Consumed by Desire

Book 2: Billionaire Island Brides

by Ana E Ross

Genres: Billionaires Romance; Contemporary Romance; Erotic & Steamy Romance; Second Chance Romance; billionaire romance; spicy; vacation romance; steamy romance; big hearted alpha hero; plot twist; romance with a twist; Emotional romance novel

Synopsis

Neopheus Giannopoulos is impatient, determined, and hopelessly romantic, though he’s not looking for love––he’s grieving the loss of it. But while on Akilina for his brother’s royal wedding, a chance encounter on the beach changes everything for this billionaire real estate mogul. She’s an intoxicating vision moving under the moonlight, her lithe body swaying in the island breeze, and Neo sets out to convince her of what he knows in the depth of his soul––that they are meant to be together.

After a year of devastating heartbreak and healing, celebrating her best friend’s bachelorette weekend is the only thing on Calista Larson's mind. Three nights at the world-renowned Jewel Beach Resort was all she’d bargained for, but fate has something else in store. He’s kind and generous, and just the sound of his voice sends shockwaves up and down her spine. However, one false move forces Cali to decide between running back home, or giving love a second chance.

But… She should have known that an all-expenses-paid week in paradise was too good to be true…

And… He should have learned by now that the truth never stays hidden for long…

Can they find their way back to each other and to the love that blossomed beneath the warm, tropical sun, or will the consequences of one life-changing mistake prove too much to bear?

