My Sweet Temptation

Chapter 6: The Beach Love

Ryker's POV

'Jeez, why is it taking so long now?′

Restlessness consumed me throughout the meeting. As I sat in the meeting, I couldn't help but think of Daniel and the two women who had already arrived at the resort. I imagined them basking in the sun, sipping on tropical drinks, and enjoying the luxurious amenities. Meanwhile, I was stuck in the boardroom, listening to endless presentations and envious of their carefree escape. The present encounter marks the fourth time I have convened with my esteemed investors on this day. My finger incessantly tapped against the wooden surface of the table. The passage of time decelerates to a crawl during my meetings, such that I scarcely noticed it in the past, perhaps due to familiarity. However, it is a tedious affair that leaves much to be desired. The desire to hasten the passage of time consumed me as if I held the power to manipulate the very fabric of the universe.

My thoughts are preoccupied with Claire, distracting me from my current focus. As she dashes down the sandy shore, a grin spreads across her face, reminiscent of the carefree days she spent with Russell in their youth. Clad in a swimsuit, she exudes a sense of liberation and joy.

'What sort of swimsuit is she wearing? What hue? The hue of yellow complements her appearance quite well. She'll get even whiter, and...' I thought.

I swallowed hard, my body temperature rising as Claire's image danced in my thoughts.

'Damn...'

–

Daniel and I perched atop a grand tree limb, gazing upon the flickering flames of the bonfire before us. We indulged in the refreshing taste of the beer that Daniel had thoughtfully provided. As I pivoted on my heel, my gaze fell upon a pair of young ladies relishing in the pleasures of the sandy shore. Standing at the precipice, their hands entwined in a tender embrace, they eagerly await the arrival of the next wave. As it crashes upon the shore, they scamper away in laughter reminiscent of carefree children at play.

Claire had a captivating presence that held my gaze. I took a sip of the beer and cast a fleeting glance in Daniel's direction. A frown creased my brow as I noticed Daniel's gaze on the two women. Initially, I thought his gaze was fixated on Claire, but as Russell stumbled, a sly grin crept across his face. A sly grin crept onto my countenance as my intuition was validated.

"Do you like my sister?"

As I posed my question abruptly, Daniel turned his gaze toward me. He gave a smile but remained silent. I opted for a cold, frothy beer instead of other beverage options.

"That annoying kid always argues with me. And my mom always comes to the rescue."

"Your parents waited for her for a long time. You can't be mad at your parents for spoiling her."

I paused my speech momentarily and directed my gaze toward the two women standing nearby.

"Claire is beautiful. She's changed a lot," I said suddenly.

Daniel gazed upon the two feminine figures in the far-off distance. "Yes, what you said is true. You like her?" Daniel asked.

The query posed by Daniel caught me off guard, though his playful grin hinted at mischievous intent. "I just said that," I said with a smirk.

"I know you, buddy. If you say something with awe in your eyes, it means you mean it."

A chuckle escaped my lips. "Claire's young."

"Age is but a number. That isn't what makes you who you are or defines you as an individual. You won't be happy if you're worried about other people." Daniel said.

"You don't think the age difference is an issue?"

"Of course," said Daniel. "Why? Are you not?" he asked with a hint of curiosity.

I raised my shoulders in a nonchalant gesture and opted for silence. Russell and Claire eventually made their way over to our presence. I did not expect Claire to sit beside me as Russell approached Daniel. Without hesitation, Claire snatched a beer from the table, and in uncertainty, we both reached for the same bottle. As our hands briefly met, a jolt of electricity coursed through my body, catching me off guard. I observed Claire's smirk as she swiftly withdrew her hand from the bottle, anticipating my response. I grasped the bottle firmly and deftly twisted off the cap, offering it to her graciously.

"Here," I uttered. With a smile, Claire turned towards me and gracefully accepted the bottle.

Instantly, my mind transported me back to that fateful prom night four years prior, when the first sparks of electricity between us ignited. Once uneasy, now a jolt of electricity courses through every fiber and nerve, sending a distinct tickle throughout my entire being. The sensation is one of both comfort and ticklishness. A broad grin adorned my countenance, unyielding and persistent. With a sudden jolt, I withdrew my hand from the bottle and exhaled air.

"That's not a lighter beer. It's Red Horse," I overheard Daniel tell Russell since she had almost finished with his bottle. "It was an indirect kiss, you know?"

Russell trembled as if on the verge of retching. She drank the last of the bottle again and finished it.

A flush of crimson creeps up her cheeks. "Heist," she said, her voice laced with concern, "what ails you?"

Once more, the two engaged in a heated argument. I drank beer and watched them. They haven't changed. As my gaze rested upon the two, the gentle sound of Claire's mirthful laughter prompted me to pivot on my heel. The luminescent glow of the moon cast a soft radiance upon her countenance, lending the impression that her skin was illuminated with a gentle luminosity.

'I couldn't help but marvel at her stunning beauty.' I thought.

