He’d pulled me closer to his chest and wrapped his arms around me.“Consider it my present to celebrate your contract. You’re going to nail it.”
I’d never felt so spoiled and loved as I had on the boat with him, and I couldn’t wait to see him again, whenever that might be.
“Excuse me, may I offer you a refreshment or a light snack?” the flight attendant asked, smiling at me sweetly.
I smiled back. “I’ll have a quick look at the menu.”
“I know that look!” She gave a friendly chuckle. “Dreaming about someone special, huh? Well, enjoy it. Time passes by too quickly, believe me. If you found someone special, embrace that gift with both hands.”
A blush crept up my neck and onto my cheeks. “Thanks. I will.”
“Now, what can I get for you, hon?” she said warmly.
“An oat milk latte would be great, thanks.” As she poured my coffee, I found myself hoping she had someone special too.
I spent the rest of the flight dreaming about my time with Karson…
I hadn’t been seasick, which had surprised him. Apparently, a lot of people found sailing a miserable experience until they got their sea legs.
I must be my grandpa’s Norwegian sea-captain genes,I thought with a smile.
We didn’t see much of Dyson during the voyage. He slept a lot during the day and took the helm each night, until Karson stepped up to take over each morning at sunrise.
Karson and I had the nights to ourselves below deck… heat flooded through me as I remembered the feeling of his powerful body against mine.
Each morning when the sun came up, I’d stand beside Karson at the helm as we powered through the deep, turquoise ocean toward Sydney. And sometimes we’d lie on the deck, talking about everything and anything.
Other times, we listened to music together or just held hands in peaceful silence as the magic of the sea worked its charm.
It was just Karson and me and the wide blue ocean.
Except when the three of us sat down for dinner together—where I got to know Dyson better. They were such good friends, always messing with each other.
They were brothers in every way that mattered.
We’d laughed so much when they shared stories about their adventures growing up together. And I’d told them all about Jai, our childhood, and how, just like me, he loved to surf.
I closed my eyes and heard his voice. The sound of it had melted me. The feel of his skin on mine had undone me.
***
“So,” Karson said, grabbing another cookie, shoving it into his mouth, and crunching noisily as he gazed at me, “do you still surf much? Have you won any competitions? I bet you’re good”
Chuckling, I reached out and brushed a crumb away. “Not for a while now… but yeah, I guess I’m all right.” Leaning closer, I took a bite of his cookie. “I might’ve won a comp or two.”
“I knew it! You goddamn Aussies. You’re probably some pro surfer, fighting off great whites as you go.”
“Well, growing up by the beach, learning to surf was a rite of passage for sure. And, yeah, we saw a few sharks, heaps of dolphins, turtles, and whales too, at the right time of the year.” I smiled at the memory. “When Jai and me were little, we used to pretend we were mermaids. We both felt so at home in the sea, right from the start.”
He traced a finger lazily down my arm. “Mermaids, hey.” His attention drifted to my lips, desire burning in his expression.
A flush crept over my cheeks, and I pulled my knees up under my chin. I just wanted to lie wrapped in his arms all day. I’d never had that before.
“So.” I cleared my throat. “Have you ever surfed? Surely, you’ve been on some kind of billionaire beach holiday in Hawaii?” I poked him in the chest.
Smirking, he shook the hair out of his eyes. “Yeah, but I didn’t surf there. It was a dive holiday.” We laughed. “But Dyson and me did a group surfing class a few years ago. I kept getting dumped and mostly ended up with a mouthful of sand.” He winced. “But I think with the right instructor…”
“I might know somebody who can help you out,” I teased, squeezing his hand.
