Chapter Six
The group set out for the resort on Peter Island shortly before lunchtime. Sebastian busily barked orders to everyone as they prepared to set sail, and he sent Clementine below deck to close everything up and ensure nothing spilled, fell from surfaces, or broke. Had he purposely sent her outside his line of vision? She tried hard not to take it personally.
When they arrived at Peter Island, they anchored offshore, with a breathtaking view of a gorgeous crescent of sugar-white sand. Pippa and Topher took the dinghy in for lunch, while the others stayed back.
“Well, that sort of sucked last night,” Clementine said. She grabbed Sebastian’s butt playfully as he walked by to check that the boat was still securely anchored. Once he seemed sure the sailboat wasn’t going to drift, he reached around and grabbed her hand and pulled it toward him.
“Tell me about it.” He placed her hand over the swell in the front of his swim trunks. “I practically had to cry myself to sleep last night.”
“What was up with you disappearing?”
“Sorry,” he said. “Everything got too weird for me when we got back here. With all the histrionics, well, let’s just say I am so not into relationship drama.”
That’s certainly cryptic, she thought.
“An allergy or something?” she said with a half smile.
“You could call it that,” he said. “Spent too many years under the auspices of a warring couple. I vowed to avoid that in my life.”
Clementine recalled stories of Sebastian’s parents’ tempestuous relationship headlining the tabloids over the years. As the sibling who would not take over ruling Monaforte, his mother seemed to drift around with very little apparent commitment to much of anything, including motherhood. When Sebastian was just a small child, his mum was busted in a scandalous affair with a wealthy Italian businessman while yachting off the Amalfi Coast of Italy; she’d been caught by the powerful telephoto lenses of the paparazzi as the businessman sucked on her toes, of all things.
The headlines read something along the lines of “Toe-tally Creepy.” From then on, his parents had engaged in a very public on again-off again marriage that likely left Sebastian feeling as if he had ringside seats to the world’s longest boxing match. She figured this was not a topic he was keen to discuss, so she decided not to pursue it.
“Fair enough,” she said. “But that war’s in a truce now. So what say we pick up where we left off?” She batted her eyelashes.
“We’ve got Zander on board, you know,” he said.
“Ugh, that. But I’m pretty sure he’s in Topher’s cabin sleeping,” she said. “Which reminds me, do you think I need to worry about his witnessing, uh, what he witnessed, last night?”
Sebastian shrugged. “Zander does love to give people shit,” he said. “It’s just about his favorite pastime. Though he usually focuses it on immediate family, so no, I can’t see him going after you, Clem. That would be so out-of-bounds. And as an absentee cousin, I figure I’m safe enough. But speaking of out-of-bounds—”
He pulled her toward him, her back pressed to his chest, his hands rubbing her breasts as he ground his growing hard-on into her soft bottom. “That was so damned hot last night,” he said, whispering into her ear. “I’ve been thinking about it nonstop. We’ve got a little time before they’re back from lunch, if you’re interested.”
“I could be persuaded,” she said as she turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing her lips to his for a long kiss.
“Come on,” Sebastian said, breaking away from the kiss. “This time we’re not going to have an audience.”
He grabbed her hand and they raced below deck.
“I’ve got a quick stop to make,” Clem said, diverting to Pippa’s cabin and grabbing several condoms from the duffel.
“Wow, you come prepared,” he said with a grin when she reappeared with the booty.
“They weren’t for me,” she said, not wanting him to think she was a sleaze, planning random hookups with strangers while on holiday. “I packed them for Pippa’s busy schedule. I’m just helping myself, as I gave her an ample supply.”
They were on top of his berth in no time, and they got rid of their suits even faster.
“So convenient, this boating lifestyle,” she said. “Saves so much time in the getting naked department.”
He laughed as he pulled her toward him, and Clementine breathed a sigh of relief: at last, the two of them with no barriers between them and a few minutes to maybe finish what they’d started last night.
Sebastian wasted no time working his way down her body.
