Pleasure Island (9 page)

Fun though the antics of the previous night and that morning had been, Nikki was overjoyed to think that Matt hadn’t considered it a one-off, casual encounter. The way that he had acted with her, some of the things that he had said, and now this note, all pointed towards a deeper emotional connection. Laying the card aside, Nikki blew on the cup of coffee then took a tentative sip. Matt was right: it did taste so much better when it was piping hot.

In between sips, Nikki dried herself off and contemplated what to wear. She vaguely considered her business suit, as she was essentially going to be working; however, given the heady atmosphere on the island and the rising temperature, she knew that she would be overdressed in such an outfit. Instead, she opted to wear the rainbow bikini she had treated herself to. Although she hadn’t been 100 per cent certain about it when she had purchased it, the flamboyant colours now seemed perfect in the sunshine setting of the island.

Nikki finished her coffee, slipped the bikini on, tied a white sarong around her waist, and left the room. At the bottom of the staircase she lost her bearings, and as she dithered over which way to go, Roxanna appeared behind her.

‘I probably should have warned you – it can take a while to get to know your way around the place. I’m afraid it’s a bit of a labyrinth until you get used to it.’ Noting her beachwear, Roxanna added, ‘Excellent taste, if I may say so, Ms Foster. That bikini was a big hit at one of my previous parties.’

‘I’m glad you approve. Yours looks great too,’ Nikki observed.

Roxanna was wearing a peach bikini with a scarlet trim. ‘D’you think? I can’t quite make my mind up about it.’

‘I really like it.’

‘OK. Sold.’ Roxanna crossed over to the phone that rested on the table in the hallway. ‘Would you excuse me for a minute?’

‘No problem.’

The princess picked up the receiver and dialled. The call was answered almost immediately. ‘Hi, it’s me, Cath. How’s it going?’ Pause. ‘Good. You know that peach bikini we were talking about last week?’ Pause. ‘Yeah, that’s the one. Green light – go, go, go.’ Pause. ‘Excellent. Catch you later.’ And with that, Roxanna ended the call.

Nikki could hardly believe what she had just heard. ‘Just like that.’

‘Just like that,’ the princess said.

‘On my recommendation?’

‘You seem to be a girl who has good judgement,’ Roxanna said.

‘Thanks.’

‘And if it doesn’t work out, I’ll hold you personally responsible and sue you for any losses.’ Roxanna kept a perfectly straight face as she made the remark.

‘But – but …’ stammered Nikki, aghast.

‘Nikki, I’m joking.’

Nikki breathed a sigh of relief.

Taking her guest by the arm, Roxanna said, ‘Right, I was thinking, how about I show you a bit of the island before we get down to the interview itself? I thought it might be useful background filler to the article. People are suckers for a description of a tropical paradise.’

‘Sold.’

So, with the princess playing tour guide, the pair set off on foot along one of the tracks that appeared to head into the heart of the island. The foliage reminded Nikki of vegetation she had seen in various wildlife documentaries about the tropical rainforests, and Roxanna was eager to point out how she did her best to keep the place as unspoiled as possible. As they wound their way along the path, the impression Nikki got was that Roxanna was as good as her word, for the island did seem like a veritable paradise. Intermingled with the banana plants and coconut palms she had expected to see, was a hugely diverse array of flora, with plants of all sizes, types, and descriptions. The colours of many of these were no less garish than those of the rainbow bikini that Nikki was wearing. Roxanna impressed her guest by naming many of the species they passed.

Their journey was accompanied by a chorus of noises. Apart from the cries of birds, Nikki was aware of a constant, gentle hum, caused, Roxanna explained, by the vast numbers of insects and amphibians that lived on the island. Occasionally, the princess would stop and point out something of particular interest, usually a bird or small mammal that she had spotted. When Nikki asked about her obvious passion for wildlife, she spoke eloquently about the devastation that man had wrought on some of the neighbouring islands, and how eager she was to maintain the natural balance of her domain.

As they pressed deeper into the jungle, the path became overgrown with creepers and trailing stems. The sensation, as they brushed past them, was rather pleasant: a bit like being gently tickled – at least until a rather innocuous-looking leaf stung Nikki.

‘Ow.’

‘What’s the matter?’

Nikki rubbed her right leg. An angry red mark was already beginning to appear on her outer calf. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll live.’

