Pretty Packages

by Dodson, Mi'Chelle

  “What difference does it make? I said I was sorry, didn’t I?” Giada retorted, meeting his gaze head-on.

  “Yes, you did, but I don’t believe you,” Kentucky fired back, reaching for a nearby blue towel to wipe the sweat off his face. “I don’t believe for a second that you’re sorry about running Pinky off. I think, given the opportunity, you’d do it again.”

  Incensed by how perceptive he was of her, Giada turned to leave the room. “Think what you want to think, Kenny,” she said over her shoulder.

  “Oh, you don’t want to know what I think,” Kentucky said, throwing the towel down. “I think you didn’t come in here to apologize at all. I think you came to get what you kept Pinky from getting tonight.” Talking low, he walked behind her, taunting her with the truth.

  Giada stopped midstride and looked back at him. Then she snatched up the back of her dress, smacked a bare cheek, and said, “Kiss my—”

  Kentucky closed the distance between them before she ever got the last word out. “I have already done that, remember?” he whispered. “Matter of fact, I have kissed nearly every square inch of your gorgeous body.”

  Giada shuddered with need at that potent reminder. His warm breath fanning across the top of her head made her shudder again. How was it possible to want someone this badly?

  “Now if you won’t be truthful with me, Giada, at least be truthful with yourself. I know I’ve been very honest with myself lately,” Kentucky continued, “brutally honest.” He let out a deep, husky chuckle.

  “Be truthful about what?” Giada nearly panted out. Kentucky was closer to her than he’d been in a month. And he still hadn’t touched her yet. He hadn’t even touched the bare right cheek that was still exposed to him. How much willpower did this man have?

  “About the way we feel toward each other. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I probably will always be attracted to you.” Kentucky moved back a few steps. “You can look at me now and see that. My body can’t seem to help but want you.”

  Giada looked down and moaned at the evidence of his desire. It pleased her to know that their argument had stimulated him as much as it had her. Now all Kentucky had to do was act on that stimulus. Just one advance toward her and Giada would gladly become his again, regardless of his finances.

  “But I’ve also resigned myself to the fact that those two nights we had together were probably all we were meant to have. You belong to Fabian now, and I’ve learned to respect that over the last few weeks. And because I respect your new relationship, I’m going to do this for both of our sakes.”

  Kentucky reached over and tugged down her dress.

  Giada’s eyes watered. “I don’t know what to say, Kenny.”

  “No need to say anything now, Giada. Just go back to your man.” Kentucky turned away from her and readjusted his shorts. “My only advice is that, if you’re gonna stay with Fabian, you really need to be more watchful. I caught him pouring real champagne in your glass when you were in the ladies’ room. No telling how often he’d done it while I was away from the table dancing.” Kentucky went over to the small fridge for a liter of bottled water.

  “No wonder those last glasses of the fake champagne tasted so differently.” Giada touched her head. “That’s probably why I had that headache by the time we got back to the boat, too.” She was mad again, at a different man and for a different reason now.

  “Probably. Either way, if you two are gonna go the distance, he needs to respect your vow of sobriety. Have you told him why you don’t drink? You know, the whole situation about your mother?” Kentucky opened the bottled water and took a long swig, as if he needed the cold liquid to cool his hot body down even faster.

  “No. I don’t really share my history with people,” Giada replied, watching his Adam’s apple bob up and down as he drank heartily. She found it sexy.

  Surprise was on Kentucky’s face as he lowered the bottle from his mouth. “I can’t believe you’ve been living with this man all these months and he doesn’t at least know that about your background.” Giada had shared that information with him the second night they were together.

  “Maybe it’s time that you told Fabian what happened with your mother. I’m sure he will understand and refrain from repeating what he did tonight.”

  “Maybe so.” Giada grew thoughtful. “Well, goodnight, Kenny.”

  “Good night, Giada.” Kentucky waved good-bye as she turned to leave.

