"Give me whatever you have that's cold," she said.

"No problem, me'lady," the friendly Jamaican man said, a broad smile spreading across his face. He gave her a tall Red Stripe beer. "Enjoy de island," he said, "you will never want to leave."

Yeah, sure, thought Karina. She didn't even want to be on this vacation, but Joey had insisted that she go. It was his way of trying to make up for everything he had put her through for the past few months. He was always trying to make up for something he had done to hurt her, but they were all hollow gestures. The first time she caught him with another girl, he bought her a new SUV. The second time she caught him, he bought her the beautiful emerald cut diamond ring she had longed for in the jewelry store window. He stopped short of calling it an engagement ring, but he said it was more of a "promise ring". He "promised" never to betray her trust again. Right... The third, and in her opinion, the last time she caught him, he decided to send her on this trip to Jamaica. Of course, he had promised that he would come with her to try to heal their damaged relationship. He had, as usual, called her at literally the last minute to let her know that something came up, and he wouldn't be able to join her. But he insisted that she go on without him and have some fun. Have fun? Alone at a romantic Jamaican beach resort? Whatever, Joey. But she figured she'd make the best of it.

She made her way to the tour van that would take her to the resort. As she boarded, the driver asked if they would need to wait for her companion. Karina, embarrassed, said no, she was traveling alone today. The driver gave her a strange look, but accepted this. She climbed aboard the bus and took a seat. As she looked around, she noticed that she was the only single person in the place. Everyone else had somebody ... somebody who looked like they cared about them. She suddenly felt very sad as she thought about Joey. Why had she fallen for him? He was just another jerk, and she let him treat her like dirt. It's not like she couldn't find somebody else. But she didn't want anybody else. Not yet.

What is this beautiful girl doing all by herself? the driver thought to himself.

Karina was indeed a very pretty girl, although she had never really thought so. She had long, auburn hair, a tall, lean body, and luminous sapphire blue eyes ... eyes that had seen a lot in her 25 years.

When she got to the resort, she unpacked her bags and put on her bikini. She thought she might as well make the best of this and at least get a tan. She walked out of her suite, which was directly on the beach. Well, how nice of Joey to at least get me a room on the beach, she thought sarcastically. She found a chair facing the crystal blue water and sat down. The heat was not so bad with the gentle breeze blowing over her body. She closed her eyes and let her mind wander. This wasn't so bad. She had two whole weeks to relax and get away from her job. No rude customers making passes at her for two whole weeks. Someone to clean her room, cook for her, do her laundry, give HER massages instead of the other way around. She smiled at that thought. As much as she loved her job as a massage therapist, she welcomed this little break. Joey had always tried to make her quit her job. He hated the fact that she worked and wouldn't let him support her. She was very glad she had stuck to her guns and hadn't taken him up on the offer to be his "kept woman." She laughed to herself.

A very handsome beach waiter stopped by and asked if she would like a drink. She told him to bring her the biggest, strongest Long Island Iced Tea he could find. She was going to get shit-faced drunk and enjoy every minute of it. She watched the people walking down the beach. Big, fat European guys in their Speedos. ICK. Topless women with tans so dark, they resembled catcher's mitts. ICK. Cute guys playing volleyball a short distance down the beach ... now that was something to watch. She put on her sunglasses so no one could see her staring. She watched them, with their muscular, tan bodies jumping, falling in the sand, laughing. She pulled her sunglasses down and squinted, trying to see their faces. One of them, a tall blonde guy, looked sort of familiar, but she couldn't tell for sure. Probably not, she thought, and she put her glasses back on. She turned her attention back to the water and her Iced Tea that had just arrived.

