by Parker, Ali
The low groan I heard as I closed the curtain behind me confirmed my suspicions, sending a thrill through me. And we have a whole weekend together to explore the sexual tension brewing between us.
I could hardly wait. Picking the turquoise number based purely on the fact that it had been the one that had brought a smoldering look into his eyes, I changed into my clothes and carried my choice out.
Rylen released a sound at the back of his throat when he saw which one I had chosen, but took it from me anyway. “Fuck. I thought it was a gift for me, but I think it’s going to prove to be a torture device.”
Heck, yeah. I couldn’t believe he was saying stuff like that to me, never mind that it looked like he really meant it. “Don’t worry, you’re going to be shirtless. We’ll be suffering together.”
My comment brought the sexiest little smirk to his lips as he tugged me into his side. “Or maybe we should just let the water park idea go and stay in our cabin all weekend.”
I shook my head firmly. “No such luck. You promised me racing slides and loops and who knows what else. I’m collecting on that.”
Rylen sighed, but I swore I saw a hint of pride in his eyes. “You’re right. It would be a waste not to do all that.”
The ship trembled beneath our feet, reminding me that we were on a movable vessel. “Come on, let’s go outside for the departure. I want to see everything.”
We paid quickly, then made our way to one of the decks to watch as we set sail. Finding a spot near the railing was hard, but we managed eventually.
As the port grew farther away, I put my arms around Rylen’s waist and rested my head on his chest. His arms folded around my shoulders, his head coming down to rest on mine as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
I liked it. I really, really liked it. This is going to be a great time.
Later on, when the port had grown small and the crowds had dispersed, Rylen and I set off to find our cabin. There was a man waiting for us outside it dressed in the same uniform as the one that the servers downstairs had worn.
“Mr. Page?” he asked when we approached, slowing near the door he was standing in front of.
Rylen nodded. “Guilty as charged. What can I do for you?”
“I’m Fred,” the man said. “I’ll be your butler this weekend. I wanted to introduce myself and to remind you that your dinner reservation is at seven.”
A butler? My eyes nearly bugged out of my head, but I’d have to table that. Rylen sneaked a peak at me when Fred mentioned dinner, making me wonder what was going on.
“What have you done, Rylen?”
He smiled. “I wanted you to have the best experience that you could this weekend, that’s all. You’ll have to wait and see what that entails.”
Chapter 21
Rylen
“Welcome to the upper deck. My name is Eileen and I’ll be your hostess this evening.” Eileen smiled and swept an arm out behind her. “Please, follow me. I’ll show you to your table.”
Olive’s eyes widened when we stepped into the private dining room on the very top deck of the ship. Two of the walls were made entirely of glass and offered a spectacular view of the setting sun.
There were few tables scattered around for the size of the restaurant, but coming here meant paying for the exclusivity of dining away from the thousands of people in the ordinary restaurants situated all over the ship.
The remainder of our meals for the duration of the cruise would be with everyone else, but I wanted to treat Olive for our first night on board. It had been an expensive booking to secure, but it was worth it to see the look on Olive’s face as we were led to our table.
“We offer an array of delicacies from all over the globe, but you can order pretty much any dinner you would like.” Eileen looked over her shoulder at us, a welcoming smile plastered on her face. “If there is something that isn’t on our menu but is offered by any restaurant on the ship, we can get that for you. You’re also welcome to make a special request of the chef. If we have the necessary ingredients, he can make whatever meal you want.”
“Really?” Olive let go of my hand to catch up to Eileen. I could hear them talking about the menu and everything that was available, but I didn’t increase my pace.
The carpet beneath my feet was plush and soft swing music played over invisible speakers. Unlike restaurants where you had to weave your way through other tables and disturb other diners, we had a clear path to the other side of the room.
Our table was situated behind an opaque screen with potted plants in front of it, offering the most private dining area that could be secured on board … that I knew of anyway. I had no doubt that there were VIP clubs and probably loyalty-card members who had access to much more, but I wasn’t part of any of those clubs.
“It smells divine in here,” Olive said to Eileen, turning briefly to face me. “Doesn’t it smell amazing?”
“It does.” I nodded, taking a deep whiff of the air. She was right. It did smell incredible, but the scent of the food being prepared wasn’t overwhelming. There were faint hints of garlic, steak being grilled, and something more perfumed in the air, but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was.
Eileen smiled, then rounded the end of the screen to our table. “Here you go. I’ll be back with the menus and to introduce you to your server.”
“Thank you,” I said, reaching for one of the heavy chairs at a table set for two. I pulled it out, offering it to Olive. “There you go. Best view in the house.”
Eileen nodded, smiling politely at Olive. “It sure is.”
She looked back at me, inclining her head slightly. “Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”
Walking around the table to the place setting across from Olive’s, I slid into my seat. “Just so you know, we’re only eating here tonight. They don’t allow the same guests to book a table for more than one night on the weekend cruises.”
“This is amazing, Rylen. I never expected to be on a cruise, never mind in a restaurant like this. Thank you.”
