What Happens Over Spring Break: A Short Story Anthology Page 18

  “Más, por favor,” exclaimed a tipsy Sylvia. “We wanna have fun tonight, Beni!”

  “If you really want fun, then you must dance, ladies.” He smiled broadly, gracing us with his charming dimples again, and pointed to the mass of writhing bodies on the dance floor. Once more, he winked at me as he raked his fingers through his thick mane. I felt my cheeks flush in response.

  “He’s right!” Angie hopped up and pulled us out of our lounge chairs. “Beni, we’re gonna dance. We’ll need hydration when we come back.” She winked at him as she pushed us towards the dance floor.

  Sylvia began dancing to the rhythm of the lively Spanish pop music. I spun and followed suit. Soon, all three of us were lost in the music, letting our bodies move and twirl unabashed. We loved to dance. That’s actually how we met; dance class back at Becker University. Those two were already friends since they lived in the same dorm building. According to Sylvia, my cool dance moves is the reason why they approached me in class. Angie says Syl just wanted to watch my ass up close. Either way, I was glad to have met them.

  The music changed to an upbeat reggaeton and the crowd erupted in an excited roar. More people swarmed the floor to the point of leaving very little room to move. After a few more bubbly songs, a group of four guys surrounded us in the middle of the dance floor. Slowly, I got squeezed out of the circle, leaving Angie and Sylvia—the two tall, leggy blondes—as the centers of attention.

  Friggin’ typical!

  This happened almost every time the three of us went out anywhere. My two best friends seemed to attract all the hot guys. At first, Sylvia and Angie would try to bring me back into the fold, but I felt uncomfortable afterward. Knowing I was unwanted by the group made everything awkward, and didn’t help lift my ego in any way. So after the hundredth time it happened, I learned to just deal with it and left them to enjoy the attention. Most of the time, the girls disappeared for a few minutes, but they’d come find me and we’d continue having fun by ourselves.

  The rejection tonight couldn’t have come at a better time. My feet needed a break and I had to use the restroom. Slowly, I made my way towards the back of the packed club and into the dimly lit hallway that led to the baños. Everything about the place appeared upscale, including the bathrooms. Exactly what you’d expect at a fancy Mexican nightclub catering to celebs. After I finished my business and washed my hands, the bathroom attendant handed me a fresh towel to dry my hands. Yep. It was that kind of place.

  I walked back to our reserved table as my eyes scanned the club for my friends. They’d disappeared in the massive crowd. As I sat down, Beni stopped by with another round of shots and a glass of water. He winked at me as he placed the drinks on the small table. He’s so terribly adorable!

  “This round is from the gentlemen dancing with your friends.” Beni spoke loudly over the music. “I have some water, too.”

  “Thank you. I really needed both.” I smiled and grabbed the shot glass.

  “Should I get you another one?”

  “No, thanks." I croaked as the amber liquid slid down my throat. "What kind of tequila is this?”

  “That is Hornitos Añejo, some of the best in the country. It's not for the… how you say… the… not so strong?” He attempted to explain as he crouched next to me, his hands resting on the tray between his legs.

  “Weak? It's not for the weak?” I supplied, trying to understand him. “Oh! You mean it’s not for the lightweights? People who can’t handle liquor.”

  “Yes. Right," he said with a smile, gifting me a closer look of his delightful dimples. “Lightweight.”

  He’s calling me a lightweight, and I’m sitting here smirking like an idiot. Snap out of it girl!

  “Well, I assure you that I can hold it better than most. I’ve had a lot of practice.” Mentally, I kicked myself for saying that. It made me sound like a lush.

  Once our eyes connected, I couldn't look away. The spark of intelligence behind his hazel eyes captured my attention. We stared at each other for a few minutes. His mouth opened as if to speak, but no sound came out. He smiled. I smiled. He looked back towards the bar, and I followed his gaze. The manager who welcomed us earlier spoke animatedly with the bartender.

  He turned to me once more and said, “My shift just ended. Do you need anything else before I leave?”