“It about killed me to refrain from this last night,” he said as he dragged his tongue between her legs. Clementine’s breathing quickly became heavy, and she pressed her hips toward his face, encouraging him on. Finally, she could wait no longer and pulled him up toward her.
“Get this on, fast,” she said, pressing a condom into his palm. “I need you in me now.”
Together they made quick work of sliding it on, and he positioned himself between her legs and ever so slowly slid into her wet center.
Sebastian bit down softly on her shoulder. He groaned loudly, seating himself inside Clementine and rocking gently, which gave her body just enough time to adjust to his. Soon he started the slow in and out glide, building up her excitement with each stroke.
“Hurry,” Clem said as she dragged her hands across his back. As he thrust harder and drew closer to completion, he reached between them and slid his fingers over her wet center. He rubbed his fingers, slick with her juices, in a circular motion while he pumped in and out of her faster and faster until he came hard with a shudder, holding deep inside her as she broke with him in a loud cry. He lay there on top of her, both breathing heavily for a few minutes, and only then did they hear Pippa outside their door, which was weird since they hadn’t even noticed the motor of the dinghy that should have announced her arrival.
“Et tu, Clementine?” she said, pounding outside the door. “I can’t escape this bloody place with even a hint of dignity, dammit.”
The two of them looked at each other, perplexed.
Chapter Seven
Clementine opened the door to her cabin cloaked in a sheet, just in time to find Pippa, soaking wet in her clothes, climbing the stairs, bag in tow.
“Hey,” she said to her friend. “What’re you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing?” Pippa asked through clenched teeth.
“Um, taking your clothes to the cleaners and you don’t have a laundry bag?”
“Actually,” Pippa said, “I’m going with Zander, as soon as his ride shows up.”
“But what about you and Toph?” Clementine asked. “And why are your clothes wet?”
“First off,” Pippa said, drawing her finger across her throat, “there is no me and Toph. And second, I swam back to the boat rather than waste one more minute with that cretin.”
Clem couldn’t believe it. Why was she being so stubborn? “Seriously? Pippa, be real. Don’t just give up on him again. He’s invested in you at this point. If you leave now, there’s no turning back.”
“I’m not giving up on anyone, Clem,” Pippa said, rolling her eyes. “He’s the one bailing.”
“Wait, Topher ditched you?”
Pippa shook her head. “Dropped me like that anvil the Road Runner dumps on Wile E. Coyote’s head all the time. I didn’t even have a chance to defend myself. It was sort of weird.”
Clementine felt a pounding headache coming on. “Seriously I don’t even know why I try,” she said. “All this effort, and what has it gotten me?”
“I’d say it’s gotten you a whole lot of naked belly shots with a near-stranger, for starters,” Pippa said. “And now, from the sounds of it, a vacation quickie with the man as well.”
“Quickie?” Clementine said. “Why that wasn’t quick in the least!” She put her hand over her mouth, realizing what an insensitive gaffe her joke was. �
�I’m sorry, Pips. That was inappropriate to rub that in under the circumstances.”
Pippa waved her hand at her. “Whatever, hon. If you’re happy, I’m happy. Although I’m not really happy, because Topher’s an idiot. But that has nothing to do with you. Oh, and here.” She pulled a handful of condoms from her bag and tossed them to Clem. “At least they’ll find a use with you.”
“Seems you made a little dent in them, no?” Clem asked.
Pippa shook her head.
Clementine’s eyes grew large with incredulity. “You mean you never consummated the deal?”
Pippa just looked at the ground.
“Oh, wow. You forgot to use them?”
Her friend nodded her head sheepishly.
“Pips! How could you?” Clementine asked. “That’s the most un-Pippa-like thing I think you’ve ever done!”
“I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know,” Pippa said, shaking her head. “It was just...we simply forgot. Or we didn’t even think of it. I mean, we were kind of busy.”
“What’re you gonna do?”
“I’m going to leave here and never think about Topher again,” Pippa said. “And if I see him at Zander’s wedding, I’ll politely nod my head and turn in the other direction. And definitely not sleep with the next damned brother in that household.”
