“No.” I shook my head and tried to step away, but he held me firm.
“I have been negotiating for someone else who wanted to spend time with you.” Sweat popped out on his brow.
I heard the words, but they didn’t compute.
“Lucinda.” Marcus looked around. “Do you know who Zachariah Webber is?
The sound of his name made my stomach cramp.
“How… uhm, how do you know Zach?” I swallowed hard and blinked up at him. We couldn’t be talking about the same person; it had to be someone else. Another Zachariah Webber. It had to be.
“I do business with him from time to time. Also we got to know each other in the community in New York.” He stepped back a little, but it still felt hard to breathe.
“What is this?” I managed to get out. “Why is he here?”
“Well, he actually owns the boat.”
My vision blurred.
“Lucinda.” Marcus rubbed my arms up and down. “Are you okay?”
I thought I said no, but no word came out of my mouth.
“Oh shit, Lucinda.” He gripped my shoulders and guided me sit. The surface was hard and irritated my already sore ass. “Have a seat.”
Suddenly the door opened. A young steward stepped in carrying and assortment of deflated water toys.
“Hey, you aren’t supposed to be in here.” His smirk failed when he looked at me. “Is everything okay?”
“We’re fine.” Marcus held a hand against my forehead. “She’s just feeling a bit seasick.”
The steward’s eyes narrowed.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I held my stomach.
“Okay, yeah, deep breaths and step out onto deck and look out to the horizon. It helps.” He set the toys down and stepped back. “I can go grab someone from medical if you want.”
“No!” I yelled but got myself back under control. “I think I just need a nap.”
“Okay. Drink lots of fluids, too.”
“I will, thank you.”
The steward saluted and walked away.
Marcus waited to make sure we were alone.
“I don’t know how he got you on here or when he came up with the idea to scene with you, but I had to tell you before it went any further.” He rubbed my hand. “When he told me to negotiate your first scene, I thought maybe it was your kink and because no one tells Zachariah Webber no. But, it was supposed to be one scene, but if he did something last night you didn’t agree on…” His body shook. “I couldn’t not say anything.”
I pulled my hand away.
“Went any further?” I blinked. “He didn’t bring me here.”
“Are you sure?” He sat down next to me. “Zach’s reach is wide. I figured you were a former girlfriend. He talks about you like you’re the one that got away.”
“That’s ridiculous.” I stood up. “He’s the one who didn’t want anything to do with me.” I stepped out into the sun but turned back. “He’s the one who left me.”
To his credit, Marcus appeared as confused about the whole thing as I did.