Roxanna knelt down. ‘Here, let me look.’

Nikki raised her leg and placed her foot in the princess’ lap, allowing her to examine it.

‘Sorry, I’m afraid you appear to have met one of our less friendly species,’ Roxanna said.

‘It’s nothing serious, is it?’

‘No. Stings like hell, though, if you don’t treat it soonish. Hang on a second.’

She disappeared into the jungle. Nikki wondered what on earth she was up to, only for her to reappear, seconds later, holding a large, distinctive-looking leaf. She broke it and rubbed the two halves against the area of skin that had been stung.

Nikki couldn’t believe how soothing the effect was. It was almost magical. ‘What is that?’

‘You’ll never guess.’

‘No, I probably won’t.’

‘I bet you use it all the time at home.’

Nikki was none the wiser.

‘Aloe vera – well, a wild-growing close relative of it that’s native to the island,’ Roxanna said.

‘You’re kidding?’

‘Straight up.’ The princess held the leaves up for her to smell.

Nikki breathed in and instantly recognised the unmistakable aroma. Roxanna gave her leg one last rub with the leaves before the pair set off once more. Nikki was very impressed.

‘I studied chemistry and biology to A-level,’ Roxanna explained. ‘Then, when I first came to the Caribbean, I spent a fair bit of time talking to the inhabitants of the nearby islands in order to try and learn as much as possible about the local ecosystem.’

‘Not many people would bother to do that,’ Nikki pointed out.

‘I know.’

‘Why did you?’

‘Because life fascinates me. All aspects of it. It always disappoints me how blinkered most people are. They get so wrapped up in their own little worlds that they no longer see the amazing, big, wide wonderful one out there.’

‘I’d never really thought about it like that before,’ Nikki said.

‘You wouldn’t be alone there. That’s why certain people disapprove of my lifestyle here. They regard it as being too hedonistic or self-indulgent.’

‘You don’t think it is?’

‘Granted, there’s an element of that, but to view things solely in those terms misses the point. Don’t you think life is to be experienced? To be enjoyed, if possible? And if you’re open to new ideas and experiences, don’t you think you get more out of it? I’ve never understood people who aren’t prepared to try out new things. I feel sorry for them in a way. They miss out on so much. Look, if you try something once and you don’t enjoy it, fair enough, but to say that you can’t stand something never having tried it at all –’ Roxanna shook her head ‘– to me, that’s a sin.’

‘I’m not sure everyone would find it as easy to be as open as you are,’ Nikki said.

‘That’s such a shame.’

‘Why?’

‘Because you never know what you might be missing out on,’ the princess replied.

‘Such as?’

‘Well, look at you last night, for example. When you touched me. Did you ever think that you’d touch a woman so intimately?’

‘No,’ Nikki admitted, ‘I guess not.’

‘You enjoyed it, though, didn’t you?’

Nikki felt her cheeks begin to colour.

‘There’s no need to be embarrassed about it.’

‘I’m not.’

‘Good. So why did you do it?’

‘Because …’ The more Nikki thought about it, the more the answer seemed obvious. ‘It felt like the natural thing to do.’

‘We’re sexual creatures, Nikki. To be touched in a manner that arouses is a highly pleasurable experience. Why would we deny ourselves that? Why
should
we deny ourselves that? When it’s between consenting adults, where’s the harm?’

Roxanna made an extremely convincing case – it was hard to spot a flaw in her argument. However, Nikki decided to play devil’s advocate. ‘What about love and marriage?’

‘If that’s what brings people happiness, then good luck to them.’

‘You don’t disapprove of those conventions, then?’

‘Absolutely not,’ the princess said. ‘They’re just not for me. I’m happy for people to live their lives any way they want to, as long as they’re not inflicting discomfort or harm on others. I only wish the same courtesy were extended to me.’

‘Are you talking about some of the articles they write about you?’

Roxanna’s voice took on a slightly frustrated tone. ‘Some of the rubbish I read in the press about what goes on here – I don’t get it. Anyone would think I was the devil himself. I simply don’t understand why they have to be so hostile and vindictive.’

‘Maybe they’re jealous,’ Nikki said.

‘But you’re going to put that right, aren’t you?’ The princess sounded calmer now.

‘I’ll try to.’

