by JA Huss
“Who is his team?”
“I don’t know yet. I guess we’ll find out when we get to San Diego.”
She sighs. “I don’t want to go to San Diego, West. I just want to go home. I’m hungry, I’m tired, and I need a shower. I just want to go home.”
“You can’t go home, Miss Arias.”
Tori looks up. Paxton is standing in the entryway that leads to the control room. “Why not? What is going on?”
“I’ll tell you the same thing I told Corporate. I don’t know yet. But whether you like it or not, you and this asshole are the reason this is happening. I can’t, in good conscience, cut you loose just yet.”
“Cut us—” Tori starts.
But I hold up my hand. “We’ll just wait, Tori. OK? We’re fine. Whatever is happening,” I say, throwing a look at Pax, “we’ll figure it out and be home in a few days.”
“Maybe,” Pax says. “Maybe not. I wouldn’t promise her anything you’re not sure you can deliver, Weston. And we’ve got a lot of come-to-Jesus moments ahead. For both of you. So if you’re tired, Miss Arias, I suggest you claim one of the cabins and get settled. We’re sailing to West Palm Beach first, then we’ll get on the jet and land in San Diego. So you’ve got plenty of time to rest up.”
Pax turns his back to us and goes back into the control room, like this conversation is over.
“Well, he’s an asshole,” Tori says.
I smile. “See, I’m not so bad.”
Her body shakes with a small laugh. “I’d like to take a shower. Do they have showers on these things?”
“I’m sure they do. Come on, let’s go check it out and claim a cabin.”
I wait for her to fight. I’m not sleeping with you, Mr. Corporate. Or, Don’t order me around, you controlling pig.
But she doesn’t even put up a small fight when I take her hand, and stand up, and lead her past the galley and down the stairs to the cabins. I check the first door—occupied. Then the second—also occupied. We turn around and try the starboard side, open the next door and find it empty. “I guess we’ll take this one, huh?”
“I don’t care. Do you think they have any clothes I can wear?” Tori looks up at me. Everything that has happened in the last few days has finally caught up with her in this moment. She looks exhausted. Her eyes are ringed with dark circles, her arms and legs have red welts and scratches from running through the underbrush, and she’s got a cut on her cheek that looks painful.
“I’m sure I can find something. Look,” I say. “I bet this cabin has its own en suite.” I let go of her hand and walk into the cabin, which is spacious. The salon was well-equipped with a TV, a bar, and ample seating for at least twelve people. The cabin has a king-sized bed with luxury bedding and six pillows. There’s two doors—the first one, I discover when I open it up, is a closet. “Look, clothes.”
Tori walks up to me. “So they planned this whole thing?” She looks up at me, frowning. “They have clothes for me, West. What the hell is going on?”
“I’m not sure yet. Just… let’s… we just have to trust him, OK? I don’t have a good reason, I’ll admit it. I’m suspicious too. But we’re stuck here until we get to Palm Beach. I’m sure the jet he’s talking about is the one we share. So I’ll have more options once we get to the US. But for now, let’s just rest and keep our heads down. OK?”
I’m expecting a fight. Some protests at least. But Tori just hunches her shoulders and nods her head. “Is that one the bathroom?” She points to the other door.
I walk over to it and pull the door open. “Yup. And look, it’s got a tub. Why don’t you take a bath and just go to sleep?”
“Where are you going to be?”
“Feeling needy, Miss Arias?” I give her that crooked smile she loves so much.
And she cracks a small one in return, but it’s brief. “A little bit. But you can’t go too far, so I’ll be OK.”
“Go take a bath and I’ll be in after I grab something to wear from Pax. OK?” I kiss her tenderly on the lips and pull her into a hug. “We’re fine, Tori. Just fine.”
She nods and turns to the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
I head back up to the control room and find Five and Pax sitting at the bar getting drinks.
“You want one, Corporate?” Five asks.
“Sure, Vlad.”
He shrugs. “Hey, man, it’s not my fault you fell for it. This is just business.”
“Right.” I take the shot of tequila Pax slides across the sleek teak bar, and down it. “Fuck, yeah,” I say, slamming the shot glass down. “I needed that. We found the clothes for Victoria in one closet. But there wasn’t anything for me. You guys got something to spare for me?”
“Your stuff is in the other cabin, Corporate,” Pax says.
“Stop calling me that, asshole. It’s a fucking insult and you know it. I don’t call you Mysterious unless I’m pissed off about something.”
“Maybe I’m pissed off about something. You ever think of that?”
“What the fuck do you have to be pissed about? You’re the one who set us up. You’re the reason we’re here in the first place.”
“Try again, Corporate.” Pax does a shot and slams his glass down on the table too.
I look over at Five, who simply shrugs and says, “I’m the hired help, so don’t ask me.”
“Frankly,” Pax says, “I’m surprised she’s even considering rooming with you tonight. You might want to double-check your sleeping arrangements.”
“Thanks, Mysterious. But I highly doubt I need relationship advice from you.”
He shrugs. “You know she’s gonna find out.”
I say nothing.
