I’ve seen some beautifully stunning women in my time. More than one’s eyes should be blessed with. But Lillian is by far the most amazing creature I’ve seen in my life. I thought she was good looking when I first met her at her practice. When I saw her in the parking lot the night of the auction, I thought she was beautiful, so much more striking than when I had originally met her. But tonight… tonight, she is the epitome of Aphrodite and Athena mixed into one. Beautiful and wise all in one.

When I told her she took my breath away, I wasn’t kidding. I can’t seem to catch my breath as I sit next to her. Our eyes have been locked on one another. Sheer joy fills her eyes. However, I’m sure lust and desire fill mine. Jeffrey’s voice pulls me back to reality. “Mr. Eastwick, we are almost to Lincoln Harbor. Would you like me to ring Alexander and let him know we are imminent to arrive?”

I ask Jeffrey to have Alexander have everything ready and set up on the sky lounge deck. My 111’ Quaranta has an excellent dining area open to all the elements. When we arrive at the harbor, I take Lillian's hand in mine and escort her to the gangway. “Watch your step, Lillian, but don’t worry, I’ll catch you if you fall.” The sound of laughter from her places me that much higher on cloud nine.

I watch her as she steps into the salon of the ship, and I quietly follow behind her, letting her explore as much as she likes. Her eyes travel immediately to the center spiral staircase that extends up to the third deck. “Wow.” One word is all she whispers. Her hand trails along the spiral railing as she slowly climbs to the second level, where a sitting area with a television mounted on one wall is located. I watch her hips sway back and forth as she walks through, exiting onto the stern. When she spies the hot tub, her body swivels toward me.

“I’m not getting naked in there with you,” she states matter-of-factly while her eyes and smile tell me differently. Yet once again, I can hear Bethany’s voice warning me off the good doctor.

“No, I’m afraid we don’t have time for a naked rendezvous in the hot tub tonight, Lillian, but I’ll leave an open invitation in case one day you change your mind.”

I step closer to her and see the hitch in her breath when I wrap my arm around her waist and walk her back into the cabin. As much as I want to follow her up the stairs so that I can watch her ass sway in front of me, I take the lead, holding her hand as we climb to the sky lounge.

As we step out onto the deck, I pull a chair out for her to sit in. Candles light the table in front of us, and a bottle of Armand de Brignac Brut rose champagne sits in a chiller. A loud pop startles Lillian as the cork flies through the air. I pour us two flutes and hand one to her.

“As the great Oprah Winfrey says, you get in life what you have the courage to ask for.” I look Lillian directly in the eyes. “What is it, dear Lillian, that you want in life that you haven’t had the courage to ask for?”

It’s a loaded question, I know, but I’m hoping it will catch her off guard enough to share a little about what she is hiding from. I clink my flute with hers and bring mine to my lips, taking a sip. She still hasn’t answered me. “So, Lillian, tell me your secrets, and I’ll tell you mine.”

A full body laugh fills the night air. “I hardly believe you will tell me any of your secrets, Linc. But I will share one secret with you.”

I watch as Lillian ponders what she will share. “I’m an open book, Linc. What you see is what you get.”

I hardly believe that little lie. There is nothing about her that is an open book, but for now, I’ll let her keep her secrets.

Just then, the steward places a salad down in front of her and then sets mine in front of me. I motion for her to continue, but the moment has been broken, and I know that her secret wasn’t that she was starving as she claims it was.

After dinner, we make our way out of the harbor and down the Hudson. Lillian and I move to the sitting area on the main deck to avoid the chill from the wind. We both take a seat on the sofa and watch the city lights glow. The city skyline all lit up is magnificent, and as much as I love home more than the city, I’ll never deny how breathtaking it is.

“In all my years growing up here, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the city this beautiful before.” Lillian brings the champagne flute to her lips and tips it back but stops when she realizes what she’s said. A look of horror fills her eyes, and I visibly see her hands begin to tremble.

I slide closer to her on the sofa, remove my jacket, and place it over her shoulders. My instinct is to pull away once I’ve done that, but for once I’m not going to follow my instinct, and I’m going to take a chance and leave my arm over her shoulder, pulling her closer to me.

“Lillian, did you just say you grew up in New York City?” My hand brushes the bangs that are hiding part of her face aside so that I get a clear view of her magnificent eyes.

Lillian reaches forward, placing her flute on the table, and then pulls the lapels of my jacket around her as she rests her elbows on her knees. “I guess having a little too much to drink really does cause loose lips.” She tries to laugh it off, but she quickly realizes I’m not going to let this go. “Yes, I grew up in the Bronx as a child and then moved to Brooklyn as a teenager. My family still lives there, but we are estranged.”

I want to ask so many more questions, but I don’t. Instead, I pull her into my arms and kiss her. I kiss her softly and gently, letting her know I am here for her. I won’t pry any further, and as much as I want to deepen the kiss, I don’t.

It is almost midnight by the time I drop Lillian off at her home. Every ounce of me wants to follow her in and strip her bare, sink my cock into her deep to satisfy what I know we both want but won’t act upon. But I am the gentleman and walk her to her door, thank her for a lovely evening, and slide the charm bracelet on her wrist. This time, however, all the Tiffany charms have been attached along with one final charm in the shape of a price tag with the word ‘PRICELESS’ engraved on it. Because that’s what she is, and that is what this evening was. Priceless.

There is something about Lillian Olivia Vicci that gets under my skin in a good way.