~REGINA~

Remy looked stunned upon seeing me, probably because he wasn't expecting me to come. I felt my eyes sting with tears as he wrapped his hands around Valentina's waist. She was oblivious to the turmoil mirrored in my face that I didn't even bother to hide as her head rested on his chest.

"Darl, meet my coursemate, Regina, and her roommate Karina."

The surprise look on his face disappeared and was replaced with a forced smile. Of course, he knew us. He needed no introduction, and while I was expecting him to at least admit that, he extended his hand for a handshake.

"Nice to meet you, Regina." I stared down at his hands for a few seconds before I sidestepped him and headed inside, tears filling my eyes. The hotel staff followed me immediately and so did Karina.

Immediately we got to Karina's room, I slumped into her bed and let out a loud cry.

Karina was by my side again, her hands crossed around my shoulders and bringing me closer to her.

"Let it out," she said softly, rubbing my back softly.

Tears flowed in torrents from my eyes, drenching Karina's expensive sundress, but she didn't mind.

"I can't believe he really broke up with me." I croaked, my hold on Karina's thighs tightening.

"I know he did. But you didn't want to listen to me."

"Bitch!" I spat out, recalling the way Valentina's hands were all over him. I felt bile rise in the pit of my stomach, my mouth as bitter as ever. I regretted coming here.

"Can we get a pretend boyfriend now?" I heard Karina's voice ring in my ears. I was already here. There was no going back and I knew that if I wanted to get over Remy, I had to start now.

