I remove my hand from her dress.
“I’m going to be dripping all day,” she huffs.
“Yes, and I’ll love it.” I lick each of my fingers slowly, torturing both her and myself as I do. You are doing this for her, to keep her from panicking, I remind myself as my dick hardens painfully in my jeans.
Fuck, why do I have to be such a martyr sometimes?
I open my door, grab her hand again, and jerk her outside of the car.
She takes a deep breath as she stares up at the massive piece of metal looming over every other boat in the harbor. We can’t stand out here for very long. I don’t want anyone to spot her that isn’t a part of the crew. But I know this is a big moment for her. And I’m not going to take that from her like I’ve taken everything else.
I hold her against me tightly while my men continue to load up the yacht with supplies.
I don’t ask her if she’s ready again. She never will be, not truly. It’s like jumping into the ocean when you know it’s still too cold to swim in, you just have to do it and know you’ll survive long enough to find the beauty in it.
I start walking, and she walks with me. There is a ramp, but I’m feeling nostalgic, and I’m hoping it will keep her mind fighting me instead of the trepidation of the boat.
I give her a wink as I release her, and then I jump up onto the main deck. It’s a big jump, and the consequences of missing mean I’ll take a dip into the ocean water below. But I’ve done it countless times. I never miss.
I turn to Kai still standing on the deck below. “Your turn,” I shout.
It’s a risky move. She could take the moment to run away; I already know she doesn’t want to do this. But I would chase her down and catch her within seconds.
Her eyes twinkle at the challenge. If we are anything, we are relentless against challenges.
She takes a step back, and I think I was wrong. She’s not going to do this. Then she takes a running leap, flying through the air as she sucks all the evil in my life away in a second, before landing firmly on the deck.
She winks back at me. We exchange knowing glances, both remembering the last time we boarded a yacht together all those years ago. And even though it ended in disaster, the moments we stole on that yacht together were something I wouldn’t give up for anything.
Our fingers intertwine together as I hear Li
esel’s voice.
“Am I going to have to pull my luggage up the ramp myself, Black?” Liesel asks.
I smile at her sassiness as I stare down to the deck at her. She came. Everyone I care about will be safe. I’ll ensure that.
“Zeke and Langston will help you,” I say noticing both men hurrying down to collect Liesel’s many bags.
I had to practically force Kai to pack an entire bag worth of clothes. She knew we could be gone for months, but she didn’t see the need to pack more than a week’s worth of clothing. She said she could do laundry. But Liesel, on the other hand, packed her entire life.
It’s just another way the two women are so completely different. But they share one thing, I will protect both to the end of my days.
“What is she doing here?” Kai asks.
“Liesel isn’t safe from Milo, not after I brought her as my date to his party. I’m making sure everyone on board is safe. Her included,” I say.
I feel the tension oozing out of Kai. Her body stiffens, her face pales, and she’s no longer thinking about the ache between her legs.
“Are you jealous?” I ask.
“No.”
I laugh, because she obviously is.
I lean down and lick around her ear, slowly and seductively. “Don’t worry, baby. You are the only one who will be screaming my name later tonight.”
I pull away, and her cheeks have flushed as she bites that gorgeous lip I want to taste again.