by Hazel Keys
“Don’t worry, darling,” soothed Tristan as he spooned out crème brûlée mixture into a set of small bowls, “I doubt I’d have much appetite after yet another near-death experience.”
“I know, right?” I agreed but, inside, that was nothing like what I was feeling. So yesterday, I thought to myself, that was fun. I fall off the boat on purpose to see if he’ll save me. Today was scary. I would have actually died if he hadn’t tackled me out of the way. That asshole! Why does he have to go and make it so hard to hate him? I need this revenge; I owe it to my father.
Suzy came down the galley steps. “If you’re not up for working tonight, babe, I can cover for you,” she offered, kindly.
“Thanks, Suzy, you’re the best. But I got this,” I told her. I had some stuff to work out.
“If you’re sure?” she smiled. “Then, you’re up.”
Dinner was over and I was left by myself with the guests. It looked as though it might not be such a long night after all. George was already doing tequila shots with Jay Money and Coco and, before long, had to retire. Valentina helped him to his cabin, but she didn’t look happy about it, yet again.
Mick now had Antonia and Jessica in their tiny bikinis, leaning against the yacht’s rail, posing for his camera in front of the glorious sunset. And, even though it was clear skies over Venus, the still-present storm clouds in the distance made the setting sun appear even more spectacular as it lit up the retreating cumulus with fiery oranges and reds. The girls called me over to pose with them for a few shots, and Mick was over the moon, jabbering furiously about his three gorgeous blondes. But, as the shutter kept clicking, the sexy, nearly naked babes began slowly kissing each other, gradually becoming ever more passionate. Not wanting to get caught up in this over-familiar and potentially dangerous situation, I excused myself back to the bar.
I noticed Jay and Coco soon slinking off together, while the blonde on blonde make-out session was getting so heated it was becoming embarrassing. It was getting tough to look away, so I had to politely but firmly suggest they retire to somewhere a little more private. Mick was more than happy to escort the two beauties below deck. I wondered, as Jay Money had made no fuss about giving up one of his women, if the two playas had come to some sort of arrangement. If so, I asked myself, what were the terms?
“Sorry to be the one to tell you,” Seth’s voice made me jump slightly as I watched the new threesome disappear below deck, “but you’ve made a pretty huge error.”
Uh-oh! I got that knot in my stomach again, the one that appeared every time I felt like I’d been found out. I summoned my best, reinforced smile.
“Oh really? I never make mistakes, Seth, you should know that by now,” I told him, as brazen and cocky as I could manage. I poured another large measure of twenty-five-year-old Glenmorangie into Seth’s glass, as Mia sauntered up to the bar and rested both hands on his shoulder.
“Mia pointed it out,” he offered.
The knot in my stomach grew even larger. I should have guessed. Not only was Mia incredibly attractive, she was devastatingly intelligent. I should have been worried more about getting found out by her. Men will fall for a pretty smile, I reminded myself, it’s the women you are trying to cross that are the real danger.
“Minerva,” said Mia, cryptically. I stared blankly into her beautiful Japanese face. “You guys used Roman gods and goddesses for your party. The Goddess Athena is from Ancient Greece. The Greek capital city of Athens is named after her. In Ancient Roman mythology, Athena is known as Minerva.” She was smiling as she schooled me. There seemed to be no malice, Mia appeared to be merely imparting some knowledge for fun, making pleasant conversation, yet I couldn’t help but feel like she was claiming some kind of a victory. Mia turned to Seth. “It was one of my favorite subjects when I was at school in England,” she smiled at him.
“Well, I’ll make sure we get it right next time,” I said companionably.
Mia kissed Seth’s cheek, working her way slowly down his neck. I looked out to sea, trying to give them some privacy. It was full nighttime now and the moon must have been hiding behind the remains of those earlier storm clouds. Nothing but the blackest darkness surrounded the boat.
I heard Mia whispering. “I don’t think I can wait much longer, darling...” she purred, before getting up and stalking off. She watched to make sure Seth’s eyes followed the movement of her body as she slowly reached the stairs, then laughed to herself as she descended.