"Yes."

~~~~~~~~~~~

After venting in the arms of Karina, I decided to head down to my room which was two rooms away from hers. I decided to let her pack since her boyfriend would be here anytime soon.

I carried my pitiful self to the room to unpack and have a change of clothes. I didn't waste time in the room alone because I didn't want to wallow.

Immediately after I had a quick shower, I dressed up in a sundress Karina got for me. With my puffy eyes and face devoid of makeup, I left the room, straight to Karina's room.

Three knocks and the door wasn't yet opened. My brows furrowed. Was Karina still in the bathroom?

I knocked again and soon I started hearing footsteps, followed by the flinging open of the door and a giggling Karina sticking out her head out.

I gave her a sideway glance, noting the glint dancing in her eyes. It was only her boyfriend Clinton that was capable of making her giggle like that.

"Clinton's here." She said tilting her head pleadingly. That was my cue to look for a way to keep my mind busy.

I forced a smile and nodded. "Alright. I will be in my room."

She planted a quick kiss on my cheek before closing the door.

That was how I found myself by the beach, enjoying the gentle breeze and wishing that it could mend my broken heart. There was no way I was going back to that room.

I spread out my arms, my eyes snapping close as I imagined myself inside a still water. I would have gone for a quick dip into the beach waters but I wasn't with my swimming outfit.

I settled for basking in the natural scent of the waters and the gentle breeze that wafted around me, bringing a wave of calmness through me.

"It's going to be okay, Gina," I murmured. A tear slipped and I didn't bother wiping them. I suddenly felt refreshed.

That was before I heard a loud shout that snapped me out of my calmness. My eyes fluttered open. I caught sight of two hands in the air. Someone was drowning.

Without thinking, I made it straight to the beach, and when I got there, I didn't hesitate to jump into the pool, not taking into consideration that I wasn't in the right outfit.

I had managed to pull the young boy out of the deep side of the water, but I couldn't swim out because of my sandals. The realization of how stupid I was dawned on me. I jumped into the pool with my high-heeled sandals. I kept sinking to the bottom of the water, no matter how hard I tried to propel myself up.

I was getting weaker, and that was when I decided to stop fighting. After all, nothing made sense in my life anymore. But before I sank to the hollow part, a strong hand pulled me up and dragged the young boy and me out of the pool.

I hadn't passed out yet, but I had drunk a lot of water that made me dizzy, and my eyes fluttered shut, and I slipped out of consciousness.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Coughing out a large amount of water, my eyes opened weakly, staring at the most gorgeous face I had ever seen. It wasn't clear at first. But the fog in my ears soon cleared and my lips fell inches apart.

I was trying to catch my breath, and at the same time, that breath was being taken away by this muscular and gorgeous-looking guy who knelt in front of me, peering into my face with worry and concern.

He had the most gorgeous oval-shaped face I had ever seen. His enchanting green eyes and long eyelids were what stood out for me, followed by his yummy red lips beneath a gorgeous-looking nose that wasn't overly pointed.

"Thank goodness you are awake. You almost gave me a scare." His deep voice was another breathtaking factor about him.

I didn't know I was gawking until his brows arched and I let out a nervous cough.

My body shivered, but I didn't know if it was from almost sinking in the chilly water or from his gaze and grasp on my nape and at the back of my knees.

"We should get you to your room. You are a guest here, right?" As soon as he said that, I recoiled from his hold, shaking my head.

His brows furrowed. "Not getting to your room or not being a guest?" He asked lightly, a side smile tugging at the corner of his lips. My heart fluttered.

"It seems you haven't quite recovered from the shock of almost drowning." He was staring at me with so much fondness that it made me forget I was the one he was talking to. Gosh! Those green eyes.

"I'm going to take you to my room then." That was when my mind recollected there he was referring to me. My brows furrowed as I considered following this man to his room and getting to mine. But frankly, I didn't want to stop staring at those green eyes, not now, not ever.

Great Gina! I just got my heart broken and I was already thinking about another man's eyes.

"Are you a mute?" His deep voice dragged me out of my thoughts and when the realization of his words dawned on me. I shook my head vigorously.

"Words, beautiful," He softly commanded.

Of course, handsome. "No." I half-whispered.

His side smile broadened to a grin and I felt my heart swelling out of its hold. Before I could register his next action, he pulled me out of the sand and into his arms and sprang to his feet like I weighed nothing. How the hell?

My heart thudded loudly against my chest as our gaze met. I had to leave my lips apart because I was literally panting.

"Let's get you to a warm place then." He whispered in a breathy voice that zapped out the rest of the breath stashed away in my lungs.

~KRISTEN~

"A break from the business meetings and getting to know your fianceé." Those were the exact words that landed me at the Manhattan resort for Yuletide Gateway.

Billie, my fiancee by business arrangements, suggested this resort because of the awesome events it held in store for couples this Christmas.

My Dad was pushing for us to work out because our marriage meant an alliance with one of the most powerful conglomerates in Manhattan— Sternberg Conglomerates, owned by Billie's mum, and that technically made her the heiress.

It would be a huge boost to our company's clientele.

