I lift my pinky in a ridiculous gesture—but I’d do it a thousand times more, because it paints a smile on Nina’s face brighter than the sky above us. She raises her hand and hooks her pinky around mine.
“I swear.”
CHAPTER 17
NINA MARCHESI
“I’m not doing that!” I refuse vehemently, shaking my head from side to side to reinforce it.
“It’s fun,” Nero insists.
“Uh-uh. No chance!” Wearing nothing but a white bikini, I look from the quartet of jet skis tied alongside the sailboat to the man floating high above the sea with nothing on his feet but boots, blasting powerful jets of water to keep himself airborne.
“Where’s your adventurous spirit?”
“Safely stored somewhere inside me where the limit is half-hour hikes!” He bursts out laughing at my answer.
“Why on earth would a human being invent something like that? This is clearly dangerous!”
“I didn’t know you were a coward,Little Fae.”
“You can stop right there, because that’s not going to work! If staying alive is a certificate of cowardice, I’ll sign it gladly. And I’d honestly feel better if you didn’t try that today either. If you die, how am I supposed to get home?”
The laughter that leaves his throat now is even louder than before, and Nero wraps his arms around me from behind.
The touch is distracting—and I might even suspect it was calculated if, ever since he showed up at my door a few hours ago, Nero hadn’t been taking every possible opportunity to touch me, to brush his lips against mine.
Of course, that could’ve been the plan from the start—but if enjoying that plan means I need to sign a second certificate this morning, please bring me another pen.
“It’s called Flyboarding.”
“It’s called a suicidal instinct.”
“And the jet skis—do you want to try those?”
“If you teach me?” I ask, tilting my head back to look at him. He lowers his face and kisses the tip of my nose.
“Of course.”
“Then fine. That I’ve always wanted to try. It looks safe.”
Nero steps away to talk to the men handling the watercraft, and within minutes they organize themselves and leave on just two of them—leaving the other two tied to the side of the sailboat for us.
He grabs a life jacket and hands it to me. I put it on carefully, adjusting the straps to my body while he does the same—never taking his mischievous gaze off me. I can’t even judge him for it, because the moment I’m free to look, I let my eyes roam with undisguised interest over every tattoo covering Nero’s chest, arms, and forearms.
“Ready?” he asks, extending his hand to help me climb down onto the jet ski.
Hesitant but willing to face the challenge, I take his hand and step carefully. But the moment the jet ski wobbles and I slip just a little, panic flashes across my face.
“Maybe it’s better if I just ride along this time,” I suggest, balancing with my arms like I’m standing on a circus ball.
With an entirely unsympathetic laugh, Nero stands up on his jet ski and—like it’s the easiest thing in the world—jumps onto mine, settling behind me.
He grips the handlebars and starts the engine, giving me a few basic instructions. The vibration of the ignition alone sends adrenaline surging through my body before we’ve even moved.
“Just relax and enjoy it. On the way back, you’ll drive,Little Fae.”
I smile as I feel the soft smack of a kiss on my neck—and then Nero accelerates, launching us across the water and picking up speed within seconds.