She was daydreaming about nothing, when she opened her eyes just in time to see the tall, blonde guy emerging from the crystal blue water. She looked over the top of her sunglasses to make sure she was seeing what she thought she was seeing. Oh dear Lord, that's Nick Carter, she thought. She had only met him once at a party her best friend Mikayla had given. Karina had been there with Joey, and he was pretty possessive, so she wasn't able to talk to Nick very much. She wondered if he would remember her. He made his way over to a lounge chair a few feet away from her, and sat down, not even bothering to towel off. The water droplets glistened on his tanned skin, and she wondered why he didn't go shirtless more often. He had a very nice body. He put on a pair of sunglasses and sat back in his chair. Karina kept glancing over in his direction as she drank her Tea. She could feel the alcohol beginning to get a grasp on her, removing some of her inhibitions. She had never been very shy before, and she really didn't know why she was being shy now. She finally mustered up the courage to go over to him.

As she approached, Nick smiled to himself. He had noticed her watching him, and he was wondering what was taking her so long to come over. She stood at the foot of his chair and put her hands on her hips.

"You know, all this sun will fade your tattoos," she said, smiling.

Nick looked over the top of his sunglasses at this girl who was standing at the foot of his chair. He smirked slightly. Damn, this one was pretty hot. Maybe a keeper? He'd have to see.

"Well, what do you suggest? I'm not gonna sit inside the whole time I'm here," he said, smiling a little.

"You need some sunscreen," Karina said, feeling bolder. "You can borrow mine if you'd like."

Nick laughed. "Ok, but you're going to have to put it on me," he said, looking her up and down, biting his bottom lip.

"No problem, " Karina smiled. She walked back over to her chair to get her sunscreen, oblivious to the fact that Nick was staring at her ass.

She walked back over and sat down on the chair beside him. Her hands trembled a little as she started to touch his shoulders.

Stop it! she thought to herself. Don't be an idiot. You touch people's shoulders all the time, dummy. This is no different. Yeah right, this is very different! This is Nick Carter! Oh dear lord, I'm touching Nick Carter's shoulders. Get hold of yourself, Karina.

She calmed down, and began to rub the sunscreen in gently. Oh, God, he smelled so good.

"You have great hands," Nick said. "I could let you do that all day."

"It's my job. I'm a massage therapist," Karina said, very happy that he was enjoying himself.

Nick smiled to himself... oh yeah, this one could be a keeper.

"OK, you're done," she said, getting up from the chair and starting back to her chair.

"What's your name?" Nick asked.

"Karina," she answered. Obviously he didn't recognize her from the party. She was a little disappointed that she hadn't made an impression on him the first time they met, but she was also relieved that he didn't realize she had been Joey's girlfriend. There was some bad blood between the two of them, and she didn't want to get caught in the middle of the feud.

"Well, Karina, I'm Nick. Maybe we'll run into each other again. How long are you staying?"

"Two weeks," she answered, hoping that they would run into each other again!

Nick smiled and laid back in his chair.

**************************

Later that evening, Karina relaxed in the deserted hot tub. It was dark, and everyone else was apparently at dinner. She really wasn't hungry, since she was on her third Long Island Tea. She was allowing the waves of intoxication wash over her body, relaxing her and making her mind wander. She closed her eyes and started thinking about Joey. He had been so wonderful when they first met. She was so in love with him immediately after the first date. He had treated her like a princess. A China doll that nobody else could touch. She loved him for it. She thought of the first time they made love. His big, warm hands caressing her body. His hot lips on hers, his tongue probing between them. She thought of his broad shoulders and his muscular arms around her. She remembered what it was like to look up into his eyes as he entered her body. He had not been her first, but he was definitely the best she had ever had. She felt warmth between her legs as she became aroused by her thoughts. Yes, he had been a very good lover in the beginning. She was so enthralled in her thoughts that she didn't even hear the other person enter the water. She was imagining making love to Joey in his hot tub at home, how the hot water was such a turn-on. She barely noticed the hand on her inner thigh, lightly caressing with only fingertips and the lips barely grazing her shoulder. Was she imagining this? No, she definitely wasn't imagining this! Karina's eyes flew open and she jumped back. She was staring right into the gorgeous blue eyes of Nick Carter.

"What the hell?" Karina exclaimed. "What the fuck is going on here?"