Release date: January 24, 2025

Print pages: 340

Sample

June, Akilina…
Neo’s gaze drifted toward the head of the table where his brother, Raph, and his lovely fiancée, Xiomara Davenport, were seated. Seemingly oblivious to the guests gathered for their rehearsal dinner, they exchanged smiles and glances with each other, their bliss radiating throughout the room where warm light spilled from crystal chandeliers.
Taking a sip of his wine, Neo surveyed the reception hall as servers cleared the tables in preparation for dessert. Centerpiece vases overflowed with palm leaves, orchids, and hibiscus, and a few young children played hide-and-go-seek behind the soft pink and cream silk drapes. The hall, filled with the honored couple’s closest family and friends, was alive with conversation and laughter, the clinking of silverware against precious porcelain, and traditional Megiri music playing softly in the background.
It had been a beautiful evening, one that should have had him riding on cloud nine along with his family. Instead, Neo was poignantly reminded of all that was missing in his own life. The emptiness was amplified by his cousin Nikolas, seated to his right, who’d been flirting shamelessly with his date throughout dinner. To his left, Xiomara’s aunt and uncle, who would soon be celebrating their fifty-fifth wedding anniversary, seemed just as lost in each other’s presence as the young bride and groom-to-be.
Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Neo looked up into a pair of green eyes that mirrored his own. His brother, Tele, the youngest of the Giannopoulos triplets towered over him. “What are you doing?” he asked, noticing the chair Tele had brought with him.
Ignoring his question, Tele turned to Nikolas. “Hey, Niko, you mind if I pull in here for a sec?”
“Sure, cousin,” he said, as he and his date scooted their chairs over the tiled floor to make room.
As Tele slid into the vacant spot, Neo set his glass of Tanama Halhira on the hand-printed tablecloth. The local wine, named for the small white butterflies that pollinated the flowering grapevine, had been a hit that night, and Neo had already asked Xiomara to secure a crate for him to take home to New York.
“What a feast, huh?” Tele asked. “I feel like a stuffed goose.”
Neo’s taste buds still savored the succulent roasted duck, pounded yams, and garden salad––all bathed in red-currant sauce. “I know what you mean.” He wondered if he’d have room for the black cake, fresh fruit, and Champagne that were now being served.
“You ready to roast him?” Tele nudged his head subtly toward Raph.
Neo had been working on his best man speech all week. “When have you known me not to be ready? What about you?”
“I’m ready enough. But you know me, I’m quick on my feet.” Proving his point, Tele turned to the waiter who had stopped behind them, seemingly thrown off his game by the sudden seating change that Tele had orchestrated. “Hey, thanks, I’ll take that.” He took one of the dessert plates from the tray and, helping himself to Neo’s dessert fork, carved out a large bite. “Oh, my god, this is so good,” he mumbled with a mouthful of the spiced fruit cake.
Neo eyed his brother as he chewed slowly, swallowed, then took a second, even larger bite. He shook his head, praying he never looked quite as gluttonous as his younger brother did wolfing down his cake.
Five minutes younger than Raph, and two minutes older than Tele, Neo was the middle of the Giannopoulos triplets. While not identical, they were close enough in appearance for people to mistake one for the other: tall, muscular, olive skin, dark hair, square chins, and classic Grecian noses. Those who failed to look closely missed the subtle features that set them apart.
Neo smiled as he recalled the countless failed attempts he and his brothers had made at tricking their mother when they were kids. When they were eight years old, she had finally sat them down and explained that since the moment they were placed in her arms, she could always tell them apart by Raph’s fuller, rosier lips, Neo’s slightly lower nose, and Tele’s dimpled smile. They had all inherited their maternal grandfather’s green eyes, but Raph’s were a deeper shade than Neo’s––though both were speckled with amber––and in a certain light, Tele’s appeared more blue than green.
Their personalities, Neo thought, couldn’t be more different. Of the three brothers, Raph was the cautious and protective guardian, navigating life with a measured seriousness and an unwavering sense of responsibility and stability. He was a steady anchor, ensuring the safety and well-being of those he loved. Tele was mischievous and playful, and operated with an air of mystery, cloaking his intentions, while strategically assessing both short and long-term consequences.
Meanwhile, Neo, although often accused of being impatient, flowed with the tides, opting to embrace life’s meandering path, rather than resist its inevitable changes. He was a peacemaker who preferred to diffuse tension with humor and charm rather than anger. 
“I still can’t believe Raph is getting married tomorrow,” Tele said.
“Tell me about it.” Their stoic brother, who had always sworn off committed relationships, had inadvertently stumbled into the kind of love and happiness Neo longed for. Hoping his turn would come sooner rather than later, and determined to embrace his brother’s happiness as though it were his own, Neo swiped his stolen utensil out of Tele’s hand and forked his dessert. He groaned as the rich cake melted in his mouth. “Jesus, this is good,” he mumbled.
“Right? Told you.”
“Hello. Can I have everyone’s attention, please.”
A hush fell over the room as Dylan, Xio’s cousin and Master of Ceremonies, took the floor.
“I want to thank you all for coming out to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of my dear cousin, Xiomara, and her chosen life partner, Raph.” He tapped his stomach. “I don’t know about you, but I’m absolutely stuffed with one of the best meals I’ve ever had.”
“They’ll have to roll me out of here,” someone shouted from the back, making everyone laugh.
Dylan continued. “We heard speeches from the bride’s family during cocktails, and now it’s time to hear from the groom’s. The first to take the floor will be Neo, Raph’s brother and best man, followed by their other brother, Tele. Finally, we’ll hear from Jordan, mother of the groom—without whom we wouldn’t be here tonight. So now, without further ado…” Dylan walked over and handed off the microphone to Neo. 
Neo knew all eyes were on him, but he kept his gaze fixed on Raph and Xio––their glowing smiles giving him encouragement. “Good evening,” he said, standing to his feet.
“Good evening,” the guests called back in near-perfect unison.
He cleared his throat. “I’m going to confess that Tele tried to get me to make this speech more of a roast than a toast. And although I considered it, I know that this once-in-a-lifetime love between Raph and Xiomara deserves better. So, friends, family, though I have a keen memory of my brother’s bachelor days, you’ll be spared the details this evening.”
“Your brother thanks you,” Raph called out.
Neo relished the look of relief on their mother’s face. “Raph. I never thought we’d see the day you would be so eager to take the plunge into married life.”
“I didn’t know it either, until Xio.” Raph placed an arm around Xiomara and kissed her cheek.
“And Xiomara, on behalf of the Giannopoulos family, thank you for saying yes to my brother.”
“Of course, I said yes. Just look at him!” Xiomara cupped Raph’s cheek, turned his head, and kissed him so passionately on his mouth that even Neo blushed.
Neo loosened his tie, and when the whoops and hollers subsided, he continued. “So, tomorrow's the big day, and I can't help but feel a mix of emotions. There’s happiness, a touch of nostalgia, and maybe even a bit of envy, because between the two of us, you were the least likely to tie the knot.” He took a deep breath and steadied his voice. “You, Tele, and I have been through a lot. After we lost Dad, we depended on each other. We took turns comforting each other, and as we got older, we leaned on each other for guidance on how to navigate the world without him in it. The love that grew out of our loss made us stronger…brought us even closer together. We formed a bond that was unbreakable, and that bond has been our rock ever since.”
Neo paused and blinked back stinging tears as his mother and Raph openly dabbed their eyes with their napkins, and Tele sniffled next to him.
“Raph, you’ve always been the leader, even when we were kids. We looked up to you then, and hell, we still do. Seven minutes older, or not, you took the lead, protected Tele and me at school and on the playground, and taught us how to stand up for ourselves. Because of you, the bullies thought twice before messing with us, and since we looked so much alike, nobody dared pick on any of us, just in case they were messing with you.
“As we got older, people continued to mistake us for each other, which led to some very interesting encounters, particularly with the ladies. As a matter of fact, I remember one such encounter in Boston when…” 
Neo grinned as chairs creaked around the room––their occupants leaning in closer for the juicy details. Raph, however, stiffened in his seat, sending Neo a dagger stare.
“Just kidding, Raph,” he teased. “Your secrets are safe with me.”
“As yours are with me, little brother,” Raph retorted, his tone laced with both humor and caution.
“Anyway,” Neo continued amidst the disappointed groans from guests who’d hoped to hear more, “tomorrow, you’re starting a new chapter and a new family with Xiomara, and just as you’ve been our champion…” He smiled reassuringly at their mother and placed his hand on Tele’s shoulder as he heaved a heartfelt sigh. “I know that you will love and protect her and the life you build together, because that’s just the kind of man you are.”
Neo pulled a piece of paper from his left jacket pocket and unfolded it. “As only those closest to me know, I’ve been writing poems since middle school. It’s very rare that I share them, but tonight, to celebrate new love, I’d like to read one I wrote for you, Raph and Xiomara.” He swallowed the lump of nerves in his throat and began.
In the realm where stars softly gleam,
A tale of love, a heartfelt dream.
As two souls embark on wedded bliss,
Let these words convey the depth of this.
 
