“I was hurt when you uninvited me from this trip, but now you’re being rude.” He was the only one in my circle I allowed to challenge me, but there were limits.
“If you needed me, why didn’t you just send the helicopter? What are you doing here?” He knew.
“You’re right. I was curious.” He chuckled. “Lucinda is on the boat. How’s it going with her? Must have been quite a reuni…”
His voice trailed off. I stepped behind my desk and lowered myself into the seat, keeping my eyes on him. He knew how I felt about Lucinda and how much regret I had about letting her go.
“How do you know she’s here?”
“I was checking out the sailing manifest, recognized the name.” He leaned forward. “You didn’t invite her?”
“No.”
“This can’t be a coincidence.” He rubbed his chin. His gut was legendary, but it bordered on paranoia.
“I’m afraid it is, my friend.” I gripped the edge of my desk. “Fucking coincidence.”
“Fuck, what happened when she saw you?” He leaned forward, his eyes lit up like a teenager waiting for the hot gossip. “Did she freak out on you? Did she hit you?”
“No, she didn’t freak out or hit me.”
“I remember how broken up she was when you left.” He sat back. “Figured she’d still be hot as a firecracker.” He chuckled. I failed to find the humor in the situation.
“Harold!” He stopped talking. “What are you doing here?”
“The Carson situation needs your attention, ASAP.” Harold taped on his phone and handed it to me. Two of my partners weren’t playing nice together. I had warned both to straighten out their shit. Turns out, they needed additional motivation and my brand of gentle guidance to avoid them taking each other out and fucking with my business.
I stood up and grabbed my cellphone and wallet and shoved it in my pocket, ready to go knock some sense into them if I had to. But I hesitated, not wanting to leave Lucinda on the boat alone without my supervision. With luck, I would return tonight.
I stepped out of my office and Harold fell in step behind me as we took the exit below the helipad. I shuffled up the stairs and climbed into the helicopter.
We were in the air a few minutes later.
The camera feed on my phone was the only access I’d have to my Lucinda today. Hopefully she would behave herself.
Lucinda
The night before had been fun, but I couldn’t shake the feeling I’d ruined it somehow. I’d had the most decadent orgasm and the meal of a lifetime. All my favorites in one sitting. I couldn’t have planned it better, but the scene felt incomplete. I had to find Marcus and see if he felt the same.
I spotted him entering the sun deck as I finished breakfast and waved him over. He looked around but then turned his thousand-watt smile toward me and headed in my direction.
“Good morning, Lucinda.” His words were cut off by the sound of a helicopter leaving the boat from the helipad.
I shielded my eyes and watched it ascend into the sky. It hovered for a few seconds before taking off toward the coastline.
“Who’s that?”
Marcus shrugged. “How are you feeling this morning?”
“I’m good.” I adjusted in my seat; the spanking lingered along with all the other feelings. Marcus grabbed a slice of pineapple from my plate and popped it in his mouth. Those were the same fingers that had been inside me. I shook off the lingering feelings. They were distracting. “I wanted to speak to you about last night.”
“What about last night?” He blinked, then cut his gaze to the table next to us. “Look, Jalen and Evan are over there. We should join them.” He stood up.
“Master Marcus.” I grabbed his hand, remembering how it felt when he held me. “I really want to debrief about last night.”
He looked around and sat down, then pulled his hand from my grasp and set it on his lap.
“Are you okay?” He leaned in. “Did something happen last night you were uncomfortable with?’