Our engagement was finalized last month and while Billie seemed to be on the highs for me, I felt nothing for her. This vacation was an avenue for me to give myself a trial if I could fall for her. I made that clear to my Dad.

I arrived at the Island solo because Billie had an impromptu business meeting in Istanbul and wouldn't be back until tomorrow. I decided to go and at least spend some time alone— away from my Billie, from my parents and only sister— not that she was a pain in the ass though.

But I needed some time alone.

Barely a few hours later, I got to the resort in my power bike that I parked in the resort's parking area; I stripped and decided to go for a swim.

The weather was chilly, I knew. But I couldn't help the urge to dip myself in the beach for a few minutes. I was clad in shorts and a loose shirt.

As I walked down the path that led to the beach, my eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in the couples basking in the Yuletide weather.

I let out a small smile. The chemistry between each of them could be felt from a mile away, but I couldn't say the same for me and Ingrid. She was clearly into me, but I wasn't. At least, not yet. I hoped this holiday would solve that.

Halfway to the beach, I snapped out of my thoughts and I noticed two hands sticking out of the pool. Just then, a lady jumped into the pool, probably to save the person drowning.

"How can she swim with heels and a dress?" I quizzed as I sprinted down to the pool.

I jumped onto the beach immediately when I saw that the young boy that was drowning before had reappeared from the hollow part of the beach, but the young lady hadn't.

I swam faster than I ever did in a while and soon I caught a glimpse of her heading right to the bottom. I spiraled down immediately, catching her just in time and dragging her to the surface and the shore, alongside the young boy. A relative of the boy arrived, taking him from me with thanks and smiles.

I looked down at the unconscious young lady who was floating and carried her in my arms before stepping out of the beach.

I walked a few paces away from the beach before I knelt down and gently dropped her to the ground. Thank God she was still breathing.

Leaning in, I breathed into her lips before I started pressing her chest repeatedly. It didn't take long for her to come to. She coughed out water, her eyes opening and staring directly into mine.

I exhaled in relief. "Thank goodness you are awake. You almost gave me a scare." I muttered, but for some reason, I couldn't stop staring into her eyes. They were icy blue, but had a little glisten around the irises.

I had never seen any icy blue eyes that were that gorgeous. The outline of her face was round and the features were stunning. That wasn't your regular kind of face.

Icy blue eyes, thick eyebrows, and long lashes— just like mine, a very pointed nose that was sitting over the most sumptuous rosebud lips I had ever seen. And her curly red hair was as natural as they come.

In one word, she was... I mentally shook my head.

'Concentrate, Kris'

I snapped out of my thoughts to see her staring pointedly at me. I felt something stir within me, and I knew right then that I had to cut that incessant stare.

I didn't know how to convey it with words so I arched my brows, prompting another cough from her. I felt her body shiver against my hold on her nape and the back of her legs.

Great! I was so fixated on her face not to remember that she needed a warm place right about now.

"We should get you to your room. You are a guest here, right?" I had barely gotten the words out of my mouth when she recoiled away from my body, shaking her head.

My brows furrowed in confusion. "Not getting to your room or not being a guest?" I could help giving way to the smile that tugged at the corners of my lips. She was just too gorgeous and damn natural.

"It seems you haven't quite recovered from the shock of almost drowning." I continued, noticing that stare again. She was staring at me as though she could see me. I didn't want to read further meaning to what I wasn't sure of. Not this point when I wasn't open to attractions and chemistries.

"I'm going to take you to my room then." I studied the expression on her face, the furrowed brows, as though she was considering what I said. I was also surprised at myself for suggesting that.

Then it occurred to me that I hadn't heard her talk since I brought her out of the water.

"Are you a mute?" Her gaze snapped sharply to me, and she shook her head vigorously.

"Words, beautiful," I commanded softly.

"No." She half-whispered. Whoa! Finally.

My smile broadened to a grin as I pulled her into my arms and sprang to my feet.

'Wow, so light.'

I looked down at her, ignoring the way my length twitched at the contact of our bodies.

"Let's get you to a warm place then." I smiled down at her, noting the way her lips fell inches apart as she continued staring at me. It was now dawning on me that her gaze had never left mine since I rescued her from the beach.

I could say the same for myself, but the fact that I was already engaged kept drawing me back from basking in her gorgeous gaze much longer.

But as I headed towards the room with her in my arms, plus my suddenly heated body, I knew that it was just a matter of time before I would forgo that I was ever engaged.

I got to my room and held her With one arm, while I used the other to fish out my key card amid the way her gaze was boring into me. The door beeped before I pushed it open, adjusting her in my arms, and headed towards the bed.

But as soon as I dropped her on the comforter, the lower part of our bodies subtly clashed, drawing a gasp from our lips.

~REGINA~

The feel of his rock-hard body against mine sent rippling sensations through my spine. Worse still, I couldn't take my eyes off his well-sculpted biceps as he marched towards the vacation island with me in his arms.

His high chin was another thing that caught my fancy. He was so tall that I couldn't see the rest of his facial features at that moment. But I had already memorized them from staring at him while I was sprawled on the sands at the beach side.

