“Archie! Yo, Arrrrchiiiieeeeee.” Shitfaced and amped up, the guys had decided they liked Banks’s nickname for him a little too much. It was going to be hell getting them to stop calling him that.

He winced then pitched his voice over the music, which pumped across the deck they were partying on. “Over here, Miguel.”

“I brought you a going away present.” He tugged a gorgeous woman in an ultra-feminine sarong dress behind him as he cut through the crowd. Long, tan legs peeked from thigh-high gaps in the sides as she walked. A fresh hibiscus adorned the clip holding her wavy hair back from her face. When she looked up, Archer recognized her despite the subtle touches of makeup—something she didn’t ordinarily wear—highlighting her already striking features.

The kite-surfing street-meat dealer.

“Hey.” For the first time in weeks, his cock perked up at the sight of a very willing woman.

It wasn’t permanently broken! Hallelujah!

Mistaking his enormous grin as an invitation, she plastered herself to his side and gave him a hug as big as if she were an octopus wrapping all eight tentacles around him simultaneously. He found himself reflexively returning the gesture. Who was he to squash a woman’s hopes?

Sure, he’d promised himself he wouldn’t fool around for the hell of it anymore, but tonight had turned out to be one of the best of his life.

He deserved to celebrate. Besides, she’d tried to get with him before she’d known he was rich, so he already preferred her to the dozens of circling sharks who smelled cash in the water.

Bonaire wasn’t a very big island. Rumors had spread from one end to the other before he, Tosin, and Miguel had even packed up their cabanas. He swore half the population had crammed themselves onboard tonight, suddenly acting as if they were long-lost relatives.

Archer much preferred the genuine bond he had with his partners, and women like this one.

“Hi.” She backed off just far enough to extend her hand. “I’m Savannah. Nice to officially meet you, finally.”

“Likewise.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. Afterward he didn’t let go, entwining their fingers instead. “Would you prefer to go somewhere quieter, so we can talk? Or were you looking forward to dancing?”

“Whatever you want.”

Ugh. No. There’d be time for that later, once he had her splayed out across his bed. He liked his partners to have a strong will so that when they chose to surrender to him, he knew he’d won something truly precious. Something he’d thought he’d earned from her. “Lady’s choice.”

“Dancing.” She smiled up at him, kind of shyly. Yet still seductive, full of promise.

The evening was about to get even better.

“Thanks.” He nodded to Miguel as he passed. “I owe you one.”

“I think you’ve covered it already.” His friend slapped him on the ass.

They both laughed at that. It didn’t feel like he’d done much of anything. With Banks’s guidance, he had changed their lives forever, he supposed. Selfishly, Archer had mostly considered that he didn’t want to leave his best friends behind when he embarked on the next phase of his life. If that made him an asshole, so be it. In the end, each of them had benefitted.

When they’d made it to the center of the floor, people parting to let him pass, Archer spun Savannah around then swallowed her up with his arms and tugged her close. He let his hips grind against hers, giving her a calculated preview of what the rest of the evening could have in store for them.

It only took a few songs for her to ride his thigh and begin pressing her chest, including her pebbled nipples, into the patch of tan skin his partially opened dress shirt exposed. She stared up at him with a blend of heat and desire that he was not about to waste.

“I think I’d like to see that quieter place now, if you don’t mind,” she said just loud enough to be heard despite the pulsating beats.

Soon enough she’d shatter the calm of whatever nook he hauled her off to by crying out his name as she came. She’d triggered his instincts with her sweet request, and he was about to exceed her expectations. Some people might consider him egotistical, but he preferred to think of himself as frank about his skill level as a lover.

Archer excelled at seduction.

With a hand in the small of Savannah’s back, he guided her through the throng, angling his shoulders to protect her from being jostled by frenzied revelers.

There was one place he hadn’t checked out on the ship yet.

Time to rectify that oversight.

Archer didn’t feel like stopping to gawk at the yacht’s interior. Instead, he scooped Savannah into his arms and allowed her to think of it as a romantic gesture. Her heartbeat tripped beneath the fingers he curled around her ribs.

Without speaking, she rested her head on his shoulder, and he knew he’d won. She was his for the taking. And he would give all of himself in return. For a little while.

When he reached his destination, he cradled her with one arm, and used a palm scanner to unlock a smoky black glass door. Then he brought Savannah inside, waiting for her telltale gasp.

She didn’t disappoint, making his cock twitch in his khaki shorts. “What is this place?”

