as the sun sets lower over the ocean in a blaze of pink and gold.

“You look beautiful,” Vaughn’s voice comes from behind me. I turn. He’s wearing dress pants and a white shirt open at the neck, devastatingly handsome like something from a movie. He carries a bottle of champagne and two glasses to the table, pausing to murmur in my ear as he passes.

“You’re going to look more beautiful naked in that blindfold with your wet mouth wrapped around my cock.”

Still my Vaughn. I feel a rush of heat between my naked thighs. Vaughn chuckles and pulls out a chair for me.

I sit, taking in the gorgeous scene. “I can’t believe you did all this for me.”

“It’s our last night on the island,” Vaughn smiles across the table at me. “I want it to be a night you remember.”

“I remember everything,” I admit, feeling a rush of love and desire. “Every minute we spend together.” Ever since meeting Vaughn, my life has turned upside down. We’ve been through so much together, and even though I feel closer to him than anyone else in my life before, it still amazes me how new and exciting this feels.

He surprises me. He challenges me. And God, he turns me on.

“No regrets?” Vaughn asks quietly. His eyes burn into mine from across the table. He looks weirdly serious.

“None.” I swear, reaching to hold his hand. “I love you. I’m just glad all the mess with Ashcroft and Ridley is over now. We can just be together.”

Vaughn pulls his hand away. “One last surprise,” he says, pulling a final box from his pocket. He places it on the table in front of me, tied with another red ribbon.

A ring-sized box.

My heart stops. It can’t be...

I look up at him, but he just smiles. “Open it.”

I unwrap the ribbon with shaking hands. Inside is the most beautiful diamond ring I’ve ever seen in my life.

“Vaughn...”

He goes down on one knee beside me. Vaughn takes the ring box, and cradles my hand. “You’ve changed my life, Keely. I was lost before I met you. I never thought that I could have this. Us. That I would love someone like I love you.”

I feel a sob rise in my throat. “I feel the same,” I whisper. “I’m so happy I have you.”

“Be mine forever,” Vaughn asks, and already I’m crying too much to get the words out. I just nod,

“Yes! Of course, I say yes.”

He slides the ring on my finger and then pulls me into his arms. I fit just right, made to press against his firm muscle and heat. It’s overwhelming, the thought of him forever. All Vaughn. All mine.

“You and me, baby,” Vaughn murmurs, claiming my lips in a scorching kiss. “I promise, I’m going to spend the rest of our lives making you smile... making you laugh...”

His hands slide lower, under the hem of my dress.

“Making you scream.”

THE END