Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 108846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108846 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
A desperate, traitorous ache stirs deep within my belly. Yes, I’m angry with Ronan for going radio silent, I’ll admit, but my body doesn’t seem to care.
“I didn’t tell Connor about us.” Ronan answers my unspoken question from earlier, yanking my eyes upward to find him watching me.
“You mean, you don’t share everything with him?” They seem awfully close.
A sly smile curves his lips before he schools his expression. “It would appear not. Anyway, I didn’t tell him, but he’s figured it out and he’s gonna be exceptionally annoying for the rest of the day. I’m sorry in advance.”
“Can’t wait.”
“Feel free to tell him to fuck off. I’ll write a good review if you do.”
“You weren’t going to, anyway?” I quip.
“For you? I’ve already written it in my head. I doubt you want me sharing it online.”
“And why is that?” We’re quickly sliding back into that dangerous flirtatious zone again, the one that led to me peeling off my clothes like they were infested with bugs.
He was ready to join his friends a second ago, and yet he edges around the platform to step through the swing gate, into my space. “Might get flagged for indecency.” He reaches up to turn his baseball cap around.
My pulse races through my veins. I didn’t think he could get any sexier, but he has a thin layer of stubble across his jaw, and that, coupled with the hat, is ejecting all common sense from my brain. Again. “What would it say?” I taunt, backing up into the nautical ship wheel to make room.
“That it was a quick ride but a wet one that I thoroughly enjoyed. I wish I’d lived up to expectations, though.” His voice turns so low and gravelly.
I clear my throat. “You were fine.” More than fine. He may not have made me come that day, but he has every night since, as I’ve replayed those stolen moments in my head with the help of my hand.
The responding chuckle is dark, bitter. “I’m never just fine. But with you, I wasn’t …” A muscle in his square jaw ticks. “I don’t know what I was. Not myself.” He grasps the hem of my floral shirt between his thumb and index finger, holding it open. “I like this.”
“Yeah?” I’m suddenly very thankful that I wore it today.
Sharp green eyes flash to mine. “I’d like it better off.”
He may as well have peeled off my clothes with his words because I suddenly feel naked, my skin acutely aware of his. I struggle to play it cool as my breasts grow heavy, my nipples tightening with anticipation. “Not included in the cruise rate.”
“We can renegotiate later.” His focus swings to Tiki Two, anchored twenty feet away. “Is that your golden boy over there?”
I follow his gaze, relieved for the reprieve from innuendo so I can catch a breath. “The one and only.” Jeremy is chatting up a cute girl with French braids in her lengthy strawberry-blond hair. Thankfully he’s not paying attention to us.
“Has he admitted to taking the job at Wolf yet?”
“Not a word to me.”
“Chickenshit.”
“But at least we can both avoid an uncomfortable conversation.” The last thing I’d ever want to do is make Jeremy feel bad. “How’s he doing over there?”
“Still in training.”
French Braids tips her head back and belts out a laugh that seems far too big for her petite body. “I’m sure he’ll do well.” And, as much as I want to, I can’t begrudge him for succeeding. At least I’ve got him for the summer.
“The real test will be next weekend when we open to the public.”
“Next weekend?” I groan. “Already?” I’ve been so busy juggling things and worrying, I’ve lost track of entire days.
Ronan chuckles. “There’ll be a lot of activity this week ahead of it. Media and stuff. It’s a real circus.” A pause. “Your favorite guy’s coming in tomorrow.”
There’s only one person he could be talking about. “I’ll be sure to make a welcome sign for him. I’m kidding,” I quickly add when Ronan’s expression falls. “A deal’s a deal.” Ronan did me a huge favor before he—literally—fucked me.
“It is.” Rough hands slip under my shirt to seize my hips, spinning me around.
My breath catches on a sharp inhale, and no doubt Ronan hears it. “What are you doing?”
“I also made a deal with Henry and Belinda.” He steps in closer to me until his body brushes against my backside. “Actually, no, that’s not accurate. It wasn’t a deal. More like a demand. They told me to stay away from you.”
“Me?” My voice is breathless as hot palms smooth over my skin, rubbing back and forth. I’ve never met either of them, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why Henry Wolf and the hotel manager might insist on that. “Why? Do you have a reputation for not staying away?”