“I’ll be right there, darling,” he called after her. “I’ll just finish this drink.” He turned back to me. He let out what sounded like a nervous laugh. “Alone at last,” he stammered.
I gave him a warm smile back. Yup, and now you’re mine, I thought to myself, and was actually surprised by the anger I felt welling up inside me. Sure, he seems nice on the surface, but people like him and his gorgeous lady barely notice the rest of us struggling to get by. Mick and Jay Money, they’ve made the most of their talents. They’ve capitalized on being able to do something few others can and reaped their rewards. All Seth had to do was be born. That’s luck, not talent.
On the outside, though, I kept it as cool as can be. “She’s amazingly beautiful,” I said, nodding to the stairs Mia had disappeared down, “and you guys seem very happy together.”
“We do?” he replied. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound so... it’s just, we’ve only been seeing each other for about three weeks.”
“I see,” I smiled. “Well, in that case, I’ll say I’m sure you will be very happy together.” I was trying to stay mad at him, but I was starting to find his odd nervousness around me charming.
“Yes, that’s what everyone says.” Seth looked back at up at me. He looked straight into my eyes and I felt my heart beat a little faster.
What the hell…? I kept my expression even.
“The truth is, her position is right, her age is right, her fortune is right.” The word "fortune" caused me to grind my teeth. “For me, she just seems to be so... right.” He almost seemed to spit out that last word. He looked back down at his drink. “Sorry, Tara. I must be making you uncomfortable, talking this way.”
I leaned in until my eyes were level with his again. “Not at all.” I smiled. “I told you, when I’m behind the bar, it’s part of the job. Anyway, if I can listen to someone who saved my life, twice now…”
“Please, will people stop talking about that?” Seth chuckled.
He drained his glass and I refilled it. After a few seconds of silence, I decided to ask him about his work.
“Do we have to? Really, it’s just another thing that I have to do, because of my father.”
Poor little whiny rich boy, I thought, my resentment quickly welling back up. “He must have been a great man,” I said. Nearly time. Just waiting for the exact moment to hit him with what happened to me.
I saw Seth’s jaw clench. “He was great at business,” he allowed. “He made billions. But the more I find out about how he made that money, the more I want to do it differently.”
I felt my stomach flip a little. “What are you talking about?” I asked.
“It’s like the deal we finalized before this trip. George and I,” he said. “The board, my board, wanted to buy and dismantle this yacht building business.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Flashback images of my father ran through my head. “Would have made us a billion dollars, with a little gray area maneuvering…”
“Like leaking the failing company’s financials to devalue it,” I said, without even realizing I’d spoken.
“Exactly.” He smiled. Then he seemed to really hear what I’d just said. “Wow, there’s really no end to your talents is there?” I didn’t respond, just gave him an enigmatic smile. I was fuming inside. Precisely like your father did to us, ending my father's life and ruining mine.
“Anyway. George and I had to fight them every step. I mean, that would have been three thousand people out of work. I couldn’t sleep knowing I’d done that,
” he continued, sorrowfully. “So, I made the board invest in them instead. Way smaller return, but the yacht company survives and all those people keep their jobs.”
I froze for a second, astonished, making sure I had heard what I’d just heard. I’ve had him all wrong. I can’t hold him responsible for the sins of his father, I realized. I reached out and touched his cheek. “That’s the right thing to do,” was all I could say. “And Mia?”
“What do you mean?”
“Is she…” I was struggling to find a delicate way to put it. I gave up. “I she another thing you have to do, because of your father?”
Seth snorted, suddenly choking on his scotch. He waved away my concern and recovered quickly. “Ah, Mia. Yes, he’d totally approve of her.” He laughed quietly. “No doubt he would’ve tried to steal her from me. Want to know a secret?” He sniffed, gave an embarrassed smile, drained his glass again, and whispered, “I think she wouldn’t have thought twice about jumping him, either.”
Now, it was my turn to burst out laughing. And not my professional, clipped and clean steward giggle, but my real, throaty, uncontrolled laugh. He laughed with me and a moment later, we were smiling stupidly, gazing into each other’s eyes.