Nick looked over his shoulder at AJ, who was sitting across from them on the edge of the hot tub, his legs dangling in the water. "I thought you said she wouldn't get mad", Nick said. He turned back to Karina and said sheepishly, "I'm sorry. It was AJ's idea. He said you wouldn't get mad. It was just a joke. Well, not really a joke, but... well, I don't know... I'm just sorry." He backed away from her and sat down.

Karina looked over at AJ, who was sitting with a mischievous little smirk on his face. AJ was engaged to Karina's best friend, Mikayla, and was the father of her baby, Lyric. She was definitely not expecting to see him in Jamaica.

"AJ? What are you doing here?" Karina asked, confused. "Where's Mikayla? And the baby?"

AJ looked at her for a minute, amused, but didn't say anything.

"At home. I needed a vacation," he said finally, still smiling at her. Karina could tell that AJ had been drinking.

"Well, um..." Karina started, but she lost her train of thought. Shit, too much alcohol. She couldn't get her mind to work right.

"Karina, don't tell me you don't like Nick," AJ said, cocking his head to the side and giving her a look that made butterflies in her stomach.

"I didn't say that. I just... I guess he just startled me."

AJ smiled again and hopped into the hot tub. He moved slowly across and positioned himself directly in front of her, only inches from her face. He had a look in his eyes that Karina had never seen before. It was a look of total lust. As she stared into those deep, chocolate brown eyes, she found herself getting lost in them. He slowly spread her legs with his hands and moved his body between them. He leaned in close and whispered to her in growl so low that even Nick couldn't hear what he was saying.

"And don't tell me you don't want me, either, Karina," he said, his lips grazing her ear as he spoke.

"No, I don't," she said weakly. Truth be told, she really did want him. God in heaven, she wanted him.

"You're lying," he said, smiling. He started to kiss her, softly at first, then with more passion as he felt her return his kiss.

Wait a minute, Karina thought. This is my best friend's fiance! What the hell am I doing?

She pulled back abruptly and pushed him away.

"AJ, this isn't right. You're engaged! To Mikayla! She's like a sister to me," she said, wiping his kiss from her mouth.

"Damn, Karina! You think she doesn't do this kind of shit with Kevin and Howie all the time?" AJ said, bitterly.

"No, I don't," Karina said, but she had her doubts. She knew how Mikayla felt about Kevin, and she knew it would be very hard for her to give him up for anybody. Even AJ. Mikayla had not mentioned any recent rendezvous with Kevin, and certainly not Howie, but there was really no telling if she had been with them or not.

"Well, you're wrong," he said, looking down. "Listen, Mikayla and I have this kind of unspoken thing. She does what she wants, and I do what I want. As long as we're careful and we come home to each other. It's all good."

Karina looked over at Nick, who was still sitting to her right. He had a mischevious little smile on his face. She could tell he was up to something.

"What?" she asked, smiling back at him.

"Nothing," he said. "I was just thinking about what it would be like to fuck you, that's all."

Karina burst out laughing at his forwardness.

"You guys are too much," she said, still laughing. AJ moved with lightning speed and grabbed her shoulders. He pressed his lips against hers forefully, his tongue probing her mouth. His hands ran down her arms, then back up, then traveled up her neck to the back of her head. She was shocked by his aggressive actions, but she couldn't help but respond. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. She could feel his huge erection against her inner thigh, and she was immediately aroused. AJ pulled back for a moment and smiled.

"See, I knew you wanted me," he said.

Karina laughed. She couldn't deny it anymore.

"Why don't we go back to my room and play some games?" he asked in a low voice.

"Ok..." she answered slowly, wishing she had not had so much to drink. She knew her judgement was a little skewed by the alcohol, but this was one opportunity she just couldn't pass up. AJ grabbed her hand and led her toward his private bungalow. His erection was straining the material of his shorts, but he didn't give a shit who saw it. He had nothing to be ashamed of in that department.

About halfway to the room, Karina looked behind her and saw Nick following. He had a sexy smirk on his face

"Um, AJ, is Nick coming with us?" she asked, giggling a little.

"Yep," he answered without even turning around to face her.