To my brother, steadfast and true,
In love’s embrace, both old and new.
As you stand together side by side,
A journey begins, a joyous tide.
 
In laughter shared and tears embraced,
In every challenge, together faced,
May your days be filled with loving light,
And brilliant passion consume your nights.
 
And as you dance through time, hand in hand,
Let the rhythm of your hearts be your accompanying band.
In this chapter, as husband, wife, and friend,
I pray your love story never ends.
 
So, here’s to love, to laughter, and more,
To the journey that lies beyond life’s open doors.
To Raph and Xio, forever entwined,
A union blessed, two souls combined. 
Neo picked up his glass of Champagne and, raising it, smiled at his brother and his lovely fiancé. “To Raph and Xio.” 
It had been ghostly quiet while he’d read his poem, and it had taken every ounce of his strength to hold himself together, but relief washed over Neo as the room erupted into applause, and the guests echoed his sentiments with “To Raph and Xio!” Many stood, toasting the happy couple. And as he returned his poem to his pocket, Neo, forever plagued by a hopeless romanticism that had directed his steps ever since he was a child, hoped that his own, once-in-a-lifetime love story was still waiting to be written, and that when the right woman came into his life, it would be every bit as beautiful as the love he and his family celebrated tonight.
“Dynamite, bro,” Tele praised, when Neo sat down. “How am I supposed to top that?”
Mischief tickled the corner of Neo’s mouth. “You can’t.”

