Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Chapter Fourteen
Isabel
I can’t tell which burns hotter, the blazing Spanish sun or Cristiano’s gaze as I lie on my front, propped on my elbows, flipping through an Ibiza guidebook I brought along in my swim bag. My feet kick slowly back and forth; I’m the picture of innocence. Wink. I don’t even have to check to confirm his attention is on me, the same as it has been for the last hour.
I almost feel bad for the cut of this bikini. Almost.
I hear Cristiano shift in his chair, but my face is turned toward Simone. She watches as he stands and comes over to me, his hand touching the small of my back, covering my spine. My toes curl before I can stop them.
“I’m going in to talk to the captain for a bit. Do either of you want anything when I come back out?”
“Champagne, please,” Simone says. “Since you two stole mine.”
I continue flipping through my book without looking up, playing it cool. “More water, please.”
I’ve decided to avoid alcohol at all costs. Clearly I’m feeling bold enough with just the few sips of champagne. Any more and I’ll be whipping my bikini top around over my head.
“Got it.”
The moment Cristiano turns away, Simone and I automatically assume our positions: heads bent together, faces tipped down, sunglasses sitting low on the bridges of our noses so we get an unobstructed view of Cristiano walking away.
“That body.” I sigh.
“That butt.” Simone fake moans.
We both crack up.
“He’s not going to chat with the captain, by the way,” she continues. “He’s going in to have a wank.”
“A wa—Simone.”
I lose it, laughing even harder and drawing the attention of an annoyed Daniella. She’s been sunbathing and napping on a lounge chair on the other side of the deck ever since Juan Carlos finished taking her photos.
I lower my voice. “He’s not going to do that.”
“Pfft. Oh yes he is. A good ol’ rubdown, and I can’t even blame the poor bloke! You’re vicious teasing him like that.”
“I’m just tanning. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I defend sweetly.
“Oh please, you brat. All that rolling around and adjusting your top business. You had him sweating. Good thing the others went off to play in the water or I’d toss a towel over you.”
“You have nothing to worry about with Felix. He’s not interested in me.” I’m confident about that. “He’s flirted with you the entire day, and when everyone went to go swim, he offered to stay back and hang with you until you insisted he should go try out the Jet Skis.”
I watch her toss this idea around, contemplating it.
“Then by that standard, Cristiano is interested in you as well, because he’s not swimming, either.” She pushes her sunglasses onto her head and rolls toward me. “Honestly, I can’t tell if Felix is holding back out of respect for Annika or if he’s just really not that interested. We’ve flirted and flirted and flirted but he hasn’t snogged me since the start of summer. We’re still just dancing around each other—”
“Speak of the devil!” I lower my voice and motion to her. “Quick! Arch your back. Sit up a little. Perfect. Don’t. Move.”
I carefully spy on Felix over the top of my guidebook as he makes his way toward us while toweling off his blond hair. I scan the area behind him, looking for the others, but he’s all alone. I guess Ethan and Juan Carlos are still out playing with the water toys with Annika. That means Felix came back for Simone all on his own, and judging by the way he’s eyeing her now, I’d say he’s been desperate to do it for a while.
Simone doesn’t look up from her magazine as he approaches, intentionally acting as if she hasn’t noticed his arrival. Felix catches my eye and holds his finger up to his lips, prompting my silence and cooperation as he sneaks up on her and shakes off like a wet dog.
“Fe-lix! You arse!”
She tries to shove him away but he lowers himself down on top of her, pressing his body against hers. “Am I getting you wet?”
“You git, you soaked my magazine.”
“I’ll buy you a new one,” he says, leaning down to press a kiss to the side of her neck.
My jaw drops and I immediately sit up and grab my guidebook so I can scurry away. Cristiano still isn’t back, and I’m not going to linger here like a third wheel if Felix is finally ready to make his move on Simone.
“Be back. Need the bathroom!”
I don’t know why I bother with an excuse. Simone and Felix have completely forgotten I exist as they whisper quietly to each other.
Oh my god. GO, SIMONE!
I hurry off, clutching my guidebook to my chest, only slowing once I realize I don’t have a clear destination in mind. I don’t want to go inside the yacht without my cover-up on. It’d feel strange to traipse around in front of Cristiano’s crew in nothing but my bikini. Out here, at least, it’s expected.