  * * * *

  When Giada disappeared out of Kentucky’s sight, he sagged against the nearest wall. That encounter had taken more out of him than his workout routine.

  There would be no soaking in the Jacuzzi for him tonight. Kentucky was going to take a super cold shower and then head straight to bed.

  * * * *

  The whole way back to her own cabin, Giada kept replaying some of Kentucky’s words in her mind. “Be truthful with yourself.”

  If the truth really be known, Giada wanted Kentucky now more than ever before. The way he’d stood against temptation tonight, how honest he’d been about still wanting her, and even the way he respected her relationship with another man, all made her want him back.

  I’m going to get him back, too, Giada told herself, ready to dump Fabian right now. She was ready to be rid of him even more so now that he’d proven himself untrustworthy by spiking her drink.

  Yet Giada wouldn’t break things off with Fabian right away. No, she would bide her time on this ship a little longer just to see if she could get next to Kentucky.

  Chapter Twelve

  The next morning, Giada complained of an even worse headache than the night before. Today’s headache confined her to bed for most of the day, spoiled her mood for sex, and even a kiss.

  Although Giada’s head was actually fine, she wanted to prick Fabian’s conscience for what he’d done to her. She even brought up how her alcoholic mother, who made her despise alcohol altogether, used to have headaches like these all the time just to see if Fabian would confess to spiking her drink.

  When a new diamond bracelet came around 4 p.m. instead of a confession, that’s when Giada knew that Fabian really was guilty. The fact that he thought a gift would somehow assuage his guilt and her pain made her heart wax even colder toward him. Now she really didn’t want him anymore, no matter how generous he was.

  From that day forward, Giada stopped being so affectionate with Fabian in public. She even slowed down any private affection. Instead of sexing him up four to five times a week, she barely had sex with him once this week. And even that was only a quick get-in-get-out deal.

  Fabian complained about the abrupt change in their sex life, but Giada didn’t care. All she cared about now was getting Kentucky back—the man she secretly lusted for, the man she secretly loved.

  Yes, Giada was in love with Kentucky. She’d been in love with him for a while now. It just had taken her this long to truly realize it and admit it to herself.

  * * * *

  One week later, Giada realized something else—haste was now in order. She really needed to step up her pace if she was ever going to get Kentucky back. That realization stemmed from a phone call he got just that morning from a woman named Bev.

  Bev was the wife of one of Kentucky’s friends. She was also an unapologetic matchmaker since the call mainly centered around her wanting to know why Kentucky kept dumping her girlfriends and female associates.

  Giada ascertained this information based on Kentucky’s responses as he sat at the far end of the rectangular breakfast table. Her ears had never been more alert.

  Fabian was at the head of the table. Giada was to his right. Bartley was on the left. The two men nearest her were talking business as usual.

  Giada was glad that Fabian was preoccupied with something other than her. It gave her a chance to focus even more on Kentucky’s conversation. It was a good thing his deep voice wasn’t made for low whispering. Otherwise she wouldn’t have heard a word he said from where she sat.

&n
bsp; Now all Giada needed to do was keep moving her food around on her plate and take a nibble here and there in pretense of eating. No need to mess up what she had with Fabian completely until she knew she had the man she really wanted.

  * * * *

  “Look, Bev. Nobody is asking you to keep trying to set me up,” Kentucky said, still speaking as low as he possibly could considering the fact that Giada was only a few feet away. “In fact, I really wish you wouldn’t. It’s starting to make me lazy and forgetful about how great it is to go after my own woman. Matter of fact, I’m not accepting any more blind dates from you or anyone else. From now on, I find my own women. You never know, I might just find Miss Right in the bunch.”

  “Do you even know what kind of woman you want your Miss Right to be?” Bev asked.

  “Hmm . . . what kind of woman do I want my Miss Right to be? Let me think on that for a moment, Bev,” Kentucky replied. Then he took a brief moment to do just that. “My Miss Right would have to be feisty and yet know how to be submissive when she needs to be. She don’t have to be the prettiest thing on the block, but she has to have a beautiful soul. She must be loyal, love kids, and adore my mother almost as much as I do.” Kentucky paused, met Giada’s gaze across the table, and added, “And she cannot be selfish.”

