I grinned. Oh, this was funny. “And, I’m guessing you’re Charlie Miller. The author.” I looked at David and nodded. “It’s fine. She can stay.”
“Uh, yes. Charlotte. I started going by Charlie years ago. And, this is Sam. Samantha.”
“Yes, I believe we’ve met.” I stood aside to let them in.
As she passed me, Sam whispered, “Keep her away from the hard stuff. And microphones, too, if you know what’s good for you.”
I had to laugh. Suddenly, this evening was taking an unexpected turn.
Riju and Anya had cleared away the dinner dishes and were serving gulab jamun, sweetened dough balls in syrup, and rice pudding with cardamom. Dinner had been great, and I’d been amused by everyone’s reaction to the food.
Mary and Stewart were delighted that the dinner had been curry. “I am rather surprised, though, that your chef didn’t add more spice to the dish. As far as the curries go, it was a little on the bland side,” Mary said.
“Bland!” Ronaldo was wiping sweat from his brow. “I like spicy, but this is off the charts.”
Zelda just looked at him with a grin and said, “You don’t like anything spicy, Ronaldo.”
I always thought models didn’t eat much, but Zelda ate her food and finished off Ronaldo’s. I was about to offer her thirds when the dessert course came.
“I have been wanting a good Indian food place to open in Parker,” Sam said. “That’s the small town in Arizona where we live,” she said to the table. “Sadly, there aren’t really any and we have to go to Lake Havasu. That’s the next town over.”
“I’ve been fortunate,” Charlie said, “that I’ve been able to travel with this book and have gotten to eat some amazing food. What’s great about Indian food is that it’s so easy to enjoy as a vegetarian.”
“Oh, you’re a vegetarian?” Stewart asked. “I could never be a vegetarian. I have very high protein needs.”
From the looks of Stewart, his protein needs were being more than sufficiently met. Still, I respected Charlie’s vegetarianism.
Honestly, the Indian food was not the only heat at this table. Charlie and I had been sneaking glances at each other all night long. It was almost as if she’d known what I’d been thinking about her. What I’d been wanting to do to her.
I felt myself starting to get firm and realized that I was in the middle of a work dinner, so I tried to focus on normal conversation. But, everything seemed to have a sexual connotation.
“These balls are wonderful,” Ronaldo said, referring to the gulab jamun.
“They are, but sticky. I’ve got it all over my face,” Zelda said, wiping her mouth with a napkin.
Charlie and I caught each other’s eyes and grinned.
“Have you tried the pudding? So creamy and sweet.” This was Mary.
Sam was picking up on it, and so then she seemed to keep things going intentionally. “You know, my favorite dessert isn’t even a dessert food. It’s pigs in a blanket.”
Charlie tried to stifle a grin and elbowed her friend.
“Oh, isn’t that when you take one of those, juicy little sausages and wrap them up in a warm, fluffy pancake?” Mary asked. She was completely clueless as to why we were talking about sausage.
“Yes. And then cover it with syrup. It’s finger-licking good.” She literally licked her fingers to make the point. Charlie kicked Sam under the table.
Okay, okay. I was going to have to stop this or else I was going to bust out laughing.
I pushed my chair back and said, “We have after-dinner cocktails in the living room.” We’d done these evenings so many times that we had the timing down to a science. I’d have cocktails with them while Riju and Anya were doing the dishes, and then everyone would be ready to leave at the same time. I’d be in bed by ten.
As Charlie walked ahead of me, I got to check out her ass. Maybe I won’t be alone…
As soon as I thought that, my mind chastised me. I know better than to get involved with a passenger. That could get me fired. It was just more evidence that I needed some time off and to have a quick fling to get it out of my system.
17
Charlie: If the Ship’s a Rockin’
The after-dinner drinks were just about finished and it felt like the evening was winding down. Sam kept looking at her phone.
“The text service on this ship sucks,” she whispered. “I kind of figured that since we were in the captain’s actual apartment that we’d get good reception, but no. If anything it’s worse.”
I grinned. “Apartment? Really? Some nautical buff you are.”
“Hey. Just because I grew up on a river doesn’t mean I know anything about boats.”
Stewart and Mary were talking with that agent Ronaldo about various British models and Zelda was flirting like hell with Dean.
To say I was blown away when the door opened and I saw UCLA Guy standing there wearing a captain’s uniform is an understatement. I would have been less surprised if it were Gavin McLeod, the 88-year-old captain of the Love Boat television show.
But, there he was. In all his sexy glory. Grinning at me and inviting me into his home.
All through dinner, I kept thinking about the fact that his bedroom was just on the other side of the cabin. I wondered what it was like… what was his taste in furnishings? What would he taste like…
I kept having to shake my head back to reality. I already ruled out a shipboard fling when I thought he was UCLA Guy. This was a work trip. But now that I knew he was the captain of the ship? Forget about it. It’s a work trip for him too. And as I see it, the best way to ruin my cruise line speaking career is to sleep with the boss.
“Who are you trying to text?” I whispered to Sam as she kept checking the phone.
“That guy Josh.”
