Chapter Forty-Six
Yay, the weekend is here!
Kai is back!
And the man has plans!
‘Where did you say we were going again?’
Dubai passes by the car window a little faster than I’d like, so I turn my attention to Kai instead. A suggestion of stubble shadows his face, his expensive cologne drifting across the interior of the car.
‘You know full well I didn’t,’ he replies, tightening his grip on my hand. ‘All you need to know is this weekend you’re all mine.’
‘Because that doesn’t sound sinister at all.’
‘Ye of little faith,’ he chides, sliding his arm between the seat and my shoulders, pulling me to him as he kisses my head.
‘More like ye of little clothes.’ I struggle to pull my dress higher over my cleavage, succeeding in only causing a little boob-jiggle as Rashid drives the Merc over a speed bump with a little more aggression than I would myself. It doesn’t help that I’ve pinned my hair up in a haphazard kind of bun, so I’ve no curtain to hide behind, just a few loose tendrils, artfully curled here and there. I do love this dress, though. A fabulous last minute buy; dark green lace over a nude coloured sheath. Kai had commented that, from a distance, I’d looked almost naked, my modesty protected only by the deeply green entwining vines. He likes the corseted bodice, naturally. Probably because it looks like I’ve been poured into it. Sitting down, it looks more like certain parts of my anatomy are pouringout.
‘You may not want to do that in public.’ Despite his teasing tone, his eyes darken as he peers down. Blinking once, his expression clears. ‘I may get you to do it lots later, if you don’t mind.’
‘Last time I wore something like this, it was to a hen party; a bachelorette?’ I say, my stomach starting to warm in a very pleasant way. His only reply is a raised brow. ‘Okay, maybe not quite the same.’ I smooth my hand against my very—assisted—flat stomach. ‘More just a couple of strategically placed fig leaves glued to nude nylon. It’s what you get when you leave one of the other hens to order your outfit. I was supposed to be Poison Ivy. Isowanted to be Wonder Woman. I’d have twirled the shit out of that cape all night.’
‘You look beautiful,’ Kai adds, chuckling. ‘Just try not to... bounce quite so much.’
I open my mouth to point out it wasn’t on purpose when the car pulls to a stop, Rashid sliding out to open the door. We’re at the marina.
‘Are we going to dinner at one of the hotels?’ There are plenty of them around here but why are we parked nearer to the boats than the buildings, and why are some of them almost cruise-liner size?
‘No.’ Stepping from the car, Kai turns and holds his hand to help me out. ‘We’re going on this.’ Behind him stands—floats?—one of the larger vessels. Gleaming white and rising out of the water on three levels, it has the monikerLaylaswirled on its rear end.Bow? Stern?Clearly, I should stick to teaching. I’d never make it as a pirate.
‘Have you hired this?’ Somehow I know before the words are out, that’s not the case. ‘What, it’syours?’
‘Is that such a surprise?’
‘That you own the QE2?’Erm, yeah. Honestly, he’s like some grown-up version of Richie Rich or something. Without the blonde hair.
‘I thought we might go for a little trip, now that you’ve got your sea legs. Rashid told me about yourabratrip. Come on, let me show you around.’
I’m wondering what kind of licence you need to drive one of these things—when you drive a big-rig, you need a special license. Is it the same with a boat?—when, thankfully, the captain greets us on the lower of the large, teak decks. A highly polished table, easily large enough for twelve, sits in the centre surrounded by striped seating; areas to lounge around drinking cocktails and sun-baking, I suppose. As Kai chats with the captain, a waiter dressed in shorts and polo-shirt offers me a drink from a tray. Swallowing a mouthful of crisp bubbly, I wander around the deck trying to take in the luxury of my surroundings. It’s not like I’ve never been on a boat before. Geoff, my stepdad, has a tinny, a little tin boat he uses for weekend fishing. And one of Shane’s mates had something a bit more flash, and I’d been out on it a couple of times. But this vessel is something else—a super yacht, sleek and luxurious. And another very expensive marker of our differences in background.
‘This way.’
His hand curls around my hip, drawing me inside, the teak flooring leading seamlessly to a large lounge, with stylish sofas dotted around its periphery. A dining table, large enough for a banquet, sits at the far end of the room, a bar standing in a far corner, another polo-shirted member of staff standing behind and setting out an anticipated drink for Kai.
Glass in hand, Kai’s neck works as he swallows, his raised brow making a return. ‘Bedrooms.’ It sounds like an invitation. With a vague wave of his glass holding hand, he points out a corridor to the left.
‘It took me ages to get into this damn dress, you’re not getting me out of it without a fight,’ I counter playfully, smoothing the dress against my ribs, though I know that’s not quite what he means. Eying the banquet table, I hope whatever we’re doing tonight doesn’t include a large dinner. Could be painful in this dress.
‘That sounds like a challenge,’ he purrs, glass poised at his mouth to take another sip.
‘Yeah? Well, it’s not,’ I answer, pulling away. At the window, I swallow more champagne and realise we’re moving, smoothly, but moving definitely. ‘We’re...casting off?’ I’ve changed my mind, I could well have missed my calling as a pirate. ‘Where again?’
‘I told you, it’s a surprise.’
Suddenly behind me, his words are spoken as softly as the finger he strokes across the exposed slope of my neck, skin bared from the weight of my hair.
I shiver, wrapping an arm around my waist.