“You gotta know that. So the sooner you come clean, the easier it’s gonna go, my friend. Because if you don’t tell her who you really are… I will.”
My eyes narrow into slits as I consider his threat.
“And by the way, I’m gonna go ahead and call our debt even since you got both of my fucking islands blown up out there today. In fact, from the way I see it, I think you owe me right about now, Corporate. So let’s make a deal.”
Chapter Thirty-Five - Victoria
The tub is small and round. Not oval, like they normally are so people can stretch out and relax. It’s big, don’t get me wrong. But it’s round. How does a person relax in a round tub? Obviously whoever designed this ship didn’t ask a woman’s opinion.
So I opt for a shower. And the water is wonderfully hot and soothing. The steam relaxes my muscles and I relish in this new calm we have settled in.
I know there’s more to the story than anyone is telling me at this point, but I can’t afford to make a big deal about it. The last thing I need is that scary Mr. Mysterious asking me how I got involved in all this.
I frown.
It’s gonna come out. There’s no way I’m not gonna get asked that question.
I’m just rinsing the conditioner out of my hair when the bathroom door opens and West walks in. He’s already naked and he says nothing as he steps into the shower with me and lets the water pound down on top of his head.
I grab the soap and start washing his chest, which makes him open his eyes and smile. “I’m OK,” he says.
“I know you are,” I say back. “Just trying to make it easier.”
He smiles bigger at that and starts shampooing his hair. I rub the soap up and down his arms, scrubbing away the dirt and grime, then bend down and get his legs, starting at his feet and working my way up. I look up at him and he’s got his head tilted to the side, with a big questioning grin on his face.
“Really?” he asks.
“What?” I say back, blinking my eyes innocently. “I’m just trying to help you out here Mr. Conrad. Get you nice and clean.”
“Miss Arias. If you get on your knees in front of my cock, I’m gonna come up with some expectations.”
I laugh. “Something like this?” I ask, taking his dick in my soapy hands and lathering it up
. My motion is slow, way too fucking slow for what he’s thinking about right now. I look up at him as I do it. “Or am I reading you wrong here?”
“I’ll take that first,” he says, with a chuckle.
I’m relieved that he’s not as tense as he was when we first came aboard. I know something is going on between him and his friends. Maybe something he doesn’t want me to know. But I’m too tired to worry about that right now. I just want a night of peace. Just one night next to him in a bed with his arms around me.
Tomorrow can wait. Everything else can wait.
West lifts the shower head off the holder and starts spraying the soap off his body. The white frothy bubbles run down his abs, his cock, his legs.
I smile up at him as I bring the tip of his head to my lips, licking him as the water trickles into my mouth.
He inhales deeply, his hands automatically on the back of my head. And the next time I look up, he’s got his eyes closed.
I go back to work. Sucking him, my hands pumping up and down, his skin slick and smooth from the water.
“Let’s get out,” he says, reaching for my arm and urging me to stand. “Come on, let’s get out and finish this in bed. I just need you next to me right now.”
I stand up and we both rinse the leftover soap off us real fast, and then West shuts the water off. He reaches past me for a towel hanging on a rack and begins to dry me off. First my hair, ruffling it up. And I don’t even care. It will be a wild tangled mess when it dries, but I don’t care.
He likes me wild, right?
I grab another towel and dry him as he continues with me. I rub it down his perfect chest and hard abs, bending down again to dry his legs. When I come back up, he bends down to dry mine and I ruffle his hair too.
“That’s super-sexy,” I say.
“Why do you think I did it to you?”
We smile, and I might even blush a little.
How long has it been since we were this comfortable?
Years. Maybe even ten years. It was like this in the beginning. Everything was fun and new. He could do no wrong in my eyes and he never complained that I wasn’t listening or didn’t understand his point of view.
We just… accepted each other the way we were.
Maybe that’s the secret to a long-lasting relationship? Acceptance.
People say those vows when they get married. For better or worse and all that. But do people really mean them?
Maybe I’m just cynical?
Maybe I should be less cynical?
“What are you thinking about?” West asks.
“You,” I say. “Us.”
“This fucked-up shit I got you into?”
“It’s not your fault, West. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine. For fucking up your job.”
“Nah. I have a feeling this shit was coming no matter what. I told you about my friends, remember? Something is happening, Tori. And I’m really not sure how it’s gonna all shake out.”
“It’s gonna be fine, OK? I know it.”
“You can’t know that.”
“I know. But I’m gonna go with it anyway. I can’t do this anymore, Weston. I really can’t. I’m tired of making decisions and putting out fires, and worrying about every little thing. And maybe this is the absolute worst time to make this change? Maybe this is the perfect time to keep doing what I’m doing, considering what we just went through. But I don’t care. I’m tired. So just take me to bed, Weston Conrad. I feel safe here. As long as I’m in your arms tonight I know we’re going to be OK. I’m just glad we’re together.”
West has a very serious look on his face when he nods and puts his hand out for mine.
I take it and he leads me into the cabin, turning off the light as he passes a switch on the wall.