Later that night, Neo leaned on a high-top table in the corner of the room, impatiently counting the minutes until he could abandon the party for the solitude of his guest house at the Davenport’s estate.
As people posed for photos with the happy couple, Colibri, the globally renowned Megiri band, played the rhythmic beats of Guariyambe, the popular Ynoan music, blending the sounds of traditional instruments, such as ja’baos, maracas, ocarinas, and drums, with the more contemporary keyboard, and electric bass.
“Hey, Neo!”
Neo turned as Akilah, Xio’s sixteen-year-old sister and maid of honor, came up behind him.
“Hey, Akilah. Don’t you look lovely tonight,” he said, admiring her fully embroidered jumpsuit––one of her mother’s masterpieces, he was certain.
“Why thank you, good sir.” She gracefully spun around on her tiptoes. “You don’t look so bad yourself. I wanted to ask if you’re good for the Areito, or if you wanna practice one last time.”
“I think I’ve got it down.” The Areito was a traditional ceremonial dance, typically accompanied by historical songs. As they were celebrating an upcoming marriage, a professional story-singer would render a love ballad that weaved together Xio and Raph’s family histories, while Neo and Akilah performed the dance.
“You sure?” Akilah asked, with a skeptical twist of her lips. “Because we can sneak into the back.”
“I’m sure. They'll be talking about us for weeks to come.”
“Okay, but I’m warning you right now, if you make me look bad in front of all these people, I’ll make you work to earn my forgiveness.”
“Knowing you, I’d be in debt for the rest of my life.”
“Just as long as you know what’s at stake.”
Her mother called her impatiently from across the room.
“I’m coming, Mommy!” she yelled over the music. “Ugh. I gotta go meet some more off-island relatives whose names I’ll probably forget by the end of the night. See you on stage?”
“See you there, Akilah.”
As Akilah hurried off to fulfill her duties, Neo looked toward the door when it opened. Even though at this point, he knew she wouldn’t be walking through it, disappointment and irritation washed over him. 
“Everyone is still talking about your poem.”
He turned at hearing Tele’s voice behind him. “Thanks, man.”
“But I think that scare you gave Raph was my favorite part,” Tele added.
“Yeah, I had him there for a second, didn’t I?”
“Boston was a riot, man. I wonder if he will ever tell Xio.” Tele’s grin widened.
“I wouldn’t, if I were him. There are just some things from your past that should be forgotten.”
“Yeah right, as if any of us could forget that.”
The corners of Neo’s mouth lifted in a languid smile as he recalled the incident that took place a few years ago when they were all in Boston on business.
Neo had been sitting in the restaurant of Hotel Andreas, scanning the morning paper, when a woman came up behind him, placed her hands on his shoulders, and whispered in his ear, “Last night was amazing. I think–– No, I know that was the best fuck of my life. You’re a god in bed.”
Neo had merely lifted an eyebrow. Tele had brought Petra, his three-year-old daughter, on the trip and wouldn’t have been entertaining women in his suite, so Neo knew he’d been mistaken for Raph. He’d turned around, hoping in vain that the woman would realize her mistake once she got a good look at him.
“I’m in town for one more day. Maybe we could see each other again tonight,” she’d said, her brown eyes bright with foolish hope.
“Sure, why not?” he’d replied, with a wicked grin. “Same time, same place?”
“Yes! I’ll meet you at–– Oh my god,” she’d whispered breathlessly. “There are two of… Three of you!” Her mouth had hung open as she stared wide-eyed over his head.
Neo had turned to find his brothers walking their way, his grin deepening at the mortified look on Raph’s face at seeing his one-night stand at their breakfast table.
Raph had merely glanced at the woman as he sat down, the blank look on his face indicating that he had probably forgotten her name—as was typical with Raph.
“Uh…which one of you did I sleep with last night?” the woman had asked, her eyes and a pointed finger darting between them.
“All three of us,” Raph had said nonchalantly, as he reached for the porcelain coffee cup their waiter had immediately filled upon his arrival.
The woman’s hand had gone to her throat, and her face had turned peach-red. “Oh god,” she whispered. “You’re all… Oh my god…”
“No, no, I’m sorry, I’m only joking,” Raph had said, mercifully. “You slept with me. Just me. And you were fantastic. Thank you.” He had winked at her over the rim of his cup, then picked up the paper Neo had abandoned, silently dismissing her. 
“Thanks, I think,” the woman had said, then turned and walked out of the restaurant, her head high, as she tried to maintain some semblance of dignity.
Neo had shaken his head disapprovingly at Raph. “Now, why did you go and do that after I painstakingly arranged another hook-up for you tonight? She said it was the best fuck of her life. She actually said you were a god in bed. Tele, did you know our brother was a god in bed?”
Tele had laughed. “I just hope it doesn’t go to his head. He might fall over if it gets any bigger.”
“I told her it was a one-time thing. But since she obviously can’t tell us apart, you are welcome to have her tonight. See if you can top me,” his brother had said, with not an ounce of emotion in his voice.
“No thanks, I already have a girlfriend,” Neo had reminded him.
“Well, that’s not my problem, but I’m sure Brooke would be pleased to hear you say that.” Raph had placed his napkin on his lap as their waiter approached with a basket of warm pastries.
“You are one cold, conceited jerk, you know that?” Tele had piped in.
Raph had given Tele a stone-cold stare. “You, of all people, have the nerve to call me a jerk? Are you forgetting…” His voice had trailed off as Petra and her nanny entered the restaurant and headed their way.
Neo had sighed in silent relief that they were all spared yet another rehashing of past misdeeds and misunderstandings between Raph and Tele. There was nothing to be done about it now.
“Mr. Emotionally-Void-and-Unavailable has found true love.”
Tele’s voice brought Neo back to the present. “Yep,” he agreed. But the fact that that cold, conceited jerk, whom he loved with all his heart, was getting married before him, was a hard pill for Neo to swallow.
“I thought it would never happen for him,” Tele continued. “But here we are.” He pulled two glasses of wine from a passing waiter and handed one to Neo. “Here’s to Raph and Xio.” 
“Yep, to them.” Neo took a small sip just as his phone buzzed in his pants pocket. He anxiously pulled it out, but tension tightened in his belly as he read the message.
I’m sorry, Neo, but I can’t do this. I’m tired of pretending.
Neo clenched his jaw and shoved the phone back into his pocket. So it’s like that, huh?
“What’s wrong?” Tele asked. “Is it––”
“I need to get some air,” Neo said tightly. He set his glass down on the high-top table behind him and headed for the nearest exit.

