21. No Restrictions

A sharp rap at her door yanked Charlize from tangled dreams. She barely had time to process the heat lingering from last night’s kiss when a new voice—warm, playful—cut through the morning. The sun was up, but her heart was still racing. Today would not let her hide from trouble, or romance, for long.

“Good morning, sunshine!” Diamante said, standing outside Charlize’s bungalow door.

Light poured through the glass as Charlize blinked awake. There he was—a tall, charming figure, backlit by the sun, grinning at her door. She tried to push the memory of last night’s stolen heat aside, but it clung to her skin. No time to breathe. No time to forget. Another pulse of possibility waited on the threshold.

Diamante, the youngest of the group, had to stand out. He had one shot to make her forget every other man. A bold move—something unforgettable—would be the only way.

Diamante said, “Today is our day together, without any restrictions. Are you ready for some fun?”

“Wait a minute, Mr. no restrictions, we do have one rule.”

“I know, don’t remind me. But that’s the only exception. Are you sure you can keep up?”

“Sure, if you can keep up,” Charlize teased, flashing a smile. She let Diamante in, the air between them already sparking. In the mirror, she caught a glint of excitement she hadn’t seen in years. Even as she brushed on mascara, her mind replayed the memory of his laughter in the Jacuzzi, the way he made her feel unguarded and wanted.

“Pack a bag. You’ll need a change of clothes,” Diamante called through the bathroom door, his voice full of promise.

“So, where are we going?”

“Somewhere new,” he chuckled. “And I’ve got a secret planned—something that’ll make this day impossible to forget.”

“What’s that? I’m all ears.” She said, smiling as he whispered.

“The others might be gentlemen, but I’m the one you’ll remember,” Diamante grinned, eyes dancing with challenge.

But Diamante saw what she was wearing. It was a beautiful sundress, which made her stand out.

“You’re stunning. Do I know you?” Diamante breathed, his gaze lingering a heartbeat longer than polite. The way he looked at her made Charlize’s pulse flutter.

Diamante couldn’t help but notice every curve, the sway of her hips. He’d met beautiful women before, but Charlize was different—she made him want to impress, not just conquer.

A sultry voice behind her sent a shiver straight down her spine, electrifying the morning with possibility.

“Are you the same young lady I woke up to? Well, good morning,” he said in a masculine but sensuous tone.

Charlize hesitated, then squared her shoulders. Today was a game; she was all in. One look at Diamante’s face and she felt the spark—real danger. She made a silent promise not to run from whatever flared next.

“Good morning, Mr. D,” Charlize said with a slight grin and a twinkle in those pretty eyes. Diamante thought she was one of the cutest girls he’d ever met.

Charlize’s mind flashed through her mental checklist: attraction, confidence, a spark that felt different from last night’s fireworks with Xavier. Diamante was holding his own—maybe even setting off fireworks of his own

"My lady, we have a lot to see; I’ve already lost some of my time staring at your beauty,” he said, chuckling. Charlize blushed at his compliment. They both felt an attraction.

She met his gaze, daring him to steal her heart. For a moment, everything slowed—the challenge, the playful tension, the silent question of who would give in first.

He placed his hand at the small of her back as he asked. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, I’m ready,” she said softly, batting her lashes at him with those beautiful eyes.

“This should be interesting,” Charlize said, smiling, blushing because he smiled back at her.

Diamante kept close behind as they walked the boardwalk, taking a different path from last night’s adventure with Xavier. There was a possessiveness in his gaze, a subtle pride in being seen with her. He hadn’t touched her much—yet—but the space between them crackled with possibility.

She half-expected him to be overly forward, but their conversation stayed light instead. Talking about family, favorite songs, harmless flirting. Charlize found herself wanting him to go deeper, to surprise her.

They had walked into this area with many trees, he told her. “I suggest you change clothes here so you won’t mess up your pretty dress. Charlize changed into shorts and a tank top. Then she stood there waiting. Then a few minutes later, he came back. He smiled at her as they walked along the narrow path to the little private area.

They arrived at this open body of water.

“So, are we going swimming again?”

“No, not exactly. I have one more surprise! We’re almost there.”

She saw that he had planned a picnic when they arrived at the next area. Charlize looked at everything already set up for their brunch.

“This is so sweet of you.”

A blanket was spread out on the grass, with a hammock for two next to the quilt—the area was romantic and secluded, with a waterfall nearby. But Charlize noticed the site looked romantic, but Diamante wwasn’tso far. So, she wanted to see how he would go from almost zero to a hundred in affection.

“Do you know what we will eat for lunch?”

“No, but I can help you cook,” Charlize suggested.

“Come sit over here by me. We are going to have fresh grilled fish in about an hour. But wwe’vegot to catch it first.”

“So, we have to catch our meal?” She smiled at him.

“Yes, let me show you how life will be on the island. This is how you use a fishing rod and how to bait it.”

Standing at the water’s edge, Diamante guided her hands on the fishing rod, his chest pressed close to her back. His voice rumbled in her ear, and for a dizzy second, she forgot about everything but the heat building between them.

“Now we are getting ready to toss into the water.” He said in a masculine tone.

Charlize felt herself easing into physical contact. She caught the first fish, and it was so exciting. Diamante helped her reel it in, and then she caught a few more.

“These guys must all be males; they know how to succumb to a beautiful lady.”

“No, the problem is you can’t fish. You were supposed to be teaching me what you know, right?”

“I might have taught you too well,” Diamante laughed, helping her clean the catch. As the grill sizzled, he glanced over. “I couldn’t wait to see you today.” The words surprised them both—raw, honest, impossible to take back.

“Me too.”

“Well, are you hungry? You’ve worked hard, little lady, for this meal.”

“Starving,” Charlize replied, licking her lips at the delicious food. Serving lunch gave him something else to focus on besides how it felt being close to her body and holding her, how amazing she smelled, how her shorts hugged her sexy backside, and how great her hair looked.

Diamante set down the grilled fish and tossed salad as he carried them to the picnic blanket. He opened the chilled bottle of Chardonnay he’d gotten for them to enjoy. Her cute smile lit up her eyes with a sparkle he adored.

“You’re racking up all kinds of points, Mr. D. This fish is amazing.” Charlize tasted it, and it melted in her mouth.

“I’m very impressed, and it’s delicious.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

Natural light through the trees cast a shadow over them. He lit small candles in glass jars, casting a romantic glow. Charlize had to admit this was different.

“Do you like to cook?”

“Yes, but that’s not my specialty. I’m an Elixir mixer. It’s my other favorite pastime at home. They say a way to a girl’s heart is through several good drinks,” he said, laughing. “Since I’m no longer hunting down guys and beating them to a pulp. This is what I do in my spare time.”

Charlize’s mind spun. How could a man who once lived by violence now crave quiet, simple pleasures? She hadn’t expected this twist. Suddenly, she wanted to know everything about the real Diamante—the man behind the reputation.

He suggested they lie in the hammock.

So, she began to ask him more personal questions as the afternoon went on.

“Besides, beating guys to a pulp. Which doesn’t sound like a lot of fun. What else do you do for fun?

“For the most part, now we are not busy keeping the boss safe. I live a tranquil life. I drink and relax. I used to go to clubs, pick up girls, and dance.”

“So, you are a dancer?” she asked curiously.

“I did a few stage performances before I started working with the boss.”

“Ooh! I would like to see a performance. Please, perform for me?”

“Okay, just a little one. Are you sure you can handle this?”

“I’m a big girl; I can handle it, I think…” she teased. “Make it unforgettable.”