Clem laughed. “You’d practically be assaulting a minor if you went after Luca.”
“Good. Cause it’s not gonna happen,” Pippa said.
“But what if, you know?” Clementine pointed to her belly.
“Are you kidding? Uh, uh. Impossible. Not on my watch.”
“Hate to tell you, you might not have any control over that one, my dear.”
“Well, we’ll cross that bridge. In the meantime, I’m not going to worry about it.”
Just then, Topher yelled down to his brother. “Uh, better get up here, Z,” he said. “Your carriage awaits you.”
Pippa gave Clem a hug. “You’re welcome to join us, you know.”
“Thanks,” she said. “But I think I’ll stick around here to see where things go. Maybe I can work on Topher for you.”
“Nah. Don’t bother,” Pippa said sniffing. “I have no interest in risking any more heartbreak with that one. He’s too fickle to deal with. You gonna be okay here?”
“Definitely,” Clementine said, giving her friend a squeeze. “And you don’t need me for moral support?”
“I’m good. Thanks for trying to matchmake us. I know your heart was in the right place, even if you were deceptive.” She smiled weakly.
“I’m impressed you can even attempt to smile, under the circumstances.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not about to let him see it’s affected me. Going out with my head held high.”
~*~
Clementine was astounded when Topher actually gave Pippa a handshake as she left the boat. A handshake! As if they were settling a business deal. What a spineless coward. But Clem knew she’d meddled enough, so she just let it ride for the time being.
She decided to raise the issue at dinner.
“Look, Topher, let’s talk about it,” Clementine said, looking him squarely in the eye. “You gotta admit, you went from smoking hot to ice cold on poor Pippa back there. I’d imagine you must be pretty confused if you were willing to flip on her like that.”
Topher stared at her stoically but didn’t say a word.
“Does it help if I tell you I understand where you’re coming from?” Clementine asked, hoping he’d loosen up.
“Look, Clem, I don’t really need you playing armchair shrink with me, okay?” he said. “It was fun until it wasn’t fun and then that reminded me that I was getting in too deep, anyhow. I don’t need to have an anchor around my neck right now.”
Clementine huffed. “And Pippa’s an anchor?”
“All women are anchors,” Sebastian said.
“Excuse me?” Her eyebrows rose as she turned to him.
“Topher and I don’t need to be tied down,” he said. “We like to weigh anchor and go where the tide takes us sometimes. And you can’t do that if you have a woman trying to pin you down.”
“Trying to pin you down? What, like you’re trapped? Some sad butterfly being secured against a page of black velvet in somebody’s butterfly collection?” she said. “Pin you down. As if.”
“You know what I mean, Clem,” Sebastian said. “I mean it’s fine to hook up and all, but who needs all that long-term commitment nonsense.”
“Right. I got it. Hookups, fine. Settle-downs, not.”
“Precisely,” he said.
“Look, Clem,” Topher said. “I’m not getting involved in this conversation because it can only devolve from here. And I don’t want to say I’m never going to commit to a relationship. But right now, that idea is scary and uncomfortable.”
“Okay, so now we’re getting somewhere,” she said. “Scary and uncomfortable I can work with. Hookup Harry, not so much.” She gave Sebastian the stink-eye as she pointed her thumb at him, but he was oblivious to her anger, happily cutting his steak and savoring a bite.
“Tell me what has you so frightened.”
“I don’t know, Clementine,” Topher said shrugging. “I just don’t feel comfortable with it.”
“Is it because you feel too exposed, like you opened yourself up too much to her?” she said. “Or is it because you were too exposed to us?” She laughed, then covered her mouth. “Darn it, I apologize. I couldn’t help myself.”
