by Gwen Knight
The second Brittany and I stepped back onto the boat, she grabbed my hand and practically dragged me to our stateroom. She flung open the door and nudged me into the bathroom. “You only have an hour until your date. So, hurry up and get in that shower. I’ll pick out an outfit.”
“Wait, what?”
She scoffed impatiently. “Your dinner date with Leo, remember?”
“Yeah, I remember. What I don’t understand is why you’re manhandling me!”
This time, she grunted. “Because you’re running out of time! And you smell like dirt and ash. I only have an hour to make you perfect.”
“I’m already perfect.”
“Well, I’m glad your ego has improved, but you’re also dead wrong.” She spun me around until I faced the bathroom mirror. “You’re wearing more dirt than clothes. You had to play with the dried lava, didn’t you? You look like you’re covered in charcoal.”
I grinned at my reflection, my white teeth a shocking contrast to my darkened skin.
Brittany ushered me toward the shower, then slipped out of the bathroom and shut the door. “Make it a quick one. I’ll grab you some clothes.”
“Something appropriate!” I shouted. “Nothing you’d wear.”
Her laughter faded as she started rifling through my drawers. Reminding myself that I didn’t have to wear anything she chose, I cranked the taps and stepped under the blazing spray. I could feel the dirt washing off my skin and watched as it swirled around my feet before vanishing down the drain. A quick wash, and I was squeaky clean, with plenty of time to spare.
I dried off, then wrapped the towel around my curves and ventured out into the room, a little afraid of whatever my sister had chosen for me. It wouldn’t be classy, I knew that. She was a fan of crop-tops and leather pants. Not me, though.
So, color me surprised when I spotted a pair of skinny jeans, a fitted blouse, and calf-length boots laid out for me. Now, that was an outfit I could support.
Brittany stood on the balcony, watching as we sailed away from Hilo, so I quickly dressed and dried my hair. What little makeup I applied smoothed out my features and highlighted my eyes. Overall, I was quite pleased with the look, as was Brittany when she inspected my appearance.
“You ready for this?” she asked.
I drew in a shaky breath, but nodded. It wasn’t our first dinner together, but tonight felt like an actual date. I hadn’t been one of those in longer than I cared to remember. Hopefully, I remembered how everything worked.
Before either of us could say another word, a soft knock resounded against the door.
Brittany took my hand, squeezed it, then strode to the door and opened it.
The sight on the other side stole my breath. I was suddenly thankful I’d let Brittany choose my outfit. So far, I’d seen Leo in standard button-down shirts and jeans, but tonight… he’d kept the jeans but opted for a black sweater, one that molded to every inch of his well-defined chest. He’d even traded in his sneakers for black dress boots. He looked incredible, and pettable, especially in that sweater.
As I walked toward him, his scent filled my nose. Clean and heavenly. A scent I could inhale for hours.
“Have fun you two,” Brittany teased.
“We will,” Leo murmured.
I threw my sister a glare. The woman lacked all decency. Even now, instead of waving and closing the door behind us, she blew us kisses and winked at me.
Some days, I really hated my sister.
13
Kendra
My stomach was a nest of nerves as Leo led the way toward one of the fancier restaurants on board. I’d told him the buffet was perfectly fine, but the look he’d given me told me not to mention that again. He had some sort of plan in place, and I refused to ruin it. Made me wonder what else he had planned for tonight. And was it bad if I hoped it was something less innocent than our other “dates”? A few times throughout the past year, I’d found myself worrying about this moment. The day when I wanted to move on from Daniel. I’d wondered how I would feel. Relieved? Guilty? But it was neither of those. I felt…excited. Leo’s touch woke something within me. My heart fluttered with every caress, my pulse leapt at every shared whisper. And even though my brain screamed that he was an alpha, I found I no longer cared. He’d sunk his claws into me, and I liked it.
“Here we are,” he murmured, drawing my attention back to him.