“Listen, I know you’re off limits,” he touched my hand and I felt him trembling slightly, “but maybe, after the charter, I could see you?” He kept his eyes on mine as he waited for the answer.
I felt my heart tightening this time, instead of my stomach. I can’t believe this, my mind raced, I came here to hurt him, but now I feel like I really like him. I never dreamed he could be so vulnerable and so obviously alone. He’s trying so much to mend the damage his father did, even the damage he did to me. Could we really work together? He wasn’t the billionaire tyrant his father was and now I could acknowledge all the feelings of attraction I’d been trying to suppress. “I’d... I think I’d like that,” was all I managed to say.
I was suddenly aware, as we leaned on our elbows, the teak bar separating us and his hand on mine, that our faces were so close. I stared into his stunning, gray-green eyes for what seemed like an age, then took a chance. This time I know it’s real, I told myself. I leaned in toward his mouth, and he did the same. We came so close I could feel his soft breath caressing my sensitive lips, when his phone, screeching angrily from the counter top, made me jump.
“Goddammit,” he hissed as the moment passed us by. I giggled nervously. Seth read the text message to himself. “It’s Mia, of course,” he told me. I let out the breath I’d been holding as I stood back up looking for a glass or a cloth, anything to look busy. For one instant, I’d forgotten all about his hot, rich girlfriend below deck.
“You’d better go,” I said, trying not to sound downcast. It was a stupid idea. I wanted to destroy him, not sleep with him. Except… now I knew what he was really like. “After all, I am off limits.”
“Tara, come on...” he began.
“No, it’s fine, you’re with her. Maybe you can still call me after the charter and we’ll meet up, like you said.” I smiled, desperate to hide the tears that were forming in my eyes. Get a grip, girl!
“I should go, let her down easy,” he said. I nodded.
He means well but I can’t see that happening. She’s so beautiful, he’ll never resist her. Not while I can’t touch him and she can offer him everything. Forget it, Tara, I thought as he headed downstairs to the master suite, you’ve missed your chance.
Chapter 13:Seth
As I hurried back to my cabin, I rehearsed what I was going to say to Mia. She would be furious, no doubt about that, and I was worried what she might do to Tara. Mia had the resources to make Tara’s professional life very difficult, yet I couldn’t help wanting us to be together. Since the first time I saw her, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. I only hoped I had the balls to protect her.
I was going to have to move out of the main cabin and into one of the smaller, twin berth rooms. Considering how much I’d paid for this trip, that didn’t seem fair at all. But it was the gentlemanly thing to do. I stopped outside my door, took a breath, and walked in.
Mia was sat on the bed, one knee up to her chin, her other foot dangling near the floor. She wore only gray briefs and a tiny, tight white cotton undershirt. She looked up from her phone as I closed the door behind me.
“There you are,” she smiled coyly at me. “You were so long I almost started without you.”
“Mia, darling...” I swallowed. I’d spent my life negotiating for billions of dollars with some of the most cutthroat people on the planet, yet this conversation was making my mouth run dry. “We need to talk.”
“Yes, we do,” replied Mia, surprising me. “Sit down honey. We have a problem...” Bewildered, I took a seat on one of the plush armchairs that lined the long round wall of the room. “Baby?” called Mia to the bathroom. Valentina, naked except for a pair of white cotton panties, stepped from the doorway. “Poor Valentina here,” began Mia, “hasn’t been having the best trip. George has been a frightful bore and is now passed out, having paid her no attention for the last two days and nights. She’s lonely and wants to know if she can play with us?” Valentina made shy eyes at me, nodding, girlishly holding a finger in her mouth. “That’s all right, darling, isn’t it?” teased Mia, as the young Latina girl crossed slowly over to the bed.
I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing would come out. Mia knelt up on the edge of the huge bed as Valentina reached her, and let out a low moan as they kissed open-mouthed. Valentina eased Mia’s shirt up over her shapely, firm breasts and sighed breathlessly as the two girls’ uncovered nipples hardened, rubbing gently against each other.
