“What’s your pleasure?” I pick up the phone and press two for room service.
She stands in front of the window with the moon and the sea as her backdrop. “Latte, please.”
I ask for two lattes and a bottle of sparkling water and then join her at the window. “Do you want to go outside?” When I open the door she steps onto the balcony. On the chairs are soft cashmere blankets. I pick one up and wrap it around her shoulders.
“This is really beautiful.” She stares into the distance. The moon casts a glow on the water.
Just like earlier, I step behind her and cage her in with my arms. “Yes, you are really beautiful.”
“Does that generally work with most women?” She turns her head and looks up to me.
“Does what work?” I set my chin on her shoulder and wrap my arms around her waist.
“You telling me I’m beautiful.”
When my mouth nears the lobe of her ear, I feel her shiver, and I’m certain it isn’t because she’s cold.
“I believe all relationships should begin with honesty.” I nibble at the lobe of her ear, which is absent of jewelry. That’s something I’ll have to remedy right away.
“If we’re being honest, then we both know this isn’t a relationship. This is a one-week cruise and after that we have to go back to our real lives.”
I softly touch her shoulder and turn her around to face me. “This is my real life. It could be your life too.” I have no idea what made me say that. All I know is once her lips touched mine, I can’t imagine kissing anyone else—ever.
She snorts and turns to face the water again. “You’ve known me for two seconds. You don't even know if I have bad habits. Maybe I sleepwalk or snore?”
I brush my lips against her neck and settle my chin on the soft area between her jawline and collarbone. “Do you?”
“Do I what?”
My hands slip under the soft blanket and her back presses into my chest.
“Snore?” I splay my hands across her belly and let my thumbs stroke the underside of her heavy breasts. Breasts I am dying to free from the confines of her clothing. “I’d love to find out.” My palms rise to cup her mounds but are stopped midway by the knock on the door. The growl that comes from me is unexpected. I’m known for my patience and persistence, but Libby makes me want to throw all that overboard and dive right in. “Coffee is here,” I say with disappointment.
I open the door and the steward wheels in a cart with our coffee and the bubbly water. I slide him a bill and usher him out as quickly as he arrived.
When I return to the balcony, Libby is sitting on the lounge chair. She’s discarded her shoes and is the picture of peace and tranquility.
Although her eyes are closed, I know she knows I’m here. “Smells divine.”
“Do you take sugar or anything special in your coffee?”
She opens her eyes and shakes her head. “Nope. I’m told I’m sweet enough on my own.”
I sit the coffee on the table next to her. Rather than take the lounge chair beside her. I lift her up and place her in my lap. She struggles to stand, but I hold her against my body.
“I will crush you.”
“Doubtful, but if that’s the case, I’ll die a happy man.”
“You are so smooth. Is this your game? You pick a girl from each cruise and you treat her like a goddess and ruin her for all other men?”
I wrap my arms around her stomach and hold her tight. “I don’t play games, and if I can you ruin you for all other men, you damn well better believe I’ll try.”
She wiggles on my lap and my cock thickens under her ass. I know she feels it because she moves until it sits between the crease of her cheeks. I want to fucking die right here with her on my lap.
“If you’re going to ruin me, then at least tell me something about you.” She relaxes against my chest and sips her coffee.
“I’m thirty-eight. Never been married. No unexpected children. Only child of Ross and Diana Cross. My father is also in shipping, but he builds them rather than sails them. I’ve dated plenty, never found the one girl who made my heart still until I walked onto this ship. I’d like to see where it takes us.”