  “I notice your list didn’t mention many physical characteristics. What do you want your Miss Right to look like? By the way, I’m taking notes of everything you say to be passed along later to any eligible bachelorettes I know,” Bev said.

  Kentucky chuckled at her tenacity as a matchmaker. Then he turned serious again. “I’m not too picky about a woman’s physical characteristics since Mama taught me long ago how futile it was to get hooked on looks,” he said, giving Giada a hard glare before shifting his gaze to the sea.

  “However, my Miss Right has to at least love her body enough to take good care of it. She also has to be physically strong enough to not only handle me in the bedroom, but to also carry and bear the large babies my genes will undoubtedly produce.” Kentucky chuckled. “But, hey, until I find my Miss Right, I’m going to be busy enjoying a lot of Miss Right Nows. Maybe even this weekend.”

  Bev laughed. “Sounds like somebody’s trying to be a bad boy this weekend.”

  “On the contrary, I plan to be good this weekend. Real good,” Kentucky replied, letting out a husky chuckle.

  * * * *

  Giada bristled at the thought of Kentucky being with another woman this weekend, or ever, for that matter. She wanted to be his Miss Right. She wanted to be his one and only. Would Giada fit any of his requirements? Surely she did in the bedroom, right?

  Right then and there Giada resolved to do her best to fit every description he gave. She already fit most of them and then some. The only thing really standing in her way was that selfish trait, which meant Giada had to do some changing. She had to learn a new way to behave. But like everything else she put her mind to, she was up for the task.

  * * * *

  As usual, Kentucky waited until everyone had gone to bed to do his workout routine. He liked to work out alone. Plus, he didn’t want to run into Giada again.

  Turning her away last week had taxed Kentucky’s control to the max. He didn’t want to go through that again, which is why he’d been going out of his way to avoid being alone with her ever since.

  After his workout, Kentucky took a brief shower and then went to the flybridge to enjoy a long soak in the Jacuzzi alone.

  During those Jacuzzi times, Kentucky closed his eyes and just allowed his thoughts to go where they may. Nine times out of ten, they always wandered to those two nights he’d had with Giada. Tonight was no different.

  I really need to get laid, Kentucky decided, tired of stressing over the same woman. He’d only had sex once since Giada, and it wasn’t very good.

  Maybe next time will be better. He reached behind him for his cell phone. It was in its waterproof case, so he had no fear of ruining it if it accidentally dropped into the Jacuzzi with him.

  The woman he called answered on the second ring even though it was 2 a.m. in the morning.

  “Hello, Alexandra, it’s Kentucky.” He smiled, pleased that his ex-flame had responded to his call so promptly at this time of the morning. That was always a good sign. “I’m back in your neck of the woods, and I was wondering if I could come see you tomorrow on my off day.”

  Alexandra moaned on the phone. “I’d like that very much, big man,” she said in that adorable Trinidadian accent of hers.

  Kentucky chuckled. “Me too, baby. I really enjoyed our last time together. I’m hoping the next time will be just as good.”

  “Oh, it will be,” Alexandra replied. “Maybe this time I can get you to stay around a little longer.”

  “You never know.” Kentucky grinned. This was going better than he thought. His body was even responding to Alexandra. It felt good to be attracted to another woman again.

  Finally!

  Suddenly Giada emerged from the shadows. Had she been watching him in secret, and for how long?

  Kentucky’s body grew harder and not because of the erotic things Alexandra was saying in his ear, either. It was at the sight of Giada ascending the remaining stairs that led to the flybridge with jealousy shrouding her features.

  Tonight she wore a black hooded robe and no shoes. Her hair was loose and flapping angrily upon her shoulders as she walked with a determined stride toward him.

  “What do you have to say about that, Kentucky?” Alexandra asked after her highly sensual monologue had ended.

