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Evie looked around at the small, tastefully decorated hut that was to be their home for the next fortnight, smirking as she saw Jacob had already removed his shirt and was making himself comfortable on one of the loungers by the small plunge pool that he’d insisted upon. Evie had trued to remind him that they were literally staying on top of the warm waters surrounding Bora Bora, but apparently it had been a necessity he could not go without.
She found herself absentmindedly playing with the wedding band Jacob had surprised her with before the trip, for she was still reeling from the fact that the receptionist had greeted them as Mr and Mrs Frye. Foreign holidays, surrounded by people who they would never see them again, was as close as they would ever get to actually being married, and the very thought sent a hot flush up her spine. However, there was also a slight sadness knowing that this would be as good as it got. Not that she was complaining, as she knew the next two weeks would be something resembling heaven upon Earth.
“Why are you still in your clothes? Get your bikini on and relax, Mrs Frye,” the sound of his voice, the way he drew out the Mrs with that low, sultry voice caused her to look at him again and realise that there was nothing else she wanted to do in the world. It didn’t take more than a minute of rummaging though her suitcase to find one of the bikinis she’d bought especially for the trip—this one was deep burnt orange with lace detailing and was far more revealing than anything she would usually wear—and for her to pull her clothes off, not caring that they were lying crumpled on the floor. If there was one thing Jacob had managed to instil in her during their month of living together, it was to relax and stop worrying about things being one hundred percent perfect all the time.
As she stepped into the warm air outside, she heard Jacob whistle appreciatively when he saw her. “You are not taking that off for the rest of the trip,” he said as she kissed him deeply, enjoying the feeling of his ring against hers.
“We do have to leave the hut, you know,” replied Evie as she pulled herself away from his body and lay down on the lounger next to him.
“No, we don’t, there’s room service and I reject any ideas you have about sightseeing. I have all the sights I need right in front of me.”
Evie sighed and rolled her eyes as exaggeratingly as she could. She loved Jacob with all her heart, but he could be an absolute cheeseball at the best of times, and his pick-up lines were often so abysmal they became endearing. “Do you remember that time when we were eleven and got stuck in the house for a week because it rained so much?”
She could see Jacob wince slightly at the memory, and grinned knowing she’d gotten her victory. “And that was with an entire house at our disposal...” he mused, his hand absentmindedly reaching over to stroke her arm. “Yes, I suppose enjoying some sumptuous meals and getting a few walks in won’t be a bad thing. As long as I’m with you, I’ll be happy.”
“Well, I shall be happy on a boat and exploring the island. Oh, and if you think this bikini is nice, just wait till you see some of the others I brought along.”
Jacob groaned, “That’s not fair, Evie, you know I’m too tired from the flight to drag you to the bedroom and have my way with you.”
—
It had taken Evie three days to go stir-crazy inside the small bungalow, despite their days being made up of sightseeing and lavish three-course meals at restaurants, and despite the fact that ninety percent of their time spent in the bungalow was spent naked, in varying positions and intervals of ecstatic bliss, with the occasional dip in the plunge pool and ocean. Therefore, Jacob had taken it upon himself to upgrade them to a large three-bedroom villa—though only one bedroom would be needed—with its own private stretch of beach and artfully placed palm trees and shrubs. Evie had squealed with delight when she’d seen it, hugging Jacob tightly and thanking him.
They’d hit the halfway mark of their two-week holiday, and Jacob had insisted on utilising the outdoor kitchen. The staff had brought him ingredients whilst Evie was busy sunning herself on the beach, wanting it to be a surprise.
Evie sat at the kitchen island, a glass of chilled rosé in her hand as she watched Jacob flit around the kitchen. It had become a familiar sight ever since he’d moved in with her a month before, given Evie’s cooking skills had still not much improved. She had been able to successfully boil pasta and heat up ready-made tomato sauce, but that was about as far as her culinary skills reached.
There was also a selection of her favourite songs playing through the speakers, and coupled with the sun beginning to set, turning the sky into varying shades of pink and blue, Evie knew that she was utterly blessed to have Jacob back in her life, and wondered how she’d ever lived it without him.
“So, are you going to tell me what you’re making?”
“Evie my love, where is your sense of mystery? Your joie de vivre for the unexpected?”
Evie found herself snorting slightly at his exaggerated French pronunciation and was about to ask him where he’d learnt French but remembered he’d had the same first-class private education as she’d had. She had no doubt that just like her he still recited Latin conjugations in his sleep.
“It does smell delicious, so I shall restrain myself.”
“Good girl,” he replied in that tone of voice that usually had her naked and ready within about five seconds. This time however, the delicious aromas wafting up from the pots and pans was enough to distract her and keep her sarong firmly on her body.
“Jacob,” she chided, “You know what that voice does to me.”
He chuckled, letting Evie know he knew exactly what that voice did to her, and that he was happy to use it to his advantage. But he also had food cooking and burnt food simply wouldn’t do. So he merely refilled her wine glass and kissed her, and pondered whether he should pinch himself. This surely was a dream, because men like him didn’t end up with beautiful women and didn’t holiday in private villas in Bora Bora. And it was surely a dream that he was finally close with his twin sister, given they’d been little more than strangers most of their lives. Though then a splatter of hot oil hit his hand and he knew that this was not a dream, this was his insanely incredible reality.
They talked as they ate, conversation flowing between them as easily as the wine. The air was still warm even as the day became night, and the food was ate happily, for it was delicious.
“I can’t believe we still have a week of paradise together,” said Evie as she helped herself to another spoonful of creamy mashed potato laced with copious amounts of butter and cheese. Her cheeks were flushed from the alcohol, her hair flowing loosely down her shoulders. Jacob couldn’t remember when she’d looked more beautiful, because at home she was always stressed about something—usually job related—and that meant he would have to spend their evenings massaging the kinks out of her tired muscles. But here she was truly, beautifully relaxed, and it showed. Beauty shone from every pore, and Jacob wanted to kneel before her and weep, or pray. She was a goddess, and he was her humble servant.
“I mean, maybe we could just leave it all behind. Buy an island with our millions and just live like this 24/7.”
“But... my job is important,” Evie stated, a conflicted expression on her face that Jacob wanted to write off. “And what would we do all day? I’m usually terrible with free time.”
“The UK will survive without you, just like it’s done for hundreds of years,” answered Jacob as he took her hand. “And it wouldn’t be free time, it’d be us time. We’d be enjoying our private island with our cats, a space where we wouldn’t have to hide our love. We could do whatever we wanted to do, travel anywhere in the world. I mean I know you love your job, but I see how it stresses you, how it affects you. I want you to be happy, you know that.”
Evie pondered his words, looking around at their surroundings, and at how happy she’d felt this past week. “Can we give it a year? A year of living in London, a year of my job, a year of you working out what you want and need and cooking delicious meals for me.”
After a moment Jacob nodded, kissing her hand. “A year. Of course. I mean we’ll still be together, and as long as we’re together and in love then I will be happy.”
“As will I,” replied Evie, her other hand reaching over to stroke his cheek. “But for now we’re here, alone, and blissfully happy. Why don’t we finish this incredible food, thank you my love, watch a movie whilst we digest, and then I shall drag you to our bedroom and make you chant my name in ecstasy filled prayer.”
“Your wish is my command,” replied Jacob in that voice, and Evie figured they’d likely be skipping the film and going straight for carnal pleasure.
She briefly wondered what she’d done to deserve such a wonderful, caring, perfect man for her, but figured that the decision had been made for them long before they were conscious beings. They were one, bound by flesh and blood. Evie and Jacob Frye. Oh she could not wait for what the next week, or year, would bring them.