Now that was a good question. During their many discussions about the Divemaster, Archer had told Banks he thought it would be a good idea to have a place the guys could relax discreetly with any personal guests they might choose to entertain. One that didn’t require inviting them to their private space. It seemed the guy had used his imagination and taken things over the top. Maybe Archer’s father wasn’t the only one who’d kept tabs on him. Could the divemasters’ penchant for visiting sex clubs have been notated in some report?

He bet it had been.

Tosin and Miguel were going to lose their minds, or come in their pants, when they realized the extent of the facilities onboard. Looked like the Divemaster still had some secrets to uncover. He wasn’t surprised—the more they’d explored, the more they realized how huge it was. There hadn’t been much time between when they’d gotten back from the dive shop and guests started arriving, either.

“Looks like it’s our private playroom.”

“I like to play,” she purred. Then, without hesitation, she began to strip. First her dress, then her matching lace bra and boy-short panties. When she stood naked before him, she sank to her knees, reaching for the waistband of his shorts.

Just like she had, making him feel like she craved him as he had her.

Too bad he could have been anyone with a cock, and she would have reacted the same way.

Archer shook his head and concentrated on Savannah.

She wasn’t subtle or tentative as she unbuttoned then unzipped his shorts. That was fine with him. He didn’t need her to be.

Archer whipped his shirt over his head and dropped it beside her clothes. Then he shoved his shorts and briefs to the ground, stepping out of them. Since he was already barefoot, there weren’t any shoes to deal with. Handy.

When Savannah licked her lips, staring at his erection, he shot her a wicked grin.

Archer grasped her face between his palms and held her in place while he bent down to steal a kiss. She moaned and responded, opening to his demanding tongue.

After he’d taken his fill, he speared his fingers into her hair and directed her to his aching balls. She licked them, in no way hesitant as she nuzzled his groin, sucking gently while she bathed them with the flat of her tongue.

“Yes, that’s it.” He encouraged her like a teacher with a student. There wasn’t anything tender about it. That’s not what either of them was here for. “Just for that amazing job you’re doing down there, I promise to give you plenty of orgasms before the night is through.”

It seemed she appreciated his dirty talk as much as most women did.

Would she have? He hadn’t tried it since he’d only had affectionate things to say to her.

Savannah redoubled her efforts, lavishing her attention on his cock as well.

He didn’t bother to hide how well she played his body. Instead, when she took him to the back of her throat, he rewarded her enthusiastic sucking by limiting the time she needed to spend on her knees.

Archer tugged her hair, pinning her close to his abdomen, then came down her throat in a rush complete with a series of heartfelt groans. She swallowed around him eagerly, drawing out his pleasure.

When he withdrew, leaving a sheen on her lush lips, he reached down and lifted her to her feet.

“Thank you,” he rasped before sealing his mouth over hers and making sure she knew he meant it. Savannah might not be her, but he appreciated her generosity in sharing herself nonetheless. Damn, he’d needed that fast, hard release to take the edge off.

Now there’d be plenty of time to recover before demonstrating he had better stamina than a horny teenager. Though he’d done well—too well—with her. They’d screwed for hours before he realized what was going on.

Savannah reminded him to stay in the present. The party below decks was just getting started.

“You’re welcome.” She smiled up at him, glancing around the floor as if preparing to make a grab for her dress.

“Oh, hell no.” He stopped her with his curt command. “That’s not how I roll. Get your sexy ass over to that…whatever the fuck that thing is.”

Archer pointed at a contraption that seemed like the world’s craziest dentist chair. Black leather, straps everywhere, segmented and fully adjustable seat sections. Oh yeah, that would do.

If he wasn’t mistaken, she whimpered then shivered before practically dashing to the equipment.

“That’s better,” he growled as he stalked to her, arranging her to suit his intentions before buckling her in for one hell of a wild ride.

Archer crouched between her spread thighs, feasting on her for so long his mind blissed out and all his worries faded away. Including the ones about how disastrously this could end up in the morning.

No matter how bad it was, it couldn’t possibly be his worst morning after.

Trying to shove those thoughts away, he applied himself to maximizing Savannah’s pleasure as if it was some kind of penance. He’d stopped counting the number of climaxes he gave her as he steadily jerked himself back to full hardness. By the time she went limp, her thighs quivering against his shoulders, he was ready to fuck.

It was right about then that the door opened.

Archer rose, blocking as much of his partner from prying eyes as he could.

