I turn to Sasha, eyes as wide as saucers.
He shrugs with a smirk, but his face softens as he turns to me. “Would you like to go to the beach, sweetheart?”
Before I can answer, Blanche walks out. “They are all officially out!” She grabs a bottle of wine and pours some into a glass. “Phew! Four-on-one grandma duty is no joke! Now, what are we talking about?”
“We are trying to convince Sasha to take Lucy to the beach for a little getaway,” Margot says.
I wince internally, afraid Blanche is about to tell everyone what Sasha and I havereallybeen up to and why we can’t go away. We’re scheduled to shoot for the next week, and I’m sure she wouldn’t be pleased for us to dip out. However, her reaction couldn’t be any farther from displeasure. With a huge smile, she says, “Oh, that would belovely! The two of you should leave tomorrow! You can use the jet if you want.”
“I have my own jet,” Sasha mumbles. Once again reminding me that I’m way out of my league here. He gently turns my face so that I’m looking in his eyes. “What do you say, Sunshine? Are you up for a quick trip to the beach?”
I nod, but can’t find any words to speak. It takes me a minute to remember I have millions in a bank account too. Not that it compares to his wealth by any means. But enough to where I don’t have to be so easily impressed when the most attractive man I know whisks me away tooneof his residences in hisjet.
After a few drinks, my mood is lightened enough to enjoy myself again. We eventually dry off and sit around an electric firepit, making s’mores and drinking wine. I soak up every story that Blanche tells about the Sinclairs’ childhoods. The stories from Ledger and Jack make me laugh more than I have in my life. Sasha recounts some stories of him and sister Kat, and even though I’m the only one here who hasn’t met her, I still don’t feel left out. It’s the closest to family I’ve felt in years. I don’t even protest when everyone insists we stay for the night.Sasha has packed everything I need anyway.
Sasha holds me steady as I stumble up the stairs to our room, wobbly from all the alcohol. As soon as I get to the bed, I collapse. I’m barely conscious as he takes off my clothes and dresses me in something cozier. The last thing I remember is being pulled into a warm cocoon of Sasha as I drift off to sleep.
Chapter seventeen
After our night at Jack and Margot’s house, we went home, threw some more things in our overnight bags, and headed to the private airport. Blanche told us to take as much time as we wanted, but I don’t think I can handle much more than a long weekend away.
I’m already pushing the boundaries as it is. I don’t take women on trips. This is just one more bad decision where my Sunshine is concerned. This goes against my better judgment, but the moment she mentioned that she missed it, all I could think about was bringing her here. I’m getting too close. She’s a threat to the walls I’ve so carefully crafted all my life. But it seems almost impossible to keep her light from seeping into the cracks of my dark soul.
Each time I regret my decision, all I have to do is look up at her, and it all goes away. Every time I see her smiling at me, I forget every reason that would keep me from making her mineforever.
She’s been mostly quiet the whole way here, which is out of character for Lucy, but I’m hoping once we get settled in, she’llbe back to her bubbly self. It’s still the early afternoon, so we have a few hours to enjoy the waves before heading out for dinner. Then we’ll have two full days to enjoy the beach before we have to fly back home on Monday morning.
With both of our bags on one of my shoulders, we walk to the house hand in hand. She gasps as I open the door, and I can’t help but feel pride as she spins, experiencing the airy interior. “Wow…This view is incredible,” she says, walking through to the open concept kitchen and living area. It is a breathtaking view, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean. But not as breathtaking as my Sunshine.
“I know,” I say with my eyes on her as I walk up behind her, pulling her against me. “You certainly are incredible.”
She shivers and spins in my arms, looking up at me. “Sasha, we need to talk. Whoareyou? How do you have this?”
“Shh,” I say, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles. “We can get into that later. Right now, I want to get you into another skimpy bathing suit and watch you splash around in the water.”
I guide her to our room and drop our bags, grabbing swim shorts out of mine and changing while watching her perform her own little striptease, pouring her curves into a black thong bikini. If I were a better man, I would leave her alone and get the grand reveal when she was finished. But I’m not a good man.God, I have half a mind to throw her on the bed and rip it off of her right now.Instead, I grab a bag already packed with all the beach necessities and guide her to the ocean.
I expected her to lie on the sand and read her book while I admired her perfect body. But she seemed to have a different plan. From the moment she stuck her toe in the water, I haven’t been able to get her out. I thought I would be able to watch her from the beach, but that was quickly put to rest when she grabbed my hand and pulled me into the waves with her. I’ve had such a good time playing with her that I haven’t gotten hardonce, and I’m not sure how to feel about that. What I do know is that after hours of being out in the ocean, I’m starving.
We catch one more wave together, bringing us to the shoreline, before I pick her up and carry her back to our towels. “Let’s go get cleaned up for dinner,” I say, putting her down to pack up our things. “What are you in the mood for? There’s a great Italian place down the road. I know it sounds silly to come to the beach and not eat seafood, but it really is that good. I can get us a table in an hour if you think you can be ready by then.”
“Hmm…could we get it delivered? The patio looks so cozy, and with the salty air and the sound of the crashing waves, I’d rather eat there than inside some stuffy restaurant. Ugh, and we can wear comfy clothes. Please, please, please?”
I smile down at her and take her hand in mine. “That sounds amazing. It’ll be here by the time you get out of the shower.”
“Mmm, that smells so good,” Lucy says, walking onto the patio freshly showered and smelling incredible. She flops onto the couch beside me and pulls her knees under her lap on the cushion, looking at the spread laid out on the coffee table in front of us. “Jesus, what did you order?”
“Um…everything,” I say as I finish unboxing the food. “I was hungry!”
“Clearly.”
I turn to her with a smirk. “Well, it was either this or you, Sunshine. Not that I wouldn’t enjoy it. On second thought,maybe I should put this away and spread your pretty legs instead.”
She holds my stare, but I don't miss the effect my words have. She shivers, biting her bottom lip while her pupils grow dark. When I’ve had my fun, I give her a bit of reprieve. “Ladies first…” I say, motioning to the buffet in front of us.
We both fill our plates and begin to eat in silence, something extremely rare with my girl. After I’ve enjoyed my meal, I look up at Lucy, pushing some pasta around on her plate. “Alright, spill. Why are you being so quiet today?”
“I don’t know,Mr. Taranov,” she says, emphasizing my last name. “Why didn’t you tell me you were some fancy-pants important man with jets and a dozen homes?”