She reached across the table for my hand and I placed it in hers. “You’re welcome. I wanted to do something special for both of us to commemorate the start of a great weekend.”
“If that was your mission, you’ve certainly succeeded.” She smiled and gave my hand a squeeze before releasing it when Eileen and another young woman wearing a smart suit approached the table.
“Here you go.” Eileen carried two leather-bound menus in the crook of one arm and placed one in front of each of us before she motioned to the woman. “Dominique will be your server for the evening. I do hope everything will be to your satisfaction. If you need anything, please let Dominique know. You’re also welcome to ask me.”
Olive sat up straighter, eyes shining as she looked up at Eileen. “You mentioned something earlier about gourmet popcorn as part of our dessert.”
“Ah, yes.” She nodded, a soft smile on her lips. “Dominique can certainly get you some. I would recommend the caramel and candy flavor. It’s my personal favorite.”
“Thank you,” Olive said, her eyes sliding to Dominique’s. “I’ll definitely have some of that.”
“As will I.” I picked up the menu and opened it at the back, looking over the list of drinks. “We’ll also have some water and a bottle of La Motte Sauvignon Blanc.”
Dominique nodded, but didn’t take anything down. She glanced at Olive, who nodded her confirmation of my choice, and headed off to fill our order. Eileen assured us she would check in with us during the course of the evening, then left us alone too.
Olive’s blue eyes were as bright as the sparkling ocean we were cruising on. “What wine was that you just ordered? I’ve never heard of it before.”
“It’s imported from South Africa. One of my colleagues brought a bottle to a work function once. I’ve been looking for it again ever since.”
“That sounds expensive.” She frowned. “You know, you really didn’t have to do all this. The cruise
itself was way more than enough. I’d have been happy to spend the weekend on the beach at my house. I don’t need all these fancy things.”
“I know.” I smiled, reaching for her hand again. “That’s why I wanted to do them for you. Please stop worrying about how much it costs. I told you, I’ve been saving for a long time. It means something to be able to do this for us, to have someone with me on the cruise. It would have been depressing if I’d have had to bring Edgar with me.”
Her lips tilted into a reluctant but amused smile. “Why? You could have made a fun boys’ weekend of it.”
“Yeah.” I shrugged. “He wouldn’t have looked nearly as good in those swimsuits, though.”
Some of the reluctance left her as I saw her shoulders relax. “Never say never. You don’t know, maybe he would have pulled them off.”
I cringed, trying to force the unwanted imagery of Edgar in a bikini out of my mind. “No, nope. I don’t even want to think about it. Thanks, but no thanks. God, I wonder if they have any acid I can rinse my brain off with.”
“It’s not that bad.” Her eyes crinkled at the corners as she laughed. “To be fair, I don’t know him very well, but he seems rather well built.”
I shot her a look, arching an eyebrow. “I don’t know him very well in that sense, either, but I never want to know whether he’s got the right build for a bikini.”
Olive lifted her shoulders, smirking as a different look came into her eyes. “I wonder what you would look like in one. That turquoise one, maybe. I think it could be hot.”
Jeez, I really hadn’t needed a reminder of that damn swimsuit. Seeing her in all of the other options had already set me on edge, but that one had made me horny as fuck. The color, cut, everything about it on her just did it for me. “I think I’d rather see you in it again, but I’ll try it on, too, if you insist.”
“Oh, yes.” She took her hand out of mine to clap hers together once. “Yes, we’re totally doing that later.”
I groaned, feeling my pants getting tighter at the thought of her in it. “Fine, but can we stop talking about that fucking thing for now?”
“Why?” She blinked innocently, but I didn’t miss the heat suddenly flashing in her eyes. “I thought you said you liked it.”
“I do. I like it a little too much to be thinking about it now, though. Unless of course you want to go back to the cabin and get room service later.” Actually, that wasn’t a bad plan at all.
I desperately wanted to get her back to the privacy of our cabin and finally get the chance to take that turquoise material off her golden skin with my teeth, but Olive wasn’t having it.
She shook her head firmly, gesturing at our surroundings with both hands. “No, no deal. This is an incredible experience you’ve booked for us. We can always get room service tomorrow night or whenever, but we’re eating here tonight.”
I sighed, but I knew in my heart she was right. My dick, on the other hand, didn’t quite agree. But fuck it. I’d waited this long, I could wait another few hours.
“Okay, let’s stick to the plan and eat here, but I’m holding you to wearing it for me again later.”
She nodded, her pupils dilating as her tongue darted out to wet her lips. Damn it. Fuck. I’m so screwed.
I couldn’t remember ever having been so affected by a woman. Sure, I’d been attracted to lots of girls, but it wasn’t the same. What made this worse was that it wasn’t purely physical. It was physical need as well, of course, but as much as I wanted her, I would also be okay if she told me she just wanted to get to know me better this weekend.
It would be painful, yes, but I would deal with it for her. I wouldn’t even make a move if she gave me any indication whatsoever that she needed more time before we got physical again.
Considering the way she was looking at me now, though, just getting through dinner was going to be a very particular form of torture. Thankfully, the moment was interrupted by Dominique delivering our drinks and taking our order.