This was the first time someone was showing me this kind of care. He didn't even mind that my body was all wet and Sandy yet he carried me in his arms, thereby staining his loose shirt.

I was so engrossed in drinking his sight that I didn't know we had gotten to his room until he carried me in one hand to enable him to unlock the door.

His men's cologne stuck to my nose, making me dizzy. Heck, everything about him had been spinning my head endlessly, and this just had to tip the scale.

Was I already attracted to this handsome stranger?

I mentally shook my head as he pushed the door open and balanced me in his two hands. Maybe it was the after-effect of nearly getting drowned, and he saved me just in time, right?

Or, perhaps it was because my heart was in a vulnerable state after getting literally crushed by Remy. It had to be one of them because why in the world of fuck would the sight of him and the contact of our bodies make my heart do a thousand backflips?

My mind hadn't fully wrapped around that thought when I felt myself being laid down against the bed, followed by the crashing of his body into mine.

A gasp escaped my lips and from his as well. We stayed in that position, gawking at each other. His lips were still parted and so was mine. Not just that, my clit was twitching from the effect of his length that was pressed to it.

I could tell it was huge and that made it all thrilling. I couldn't think straight anymore. The only thought circling my mind was the feel of his length against my already heated clit.

From his tanned complexion, I could guess his length would be tanned as well. I gulped at that thought. Gracious goodness! What was wrong with me?

Then he broke into a soft smile, his eyes darting around my face.

"You should see your face right now," his deep voice sounded so soft that if I wasn't trapped underneath I wouldn't have heard him.

His hand left my nape and landed on my face, trailing from my forehead and resting on my cheek, pinching me softly.

"God! You are gorgeous." He purred and the dizziness intensified. I forced my eyes closed because his green irises were doing things to my insides. And his words...

Gracious goodness! This seemed too good to be true.

I felt his breath fanning my lips and I knew he was close— so close! My eyes snapped open and a low gasp escaped my lips at the proximity of his lips. It was a breath away from mine.

Heat flared within me, and my mouth went totally dry.

"It seems you don't talk a lot." He half-whispered, his minty breath teasing my nostrils and driving more flames to my center.

Instead of replying, I gulped, but my imaginary saliva barely made its way down my throat when his lips crashed into mine, nibbling and sucking hungrily.

A soft moan escaped my lips as my hands moved on their own accord and found his cheeks, cupping them and parting my lips to allow him more entrance.

A low growl bubbled from his lips as he slid in his hot wet tongue, sending jolts of shivers through my spine.

His hands left my cheek and started trailing a path down my cleavage. A loud blaring of my phone halted his hand a few paces away from grabbing my breast.

I hadn't even given a thought to where my phone was until now. I thought it got lost on the beachside, where I dumped it before heading to play a savior with heels.

I only knew it was mine because of my Jennifer Lopez ‘love of my life’ ringtone.

"I picked it up because it rang and a picture of you displayed as the wallpaper." He answered my silent question as he eased his body away from mine— to my disappointment.

Gulping again, I reached for it on the bedside table. I already knew who was calling.

"Sweetie!!" Her shrill voice blared from the other end as soon as I picked up the call and placed the phone to my ears.

"I'm sorry I left you hanging, love. Your pretend boyfriend is on his way." I sighed on hearing her last statement but nodded anyway.

"I will be with you soon."

When the call ended, I looked up and saw him leaning against the cabinet pressed to the wall, his gaze pinned on me. He was now shirtless, giving me an unwavering view of his broad chest and well-sculpted abs.

'Christ! This guy is a temptation.'

I bit my lips at the way my insides were churning endlessly as a result of his kiss and now his exposed chest was sending flames of need down south.

I needed to go before I would launch at him and start from where we left off.

"You wanna go?" He asked softly.

I nodded as I got to my feet, ignoring my wobbling knees.

"I hope I see you again." He said as I got to the door. I turned, my gaze trailing over his tall and muscular build. I nodded again before sprinting out of the door.

~~~~~~~~~~

I had already freshened up and changed into another dress and headed to Karina's room— even though I wished I never had to take my bath so soon, so I could bask in the remnants of his musky scent that clung to my body.

I unconsciously lifted my hands and trailed my fingers over my lips, recalling the way he had handled my lips so softly and hungrily.

"Earth to Gina!" Karina's shrill voice dragged me out of my daydream.

My head whipped up to look at her, my brows arching questioningly.

"Where were you just now?" Karina asked, peering closely at me with raised brows.

"I was just lost in thoughts," I replied, my mind working at what I would tell her I was thinking about because she would definitely ask.

Her nose scrunched. "I hope you are not thinking about how to go back to that lousy boyfriend of yours?"

I couldn't help chuckling as I shook my head. Funny how my thoughts had already been occupied by this attractive stranger, leaving no room for Remy.

Karina smiled. "Great. My brother is on his way—" A soft knock interrupted her and her gaze snapped to the door and back to me in a split second.

"He must be here." She said gleefully, springing to her feet and heading to the door.

When she opened the door, I lifted my gaze to behold her long-awaited brother, and my eyes widened, threatening to bulge out of their sockets as a soft gasp escaped my lips.