I blinked and stared up at the restaurant. He’d brought me to the Steak House. I’d heard from other passengers that the reservation list was booked solid the entire trip. How Leo had managed to get a slot, I had no idea.
He led us inside. The second the doors closed behind us, the hostesses behind the desk snapped to attention.
“Welcome. Do you have a reservation?”
“Leo Clapak, for two.”
“Oh…” The taller hostess’s eyes grew wide. “Mr. Clapak. Right. We’ll get you seated immediately. If you’ll follow me.”
She fumbled with two menus, then led us through another set of double doors into the dining area, where we were welcomed by dim light and secluded seating. The hostess gestured toward an open booth and waited for us to sit before she handed us our menus and filled our water glasses.
“Would you care for some wine?” she asked.
Leo lifted a brow in my direction.
“Oh, uh. A glass of red, please?”
A polite smile curved her lips. “Any particular type?”
“How about a Cabernet?” Leo asked. “Does that sound good?”
I nodded.
With another tiny smile, the hostess left us in peace. Leo immediately reached across the table and took my hand, threading our fingers together. “I wanted to tell you upstairs that you look absolutely stunning. But I didn’t want to say it in front of your sister.”
“And I appreciate that,” I chuckled. “She’s been trying to keep her distance, and I can tell it’s killing her.”
“But it’s nice that she’s trying.”
I agreed.
He tore his gaze away from mine and started perusing the menu. Then, with an amused grin, he said, “I hope you like steak. I’m afraid they don’t have much else.”
Thankfully, I loved steak. I was already lost in all the choices, trying to decide if I wanted to pair it with shrimp or try something a bit more daring like the oysters. I deliberated the two choices. On the one hand, oysters were supposedly an aphrodisiac—which could lead us down a fun path—but on the other, they were a tad messy to eat. Instead, I settled for middle ground and chose the scallops in a béarnaise sauce. The waitress delivered our wine, took our order, and left.
“So, how was your excursion today?” Leo asked.
Excitement bubbled within me. “It was great! We didn’t get to see any actual molten lava, but we got to play in some dried lava beds. Unfortunately, the museum is still closed, but we did visit the crater. How about yours?”
“I had a lot of fun, too. The falls were gorgeous. Lots of rainbow action. Afterward, we stopped at a nut factory and visited a garden of orchids. There were so many flowers, it was crazy. Did you and your sister choose a trip while at Honolulu tomorrow?”
“I think Brittany wants to shop. She has some plan to take a cab from the pier to one of the malls. I didn’t ask which. What about you?”
“Surfing,” Leo said, grinning.
“Surfing. You know how to surf?”
“Not in the least. I figured why not give it a try.”
I reached for my wine glass. “Maybe try not to get eaten by a shark while you’re out there.”
Leo threw his head back and laughed, a pleasant sound that warmed my blood. “I think the sharks need to worry about me eating them.”
“You aren’t going to surf in lion form, are you?”
His laughter swelled. “God, no. Could you imagine that?”
I could. That was the problem. I had a feeling some of the shifters would give it a try. “I might have to bail on Brittany and come watch you.”
“You’re welcome to join me. I’m sure there are some open slots left on the bus. We can look into it in the morning, if you’d like.”
The thought of going surfing with Leo, of spending the day laying on a beach soaking up the sun, listening to the waves crashing against the shore definitely appealed to me. Far more than shopping. But I had to wonder if this change in plans would annoy Brittany. I’d already spent so much time with Leo. I didn’t want to abandon my sister for the entire cruise.
“I’ll mention it to Brittany and see what she thinks.”
Leo squeezed my hand. “I’ll completely understand if you choose to spend the day with her. This was supposed to be a vacation for the two of you. And I’m monopolizing your time.”
True. But it was time I didn’t mind him monopolizing.
“So, tell me about your family,” I prodded. “Do you have any siblings?”
Leo shook his head. “Only child here. I think my mother decided I was more than enough trouble growing up. She probably secretly decided she couldn’t handle another of me.”
“And your father?”