The night air was warm and heavy with the scent of jasmine as Neo meandered the grounds of Jewel Beach Resort, the award-winning luxury hotel on the Caribbean island of Ynoa—known to tourists and outsiders as Akilina. It was here, only fifteen months ago, that his brother had met Xiomara, the owner and CEO of the resort that had been in her family for generations.
“Everyone’s in love tonight,” Neo muttered, as he crossed a footbridge over the adults-only swimming pool where he couldn’t help but notice one couple enjoying their moonlit dip, perhaps a little too much for the public eye.
He shook his head. Who was he kidding? If he could be doing the same thing with a woman he loved right now, instead of walking alone through one of the most romantic, luxury resorts in the world, he would be. He believed in love, and he wouldn’t begrudge anyone theirs, he thought, as he continued across the grounds, putting as much distance between him and the couples.
As he followed a gravel path, the sound of waves crashing on the white sand beach gradually gave way to that of a live band echoing through the night. Neo followed the music until he found himself in front of what looked like a brand-new wooden sign. Pelican Pier Beachfront Bar was painted on it in a cool, laid-back, blue font, beckoning guests to relax and leave their worries behind.
Eager to do just that, Neo stepped off the path and made his way across the sandy-floored bar. The smell of grilled seafood, cannabis, and seaweed filled the air, taking Neo back to spring break in college when he, his brothers, and their friends would throw parties like these on California beaches, doing things they knew they shouldn’t, but were too young to care.
Peals of laughter erupted from one of the cabanas surrounding the bar. Around an open fire pit, small groups lounged on blankets and cushions, their conversations punctuated by the crackling flame. On the small stage, a jamming, all-female steelpan and string band dared the audience to stand still. As they leaned into every beat, seemingly one with their instruments, bodies on the dance floor rocked and spun in a chaotic blur of lights and color.
Here, among these blissful strangers, Neo thought he might be able to hide from the demands of Raph and Xio’s wedding preparations long enough to process what had been eating him since he’d arrived in Akilina two weeks ago.
He scanned the bar for a seat, but it seemed every stool was occupied. He was just about to signal a bartender when he felt a gentle tap on his arm. He turned around to find identical twins smiling up at him, streaks of purple running through their blonde hair. Their eyes were bloodshot and hazy, likely due to the influence of weed––legal on the island for anyone over twenty-one––or alcohol, or more than likely, a combination of the two.
“Hey there, you lookin’ to buy us a drink?” one asked in a deep southern drawl.
Neo narrowed his eyes. They looked like they were barely out of college, and he wondered if they were experienced enough to handle the kind of tryst they seemed to be looking for––maybe or maybe not. Either way, they were too young for his taste.
“So?” the other asked. “What d’ya think?”
Neo didn’t need trouble with twins tonight, especially ones who were probably so messed up, they couldn’t tell themselves apart. All he wanted was to buy his own drink, find a seat somewhere, and get lost in his thoughts. “Sorry, not tonight, ladies. I think I’d only be in your way,” he said politely, offering them nothing more than a bland smile.
“Are you sure? We do everything together, if you know what I mean.” One winked at him while curling her manicured nails around his arm.
Neo knew exactly what she meant. “I’m very sure,” he said with a bit more gravity this time, removing her grip on his arm.
“Whatever,” she snorted, and yanked her sister away.
There was a time when Neo wouldn’t have dreamed of passing up an opportunity like that. In fact, he’d have given anything for just five minutes with the Barton sisters in high school. In truth, there was no reason he couldn’t bury his angst between a pair of those long, tan legs, and then roll over to bury them a bit deeper into the next, equally sexy pair. But Neo wasn’t trying to bury his problems––he just wanted to think.
Before the twins were even out of sight, he spotted another eager catch on the other end of the bar. She raised her glass and gave him that come-and-get-me smile.
This is too easy, he thought. Neo wasn’t vain, but he wasn’t stupid either. He knew he looked good, especially in his Prada suit and a fresh cut. And he imagined that without lifting a finger, he could bed just about anyone he wanted at the bar tonight.
There was something wild and wanton in the air at Pelican Pier and, reluctantly, he realized that if three women had already made a play for him before he’d managed to order a drink, the solitude he sought wasn’t likely to be found here––at least not on this night. Thinking that Cove Lounge in the main building might better suit his somber mood, Neo gave up on catching the bartender’s attention and turned to leave.
That was when he saw her, just as a cool breeze lifted the hem of her yellow cotton dress ever so slightly, revealing a pair of smooth, toned thighs. The heavenly vision, like something out of a nineteen-fifties film, pulled the air from Neo’s lungs, and stopped him in his tracks. Frozen and helpless, he watched her through the crowd, dancing in the moonlight.
She held a drink in one hand while the other twirled freely above her head. Her black tresses brushed her bare, creamy shoulders and fell down to the delicate hollow of her back. She was beautiful and beguiling, and she seemed to radiate amidst the crowd, as if the moonlight shone only for her.
