3
RAVEN
As usually happens at parties,half of the guests are gone before we’re setting sail. And yes, we move.
By then, Francisco and Alejandro are on deck with Kai and me, Roman and his female company are inside, and men and women drink and dance. And the atmosphere is fantastic.
“How do you like it?” Alejandro asks, grabbing a drink from a server’s platter.
Kai and Francisco are away from us, talking to other people.
I suck in a long breath.
“I like it,” I say, facing the water.
It still scares me, but I am less nervous than I was when I pondered the idea. Reality seems to be less frightening.
He leans against the handrail and partly turns to me.
“Things good between you and the big man?” he says, ticking his chin in Kai’s direction and looking at him briefly.
I follow the direction of his gaze and study Kai. He seems so far away from me.
“Believe it or not, they are,” I murmur pensively before shifting my eyes to him.
“How about you? How are things with you?” I ask quietly, giving him a smile. “You met a friend,” I murmur, observing his expression.
A questioning look slides over his face.
“The woman downstairs. Who is she?” I ask.
My question is direct, and he doesn’t seem to mind it. If anything, it puts a smile on his face.
He brings his glass to his lips.
“Are you jealous, cariño?” he asks, grinning amused before taking a sip.
I laugh.
“You know I am of all of you. I never used to be. Well, the circumstances were different in the past.”
“You’re competitive, huh?” he jokes.
I think seriously about it for a moment.
“I think it’s more than that. I wouldn’t say competitive. I’m not insecure either,” I say in response to his questioning eyes.
“Insatiable,” he says, a crooked smile tugging at his lips.
I get a hot flash from his grin, the memory of the few hours spent with him this afternoon coming back to me.
“Is that what you think?” I ask.
Yes, he does. Of course, he does, and he’s right. And I love to talk to him about it. Because I like him, and I’m in the mood to flirt with him.
“You know the answer,” he says and empties his glass.
One of the servers picks it up.