Carina stared wonderingly around the bright, familiar surroundings of the large, split-level mansion. It opened onto a picturesque courtyard overlooking a vast, glimmering ocean. A second later she heard approaching footsteps and quickly dismissed the bizarre, surreal sensation as she recalled her purpose.
"He's coming!" Carina squealed in a hushed voice, rushing to collapse in her seat at the elegant, beige circular table that stood in the courtyard's centre. Hurriedly smoothing the magazine pages in front of her, she stared down as though fascinated.
Michael sat across from her, looking dashing in a vibrant navy polo shirt and black shorts, appearing deeply preoccupied with his phone as Eduardo sauntered onto the courtyard.
"What a day!" he marvelled, breathing in fresh humidity as he gazed appreciatively at the ocean below them. "But of course, it's fucked up the ass by an errand."
Carina and Michael exchanged a sly glance, but quickly averted their eyes as Eduardo bore down on Carina.
"My love," he murmured, bending to hug her from behind and sensually kiss her neck. "I hope that catalogue will not shred my bank balance."
"They're shoes, not Ferraris," Carina pouted, affectionately curling an arm around his neck. "Besides, Carlos gave this to me, and said not to hold back." The hard look in her eyes was quickly concealed, but Michael saw it. It was no secret that Carlos felt compelled to make up for his brother's infidelity in any way he could.
"Mm-hmm," Eduardo nipped her earlobe and she pleasurably shivered. Over her shoulder, he eyed the images with lusty approval. "Remind me to thank him."
"Join us for breakfast?" Michael invited, finally putting his phone down and pointing to the unfinished platters.
"I thank you, no," Eduardo sighed regretfully. "I promised to help Borg with that problem." He pulled a face as he straightened, then smiled down at Carina's tempting figure.
"Just coffee,
mi amor?
" Carina pleaded, looking up beseechingly. Tightening her arms by her sides, she squeezed her breasts together, and Eduardo's hand quickly snaked down her collarbone to trace the delicious curves presented to him.
"Will you sit on my lap?" he grinned, his dark eyes smouldering at Carina's orange bikini. It was provocative almost to a point of obscene, coating small sections of her lithe body like sheer paint.
"Of course," Carina purred, watching him from beneath her lashes.
"Little vixen, how could I refuse?" he chuckled, and pulled out a chair.
"Oh, wow!" Carina exclaimed urgently, and Eduardo quickly looked in the direction she pointed as he sat down.
"The
fuck!
" Eduardo shouted, leaping up as something uncomfortably spiked his behind. After glaring down at the seat, he looked accusingly between Michael, who had his head on the table, buried beneath his arms, and Carina, who shrieked with laugher.
"You two!" Eduardo exclaimed, rubbing a sore buttock. "Ouch. What the fuck
is
that?"
"It was Carina's idea," Michael said faintly, lifting his head. "I'm innocent."
Carina's lovely face was alight with mischief as she laughed, and Eduardo couldn't resist smiling at the fetching sight of her.
"And what is this all about?" Carlos inquired, joining them.
"Just me. The
butt
end of another joke," Eduardo said darkly, but his eyes warmed with good natured acceptance.
"I thought it was the shoe catalogue." Humour softened Carlos' usual serious expression as he bent to kiss Carina's cheek in greeting.
"Did you sleep well, Carina?" he asked, and she nodded. There was a lazy affection in his dark eyes as he watched her peruse the magazine. "Anything worthwhile?"
"I was thinking these," Carina lifted the page toward him, and Carlos whistled.
"The navy, or black?" he asked.
"Both," Carina shrugged, and Michael rolled his eyes.
"Then both it is," Carlos mildly replied. With his hand on the back of Carina's chair, he straightened to give his brother a pointed look. "Don't you have an appointment with Borg?"
Eduardo airily waved a hand. "Ok, Ok. I'm going, I'm going." Quickly moving behind Carina, he bent to give her one last squeeze, and she giggled as he planted multiple playful smooches up her neck and cheek before wandering back inside to get changed.
Carlos peered down at Eduardo's seat. "Carina, what on Earth
is
this?" he uttered, tentatively plucking the item from the chair.
Carina shrugged. "Michael found it on the beach."
"But it was
your
idea to use it," Michael quickly added.
"Hmm," Carlos eyed them both disapprovingly. He carefully placed the offending element on the floor and returned to the table.
"Michael, could you go with him?" Carlos requested abruptly, and Michael straightened with surprise.
"Of course," he said, looking amused as Carina glared at him, before scowling into her magazine. "Is there trouble?"
"No, but..." Carlos seemed uneasy, and Carina looked up curiously. "I suspect he's been running his mouth off."
"Carlos!" Carina protested in Eduardo's defence. "He would never-"
"Darling, there are things unknown to you," Carlos said shortly. He paused, realising by the hurt look in her eyes that she'd misinterpreted his meaning. "Business matters that only he could divulge to others," he explained in a kinder tone. "And whilst Borg is a friend, I would prefer..." he trailed off, looking quite worried.
"It's no problem," Michael said easily, pocketing his phone and standing from the table. He grinned when Carina irritably shook her head at him. "Don't look at me like that. We'll sail another day," he winked at her, then strode inside to find Eduardo.
"Will
you