Neo’s chest tightened as her slender body rocked to the rhythm of Bob Marley’s “One Love”, and a barely audible groan vibrated in his chest as he imagined her beneath him, rocking to the rhythm of his hips.
A wild fluttering that started deep in his belly worked its way up to his throat, his breathing hardening and quickening fiercely. Mesmerized, and with a longing to be nowhere else in the world but here, he signaled the bartender and ordered a bourbon and soda, never once taking his eyes off her.
With his drink in hand, Neo headed toward an empty chaise lounge closer to the stage and the siren on the dance floor. He sank into the cushion, loosened his tie, and sat back to enjoy the show.
With each graceful movement, her spell over him grew stronger and his soul burned hotter. The sexy, commanding sway of her hips, her uninhibited smile, the way she seemed to float through the air—it was irresistibly alluring, awakening something deep within him, and stirring emotions he’d long forgotten. Her presence enveloped him, wrapping him in a cocoon of longing and desire. It was a connection unlike anything Neo had ever experienced. 
Suddenly, as if sensing she’d attracted a voyeur, she stopped dancing and scanned the crowd. When she finally spotted him––when their eyes finally locked––a surge of electricity coursed through Neo, making his ears ring with nervous anticipation. Motionless, she held his gaze as time itself stood still, and every scent, every sound, everyone, and everything around them faded into darkness.
Just as Neo felt he might combust under the heat of her gaze, she tore her eyes from him. Then in three fluid motions, his mystery girl placed her drink on the edge of the stage, reached for the hand of a petite, dark-haired beauty nearby, pulled her close, and began grinding her body against hers. Mystery girl number-two seemed confused by the maneuver, but Ms. Wild and Sexy whispered something in her ear, then slapped her on the ass. Hard.
Neo nearly choked on his drink. Who was this woman?
Whatever she’d said had caused her friend––or so Neo hoped––to clamp her hand over her mouth, stifling a laugh. But as her laugh subsided, the friend lifted her arms over her head, and began to work her small body like a professional belly dancer.
Damn. Neo moaned. “One Love” had finished, and the two women were now locked hip to hip, working their bodies seductively against each other to a slow, rhythmic tune.
Neo was hard as an elephant’s tusk, but he couldn’t look away––couldn’t bear the thought of her not being within sight. His manhood pulsed as she and her partner leaned their upper bodies away from each other, their dark hair swaying behind them like heavy, silk drapes. Neo’s skin tingled as he imagined those silky strands brushing against his bare chest as the object of his desire leaned over him, kissing her way down his body toward his…
When three other women, all stunning in their own right, entered the circle, it became clear to Neo that Ms. Wild and Sexy was not at all on her own––she was on a girls’ trip. It was hypnotic, and the wildest, sexiest thing Neo had ever seen. He wasn’t the only one who thought so. Others on the dance floor had circled around them, cheering on their licentious display. 
It wasn’t long before a man, wearing nothing but a pair of white swim trunks, got behind one of the women. He grabbed her hip with one hand and pulled her into him, causing his drink to spill all over both of them. She pushed his hand away, but the asshole grabbed her again, carelessly pulling her long braids, and began grinding on her backside.
Neo was searching for a place to put his glass down, ready to leap to her defense, but before he could get to his feet, she turned, kneed him in the groin, tossed her braids over her shoulder, and without missing a beat, got back to dancing with her friends.
The man, clearly too drunk for his own good, dropped his glass and, clutching his balls with both hands, hobbled off the dance floor with his tail between his legs.
Neo watched with curiosity as Ms. Wild and Sexy shook her head when her dance partner whispered something in her ear. Soon, all five women were huddled together, then, all at once, black, blonde, blue, and braided heads swung in his direction.
I’ve been made.
His mystery woman straightened her dress, stepped away from her friends, and began sashaying in his direction with long, purposeful strides. Neo raised his glass to his lips and took a long draft, ready for whatever came next.
Would she motion for him to follow her to a dark corner of the resort? Would she chastise him for watching her like a dirty Peeping Tom? A dozen scenarios passed through his mind. But the last thing Neo expected was for the same jerk, who’d had his balls kneed into his stomach, to come tumbling through the crowd, bump into her, and send her careening forward, right into his lap.
His drink spilled all over his shirt and pants, and Neo was only vaguely aware of her friends calling out, “Cali!” from what seemed like a million miles away. His breath solidified in his throat as Cali slowly lifted her head and stared at him with a dumbfounded look in her bright emerald eyes.
“Shit,” she said, her long, dark lashes fluttering. She placed unsteady hands on the cushion on either side of his thighs, and attempted to stand up, but her feet got tangled up over his. 
“Whoa, easy there.” Dropping his empty glass on the sand beside the lounge, Neo caught her around the waist and eased her down beside him, the heat of her breath sending fire through his veins.
Amazing, he thought, taking in the arresting features of her heart-shaped face, her delicate nose, and a temptingly curved mouth.
Apparently realizing that she was okay, her friends began to laugh between shouts of, “Way to go, Cali” and “Atta girl”, their cheers giving way to the band as it began playing again.