  “No, thanks. I think I’m good.”

  After taking a deep breath and releasing it, he opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by two cackling blondes who plopped in the chairs beside me.

  “Hey lady, where’d you run off to?” Sylvia asked, her speech a little slurred.

  “We were looking for you!” Angie added.

  “I made a short trip to the ladies’ room. You two seemed pretty busy with that flock of jocks. Didn’t look like you missed me at all.”

  “Oh, don’t get your panties all in a twist, Sofia. We were just having a little spring break fun.” Sylvia flipped her hand dismissively.

  Turning to the waiter, who was now standing beside me, Angie snapped her fingers, “Beni, how about another round?” For some reason, her gesture bothered me.

  Beni hesitated then said, “I’m sorry ladies. My shift has ended for the night. But I’ll let Victor know to come here right away.” With a bow and a hopeful glance in my direction, he retreated to the bar.

  “Uff. I gotta pee like a pregnant woman! I’ll be back in a sec.” Angie stood again, holding on to the table for balance.

  Following suit, Sylvia stood up. “I’ll come with. That tequila is flowing right through me.” The girls locked arms and walked together through the horde of clubbers toward the restrooms. Once again, I was alone at the table, starting to feel awkward to be drinking by myself.

  A light caress at my elbow made me jump in my seat. Beni had returned to my side without me noticing. The light brown in his eyes held hints of excitement and uncertainty.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” Holding his hand out to me, he said, “Sofia, would you come with me?” The way he said my name produced a flutter of pleasure in my body. Wait… he knows my name?

  “How do you know my name? And where are you taking me?” I was unsure of wanting to be alone with him, yet quite excited at the thought. After all those shots, my inhibitions had drowned like a worm in a tequila bottle.

  “I heard your friends talking to you. Come with me. I’d like to show you something.” Hesitating, I rubbed my hands down the skirt of my little black dress. A million thoughts flooded my brain, but only one felt right. I placed my hand in his and stood.

  He took my hand, interlacing our fingers as he walked us toward a dark hallway at the end of the bar, opposite from the bathrooms. The giddy inklings of anticipation spread through my body when he opened the exit door and led us through the alley between the club and the restaurant next door. The scents of Mexican food wafted toward us, causing a short, but loud, rumble in my belly.

  “Are you hungry?” Beni paused to look at me. Embarrassed, I shook my head in response, my long curls to flapping around my face as I moved.

  “You’re so beautiful,” He whispered, taking a step closer and pushing a loose tendril behind my ear. The shadows covered half of his face, adding an air of mystery to his enticing allure. Once again, we were caught in each other’s eyes, unable to move. He leaned in as if ready to kiss me, but stopped.

  “Come. We’ll miss it.” He pulled my hand again and led me out of the alley onto the main street. I released the breath I wasn’t aware I’d been holding.

  We walked to the corner and crossed the street toward the beach. I could feel my buzz fading and the excitement building. In silence, we strolled for a few minutes and ended up on beside a dark stretch of beach, away from the bustle of the resorts. Beyond the sand, a set of wooden pier extended into the ocean, the longest one ending on a large T. Before we entered the beach, Beni guided us to a stone bench and began removing his shoes and socks.

&nb
sp; “You may want to take off your sandals. It’ll feel much better.”

  It took me a split second to understand his suggestion. Realizing he intended for us to walk on the beach, I sat on the bench next to his propped up leg, crossing my right leg over my left to undo the strap. I heard Beni’s sharp inhale, which sounded remarkably like a hiss. When I looked up at him, his gaze was solidly fixed on my straining top. I’d forgotten this dress had a low neckline, which made my boobs play peek-a-boo any time I leaned forward a little.

  “Please, allow me.” He cleared his throat and knelt beside me, placing his shoes on the bench. He carefully removed my right sandal, caressing my calf as he uncrossed my leg and gently placed it on the ground. He continued to my left leg, his fingers trailing from the back of my knee to my ankle. Beni murmured something in Spanish as he took off the second sandal.