Roxanna smiled and gave her guest a slow kiss on the cheek. A mere fortnight ago, the gesture might have freaked Nikki out, but something had changed within her, because she didn’t even flinch. It seemed like a perfectly normal show of affection. Why make a big deal of it? Then, switching the topic of conversation, the princess asked, ‘How’s the leg?’

Since the aloe vera had been applied to her calf, Nikki had completely forgotten about the sting. She flexed her calf tentatively. ‘Feels fine.’

‘Good. Now, how about a quick dip?’ the princess suggested.

‘Why not? I bet the sea’s quite warm here, isn’t it?’

‘Oh, I can do a lot better than that.’

Abandoning the path, Roxanna headed off deeper into the jungle, bidding Nikki to be careful as she followed. Nikki felt like an adventurer making her way through virgin territory as she pushed past the overhanging vines and branches. The vegetation became much thicker, as did the tree canopy overhead. Then, unexpectedly, the path broke out into a large clearing, at the centre of which was a small, sparkling, crystal-blue freshwater pool.

Roxanna tagged Nikki’s arm. ‘C’mon, race you!’

The princess had a slight head start, but Nikki put on a burst of speed to ensure she stayed hot on her host’s heels – however, as it was only 30 or 40 metres to the edge of the water, she didn’t quite manage to catch her up. As if bursting through the tape at the finish line, Roxanna dived full-length into the pool. Nikki followed right behind her. She was slightly surprised to discover how cool the water was; not that she was complaining, for she found it wonderfully refreshing and exhilarating.

As she broke the surface, Nikki looked around for Roxanna. Her host was nowhere to be seen. She couldn’t understand it and called her name, but only the birds replied. Suddenly, the princess burst up through the surface too, right at her side. Nikki squealed, partly in shock, partly in delight. Roxanna proceeded to splash her. Nikki retaliated and, for a few moments, the pair thrashed around like children, soaking one another playfully, until Roxanna escaped by diving back beneath the water. Once again, Nikki lost sight of her; then, the next instant, she felt Roxanna’s hands ensnaring her legs, and the princess pulled her under the water. She struggled to break free but, unable to do so, she caught hold of Roxanna and the pair bobbed up to the surface once more, wrapped in one another’s arms.

Nikki laughed gaily and couldn’t understand why the princess wasn’t joining in. Roxanna was perfectly still as she stared deep into Nikki’s eyes. Nikki stopped laughing as she registered the fire within them.

Feeling much bolder than she had done the previous evening, Nikki decided to take the initiative. Caressing Roxanna’s cheek, she said, ‘Would you like to kiss me?’

If anything, Roxanna’s gaze grew in intensity. ‘Only if you’re sure you want me to.’

By way of a response, Nikki drew the princess towards her. Their bodies bumped together underwater and their lips met. The kiss was every bit as hot and passionate as the ones that they had shared in the Games Room the previous evening. Gone was Nikki’s previous timidity as she swirled her tongue around inside Roxanna’s mouth. As they kissed, Nikki felt the princess’ hands explore her body, thrilling as her fingers ran around the back of her neck, across her shoulder blades, then down her spine. Eventually, they came to rest against the cheeks of her bottom. Roxanna’s fingertips were so exciting against her skin.

Nikki wasn’t sure why they felt so different from when a man touched her. It wasn’t simply how smooth they were compared to men’s fingers; it was more down to Roxanna touching her in unexpected places, which made the sensation doubly arousing.

She responded by cupping the princess’ breasts and could clearly feel her excitement, as her nipples were straining at the flimsy material of her bikini top. Gently, Nikki massaged them between her thumbs and forefingers, tweaking, toying, teasing. Then, much to her surprise, Roxanna pulled away. Nikki eyed her in a puzzled manner. Roxanna stared back at her intently.

‘Don’t you want to …’ Nikki allowed the sentence to trail off and the implication to hang in the air.

Roxanna nodded emphatically. Unwittingly echoing Matt’s response to Nikki the previous day, she said, ‘More than you could imagine, but I want you to be absolutely certain.’

‘I think I am.’

‘“I think”, isn’t quite the same as “I’m sure”. I’d hate myself if I persuaded you to do something you might regret. Tell you what, how about we go back up to the house and do that interview? That’ll give you time to consider.’ Roxanna trailed her fingers softly over Nikki’s cheek. ‘There’ll still be plenty of time to enjoy ourselves later if you do decide you’d like to.’