He shouldn’t have worried. It was only Miguel with a lady, or three, of his own. Kind of hard to count precisely since his entourage merged with Tosin’s, who followed right behind.

The space was big enough for them to keep out of each other’s way. Or not, if that’s how they rolled. He didn’t give a shit if they saw him plowing into Savannah’s pretty pussy, as he planned to do in a just a few more seconds. But how would she feel about it?

“I need to be fucked, Archer. Let them watch what you do to me.” She surprised him with her steady plea. “I don’t care about anything except having your cock in me. Now.”

He couldn’t agree more. Like diving, fucking was one of the few things that could turn off his obsession with the past. It was hard not to compare every partner to her, but he tried. It wasn’t fair. They would never measure up to perfection. Or at least what he’d thought was total compatibility.

Though he heard his two best friends cheering on the action as they got into some fun of their own, Archer’s attention didn’t drift from his temporary partner unless it was because of rogue thoughts. Of her. Always her.

Plucking a condom from a bowl on a table nearby, he tore open the package and sheathed himself. Without torturing either of them longer than he already had, he set the tip of his cock at the opening to Savannah’s pussy and bored inside.

The slick channel, prepped by his feasting, admitted him easily.

At least when coaxed by his unrelenting forward pressure.

He let his head drop back so he could savor the fisting of her flesh around his. Once he bottomed out, he began to retreat.

Archer took it slow until they’d both adjusted to the sensations, then began to drill into Savannah with a steady and fluid motion that shattered her around him a couple of times within the first few minutes. The squeeze and ripple of her muscles against his cock was enough to have him gritting his teeth while he rubbed light circles around her clit, keeping her aroused.

Still not as tight as she had been. Virginal, until he’d ruined her.

As he really dug in, he leaned forward. The graceful arch of Savannah’s neck tempted the animal within him. He wrapped his fingers around it lightly, careful not to come close to hurting her. It might make him a savage, but there was no denying he loved this feeling.

Being in control.

Granting them both pleasure by revealing his inner beast.

It might make him hate himself later. Confuse the hell out of him. But he’d worry about that some other time.

One of his friends’ companions edged nearer for a close-up view of the action. Archer fucked harder, faster, fulfilling each of Savannah’s moaned pleas, which encouraged him to intensify their experience.

And when she seemed to stall, on the very edge of one final epic release, the female bystander graciously helped him out. He hoped Miguel or Tosin would treat her especially well for her generosity.

Because when she leaned in and captured Savannah’s mouth in a gentle kiss he would have been utterly incapable of bestowing to anyone but her, she shuddered and clenched on his shaft, threatening to fracture his cock.

Archer roared then poured jet after jet of come into the condom he wore.

He half expected to see that he’d ripped a hole in it with the force of the blasts when he withdrew from Savannah’s still-twitching pussy. Thankfully, he hadn’t.

Dripping sweat and high on endorphins, he released her as quickly as possible, rubbing her wrists and ankles to return full circulation.

The entire time, she made out with their new arrival. It should have been every man’s fantasy come to life. Except now that he was utterly spent, fucked dry, Archer found himself wishing he hadn’t done it at all.

It had only reminded him that no one could replace her. Was he doomed to be unsatisfied with even fantastic sex for the rest of his life? It would serve him right, he supposed.

The only problem was he’d utterly exhausted this free-spirited woman, and he refused to walk away and leave her in such a vulnerable state. Even though he knew Miguel and Tosin would tend to her properly, it wasn’t their responsibility.

For tonight only, it was his.

And he’d sworn he would never let another woman down. Like he had her.

The guys had obviously been inspired by his show. They didn’t bother to say goodnight when he gathered Savannah to his chest and passed by them as the group of ladies spoiled his friends rotten. Good for them all, if that’s what made them happy.

Archer ignored his better judgment and took Savannah to his room, both of them completely naked. If he encouraged her to stay over, maybe he could pretend that what they’d shared meant more than simple physical relief.

It didn’t work.

He should have been sated. Instead, he felt hollow.

And she…well, she was knocked out by the time he’d made it down the hall.

All through the night, Archer kept Savannah close, watching over her. No matter what, he appreciated the raw passion she’d shared with him and did his best to meet her needs beyond sticking his dick in her.

As if he might float away or cease to exist if he let his eyes close, he blinked up at the night sky visible through the domed glass ceiling.

Despite everything around him, or maybe because of it, he felt insignificant. Incomplete.