  “What did you say?” I asked, enjoying the feel of his callused hands on me.

  “Your skin. Muy suave.” He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on my knee. My skin tingled where his lips had made contact.

  This man was wreaking havoc on my feminine sensibilities and I craved more. He continued to caress my leg while his eyes bore deep into mine. Just as he leaned further into me, another loud rumble erupted from my belly. A smile curved his lips, giving me a perfect view of his dimples.

  “Sounds like you’re hungry.”

  I covered my face in embarrassment. “I’m sorry, I guess I am. I haven’t eaten in a while.”

  “Let’s fix that. Come on.” He took my hand and directed us to the beach.

  “Where are we going?” I followed willingly, my feet sinking into the warm sand.

  “First, I’m going to feed you. Then… You’ll see.” He looked over his shoulder and winked at me.

  “Should I be worried?” I asked with a smile.

  “Trust me. You’ll love it.”

  Trust. This handsome stranger was asking me to trust him. We’d just met a few hours ago and he wanted me to trust him. Inexplicably, I felt like I could. It might’ve been the booze, or the fact that he was irresistibly good-looking. Either way, I’d traveled thousands of miles for a week of wild fun. This certainly fit the bill.

  After a few steps, we were walking on wet sand, the ocean waves languidly lapping our feet. The sand squished between my toes with each step. I had to admit, I’d always wanted to walk barefoot on a beach with a handsome man holding my hand and looking at me much in the same way Beni was looking at me in this moment.

  This is nice! I wonder if he’s this attentive and caring in bed.

  “What are you thinking?”

  Feeling caught, I blinked rapidly, trying to come up with a believable lie. “I’m thinking my friends will be worried about me.” No way was I going to admit the truth.

  “You won’t be gone long.”

  “But I didn’t tell them I was leaving. They’ll be looking for me once they notice I’m not at the table.”

  “Okay. Wait.” Beni released my hand and pulled out his phone to dial a number. When the person on the other end answered, he spoke in Spanish. He talked too fast for me to understand any of his words. Usually I could pick up a few words here and there to get a gist of the conversation. This time I got nothing. After another minute or so, he hung up.

  “Ok. You’re fine now. I talked to Victor. He’s going to tell your friends you’re safe with me.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulders as he spoke. I put my left arm around his waist and cuddled into him.

  This is very nice!

  Looking up at him, I smiled. “Good. I feel better now. So are you gonna tell me where we’re going?”

  “Do you see that muelle?” Beni asked, pointing at the farthest pier on this side of the beach.

  “The pier?”

  “Is that how you say it?” He turned to face me. I lost all train of thought as his eyes captured mine.

  “Mmhmm.” I managed to say. His dimply smile faded as desire flickered in his eyes. He stopped and placed a hand on my cheeks. Slowly, our bodies leaned into each other.

  “Sofia, I’m gonna kiss you. If you don’t want me to, you must tell me.” His voice was soft and gentle. He was giving me a choice.

  “I do want you to.” I inched closer to him, our bodies attracting each other like magnets. My hands moved to his sides while my eyes fixated on his full lips. Then, as he leaned in further, I closed them and held my breath, waiting for that first kiss.

  Beni’s lips were a breath away from mine when his cell phone rang, interrupting our precious moment.

  “You should answer that.”

  He growled in response as he pulled phone from his pocket and tapped to answer the call. A twangy female voice came across the line loudly and I immediately recognized it.

  “It’s for you.” Beni handed me the phone with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

  “Hello?”

  “Where are ya, skank?” Angie yelled into the speaker. “Still tapping that sexy waiter?”

  “There’s no tapping! Beni and I are at the beach. We were just talking.” I turned away from him, feeling as if I was caught doing something wrong.

  “Woo! Sex on the beach!” Angie hollered again. She and Sylvia busted out whistling and catcalling, causing my already flushed face to turn a hundred shades redder.

  “You go girl. Get that kitty spanked!”

  “Angie, you’re such a pervert!” I retorted.