“Oh wow. You’re still talking to him?” I wondered if things were heating up between them. We never established what to do if she wanted to bring someone up to the suite.
“Yeah. He invited me to his cabin for a drink after this dinner.” She smiled and winked at me.
“Better stop off at our place for that protection you brought…”
She patted her purse. “Already brought it, my friend. This isn’t my first cruise around the island.”
“Oh, it isn’t? When were you here last?” Mary asked as she sat down next to us.
We just grinned.
There was a knock on the door and the security guy who brought me up here was back to collect the guests.
As I stood to tell Captain Luca thank you for the evening, he pulled me aside.
“I was wondering if, maybe, we might talk about your book a little before you head out. If you don’t have other plans, that is?”
He smiled at me, and those dimples melted me. How could he be so damn handsome? How is it biologically possible to be that beautiful?
I looked over at Sam who was grinning at her phone. She must have gotten cell service.
“No, my friend is meeting someone for a drink, so I’m free.” That sounded lame, Charlie. You sound like an antisocial loser.
He reached out and grabbed my hand with both hands and said, “Great. Let me just say goodbye to the other guests.”
As he walked away, my hands were literally buzzing with electric energy. If this is what he could do to me with a handshake, can you imagine what he’d be like in bed?
Stop that, Charlie. He wants to talk to you about what’s between your book covers, not get you between his sheets.
“Would you like something to drink? More wine, perhaps?” Dean shut his front door and the two chefs who’d made dinner as well as all the other guests were gone. Sam pretended to kiss me on the cheek and slipped a condom in my hand and said, “If the ship’s a-rockin' I won’t come a-knockin.’”
“Stop!” I’d whispered back, playfully.
“Just sayin’...” She winked at me as she left to go find Josh’s cabin.
“Wine sounds great, thank you,” I said. Great? That�
�s the best you could come up with, Charlie? What are you, fifteen?
Truthfully, I was a bit nervous. I’d never been alone with a man like this, and especially not one as attractive as he was.
He crossed over to the bar in his living room and opened a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of red. “This is my personal collection, and it’s a bit nicer than what we serve the guests. Do you like Chianti?”
I didn’t think I’d ever had chianti before, but I didn’t want him to know that so I nodded and said the most “wine-y” thing I could think of. “I find it really pleasing on the palate.”
Pleasing on the palate? Shut up, Charlie. He’s going to know you’re an idiot.
The cork barely made a sound as it came out of the bottle. I didn’t know much about wine but I did see a thing on the Food Network that said that you weren’t supposed to hear a cork “pop.” Looking at his strong hands, I found myself getting turned on, watching him remove the cork from the corkscrew. I must have it bad for this guy if I found the simplest things erotic.
He poured us two glasses and then swirled the red liquid around in the glass and held it to the light.
“The thing about a Chanti is that it’s not named for the grapes it’s made with but from the region of Italy it comes from. This is called a Chianti Classico because it comes from the finest vineyards in the region. My brother-in-law owns the winery.”
My logical brain should have picked up on the word “brother-in-law” and wondered about that. But my logical brain seemed to have left with the rest of the group. What remained was, in essence, a schoolgirl crush on a handsome man in a white uniform.
Handing me my glass he touched his to mine and said, “What shall we toast to?”
“To, uh... um…”
“I know.” Those full lips pulled back into a dimpled grin. “To making waves.”
Oh my.
I took a sip and my tongue puckered at the dry wine. I liked it, though. It tasted kind of like cherries and dark chocolate.
“Would you mind if I changed out of this uniform? I hate wearing it, but, well. You know.”
“No, not at all.”
“Grazie.” He walked down a short hallway and made a right into what I assumed was his bedroom.
His bedroom. Where he was going to be taking off his clothes. All I would need to do would be to walk right over there and let him know what I wanted. He’s a guy, he’d do it. An Italian guy at that.
No, Charlie. Stay here. Remember what you said before. No sexy time with the captain.
I walked around his living room and looked at his things. Inside of a lit, glass cabinet were some photographs. Him with various celebrities and politicians and athletes. There was even one of Paul McCartney standing right here in this very room. That was cool.
There were a few awards and certificates. Ship mementos and things that looked like they’d been given as gifts. It looked like he’d lived an interesting life.
“Thank you so much. I feel a thousand times better.”
I turned around and my jaw dropped. If he was hot before, he was sizzling now. He was wearing slim cut, faded blue jeans and a grey t-shirt that hugged his very fit-looking abdomen. For a guy who comes from the country of carbs, he didn’t appear to have an ounce of flab on him.
“Oh, no problem.” I took a deep sip of my wine to catch my breath. He crossed toward me and I noticed his feet were bare.
“I have a confession to make.” He set his wine glass down on a nearby table and ran a hand through his dark curls.
“Oh? A confession? Sounds intriguing?” I managed to catch my breath and smile.
“Yes. The reason I wanted you to stay after the others was…”
My heart leaped into my throat.
“... because I didn’t read your book.”
Whoa. I didn’t see that coming. Of course, that’s why he wanted me there. Here I was acting like some foolish girl with a crush when he just wanted to talk about the book.
