by J. A. Huss
I pull her close and wrap my arms all the way around her body so I can hold her tight. “We’ll be all right. We’ll figure it out. OK?”
And even though it took a hit squad and two explosions to get what I’ve always wanted, I’m happy anyway.
Because she looks up at me and says, “I know. I trust you. Just get me out of here.”
Pax waves his hand towards the boat. “Get in, you guys. We’ve got a plane waiting for us back in the US. So we’re gonna go there, get on, dump the boat, and go to San Diego by air.”
“Why San Diego?” Tori asks as I help her into the boat.
Pax looks at me and says, “I got a place and we need to stick together until we sort all this out.”
I stare at him, not quite sure what to make of all this. OK, so he’s admitting he’s behind some of this. But how much? How much is him? And who else is involved?
“You got a problem, Corporate?” Pax asks.
I look over at Five—he’s telling Tori to go down below—then look back at Pax. “Where’s Oliver?”
“He’s waiting in San Diego. We’re meeting up with him.”
“And Nolan? Mac? Are they coming too?”
“No,” Pax says. “Not yet.”
“What do you mean, not yet? Why the fuck not? If this is connected to Nolan’s bullshit, he needs to be in on it.”
“Maybe it is. Maybe it’s not.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Did you tell her?” Pax nods his head in the direction of the boat.
“Tell her about what?”
“Who you really are?”
I study him for a moment. My jaw is clenching. “I told her.”
“You did, huh?” Pax says, laughing a little. “You told her everything?”
“Define everything.”
“Because I know everything, asshole. So did you or didn’t you tell her everything?”
“You don’t know shit. And whatever it is you think you know, you’re wrong. So get the fuck out of my business and back off.”
“So she knows who your real father is?”
I squint my eyes at Mysterious.
He squints back.
“What the fuck are you doing, Pax? Did you set me up? Did you set all this up? Was that whole thing with Wallace a lie?”
“We’ll talk about it in San Diego.”
“No, we’ll talk about it—”
“Not now, Corporate,” he says, cutting me off. “Unless you want me to go down in that boat and tell your girlfriend all the things you’ve been leaving out of your life’s story.”
I am so pissed off right now.
“Get. In. The boat.”
“We’re not done,” I say, bumping his shoulder as I go past.
“Not even close,” he says, following me.
I take a seat next to Tori, who is huddled up on an l-shaped sectional with a sleek teak marine table in front of her. She looks at me when I enter and takes a deep breath.
“You all right?” I ask, taking a seat next to her as she scoots over to make room for me. We suddenly feel like a team now. Us versus them.
“Yeah,” she says, wrapping her hands around my bicep and leaning into me. “Are you? I thought they killed you.”
“I’m fine,” I say, leaning down to kiss her head. I’m not going to worry about what Mysterious thinks he knows about my past. There are a lot of moving parts there. Best to let him spill before I come out swinging with a defense. “I went in the house, closed the safe. But by that time, those guys were already there. I found a backdoor and ran right into Pax, who sorta…” I look over at him as he talks with Five about whatever. “He sorta had a plan. I mean, he was expecting us to be in that safe room. And when we weren’t, he went outside looking, found me by the back door. We had to play it right to the last second so his team would leave him behind.”
“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 w
hole 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.