“I’ll remember that.”
I leaned against the wall and smiled. “And maybe after the book is done, you’ll head home to Texas like we talked about?”
“Maybe. I’ve been thinking about it a lot.”
“One day at a time, right?”
“Hell yeah,” Dylan paused. “Do me a favor?” he whispered.
“Name it.”
Dylan pointed at Rowan’s door. “Keep an eye on Ro for me. He puts on a good game face, but he’s not himself lately, and he won’t tell me what’s going on. And he likes you.”
“I… like him too and respect him. He’s amazing. I mean, for a boss. Well, and as a person. But I’m not sure Rowan would confide in me if something were wrong.”
Dylan’s slow smile was blinding when it reached full strength. I had a feeling that Hollywood would be calling him back at some point very soon.
“He trusts you, and trust for him doesn’t come easily. I know he’s in good hands.”
I didn’t know what else to say, so I just nodded in return. Dylan knocked on the office door and entered, and I grabbed his suitcase and headed down the hallway. Climbing the stairs to the bridge deck, I waved at Charlie who was getting the tender ready. It was cloudy, but the winds were low and the sea calm.
“He’s on his way,” I told Charlie as I hauled the suitcase to the lower deck and into the rear of the tender.
I waited on the deck until Dylan appeared a few minutes later. He boarded the tender, sweeping off his hat and using it to wave goodbye as the boat sped to shore. I was sad to see him go, but I had a strong feeling that I hadn’t seen the last of Dylan Aylmer.
What had Dylan said to me before he left? Oh yeah, that Rowan was“in good hands”.My hands.If only.
ELEVEN
ANDREW
As much as I enjoyed being around my colleagues, I relished the quiet now that half the staff had left. No more constant chatter everywhere I turned. I had a full hour for lunch that I could enjoy in total peace, but I was edgy and wired, so I decided to hit the gym and burn off some frustration. Once again, I’d been unable to fall asleep last night, even after a particularly vivid fantasy of me and Rowan having sex on the sundeck had me rubbing one out. I really needed to get my ass off this boat and get laid. One more week and I’d be relaxing in Saint Martin and hopefully having a sexy good time with a stranger.
After a half hour run on the treadmill, I headed for the sauna. Sitting on the bottom bench with my arms outstretched on the upper seat and a white towel around my hips, I closed my eyes and let the steam melt away any remaining stress and frustration. This was perfect, just what I needed. A minute later, the door opened, but I remained still until a familiar scent of vanilla hit my nose, and my eyes popped open.
Good thing I was already sweating and my body was flushed from the heat because there was no way in hell I could hide my primal reaction to Rowan’s presence. Not in this hot, tiny space with both of us naked, save for small towels.Lord, what kind of fresh torture is this?
“I’m sorry, I can leave,” Rowan said as he made to turn.
“It’s fine. I’ll only be here for another five minutes or so,” I said quickly, my dick taking control of my brain. “Stay.”
“Are you sure?” Rowan replied as he walked closer. Was that a rhetorical question?
His blonde hair was slicked back, and his chest and stomach were covered in tiny beads of sweat that just begged to be licked. Dark blue eyes locked on mine, and my core temperature racheted up a thousand degrees. My cock swelled and tented the towel, but I made no move to cover myself. I couldn’t will my erection away, and for once, I didn’t want to. There was another towel on the bench I could’ve used to cover myself, but I didn’t touch it. Rowan’s eyes moved over my body, and I knew the exact moment when they landed on my lap. Rowan bit his lower lip hard but refused to meet my gaze again.
He slowly sat down opposite me, our knees almost touching, as the steamy air surrounded us. I closed my eyes, letting my legs fall further apart. I heard his sharp intake when our knees brushed. The barest touch and yet it felt like I’d been burned. My breathing labored as everything in my body began to flood with pleasure. He was so close but too fucking far away. The smell of my arousal combined with his unique scent was heady, and I bit back a moan.
Rowan wasn’t nearly as discreet. A soft groan, a mix of pleasure and pain, echoed in the still room. I opened my eyes to see Rowan devouring me, stripping me bare with just one look. Our eyes tethered to each other, and I had no desire to let go. God, the anticipation of this moment was nothing short of breathtaking.
Until I heard the door open again, and I jolted. This time, I quickly grabbed the extra towel and covered my lap. Charlie slowly sauntered in and nodded, taking the seat beside me.
“What a gruelling morning. My body aches in the worst way,” Charlie said and then closed his eyes.
“Tell me about it,” I whispered in response as I looked directly at Rowan. My cock was throbbing so hard I could feel my heartbeat between my legs. Every minute that passed felt like an eternity as Rowan and I ate each other up with our eyes. I’d never known that one glance could make me want with such hungry force. In my experience, sex was fun, pleasurable, playful. This was anything but. I wanted to ravage his body in every possible way. And I wanted him to do the same to me, to burn out this reckless desire that had grabbed hold of me. My entire body began to tremble as realization hit full force. This, whatever was going on between Rowan and I, was downright incendiary. We were shooting stars on a collision course, burning hotter the closer we came together. And God help us when we finally converged. I didn’t know if I would burn brighter or be completely destroyed…
“How come you decided to stay behind over the holidays?” Charlie asked as he nudged me with his elbow, knocking me out of my heated thoughts.
I quickly but reluctantly tore my gaze away from Rowan and tried to get my mouth working again. “I got used to working the holidays when I was an assistant manager at a hotel back home. It’s the nature of the industry. I’ll have time to celebrate with family when the charter is done. Plus, holiday pay can’t be beat.”