I looked away quickly so he wouldn’t see my face. “Oh, no worries. A lot of people don’t find my genre interesting. It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not that. There was just some… business I had to attend to. On shore. And I ran out of time before the dinner.”
He walked around facing me and was holding my book. “I was hoping you’d sign it for me, anyway.”
He was standing so close to me. I could smell cologne and Indian food and wine emanating from him. I took the pen from his hand and when we touched I felt that same buzzing sensation.
Setting my wine glass down, I took the book and opened it to the first page.
Dear Captain Luca.
Keep making waves wherever you go.
Charlie Miller
I handed it back to him and he threw his head back in laughter. “Touche.”
He set the book aside and then stepped closer to me. The pen was still in my hand, and when he took it from me, he pulled me in close.
I was looking up at him, his face just inches from mine. Those eyes were like pools of milk chocolate. He was still holding my hand and there was a throbbing sensation between my legs.
“I asked you to stay for another reason, Charlie Miller. Do you know what it is?”
I bit my lip because I didn’t know what to say. I thought I did know.
I opened my mouth to speak, and he leaned in and caught my lips in a kiss. His lips were so soft.
My head was arched back, and I started to feel lightheaded. I’d been kissed before, of course, but it was nothing like this. Nothing like this at all.
He pulled back and looked me in the eyes. “I want to make love to you, Charlie Miller. Will you stay with me tonight?”
A million things ran through my mind. I should tell him no. I should tell him that I’m a virgin. I should tell him yes and act like I’ve done this a dozen times.
But instead, I simply stood up on my tiptoes and took his face in my hands and kissed him. “Yes. I will stay with you tonight.”
What am I doing? I was looking at my reflection in the bathroom just inside his bedroom. This isn’t me. I don’t just hook up with random ship captains.
But the thing is, I wanted to do it. On my YouTube channel, I constantly told people that they have one life and they should live it with intent. Choose your life experiences, I tell them. And right now, in the other room, is a man waiting to make love to me. This is what I have been waiting for my whole life.
I choose this.
So I opened the bathroom door and before I could change my mind, I was taken aback. He was already naked. He was naked, and he was beautiful.
His skin was dark olive, and he was covered with fine black hair. He had a tattoo that looked like a stallion on his left pec. But mostly, I was drawn to his… manhood. It was as dark as the rest of his skin and stood at attention as if it knew what was coming. So to speak…
I felt a little shy being completely clothed while he was naked, but I also felt weird about just taking my clothes off like we were going to watch Netflix or something.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to wait for long. Dean came across the room and started speaking softly to me in Italian. I didn’t understand a word of it, but I didn’t need to.
He kissed me again, but this time it wasn’t tentative at all. That same electric buzz I felt from his touch sparked a passion between us and he quickly pulled my top off and then unclasped my bra with one hand while still kissing me.
Somehow his hands felt both rough and soft at the same time. Dipping his head down, he eagerly took my breast into his mouth. The sensation was warm and wet and I’d never felt anything like it in my life. Oh god, I hoped I didn’t climax too soon!
He managed to get my pants unbuttoned and off but left my panties on. They were soaked.
He moved us toward the bed, lowering me down gently and I was on my back
Dean leaned back and sighed while gazing down at me. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered before covering my mouth with his
again.
Something came over me. Something visceral and instinctive. I may never have done this before, but somehow I knew what to do. I reached for him, grabbing handfuls of his curls. He caught my wrists, and pinned them over my head, gently. Then, he made a trail of kisses from my mouth to my breasts.
When his mouth closed around one of my nipples, I moaned and arched off the bed. Dean was the first man to touch me like this, and his hands and mouth awakened that desire in a way no other man had. I writhed and twisted under his attentions and when his hand finally found its way between my thighs, I cried out.
“Oh yes, please,” I begged as his fingertips slipped over my tight bud.
Instead of climbing on top of me, he dropped to his knees began kissing me between my legs, his tongue licking my clit and I opened for him further and further with each broad lick and soon I was spiraling toward an intense orgasm.
Before I could come, he pulled back up and kissed me. I could taste my salty wetness on his face and was definitely ready to have him inside of me.
“Please, I need you inside of me,” and he finally slid inside. I thought it would hurt, but I felt nothing but fullness and pleasure.
“Oh, god, Charlie” he murmured against my shoulder as he pressed into me slowly, gently, and carefully.
He moved with slow, shallow thrusts until I began to meet each thrust, pulling him deeper.
“I’m coming..” I moaned, but the words had barely left my mouth before it rolled through me. Everything else faded away but the white-hot pleasure between my legs. Before my own climax faded, Dean threw his head back and yelled out, his own orgasm matching mine.
Dean fell down on top of me, panting and sweating, and supporting himself on his arms so he didn’t crush me. I felt our juices running out of me, as he stayed inside. My knees were up and he still filled me. If this was what making love was all about, I understood the fuss. This was incredible.
He kissed me and looked me in the eyes and said, “Charlie Miller, you are the kind of woman that could make a man give up everything.”
The Alpha's Second Chance Page 33