“You want to talk about it?” She’s quiet for a moment, taking her time to think.
“I really hate him.” Her words are full of disdain, and it doesn’t take a genius to understand that she’s talking about Keith. “He’s always been an asshole, but he was on another level today.”
My teeth grind together as I fight to keep a level head. “What did he say to you?” I’m telling myself that I’ll be able to keep my cool, but if he said anything to hurt her, I don’t know what I’ll do.
“Nothing he hasn’t said before,” she admits. “I can deal with him; I just don’t like having to. Besides,” she chuckles, “I can always punch him in the balls again.”
“Were you two… together?” My throat wants to swallow the words, but I have to know.
Hannah scoffs, “Fuck, no. I grew up at the Oliviers’ house, and during the summers, Keith would come and visit his grandparents, so we were often forced to hang out together. When he got old enough, he… became interested in me. So, I punched him in the balls. It seemed to do the trick. Nothing helps his entitled attitude though.” I feel myself start to relax at her admission.
“But he did try something today, didn’t he?” Hannah’s hand finds mine and she links our fingers together. She turns to face me, our linked hands nestled between our chests.
She takes a deep breath, “He always tries something.” In a moment that I’ll never forget, Hannah brings my hand up to her lips, kissing it sweetly. The gesture is so tender that I feel my chest tighten with emotion. “Can we talk about something else, please? “
“We can talk about whatever you want, baby.” Leaning down, I plant a quick kiss on her forehead, taking a moment to breathe in the scent of her hair.
For a while, we talk comfortably in the dark quiet of her room. The more I learn about her, the more my chest fills with an emotion I’ve never felt before, something that’s growing quickly.
“What got you into yachting?” Her voice is barely a whisper, rough and worn out from all our talking.
“Adventure,” I reply without thinking. “I grew up in California, believe it or not, most of my time was spent surfing. When the opportunity arose to work on a boat, I took it and never looked back.”
“Hmm,” she hums. “We’re a lot more alike than I thought.”
“Tell me.” I’ll take any crumb she offers me as long as I get to keep holding her in my arms.
“There’s not much to tell. I went to college and got my degree in business, but it felt… wrong,” she admits. “I wanted more out of life: I wanted adventure.” Her eyes meet mine, a soft smile on her face.
This girl is so much more than I could have ever imagined. We fit perfectly together, and I can see it all so clearly, how our life would be together.
But can it work? I’m thirty-eight years old, finally reaching my goal to own my own boat. She’s a twenty-three-year-old stewardess just starting out in life. We both want adventure, but am I the kind of adventure she wants?
Cupping her face, my lips brush against hers. She lets out a delicious moan and leans into the kiss, deepening it. This kiss acts as a balm to my suddenly raw emotions, and she blocks out all doubt. Her long, dark hair cocoons us as she leans up on her elbows, pressing me further into the mattress. Gently, I pull back, willing those blue eyes of hers to meet mine.
“Hannah?” Her eyes are blazing with heat, but this isn’t why I came here tonight. I wasn’t looking for sex when I snuck out of my room to find her. I simply wanted to be with her. “Not tonight,” I say as gently as I can. “I only want to hold you.”
She sighs and leans down for one more kiss before settling back against me. “Goodnight, Anson. Thank you for being here for me.”
I’ll always want to be here for her. I’ll always want to hold her.
“Goodnight, Hannah.”
Chapter Nine
Hannah
My bed is toasty warm. And crowded.
Anson has his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me against his chest. For a moment, I revel in the calm strength, and security he offers. A heavy sigh leaves my lips, my hips wiggling backward to press against him. His breaths are heavy and even, letting me know he's still sleeping, but his hands reflexively twitch in response.
Thoughts flicker through my head, not all of them innocent. If someone had told me last week that the captain that barked at me during our first meeting would be holding me close to him while he slept, I would’ve rolled my eyes and scoffed. But last week seems so far away. Now I know the man holding me is attentive, caring, and fucking perfect in bed.
I don't have all that much experience when it comes to sex, but I know that the chemistry between us isn't something you walk away from. We have one week left together and then all of this ends, both of us going our separate ways, but I don't want to, and I know it's all in my head. He's older than me and already knows what he wants out of life. Me? I'm a glorified maid whose only dream in life is to travel the world. There's no place for me in his life.
Not that we've talked about it.
The more time we spend together the more I learn about what goes on behind those gorgeous eyes. He's stirring up feelings inside my chest that I've never had before and the thought of leaving him brings tears to my eyes. Feeling like a stupid child, I brush the tears angrily off my cheeks.