  “Whatever skank. Sylvia and I are gonna get some tacos, then hit up Coco Bongo after. We might even make it out to Señor Frogs. You comin’ or what?”

  “Uh… I…” I was torn. I really wanted to hang out with my friends on spring break, but I also wanted more time with Beni. It’d been a long time since I’d had a date.

  With a brief shuffle, Sylvia’s voice came on the line. “You can meet us at Coco Bongo later. Or not. It’s up to you.”

  “But…” I paced a few steps away from where we stood on the beach, hoping the brief separation would help me decide. “This is supposed to be our last hurrah together.”

  “Sweetie, listen.” Her voice became clearer as the background noise diminished. “You deserve a whole night of wild, uninhibited, sexy fun. You’re only this young once. You’ve worked your butt off this year, take a real break and enjoy tonight.”

  She was right, but I still felt a tad guilty. Angie would be going off to grad school in Boston, and Sylvia was taking the semester off to complete an internship overseas. I’d never get to see them after summer. At least not as frequently.

  “Just have fun! Make sure he wears a condom!” I heard giggles then the call disconnected.

  I stood there for a minute, mulling over her words. Beni’s calloused hand touched my elbow as he came around to face me.

  “If you want to leave, I can walk you back to your friends.” His eyes searched mine, a mixture of desire and vulnerability on his face.

  “No, I don’t wanna leave. They’re right. I need a night all to myself.”

  I smiled. He smiled. My smile widened, and his dimpled. His arms came around my waist and pulled me closer. I saw the determination in his face before his lips touched mine tentatively, as if waiting for me to protest the intrusion. Dropping my sandals on the beach, my hands reached for his face and then got lost in the strands of his dark hair. He tightened his arms around me, his hand also dropping his shoes, then splaying against my back. One hand moved up and tangled in my curls while the other shifted lower over my round ass. Beni groaned into my mouth as he fondled the suppleness of my behind. I felt the bulge in his pants rub against my thigh and instinctively pressed myself against it. Suddenly, as if hit by a bucket of cold water, Beni pulled me away and took a step back.

  “I’m sorry.” He raked a hand through his hair, the shaggy strands sticking up in various places. “If we don’t stop now, I won’t be able to control myself.”

  Breathless and a little dazed, my hand reached for my lips
of its own accord. “I’m sorry, too. But I don’t wanna stop.” I couldn’t tell if that was rational me or the sexually-deprived me talking.

  “Let’s get some food first. Okay?”

  As if agreeing with him, my stomach decided to reply with another rumble. “I guess I should eat.”

  Smiling, he picked up my sandals and handed them to me. He then grabbed his shoes, extending his free hand to me, and headed for the pier.

  On the boardwalk that crossed from the street toward the pier, a group of food vendors lined up along the left flank. Beni guided us to a cart in the middle, selling corn in a cup and on the cob. He ordered for the both of us and I watched as the man poured corn in a medium cup, and added butter, mayonnaise, crumbled white cheese, and a squeeze of lemon. The concoction looked disgusting.

  “It tastes better than it looks.” Beni must’ve seen the horror in my face. “Trust me. This is good. Just try it.”

  Hesitantly, I took the cup from his hand. As we waited for his, he helped me mix the contents of my cup, and added a few drops of salsa for more flavor. Once he had his, Beni paid for the food and pointed to the end of the pier.

  I watched him as he took the first bite. The delight in his face didn’t seem fake. So I mixed the corn again and grabbed a few kernels. I expected to gag as soon as the food touched my tongue but I was pleasantly surprised. The tanginess of the salsa and the sweet taste of the corn, mixed into a delicious treat.

  “It’s good, no?” Beni watched as I dug into my cup and took a huge bite.

  “Oh. My. God.” I spoke with a mouthful of corn. “This is amazing!”

  “Yes. It’s my favorite.”

  “It looks gross, but it’s so creamy and delicious.” I shoved another spoonful into my mouth, relishing the rich taste of the treat.