He pulls back the covers, only partly visible in the low light coming through the portholes, and I climb in, relishing the softness of the sheets and the warmth of his body as he presses himself up to me.
“We’re safe here,” I say. “I can feel it.”
Chapter Thirty-Six - Weston
Are we safe here? Or did we just jump into a whole other pot of problems? Are Pax and Five here to help us? Or help themselves?
“What are you thinking about?” Tori asks me.
“Nothing but how great it feels to be here with you. I’m sorry for all the shit that’s happened between us, Tori. Really. I am. I feel like I might’ve missed out on a lot of great years with you just because I didn’t take the time to see your point of view.”
“Ditto,” she says.
“Or get to know you properly.”
She turns her body so she can look me in the eyes. “I’m sorry too.” She sighs. “I think… I think I have no idea who you really are.”
God. This sucks.
Because I really want to tell her the truth.
But not now. Not tonight. Tomorrow. I’ll tell her tomorrow. Or… maybe the next day. Or maybe when all this is over. Then we can sit down and talk about it all. All the things I left out. All the things that still haunt me. Pax thinks he knows, but he knows what I already told Tori, nothing more.
“Are you… too tired?”
“Huh?” I answer, absently.
“West!” She giggles. “Are you going to make me beg for it?”
“Oh.” I laugh too. “No. No.” I move closer, position myself on top of her. “There’s no begging.” Our eyes lock. Like we don’t want to miss a moment. I kiss her on her mouth, her tender lips reaching for me, the tips of our tongues touching and then… I just can’t get enough. Everything that has happened over the past few days melts away and leaves nothing but desire in its wake.
“I need you, Mr. Conrad,” Tori says, pulling away just far enough to get words out. “If you want to be my prince, then fine. Because I really need a prince.”
I just stare at her. How to describe the feelings? How do I put into words the depths of hell I’d walk through just to get to her?
I only know one way and it’s not something I want to talk about tonight. So I let that go. I drop all that hate and anger I’ve got for the person who’s hurt her. And I just… be here.
My fingers weave into her hair as I take her mouth once more. Our touch is soft, and our kiss is long, and there is no rush to get to other places, or other parts, or the release.
The world just suddenly becomes slow. Like every moment with her lips against mine is a year we’ll spend together. I’ll make everything right and we’ll find our way through this maze, this labyrinth of wild emotions, as a team.
“Say it,” I mumble.
Her eyes have never left mine. They stare straight at me. Straight into me.
“Say it,” I command.
“Do you need to hear it?”
I nod. “Badly, Victoria.”
She tries not to smile, but it’s no use.
“I want you,” she breathes into my mouth. Her eyes flutter, like she really wants to close them. “Inside me. Please,” she says.
But that’s what not I’m looking for.
She spreads her legs wide for me, her breathing kicking up a notch. I’m there, giving her what she wants. Easing into her, the way I have hundreds of times before—but a completely different way too. She wraps herself around me, wraps me inside her grip, gripping my shoulders like she needs something to hold on to.
The sex is not the only reason why I love Victoria Arias.
It’s not just because I love slipping my fingers into her silky hair, or the way my tongue likes to traces circles around her nipples.
It’s not just the fact that her pussy is sweet and my cock fits inside just right.
It’s not just the way she arches her back in response. It’s not just the primal feeling she brings out inside me. That feeling of pure lust and longing for more of this, and that, and everything we’ve ever done.
It’s not just because she’s beautiful on the outside. I love her for the person she is on the inside. Flaws and imperfections. Fe
ars and insecurities. I love her for her weakness and strength. Her beauty and pain. I love her because there is no other person on this earth who can make me ache for something the way she can.
I’m after that love in return. That’s all I’ve ever wanted from her.
We move together like our love-making has been choreographed. Like we are dancing our way through the last act, and no one is watching but us. And we don’t care. Because we don’t do anything for the accolades, we only do things for us.
The slow begins to wear off the way it does and the world begins to catch up. Tori is moaning and her hips are pressing against mine, urging me to take her harder. Push deeper inside her. Give her more.
So I roll us over and let her take control. She laughs, breathlessly, her smile contagious. And she begins to move her body in a different way. She’s gripping the hard muscles of my biceps like she needs them around her. She needs me to hold on and never let go.
I reach up, place my hand on the back of her neck and force her down onto my chest.
“Yes,” she says, her heart racing against mine. They race together. Like we are both trying to get across some imaginary finish line. “Yes,” she moans as I grip her hair, keeping her in place. I don’t want her to get too far ahead of me. She might take off and never come back if I let her do that. So I hold her prisoner there. In my grip. My cock buried deep inside her pussy. My lust out of control, my desire off the charts, my want… God, why does it feel this way to want someone so much?
“West?” she says.
Fuck. Stop being so damn dramatic, Corporate, and fuck your girlfriend the way she wants you to.
“West…” she says again.
“Come,” I say, pumping harder. So hard my balls slap against her skin. I reach down and play with her asshole. “Come, baby. I need to feel it. I need to feel your love so bad.”