“Great. I finally spill my guts and you mock me,” he said. “This is precisely why I want nothing to do with any of it.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way, Christopher,” Clem said, invoking his full name, which his mother only used on him when he was in trouble or in danger in his younger years. “Because sometimes in life you’re going to have to be scared and uncomfortable. And then you just have to push through it and get out of your comfort zone and make room for a little growing up. It’s a real shame that I went to all the trouble to bring Pippa here, only for you to chicken out like you did and send her packing. But I’m almost even more sorry that I wasted my time ‘hooking up’ with the likes of Sebastian, who is clearly a selfish git who’s doomed to grow old and alone someday and it’ll serve him right.”
With that, she got up and stormed off to her cabin.
Chapter Eight
Clementine knew full well what she’d gotten herself into with Sebastian. It was an impulsive holiday fling and nothing more. She no sooner had expectations for some grandiose love affair than she’d planned to be crowned queen of Monaforte, and that certainly wasn’t going to happen.
But he didn’t have to be such a lunkheaded idiot about it. Of course, she had no presumption that he’d put a ring on it or anything. Hell, she even went into the fling expecting it to be nothing more than a little vacation diversion. But his complete shutting down of a potential future anything between them was completely lame. Like how about a second date, maybe? Or at least some talk about meeting up next time he was back home? Maybe a cup of coffee or glass of wine, just for the hell of it?
But fine, if that’s what he wanted, that’s what he’d get. Clementine had no interest in being a hanger-on with a guy like that who put a high price tag on his independence. She was perfectly happy with her own freedom, thank you. She didn’t need some handsome skipper who happened to be a lot of fun and, ahem, even more fun, anyhow. Men like him were a dime a dozen. Perhaps not back home, but somewhere they were. At least that’s what she presumed. So she wasn’t going to lose sleep over this one chucking her overboard.
After she retreated to her cabin to fume, she texted the water taxi driver to pick her up first thing in the morning. That way she’d be spared any more time with that jerkball. It just plucked her last nerve how the guy could go from such extreme intimacy to stone cold emotional abstinence with the snap of his fingers. Fine. She could be equally void of giving a shit about him.
As she sat in her bed readi
ng, she could hear the two guys out on the trampoline of the catamaran. From what she overheard, Sebastian had the brilliant idea that the two of them should get high to ease his guilt or take the place of getting laid, whatever it was he was doing. She had to laugh listening to them, because they sounded like a couple of sad-sack prep school boys, smoking a joint while hiding out from the headmaster. You’d think males would outgrow that, but evidently not. Dawn couldn’t come fast enough for Clementine, and she was happy when her furious mind finally gave way to sleep.
~*~
Clem stood at the stern end of the yacht, arms crossed, tapping her foot as the dinghy motored toward her. She hadn’t even bothered with breakfast and instead was counting the minutes to escape the frat boys on the boat. Another day with them and mutiny would be imminent.
“It’s been real, guys,” she said as she grabbed the line from the dinghy captain to tie up. “But I’m outta here. One hookup too many for my liking.”
Still not getting it, Sebastian reached over to give her a kiss, which she deflected by turning her face away and feeding him the back of her head and a chunk of her blonde hair instead.
“See ya, Toph,” Clem said, giving him a hug. Sure, she was annoyed with him for being a needless jerk to her good friend, but at least she understood it a little bit.
To Sebastian, she just gave a slight nod and said, “You’ll understand if I don’t bother to shake your hand.”
With that, she boarded the dinghy and departed, leaving both men in the doghouse, until further notice.
Chapter Nine
Clementine was bored. It had been weeks since her Caribbean misadventure, and she felt restless, hankering for some sort of excitement to stir up her life. Perhaps that wasn’t such a bad thing, since she’d been in a real funk before the trip. Not much appealed to her enough to bother making an effort.
After her return, she hadn’t done much of anything other than taking long runs around her family’s vast estate, nestled in the foothills of the distant snow-capped Alps, and working on a seemingly endless needlework of the family crest. She’d started it as a gift for her father when she was a teenager and promptly forgot about it until he got sick, years later. It kept her otherwise idle hands and mind occupied during the long vigil by her father’s side as he lay dying, and now she felt committed to finish it in his honor.
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