“Who?”
“Your crew, for a start,” she said, gesturing to the yacht.
“There will be only the captain, and two others—all members of the military. Believe me, they would die before revealing a single thing about me to anyone.”
Her shoulders remained tense.
“Someone from the marina?”
“They know my yacht is here, nothing more. You’re overthinking this.”
“We agreed—,”
“Yes, we agreed,” he said. “So trust me,azeezi.I would not do anything that would break my word to you. No one will know about this.” He moved closer, arms around her. “But you and I will enjoy spending time here,” he gestured to the water. “In the waters of the Mediterranean, with the fresh air and sunshine.”
“It’s still quite cold, you know.”
“And there will be plenty of ways to keep warm,” he said with obvious promise, squeezing her hand again. “Come on, Cora. It’s time to live a little.”
She had to admit,the sun on her back, the smell of the salt water, and the feeling of freedom were some of the best sensations she’d ever known. She stretched her arms over her head, aware that they were miles from anyone, far in the middle of the ocean, and completely able to relax. Except, Cora could nevercompletelyrelax, but here, with Samir, it was so easy to forget that.
“Hungry?”
She shook her head, then turned to face him. “Are you?”
He shrugged. “Always a little.”
Cora smiled. “Well, to be fair, you’ve been exerting yourself on a regular basis.” Heat flooded her cheeks as she made the observation, earning a teasing grin from Samir.
He sat up straighter and reached over, wiping an invisible crumb from her cheek, his hand lingering there, before his thumb padded across and wiped her mouth. Desire crushed her from the inside out.
“Let’s eat soon.”
“And then?” She said, something like a weight pulling on her.
“Mmm?” His gravelled voice was an invitation and bubbles popped inside her.
“We should head back?” She reminded him. After all, they’d been at sea for two nights, their maximum.
“We can stay longer,” he said. Simply. Deceptively easily, as though he didn’t care either way.
The fact she was so tempted terrified her. She shook her head. “I can’t. I really have to get back to work.”
His eyes held hers and Cora was very still. Last time she’d mentioned work, he’d probed her, pushing her for answers. She expected him to do the same now, but he didn’t. Instead, he lifted his shoulders. “No problem. I’ll let the captain know.”
Disappointment was searing. “Great,” she smiled over-brightly.
“But not just yet. There are still hours before night, and it’s best to return in the dark.”
“Yes,” she agreed, truly relieved now. Besides, they could come back another time. She looked beyond Samir, to the gleaming timber deck, and the luxurious décor that made this seem like a six-star hotel rather than a yacht. “Do you come out here often?”
“To Greece?” He said with a lifted brow. “Rather often of late, yes.”
She smiled. “On your yacht.”
He contemplated that. “No.” Silence fell, but it was loaded with Samir’s contemplations, so Cora waited, happy to watch him and enjoy the lapping of the water beneath them. “I am happiest of all at home, in Al Medina. I can see the beauty of the ocean, but it doesn’t move anything in here,” he pointed to the centre of his bare chest. “In the desert, or amongst the ancient ruins of my country, or the phenomenally beautiful mountain ranges, I feel most at home. It is there that I unwind.”
“Then why have a yacht like this at all?” She probed. “It’s incredible but enormous. Surely it’s wasted on you?”