“Oh, I’m sure he wouldn’t have minded a whole brood. But my mother has her ways. What she wants, she gets.”
Sounded like mine. I had a feeling our mothers would get along famously.
“Leo?” a soft voice interjected.
My head snapped up at the intrusion to find a petite woman standing next to our table. Her eyes flicked to me, and I swear to God, welled with tears.
“Oh, uh… Alisha,” Leo said, releasing my hand and sitting back in the booth.
Alisha? They were on a first name basis? Friends, possibly? Except, if they were simply friends, why did Leo let go of my hand?
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
She shot me another look, her teeth worrying at her bottom lip before turning back to him. “I’m here with a friend, and when I spotted you, I thought… Who’s she?”
I shot Leo a questioning glance. The way she asked that question, as though they were involved with one another. Had he come here with someone? Or met someone before we’d met?
Oh, my God. So many questions reared up in my head. Was he a player? Bouncing between multiple women while aboard the ship? My emotions vacillated between anger and fear, with anger leading the way. I could barely contain the tirade of thoughts rushing through my head.
“Leo, I thought…” Alisha stepped closer to him, reaching out as though to caress his face.
Leo caught her wrist, though not unkindly, and pushed her hand back. “Thought what?”
“Well, that we…I don’t know, maybe that we—”
“There’s no we, Alisha,” Leo stated, his voice gentle.
I watched the exchange with a narrowed gaze. My wolf rose to the surface, sniffing the air around this woman. I caught the faint scent of something marine-based. Sleek fur and the scent of water. But I couldn’t place her animal.
“But we…” She bit off her words before she could finish the sentence.
I was dying to hear the rest of it, though. We, what? Slept together?
A deep growl resonated through the booth, one that scraped past my throat without permission. My wolf was pissed. Ready to sink her teeth into the woman standing next to us and rip her to shreds.
“We nothing,” Leo pressed. He shot me a worried glance. “Kendra?”
“Kendra,” Alisha repeated, as though testing out my name.
I needed out of this booth. Out of this restaurant. I needed space and fresh air. I’d never felt such unadulterated hatred from my wolf before. My damn skin rippled in anticipation of shifting right here and now, but I couldn’t. No uncontrolled shifting echoed through my head. I only hoped my wolf listened. Meet Your Alpha didn’t seem the sort to give second chances.
“Kendra.” Leo reached for my hand, but I jerked it out of reach and shoved to my feet.
Alisha hopped backward, her eyes wide as though only now realizing the danger she was in.
“Excuse me,” I growled, my voice guttural and laced with violent intentions.
“Kendra, wait!”
I took off without sparing Leo a glance. I couldn’t. It felt like my wolf might explode out of me. I needed distance to gain a clear head.
“Have a good night!” The hostess called to me as I slipped out the front doors.
I took the first turn, and then the next, following the scent of fresh air. The doors whooshed open and I stormed over to the railings. One deep breath, and then another. Shh, I cautioned my wolf. Her rage confused and concerned me. I’d never felt anything like that. So hot and fast. So overwhelming. I gulped down a couple more breaths and murmured calm words.
“Ma’am? Are you all right?”
Someone hovered next to me. And from the smell of it, they were part of the security team. I could smell his oiled gun and the starch from his uniform. Without glancing his way, I nodded. “Needed some fresh air. It can get a tad cramped in there, you know?”
“It can. If you require assistance…”
I shook my head and forced a grin, though it felt sharper than normal. “No assistance needed. I’m feeling better already.”
The doors whooshed open and a familiar scent invaded my space.
Leo.
An instant growl tore from my throat, startling both me and the security guard.
“It’s fine,” Leo said. “I can handle this.”
Handle this. I closed my eyes and counted to ten. Go handle yourself, because I sure as hell won’t be.
The security guard’s scent faded.
“Kendra?” Leo asked.
I didn’t respond. This close to snapping, I needed to regain control of my wolf.
“I don’t know what happened back there, but you should know, Alisha and I—”
Another long growl rose from my throat.