"I'm curious about what was going through your mind as you stared at me."

"Huh?" The sound of Claire's voice caught me off guard. Unbeknownst to me, she had already taken her place beside me, our flesh nearly grazing as she propped her hand beneath her chin and gazed intently in my direction. My gaze drifted downward, fixating on her lips.

"Are you planning something evil, huh?"

I cast a swift glance into her eyes. "I hadn't noticed until now, but you have long eyelashes," I said, edging slightly away from her. "Is it fake?"

"Huh? My eyelashes aren't fake. They are real." With a smile, Claire spoke. "If you only look at me, you will know how beautiful I am."

"You are gorgeous," I said.

I noticed a sudden transformation in Claire's complexion as her once radiant skin took on a fiery hue.

"Yes. It has a slightly sweet taste with a hint of bitterness, leading to a strong kick of alcohol. You might get drunk." I overheard Daniel say.

With a scowl, Russell charged toward Daniel. She sent him tumbling down onto the gritty shore with a forceful push. Claire and I both laughed.

"I believe you may have had too much to drink, my friend," I said.

With a swift motion, Daniel thrust Russell away from him, causing her to tumble onto the gritty shore.

"Haist," she exclaimed, "you are such a rude gorilla. Pushing me is unnecessary," Russell retorted, her irritation palpable.

A fleeting sight of Claire murmuring to Russell caught my attention. "Because he's annoying. You saw him push me." Russell voiced her dismay.

No utterance escaped Daniel's lips, nor did he offer any contrition. He approached me and settled by my side, sipping a cold beer.

"Are you still OK?"

I felt Daniel's gaze shift in my direction. "Of course, yes. Why?"

A smirk graced my lips. "It seems like you are in a hurry."

"Negative," Daniel uttered.

"How are you and Anne? She's your girlfriend now?" "I inquired," I said.

With a chuckle, Daniel raised the beer bottle to his lips and took a long sip. "No, certainly not," he replied. "It seems like you don't know the rules."

A chuckle escaped my lips. "Big B and Daniel had an undeniable rapport. Both their brains function similarly," Russell stated.

Daniel and I shifted our gazes toward Russell. Her gait was unsteady, and her speech was slurred, giving the impression that she had imbibed a significant amount of alcohol. Claire seemed dizzy, similarly. A chuckle escaped my lips. The rosy hue of Claire's cheek resembled that of a ripe tomato.

"The way you talk makes it sound like you don't have the same gut as Claire," I told her.

"We're decent, aren't we, Claire?" Russell said. Claire glanced at the sound, but her eyelids seemed to struggle to part. Amusement overtook us as we observed the pair.

"Tss," she whispered, a sly smile on his lips. "You're having fun, sir. Did I bring you joy?" Russell uttered these words to Daniel with a tone dripping with sarcasm.

Daniel smiled and replied, "In all honesty, yes, every day."

"Ahm, Russell, I need to sleep. The sensation of vertigo overcomes me as if the world around me is constantly rotating." With one hand, Claire covered her mouth. She gently removed his hand from her quivering lips as she felt the nausea subside. The pace at which the world revolves is far too rapid. The desire to depart was consuming the individual's thoughts.

Claire rose to her feet, her eyes narrowing slightly as she lifted her head with poise.

"Jeez, Claire, I'll come with you." Daniel was just about to rise when I unexpectedly stood up. The bottle I held was now empty, its contents having been consumed.

"I don't trust you, dude. I'll take her." I said.

A chuckle escaped from Daniel's lips. "Thus, you are entrusting me with the responsibility of tending to your irritable, formidable sibling from the sss?"

"Who is Amazonian?" With a disdainful gaze, Russell inquired about Daniel as if the mere thought would cause her to ignite a fire within her nostrils.

"I know you cannot defeat her," I stated with a sly grin, seizing Claire's arm and lifting it, much to her astonishment.

Claire gasped in disbelief as she fixed her gaze on me.

"Hey, Ryker! Please do nothing with my best friend, or I will curse you forever and ever. You're going to be sorry that I'm your sister!" Russell yelled.

The sudden outburst from Russell caused a deep furrow between my brows. Haist thought to himself that the girl was incredibly irritating.

Surprise coursed through me as Claire enveloped me in a warm embrace, her face nestled against the crook of my neck.

"You smell nice, Ryker. I think I'm in love...." Claire's breath tickled my ear as she leaned in closer, seeking refuge in the shelter of my embrace. Restlessness consumed me as she interrupted her train of thought. Does she harbor romantic feelings for me? Making assumptions is challenging, yet a particular amusement arises within me. The scent emanating from you is utterly alluring. The fragrance that emanates from you has captured my heart."

Though my ears were met with a slightly disappointing sound, my body seemed to react differently. The warmth of Claire's skin was a curious sensation that left me uncertain whether it was the effect of the alcohol on my skin, creating an itchy feeling. The trend is quite pleasurable, particularly in my lower extremities.

'God, this is torture?'