  “Huh . . . what?” Kentucky couldn’t focus on anything except Giada’s voluptuous body as she removed the robe and stepped into the Jacuzzi with him. The skin-toned bikini she wore was not only skimpy, but see-through. It was if she had on nothing at all.

  “Weren’t you listening at all, Kentucky?” Alexandra sounded irritated now.

  “I’m sorry, baby. Duty calls,” Kentucky quickly explained. Then, after agreeing to meet her at their usual place, he concluded the call.

  “Fabian is duty. I’m pleasure,” Giada clarified once she had his complete attention. Her voice was discreetly low.

  “No, what you are is temptation,” Kentucky replied, speaking just as low as he placed his cell phone on the ridge behind him. He would have gotten out of the Jacuzzi, but his body was still too aroused. He didn’t want Giada to know how she affected him. Not tonight. It might lead to the wrong thing since his guard wasn’t high enough right now.

  Giada smiled with satisfaction. “The fact that you are feeling tempted at all means that you still want me. A lot.”

  “We’ve already discussed this before, remember? Besides, whether I still want you or not is irrelevant now. I’m never gonna allow myself to have you again. You belong to someone else now. Or have you forgotten that?” Kentucky replied, trying to will his body to calm down. It might have worked if Giada hadn’t moved closer.

  “I haven’t forgotten anything, Kenny. I definitely haven’t forgotten how good we were in bed together. Real good,” Giada said, using a phrase he’d uttered over breakfast. “Undoubtedly better than that heifer you’re going to see tomorrow,” she added, taking a jab at her unknown rival.

  Kentucky smirked at her jealousy. “You don’t even know that ‘heifer’ to be making that kind of assessment about her.” He hardened his gaze. “On the other hand, I’ve been on this boat for a whole month now, and not once have I heard you scream in ecstasy. The ship’s walls are certainly thin enough, and I have definitely heard Fabian cry out, but not you. Why is that, Giada? Especially since we both know that you are a screamer.” Kentucky left out the fact that every moan he’d heard coming from the cabin down the hall had cut him to the quick. No, she would never know that.

  “Only you can make me scream, Kenny,” Giada confessed, moving closer still.

  Kentucky inhaled sharply, forgetting how truthful she could be at times. He was even harder now.

  Not waiting for a reply, Gi
ada made another confession. “I want to trace every muscle group on your chest with my tongue again, Kenny.” She licked her lips. Her amber eyes devoured his wet, muscular torso. “Do you know that I still remember how you taste? All of you,” Giada added, boldly reaching over to squeeze him beneath the surface of the water.

  Kentucky bit his bottom lip and gripped the sides of the Jacuzzi. “Move your hands, Giada,” he hissed underneath his breath. Passion surged through his body in heated waves.

  Giada shuddered, not with fear, but with excitement. “And if I don’t?” Her hands grew even bolder by dipping into his shorts and squeezing him again, flesh to flesh this time. “Let me have this, Kenny. Let me have you, baby,” she whispered, slowly pulling downward until she’d kneaded his full length.

  Kentucky sucked air in through his teeth, slammed his eyes closed, and slowly counted to ten.

  Opening them seconds later, he quickly took command of the situation before he lost all control.

  Prying Giada’s hands from his body just as she started an upwards ascent, Kentucky adjusted his shorts and promptly left the Jacuzzi. He didn’t even say good-bye. He didn’t look back either.

  Kentucky knew that if he said anything to Giada or dared to look at her again, he was going to have her. He would not have her in secret either. What would start out in secret would awaken everybody on the boat because Kentucky would surely, surely make Giada scream tonight. Loudly. He would do it just to hear that delicious sound again for himself.

  * * * *

  Giada smiled at Kentucky’s hasty departure. She knew she’d gotten to him in a big way tonight. That had been her goal.

  You can run all you want, but someday soon, I am going to have you again, Giada silently vowed, keeping that thought to herself. When she noticed that Kentucky left his cell phone in his haste, she smiled wider.