Olive took a sip of her wine, eyelids fluttering closed. “Wow, that’s good.”
“Glad you like it.” I held the stem of my glass between my fingers, deciding to put all thoughts about what might happen later out of my head for now. “Are you enjoying yourself so far? I was a little nervous when I booked the cruise that you might be prone to seasickness.”
She patted her stomach, shaking her head. “So far, so good. I wouldn’t have known if I was, anyway, since I’ve never been on a cruise. My mom always said we were going to take one, but we never got that far.”
Well, if that wasn’t a punch in the dick… The mention of her mother deflated my overeager libido like a balloon that had been popped, making it much easier to concentrate on the meal at hand. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it now, even if you never got to do it with her.”
“I love it,” she said, lifting her glass to her lips for another sip. “It’s honestly like a dream come true for me. I’ve heard these ships are like hotels, theme parks, and malls on the water, but I never imagined it would be true.”
“Yeah, neither did I,” I agreed, taking in the opulence of the dining room we were in. “I can’t wait for the water park tomorrow. We’re going to have a blast.”
After that, we settled into an easy conversation about what we were looking forward to doing on board, talking more about our families, and for my part, telling her more about my work. The food was as delicious as promised and Eileen’s gourmet popcorn suggestion was the cherry on top.
By the time we got back to our cabin, I was more relaxed than I had been probably since I started med school and Olive was all smiles. She held my hand all the way back, telling me about some of the more hilarious things that she had done with her friends.
Once we were in our cabin, though, the mood between us changed. It was like the air was charged and our entrance was the spark it needed to catch fire.
As soon as the door shut behind us, Olive slipped her hand out of mine and led me over to the bed. “I’ve been thinking, and I really should give you something for all of this.”
“You really don’t have to—” I shut up when her hands came to my shoulders, giving me a gentle shove that landed my ass on the mattress. Her eyes were on mine and that same look from the restaurant were back in them.
“I know I don’t have to, but I want to.” Nudging my legs farther apart with her knees, she came to stand between them and wound her fingers into my hair. “You might have to be patient with me, but there’s something I want to try.”
“Anything,” I managed to get out before her lips were on mine and her hands started tugging my shirt out of my pants. She climbed onto my lap, straddling me as she pulled the fabric free and started on the buttons.
Undoing them slowly, her fingers grazed my chest and my stomach as she slipped each one through its hole. Those fleeting touches, the lingering of her fingertips on my skin before she moved on to the next button, had me groaning into her kisses.
My hands slid up her sides, over her shoulders and arms, before they met at the back of her head. I held her there, kissing her deeply as she pushed me back onto the mattress and then finally, fucking finally, started undoing my pants.
Chapter 22
Olive
Blow jobs weren’t something I thought about very often. They were up there with all the other random sexual acts I knew existed but had never really paid much attention to.
It wasn’t that I hadn’t given one before. I had, once, back in high school. Or I had tried to, anyway. The experience had been less than pleasant and not at all satisfactory. It left me with a literal—and metaphorical—bitter taste in my mouth and not much enthusiasm to ever do it again.
With Rylen it was different, though. The first time we had been together he had made it all about me, which I appreciated but didn’t need a repeat of. I wasn’t a virgin anymore. I was an equal—albeit less experienced—participant.
When I’d seen him pressing his palm into his lap in that shop
earlier, the thought of what I wanted to do with him popped into my head and it had refused to leave. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be bold enough to make it happen, but I had stepped out of my comfort zone and so far, was being well rewarded for it.
I was on top of Rylen, having the breath kissed out of me and doing it right back to him. I’d gotten him out of his shirt and was working on his pants. Lifting my hips once I had his button and zipper undone, I started shoving at the material.
Rylen lifted his gorgeous butt helpfully, allowing me to get his pants and his boxers off. Once my arms had no more reach, I raised my leg to kick the fabric off the rest of the way. I was still clothed, but my tiny scrap of lacy panties was soaked and my dress could come off in due time. Although…
Just like the thought about giving him a blow job, I suddenly couldn’t shake this one either. Sitting up, I put my hands on Rylen’s rapidly rising and falling chest and flashed him an apologetic smile. “I’ll be right back.”
His eyebrows went up, his hands falling to my hips to squeeze them. “Where could you possibly have to go right this second?”
“I made you a promise.” I ran my fingertips down his sculpted abdomen, feeling his erection twitch underneath me. His stomach muscles dipped and rippled, a low groan sounding in his throat.
“You’re killing me here.”
Leaning down, I pressed a kiss to his nipple. “It’ll be worth it. Promise. I’ll be back.”
He sighed but nodded and flexed his hands on my hips once more before letting me go. I climbed off him before I lost the motivation to do it. Once I was standing beside the bed, though, I couldn’t help but take a second to ogle him.
His arm had been flung over his face, his chest heaving and his lips red and parted. Trailing my gaze lower still, I took in the lean curve from his chest to his hips and the defined muscles expanding on his labored breaths.