But I refused to get lost in the moment any more than I already was.
“To the marina. I have a small boat and we can have lunch.”
“A small boat.” I laughed. “You mean you own a yacht.”
“Actually, the company owns two, but this is my personal boat. She’s my baby.”
“She?”
The deep baritone in his laugh created a pulse between my legs. “Boats are fickle and need constant tender loving care. Just like a woman.”
“You’ve been with the wrong women, Christian.”
He took the exit leading to the marina. I knew the location and I knew what types of boats were housed in the water. I’d participated in several marketing campaigns in the last few months. All glitz and glamor. I’d never thought I could become tired of seeing the way rich people lived, but I was wrong.
“Mmm… Maybe so.”
With a sly smile on his face, he pulled into the parking lot.
“Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?”
“If that’s what you’d like.”
“Not caviar and lobster?” Teasing him was incredibly fun, especially the way he reacted. Not quite offended, but enough that it fueled something inside of me.
He shrugged. “Not my favorite, but I might be able to wing it.”
“Wait. You don’t have a chef?”
Now he laughed, easier going than he was before. “Not on this boat. Yes, I have a captain and a few crew members, but the cooking is handled by yours truly.”
“This I need to see.”
“You don’t think I can cook?” His voice was devilishly deep, husky to the point another wave of prickles formed on my arms.
“I… I think you can do anything you set your mind to. It’s whether or not you make the choice to do so. Most entitled people hire others to do the dirty work.”
“You make me sound like the leader of a mob.”
As I unfastened my seatbelt, I threw him a coy look. “There are rumors.”
He shook his head as he flung open his door, jerking off the seatbelt as if I’d irritated him. “Why is it that men, or women for that matter, of power are considered ruthless, cruel, heartless, and their activities criminal in nature?”
Shrugging, I opened the door. “Because from what I’ve seen, it’s usually true.”
I heard him grumbling when I stood outside. The early afternoon was beautiful, glimmers of sun streaming across the ocean water. Every yacht was magnificent. Music lingered in the air, salsa to jazz, classical to rock. There was an eclectic spirit in the air fortified by a restaurant and bar parallel to the water.
It was impossible not to stand in awe at least for a few moments. Suddenly, he was there, his massive frame creating a feeling of utter suffocation. His scent was as musky and masculine as before, all woodsy with hints of citrus. But it was the spices that turned me on. Cardamom and cinnamon. The combination was irresistible.
“You don’t get seasick. Do you?” he asked, almost as if it was the polite thing to do.
“Not usually.”
“Good because we’re going to take a cruise.”
Before I could object, he walked down the dock. I studied him for a few seconds before following. He was definitely in his element, taking control of the afternoon as he did with every aspect of business. On the surface, I loathed his dominating personality,but the constant twinge of heat and intense throbbing created conflict.
Huffing, I carefully trailed behind, mindful I was wearing heels and there were spaces between the decking boards. Yet not mindful enough. When my heel slipped into a crack, I was pitched sideways toward the water. The rope railing wasn’t going to keep me from plunging into the ocean.