“Oh my god, I’m so… Oh god, I’m so sorry,” she shouted over the music, flaring her hand at his crotch.
“No worries,” Neo shouted back.
“Seriously, I am so, so sorry. Oh my god, I am so fucking embarrassed.”
You are so fucking beautiful. He placed his mouth close to her ear, resisting the urge to flick his tongue inside it. “You don’t need to be sorry about anything.” Ever. His eyes unwittingly traveled from the creamy column of her throat to the subtle rise and fall of her breasts.
 “But what about your suit, and your shoes,” she added, briefly glancing down at his feet. “Whoa, you are seriously dressed up. You don’t have, like, some meeting to go to later, do you? Oh no…am I going to get you fired?”
“No, no meetings tonight, just a dance performance later, but my outfit is already backstage.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
Neo shook his head, realizing it would be impossible to communicate the intricacies of Megiri wedding customs over the music. “Don’t worry about the suit,” he said. “I’ve got plenty more.” He did, however, only have one pair of bespoke Berluti loafers, and he was certain they were now ruined. But if what he already felt in his heart for this woman turned out to be what he thought it was, it would be well worth the five-figure loss. “I’m more worried about you. Are you alright? That guy really clipped you.”
Neo swore he saw something spark in her eyes. A flicker of recognition, like a match striking––fleeting, but undeniable. 
“Yeah, I’m…” Her voice faded as her eyes patrolled his face, very slowly and carefully. It was as if she were seeing him for the first time––not merely the man she’d fallen into, but someone who tugged at the edges of her guarded soul. And then she blinked, and shook her head, as if awakening from a dream. “I’ll be fine,” she said.
“You sure about that?”
She pursed her lips and nodded slowly. “Uh huh.”
Neo could sense her anxiety as she turned away from him, scanning the crowd. She was like a bird, perched on a branch, trying to decide in which direction to fly. “I’m Neo, by the way,” he said, determined to keep her on his branch––in his tree. There was no way he was letting her fly off before he knew who she was.
She blushed. “Calista. But everybody calls me Cali.”
“I know. I heard your friends cheering you on from the bleachers.” He held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Calista.”
“You too, Neo,” she said, taking his hand. “Can I buy you another drink? I feel so bad.”
Neo couldn’t hold back his laughter. “You really do, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do! This is all my fault! I mean, yeah, that asshole just pushed me, but if I hadn’t been … uh…” She paused and glanced toward her friends, now visible again through the thinning crowd. “I mean…if I hadn’t lost my balance, you wouldn’t be all wet and… Well, you’d be all nice and dry and drinking your…uh… What are you drinking?”
“It’s a bourbon and soda,” he said through an amused smile.
“Right, bourbon and soda. Anyway, let me get you another one. Or I should at least pay for your dry cleaning. Please?”
Neo studied her, a thought formulating in his mind. “I’ll tell you what, Calista. I don’t need another drink or dry cleaning. but I do need a date for my brother’s wedding tomorrow.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she edged away from him. “You’re kidding, right?”
He paused and rubbed his chin, imagining the surprise on everyone’s face when he walked in with Calista on his arm. “Not one bit.” There was a staid firmness in his voice.
“Mmm, are you crazy then? Because you sound a little crazy.”
“What! What’s crazy about needing a date for a wedding?”
“Uh, what’s crazy is that you’re asking me to be that date. You don’t even know me!”
“Maybe not, but I’d like to.”
She drew her lips back into a cynical smile. 
“Look,” he said, determined not to let it deter him, “if you want to just pay for my dry cleaning, you’ll have to give me your number tonight so I can call you. And I only trust my neighborhood cleaners with my suits. So it'll have to wait until I’m home, and that’ll just complicate things. By then, you might not feel so bad about ruining my ten-thousand-dollar suit, and won’t even want to make it up to me. No, I think it’ll be a lot easier if you just pay me back tomorrow afternoon.”
“Ten thousand dollars for a suit? Jeeesus. Who are you, Daddy Warbucks?”
Neo shrugged, a smirk hugging the corner of his mouth. “You can call me Daddy if you’d like.”
She threw her head back and laughed, the sound stirring something exotic, yet familiar deep in Neo’s heart. It was like a choir of angels, and he wanted to hear their chorus again and again. “So, what do you say? Your number and an expensive dry-cleaning bill, or one date, free of charge?”
Her laughter subsided, and she eyed him suspiciously. “Well, I gotta hand it to ya, you did make the first option sound pretty shitty.” Her gaze, now curious, slid down his body, then back to his face, leaving a trail of heat in its wake. “A guy like you doesn’t have a date to his own brother’s wedding?” she asked, skeptically.
“A guy like me? And exactly what kind of guy do you think I am?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “The kind of guy who could get any woman he wants in here.”
“Calista, you’re only right about that if you say yes.”
Her eyes widened, her cheeks turned instantly red, and she bit into the corner of her bottom lip.
Good. She was feeling it, too. “So, do we have a date?”
She looked over at her friends, then back at Neo, cocked her head, and closed one eye, clearly pondering her options. “Sure, why not?” she finally said, just when Neo thought she would decline his offer.
“Perfect!” he beamed, unable to hide his relief. “The wedding is at three tomorrow afternoon. I’ll send a car for you at two?”