His eyelids never drooped. Propped against pillows and the headboard, he ran his fingers through Savannah’s hair, happy to give her what she craved for the few hours they had left together. Wishing someone other than she could do that for him. Even while dreaming, she curled closer to his touch.

Maybe someday he’d find another person who could inspire that kind of reaction in him. He’d be the richest man in the universe if, when he did, the woman capable of taming him felt the same in return.

He would do anything to deserve her love. Because all the money in the world couldn’t keep him from drowning in loneliness, which made it impossible to sleep.

Hours later, early morning sunlight gilded Archer’s cabin, which was a grossly understated label for these quarters. He’d have to figure out where the controls for the automatic blinds were before he actually attempted to sleep in here. It was dazzling, and kind of blinding, to watch the sunrise from his new home. The entire ceiling of his suite was constructed of aqua-tinted glass. It was almost as if he had camped outside.

If camping meant sleeping on a cloud in climate-controlled air while staring at the stars.

Though he knew they were on a boat, the size of the ship and the insignificance of the chop in Bonaire’s sheltered port had made it as steady as a rock. He couldn’t possibly have been more comfortable.

Unless he’d shared his bed with someone he cared for.

Idiot. From now on, he would stick to his plan.

Savannah began to rouse beside him, stretching and yawning into her fist. She was beautiful mussed, but he immediately began to think of ways to avoid a round of morning sex he simply wasn’t into. It wouldn’t be fair to mislead her.

Banks to the rescue again.

A non-intrusive tone chimed from beside the bed. It was subtle enough that Archer didn’t register it as an incoming phone call until the third ring. He reached over to the side table to answer. “Yes?”

“Morning, Archie. Our final crew member is onboard. When you and the other divemasters are recovered from last night, I’d like to hold a staff meeting. We should get introductions out of the way and talk about some ground rules before the first set of guests begin arriving this afternoon. Does that work for you?”

“Of course, I’ll be right out.” Truthfully, he couldn’t be more glad that Banks had spared him an awkward goodbye. “I’ll stop and get the guys on my way. Otherwise, they’ll never make it.”

“Probably wise. They seemed to be enjoying themselves last night.” Banks pitched his voice lower. “I left Ms. Ridley’s garments outside your door and there’s a breakfast buffet waiting. You’re welcome.”

Then he hung up.

Archer rolled out of bed and collected their belongings. He left them on the bed while he used the restroom and yanked on some clothes. When he returned, Savannah shimmied into her discarded dress. She hadn’t made any demands, for which he was grateful. Still, he felt familiar disappointment tainting the pleasure they’d brought each other the night before.

If he’d felt something for her—even a faint echo of the something he’d felt for his long-ago girl—he could have justified bringing Savannah along on their journey. Unfortunately, their sexual chemistry seemed to be the extent of their connection. Just like it had been with all the women he’d enjoyed.

Except one.

The one he couldn’t have.

The one he’d caused irreparable harm.

Archer opened the door and Savannah stepped into the hallway. She smiled up at him.

“I hope you’ll stop by for lunch again someday…when you’re good and hungry.” The way she practically purred the last part made it clear what kind of appetite she hoped to slake.

He might have made an empty promise then, if he hadn’t seen a ghost out of the corner of his eye. Had he summoned it by thinking about her?

What the—?

A uniformed crew member darted past, head down, as if embarrassed to have interrupted his obvious morning-after farewell. It must have been a trick of the light, or maybe his guilty conscience for breaking his promise to keep his dick in his pants until he’d made a meaningful match with someone, because he could have sworn it was her.

Or someone who looked like she might now—grown, gorgeous, strong.

He was going to have to find out who that actually was so he could stay far, far away.

Fortunately, he was about to enter a staff meeting and learn her name. Some part of him couldn’t deny the morning’s job requirements had just gotten a lot less onerous.

“Let me walk you out,” he said to Savannah.

She smiled wistfully, then shook her head. “No need. Thanks for an unforgettable evening. I’m glad we got a chance to do that before you left. It was everything I hoped it would be.”

Archer kissed her cheek. He wished he could feel more for her than he did.

Without looking back, Savannah swayed down the hall, off the boat, and out of his life.

He couldn’t do this again. He swore he was going to hold out for someone who meant something to him. Someone he couldn’t live without. Otherwise, disappointment might crush him.

It hurt too much to think he was the kind of man who found it this easy to turn away affection.

What kind of coldhearted bastard did that make him?

One just like his father.

Fuck.