Aleph is a jet capsule waiting for us on the beach, and two more are lining up nearby. I can’t help but drool over Julian in his black sports rash guard and Bulgari ray bans. God, I want to lick him from head to toe. To compensate for his rugged, handsome look, I wore a black two-piece swimsuit inside my beach wrap.
“Are we sailing?” I ask Julian as he gets up onto the deck.
“Yes, come.” I grab his hand as he helps me board the boat. “Wow.”
It looks like a yacht I’ve seen on TV, but in the shape of a ‘capsule.’ It can accommodate four to five passengers. It has leather seats and a dining area.
“I’m assuming you can drive her?” I ask.
“Yes, I’m taking you somewhere.” He sits in the driver’s seat, and I perch comfortably beside him. He turns on the engine and presses buttons that are not normally found in a car.
I cackle with glee. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
God, this man. How could I not fall for him?
Julian takes control, and we set sail. As we cruise steadily fast, I take advantage of the morning breeze from the ocean. While enjoying the company of the sexiest man I know, I inhale the fresh, salty air and smell the water, accentuating the breathtaking scenery.
“This is incredible!” I shout.
He reaches for my hand and smiles, but his gaze remains fixed on the water. “I’m glad.”
We arrive at our destination in just ten minutes. An island on which a middle-aged man is waiting at the coast.
“Where are we?” I ask.
“Plum Island.” Julian removes his ray bans and approaches the man. “SixSix? As in the number?
“Mr. Sebastian, sir. My wife and I are doing great, thanks to you.”
They shake hands.
“Oh, this is Anya, my girlfriend. Anya, this is Six. He’s the beach caretaker,” Julian says.
“Good day, sir.” I smile politely, and the man’s eyes twinkle.
“Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Anya.” He smiles again.
“All good?” Julian asks Six.
“She’s ready, sir. Upside down.”
“Thank you. Please say hello to Jimmy for me.” Julian holds my hand and carries my duffle bag. “Come. I’m going to have you all to myself today.”
We walk down the sand toward the two-story all-white contemporary house that faces the beach. It’s not as vast as the Sebastian manor house, but it’s still huge. In front of it is an infinity pool.
Julian directs me to a full-glass wall entrance which you will enter the living room. I look up at the high ceiling reverberating with every footstep and noise.
“Stunning! Are we staying here today?”
“Not only today. All night long, and nobody would bother us.” He grins playfully. “No one will hear you scream or if you beg me to make you come.”
I lick my bottom lip. “I like that.”
“Come. Let me show you the bedroom.” He walks up the stairs, leaving me longing for more of his flirting.
I close my eyes briefly and take a deep breath of fresh air.
This is it. This is us. We can do whatever we want, and I have him all for myself in the next twenty hours.
I can have all of this if I decide to live with him.
I follow him upstairs.
I stand by the door, watching him settle into a spacious, bright room with floor-to-ceiling windows. He slides one door, allowing us to breathe in the cool pleasant air. It’s finally spring. Julian looks up at the sky and the seascape when I wrap my arms around his waist and smell him from behind.
“I love you,” I whisper. I was never the first to say it, but it now comes naturally to me.
He caresses my arms and then pulls me in front of him so he can embrace me instead. “I love you more.” He kisses my hair. “Are you hungry? Six and the crew stocked the kitchen. We can cook together.”
“I’m actually starving for you.” I giggle. “Didn’t you say we could do whatever we wanted here?”
“Oh, this is so you. A seductress.” He pecks the back of my neck. “I’d love to bend you over.”
“I’d like to taste you again.”
I can feel his amused grin on my cheeks. “A competition, I see? You’re learning.” He spins me around and cups my face. “But we have a lot to talk about. As you can see, we have issues with our past relationships. Let’s talk while we go for a swim. Sounds fine?”
“I didn’t really want to talk about them, but you’re right. I’m dying to know what Stella wants from you, and I will tell you about Kristoff.”
“Fine. Let’s start with you.”
Julian leads me back downstairs and then outside to the infinity pool. I take off my wraps, drop them to the floor, and step into the water. Julian yanks his rashguard over his head and tosses it away.
It’s only now that I realize I’ve never had a clear view of his strong, well-built body in broad daylight. He’s so trim and so firm. He’s so damn mouthwatering.
He jumps into the pool and swims expertly to the other end. He swims back to me and beckons. “Come here!”
The air is humid, but why am I thirsty? I, too, dive into the water. The soothing effect of the water immediately calms my body.
Julian appears at my side and catches me. I wrap my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist.
“How do you feel?”
“I feel perfect.”
The moment his lips come close to mine, his love pierces my heart. For the first time in my life, I have someone I can finally call mine, and I will keep what’s mine even if it means fighting for it. I’m not going to be scared anymore.
My fingers stroked his hair with a slow, deliberate movement. His tongue probes me a little deeper. Heat and hunger rush through me, triggered by his manly scent... the sensation of his warmth in the water, and the firmness of his body... With each eager pull of my mouth, his hips buck up. I can feel his erection growing against my fold.
“You’re so sweet,” he murmurs between our lips.
I’m about to beg him to make love to me, so I pull myself together. “I thought you said we were going to talk.”
“Then let’s talk like this.” He leads me to the pool’s far corner and pins me. “Better?”
“Mm.” I take a few moments to admire how gentle he is. His ocean-blue eyes are piercing my very soul. Why does he have to be so unbearably kind and gorgeous?
“I still can’t believe you’re mine,” I purr. I’d never tire of saying these words over and over.
“But not entirely mine if Kristoff is still chasing you. What does he want? If he hadn’t been spamming my inbox all day with questions about why I introduced you to Peter, I wouldn’t be asking.”
“Did he now?” I laugh at the thought. “He still thinks Peter is my boyfriend, and you’re probably to blame. What did you tell him? It’s ridiculous.”
He frowns. “I told him the truth. I told him Peter wants your song.”
“He’s smart, so I’m afraid he’ll catch on. We’ll have to tell him soon.”
“You still haven’t answered my question. You had dinner with him the night before. Why?”
“Because we needed to have a proper conversation. He’s accepted that we’re no longer together,” I reassure him. “Besides, he’s confused about how to deal with Candice.” It’s stupid how he kept courting me while obviously still in love with Lora’s sister.
“That doesn’t sound like him. Indecisive.”
“Like I said, he’s just confused. But he’s my friend, too, Julian. Do you mind?”
His expression becomes grave. “I don’t mind. I’m just making sure he’s not pressuring you.”
My palms caress his smooth, flawless chest. “You’re way too protective. I’m fine.”
“Yes, and possibly obsessed. I’ve never felt the way I do for you with anyone else. Every time I take a breath, all I can think about is you, like I’m addicted. Do you realize what you’re doing to me?”
“I see what you’re saying.” I bite my lower lip as I grin at him. “You do the same thing to me.”
“Good. So we agree.” He claims my mouth once more in a deep, lavish kiss.