“Hey.” Leo’s gentle hand cupped my arm. “Absolutely nothing happened between me and Alisha. What you saw back there was an uncomfortable situation because nothing happened between the two of us. She asked me to coffee the first day aboard the ship. It was the worst hour of my life. And I haven’t seen her since. Until tonight.”
I shook my head. “That’s not how it sounded.”
“I know. She purposely made it sound like it was something more than it was. I apologize for that. She never should have interrupted us, a lesson I imparted on her after I paid the bill.”
I cracked open my eyes and stared at him. He wasn’t lying. I would be able to smell it if he were, but beyond that, I trusted him. If he said nothing happened between them, I believed him. He had no reason to lie to me.
“Sorry,” I said. “I had to leave. My wolf sort of lost her mind back there. If I’d stayed…”
Leo nodded. “I understand.”
“I don’t know what happened. But I started wondering if you two had slept together, and my wolf just…” I shook my head. “I’ve never felt anything like it.”
Leo cracked a smile. His hand skimmed down my arm and he twined our fingers together. Without another word, he pulled me closer, his other hand cupping my cheek.
Once again, I forgot how to breathe, a common occurrence in his presence, it seemed.
His heated gaze lingered on my face, as though memorizing me in the fading sunlight. Then he leaned in and kissed me. I sucked in a sharp breath, startled by the feel of his mouth against mine. He brushed his lips against mine once, twice, soft and gentle, as though waiting for permission to take things further.
I didn’t hesitate. I wanted this. I’d known it since last night. I wanted to taste him. But I knew he wouldn’t go beyond this point unless I gave him a reason to. I rose on my tiptoes and wound my arms around his neck, spearing my fingers in his hair.
With a deep growl, Leo took full control of the kiss. He spun me around and pressed me against the railing, his lips now hard and demanding against mine. With a small gasp, I opened my mouth to him, then moaned when his tongue swept out and tangl
ed with mine. The way he tasted me, like I was the main course for the evening. And by God, the man knew how to kiss.
His hands swept down the length of my body and settled around my waist. Without breaking the kiss, he hoisted me up onto the railing and eased between my legs. Heat pooled in the center of my body and I locked my legs around him for balance. Distantly, I knew I shouldn’t be sitting on the railing like this, that it was dangerous. But the added risk made me burn all the more.
Leo tore his mouth from mine, panting for breath. “Kendra.”
I shook my head and reclaimed his lips. I wasn’t done tasting him yet, and I had a feeling I’d never grow tired of this. Of him.
Leo groaned and sank into me, one hand fisted in my hair while the other seared the small of my back. Our tongues clashed in a heated dance and my hands slipped beneath his sweater, stroking his stomach’s chiseled abs.
“Kendra,” he rumbled against my mouth. “Maybe we should…” Another kiss that surely wrecked me for all other men, “…head upstairs…”
Considering how my hands were perilously close to unbuttoning his fly, I had to agree. Leo pushed all my buttons, and clearly knew how to work me into a fevered passion, but that didn’t mean I was ready to screw him in public.
He swiped his tongue across my bottom lip one last time before stepping away. I blinked open half-lidded eyes and gazed up at him, stunned to find his eyes aglow with his lion.
“Upstairs, now,” he growled.
Hell, yah. With a playful smirk, I slipped off the railing and pressed close to him, my hands giving his ass a playful squeeze. I stole another kiss, this one quite chaste in comparison, and whispered, “Race you there.”
14
Leo
I barely recalled the race to my room. I remembered rushing through the corridors, stealing hot kisses wherever I could, and chasing after the woman of my dreams. The sound of her laughter still echoed in my head, a melodious sound I knew I would carry with me forever. And every time she glanced back at me, my heart pounded between my ears. She practically shone with excitement, and for a brief moment I was amazed by the change. We hadn’t known one another for very long, but that sad aura had all but vanished, and left in its wake was a vibrant woman full of life and energy.