Oh, come on! I could only think as I felt my erection growing. I really want to be with Tara right now, but there’s only so much temptation a man can take.
Mia spun Valentina away from her before cupping those full, caramel colored breasts from behind and gently biting her light-brown shoulder. Both girls turned their heads and smiled at me, before Mia lightly stroked her hands down toward Valentina’s underwear. The younger girl closed her eyes, letting her head fall back in pleasure as Mia’s fingers pushed their way under the flimsy material, slowly caressing her most sensitive parts. Valentina hooked her thumbs under her panties and gently slid them down, stepping out of them and turning back around to face Mia, who again slid her hand over that beautiful bald mound.
Valentina bent forward and took Mia’s erect nipple into her mouth, causing her to sigh loudly as she removed her own underwear. Mia lay back and raised a foot so Valentina could whip her briefs all the way off and discard them. The Latin beauty then fell to her knees and began kissing her way up Mia’s inner thigh, until she reached Mia’s waiting, willing pussy, pulling sudden gasps of pleasure from both of their mouths.
I was transfixed. These two stunningly sexy temptresses were making it impossible for me to think. All I could feel was a pounding throb from my cock as it threatened to burst out of my pants. I watched Mia’s full breasts heave with every sigh that Valentina’s intimate licking and probing brought out of her. As she slipped her night shirt the rest of the way off, Mia’s cries grew louder and louder, as though she was getting close to coming, when she stopped and urgently pushed Valentina off her.
“I think we’re forgetting someone, dear.” Slightly flushed and a little out of breath, Mia grinned at the other girl. Valentina looked over at me, sat there like an idiot, and smiled seductively. Mia took her by the hand and they both got up and walked naked to where I was still sitting.
“Err... are you sure about this, girls?” I managed to stammer as they both knelt on either side of my legs.
“Don’t panic, darling,” breathed Mia, softly, “I liked what you said about making our first time together special.” She opened my fly and reached in. “Well, this is extra special, don’t you think?”
I had no time to answer before Mia pulled out my marble-hard dick and gently eased her full lips around it. Sparks of ecstat
ic pleasure shot through my body as I pulsed rapidly against her tongue. It took every iota of self-control I had not to just dump my load right then, into her mouth. I’d had days of fending off this exquisitely attractive woman’s pretty hardcore advances, with no release, and I felt about ready to explode.
Valentina placed one hand on the back of Mia’s head, gently forcing her further onto me, and pushed her other hand up underneath my shirt. I nearly lost it again as Mia swallowed as much as she could, only managing to comfortably fit about two-thirds of my cock in her mouth. She let me go and jerked roughly with her hand. I couldn’t stop myself from crying out. Mia turned and kissed Valentina passionately before, still holding the base of my shaft, easing the other girl’s mouth onto my stiff, thick member.
My head fell back as Valentina’s hot, wet tongue enclosed me. I was pretty sure my cock had never ever been this hard before. As the sexy Latina temptress sucked and swallowed as much of me as she could, my cock kept pulsing and throbbing until, as I saw Mia caressing Valentina’s gently bouncing breasts with one hand and slowly sliding a beautifully manicured finger into her own wet slit, I knew I couldn’t take anymore. I closed my eyes and, despite everything, I saw Tara’s face again.
I opened my eyes to see Mia had me in her mouth again. Valentina had a hand absently groping my balls as she bent down to kiss and lick Mia’s seductively proud breasts. Mia was staring me straight in the eye as she sucked, smiling with her mouth full, and moaning softly to herself. With a superhuman effort, I managed to lean forward and grip her by the shoulders. A brief look of confusion crossed her face, to be replaced with a wide smile of success. I gently but firmly lifted her off me and sat her back on the floor. She must have decided I could finally resist her no longer and was about to bang her to within an inch of her life. She lay right back, opened her legs and invited me in.
“I’m sorry,” I croaked. “I’m so sorry.” I pulled up my linen pants and strode purposefully for the door, never looking back.