He doesn’t respond, just continues staring at me with that impatient scowl. Before I can think better of it, a wicked thought crosses my mind and I rest my hands onto the railing once more before lifting myself up to sit on it.
“Would you catch me if I fell, Nico? Would you put that grumpy asshole schtick to the side in order to save m?—”
My words are cut off as we hit a rough wake, the whole ship dipping to accommodate for a moment. Before I even start to lose my grip, he’s there, closing the distance between us in a flash before scooping me into his arms and plastering me to his chest.
Instinctively, I wrap my legs around his torso and hold onto him tighter than what is probably needed. My heart is jack hammering inside my chest as I take several deep breaths before slowly pulling back to see him.
He’s already looking at me, a wild look in his eyes as he looks me over from head to toe like he is expecting to find an injury or something.
“Are you okay?” he asks, his low voice rumbling through his chest and practically into mine.
“Yeah,” I rasp.
“I told you that you were being reckless,” he says, though his words hold no heat and his eyes hold no judgment.
I can’t quite name the look on his face. It’s just…intense, and something in me never wants to look away.
“You did,” I agree,
“You could have gotten hurt,” he says, his arms tightening around me almost instinctually as he speaks.
Swallowing roughly, I nod my head in response before chewing on the inside of my lower lip. An action he notices immediately. Nico’s deep brown eyes snap down to my lips, a lustful look filling his features as his own part just slightly.
“You can put me down now, I’m safe,” I say carefully.
Nico stares at my mouth for another moment before he blinks once and slowly lowers me to my feet. I won’t deny that I take my time unwinding my arms from around his neck before I look up at him.
“Thanks.”
He nods but doesn’t speak, his intense gaze holding true. As bad as it would be, I want to push the limits, see how reacts, how I would react. The tension between us is palpable, even when we’re arguing, it’s always there. It’s like the forbidden fruit dangling in front of one another, and with each resistance, a guarantee that the fruit sweetens with each time. I can practically taste it and based on the way he’s wetting his lips, I’d say he is right there with me.
Knowing that if I act on my impulses, we will be fucking bare ass right here on the bow with my parents and the crew to witness, I take a step back and force a laugh.
“Are you painfully aware of all the rope that is within reach around us or is that just me?” I joke, hoping to ease the tension.
As if my words snap him out of whatever kind of trance he was in, his surly frown returns as his eyebrows furrow.
“What?”
“Rope. We’re on a boat, you teased me about being a rope bunny. I teased you about being a rigger. I’m easing the sexual tension with a joke, get it?”
Nico takes a moment to respond before he tersely shakes his head.
“There is no tension.”
Before I can respond, he storms off, and I don’t bother to stop him because honestly, I’m not able to take a full breath until he is finally out of my vicinity. He can lie to himself all he wants, there is tension, and if he doesn’t get the fuck back to Boston, and fast, well. I don’t know what’s going to happen. Whatever it is, though, I can only imagine it’s going to be horrible.
And satisfying.
Definitely satisfying.
Chapter Eleven
Nico
Ibarely spoke to anyone once we docked. I thanked the crew, tipped them all heavily and went straight to the car. Cassi and her parents are a little slower behind me and I really fucking hate that I don’t have my own car here. Maybe I should rent something, even if it’s for a day or two. It’s not like we will be here for much longer. This was a mistake to begin with. We should have gone home as planned.
Cassi wraps her arms around herself as the evening wind picks up, gusting through the parking lot and tossing her red hair over her shoulder. Instinctually, I take a step towards her. Like I can block the wind for her, like I can take away the cold in her bones. Then I take a breath and come to the realization that’s a really stupid fucking thing to even think let alone do.