“Uh, okay...” She glanced at her friends again, then back at him. “But––”
“Are you staying at the hotel?”
She nodded. “I’m staying at… um Moon…Moon-something…uhh…”
Does she really not know where she’s staying, or is she trying to ditch me already?
She snapped her fingers. “Moonstruck Villa! That’s the one.”
“Moonstruck Villa. Got it.” And thank God. “You won’t regret it, I promise,” he said, the excitement bubbling in his voice.
“Well, hold on a minute, cowboy. What do you expect me to wear to this wedding?”
“What do you mean? A dress, I guess… Am I missing something?”
“You think I just flew down here for the weekend with my ten-thousand-dollar dress in my bag?”
“Oh.” You idiot. “Probably not, huh?”
“Probably not, is right. I packed for a girls’ trip, not some fancy-shmancy wedding.”
“Okay, fair point.” Neo scanned her athletic figure, his belly tightening with need. “I know a place in town where you can find a dress. How about we go tomorrow, and you can pick something out. My treat.”
“Your treat?”
Neo smiled. “I’ll pick you up in the morning. Around eight? I’ll bring breakfast, and then we can drive into town together.”
Calista laughed and traced a finger around the rim of her lips as she tried to catch the strands of hair the wind had blown across her face.
The sexy gesture made his stomach tighten. He swallowed hard.
“So, let me get this straight. Instead of letting me buy you a drink, or even pay for your dry cleaning after ruining your ridiculously expensive suit, you want to bring me breakfast, buy me a dress, and take me on a date to your brother’s wedding?”
“Mmm, yeah, you’ve got it straight. You game?”
“Sure. Why not?” she said again with a shrug.
“Trust me, it’ll be fun.”
“Well, I don’t know if I should trust you, but it’ll be interesting, at least,” she said, her tone laced with amusement.
From the corner of his eyes, Neo saw the belly-dancing friend standing at the edge of the dance floor, eying him up. She looked like a mother hen searching for her chick that had wandered too far and for too long.
“Oh shit! There’s Manjit,” Calista announced, as she rose to her feet.
Neo stood up. “I’ll let you get back to your girls then. I’ll see you tomorrow, Calista.”
“Uh, yep, see you tomorrow,” she said, awkwardly giving him two thumbs up. Then she stood for a moment, holding her thumbs in front of her, squinting at them with a puzzled look on her face, as if wondering what on earth she was doing.
“Good night, Calista,” Neo said, giving her a reassuring wink.
Calista folded her thumbs into her fists, gave him a sailor’s salute, then sauntered over to Manjit.
Neo watched the women disappear into the crowd. If someone had told him half-an-hour ago that he would meet a woman who would rock his heart off its axis, he would have laughed in their face. But as it turned out, they would have had the last laugh. He checked his watch. He could have stayed here watching her all night, even tried his luck with her on the dance floor, but that would have to wait until tomorrow night. It was time he got back to the rehearsal dinner. No doubt Akilah was wondering where he'd disappeared to.
Feeling as light as a feather, Neo walked past the bar toward the gravel path that had led him here tonight. Then after a moment’s contemplation, he went back, described the women to the bartender, and told him to put their bill on his tab.
“Of course, Mr. Giannopoulos,” the man said.
Flying high on the promise of Calista, Neo left Pelican Pier, certain that he had just met the woman of his dreams.
* * *
Neo was still soaring as his driver passed through Jewel Beach’s security gate. He’d been unable to get Calista out of his head all night––the vision of her dancing in her yellow cotton dress under the moonlight leaving no doubt that last night’s chance encounter was only the beginning of their story. Sure, beautiful, sexy women had captured, and even held Neo’s attention, but none had ever invaded his dreams. None, until Calista.
As they cruised along a narrow lane, Neo closed his eyes and recalled his dream of walking along the beach with her, their fingers intertwined while waves lapped at their feet. Her wind-tossed hair had brushed his arms, and he’d loved the way her hips felt against his thighs as he’d pulled her close and kissed her. Her breath had been sweet on his lips, and when she’d put her arms around his neck, her fingers tangling in his hair, he’d moaned loudly enough to wake himself.
Neo looked out the window as the car came to a stop behind one of JBR’s ubiquitous yellow golf carts. He spotted the blue and white wooden sign with the words, Moonstruck Villa, hanging from a post. The white, clapboard house with glass louvers and blue shutters was nestled behind a fence of green hedges, its blue roof dotted with red flamboyant flowers that had fallen from the tree on the villa’s front lawn.
Once out of the car, he strode eagerly up the paved walkway, flanked by rows of pink and white lilies, took the three steps up to the covered porch, and knocked on the door.
Several moments passed in silence as he waited, his anxiety growing, and after hearing no movement inside, he knocked again.
Neo felt an eternity pass him by. His skin felt hot, and his heart raced as he knocked again, and again, each time with a bit more force. Just when he began to fear that Calista had played him for a fool, the door flew open.
“What?” she barked.
Neo’s heart flew to his throat as she stood before him in a T-shirt and a pair of white pajama shorts.
“Oh––uh… Hey,” he stammered, at once startled and aroused by the sight of her. “Are you almost ready?” he asked, worried that he’d misremembered what time they were supposed to meet.
Calista tilted her head back, and with one eye opened, peered at him through a curtain of black, disheveled hair. “Ready for what? Who are you, and what the hell are you talking about?”