Chapter 9
Riley went down to the formal dining room for brunch the next morning, whistling some off-tune song. She was one of the few guests in the resort who went solely for the food; state law forbade alcohol from being served before noon, unless there was food involved, though, so there were a lot of hungover, ready-for-more-drinks faces crowded into the booths and chairs seated before the white linen-draped tables.
Not only that, but Gray was busy serving Bloody Marys, Champagne, and other mixed drinks from behind the bar. He saw her and gave her a small smile.
Riley’s heart leapt, and she smiled back before ducking her head and giving the room a quick once-over to see if anyone had noticed the smile passing between them. She tapped a finger on the table, torn between two delicious-looking entrées.
Suddenly, a glass of Champagne appeared at her elbow. Gray smiled down at her and gave her a quick wink.
She smiled back, but her apprehension grew. He was taking a big chance, and she didn’t want him to get into trouble or lose his job because of her.
He leaned close. “Hey, I just wanted to say you…” Suddenly, he stopped, his face changed, and he bolted upright.
Riley followed his eyes. The man she had identified as the owner was standing near the bar, arms crossed and eyes fastened right on them.
Gray gave her a tight nod and hurried off.
Riley looked down at the menu again, hoping she had not just gotten him fired. In an effort to look as if she’d actually ordered the bubbly, she lifted the flute to her lips and drank deeply, wincing when the dry liquid hit the back of her throat. She was thirsty, though, so she gulped down the entire thing without stopping, then set the long-stemmed glass down. As she did, her eyes met those of the man who was staring at her.
His eyes narrowed, and he said something to Gray, who nodded and poured another glass of Champagne.
Seemingly out of nowhere, a server appeared and asked for her order.
Riley felt slightly dizzy, a little off balance. She ordered the ultra-rich breakfast of a cheesy omelet, potatoes, pancakes, and fruit. She knew it was a mistake, as she’d had too much to eat the night before. Not only that, but the Champagne was making her slightly ill.
She inhaled slowly, trying to focus. She needed to help Gray with his ruse, and she didn’t want his boss to think he was flirting with her while he was on the job.
To her dismay, the server set down another glass. She sipped at it tentatively, trying to quell the nausea. When her breakfast arrived she picked at it, but her stomach rebelled. She finally managed to make an escape and headed straight toward her room.
Sickness floated up along her tongue, and Riley staggered into a bush just as Gray exited the dining room, his head turning right and left as he looked for her. “Riley?”
She held a hand up. “It’s okay. I don’t drink much…in the morning.” She actually didn’t drink much at all, but she didn’t want to sound like the lamest human being on the entire planet.
“You need some cold water or something?” he asked.
She straightened, and little black and red dots danced before her eyes. Her head throbbed as she offered him a sheepish smile. “At least I didn’t toss all my cookies,” she said. “I’m afraid somebody’s gonna be mad when they discover the bit of mess I made, though.”
“You’re not the first to do that here. Hell, you’re probably not the first to do it today.” His eyes surveyed her face. “Hey, about going out on the boat—”
“I’m fine. I swear.” She gave him a smile and hoped like hell there wasn’t anything gross stuck in her teeth. “It’s nothing. I’ll see you at one. You’d better get back in there; I saw the owner giving you the Jedi death stare.”
Gray paused. His eyes went from her face to the ocean just beyond as he seemed to waver on his feet.
Riley’s heart lurched in her chest. Great. Is he back to being an asshole now?
“I’ll see you at one then,” he said, and gave her a final smile and turned away.
She shook her head. “Well, he didn’t break our date after he saw me puke on a hydrangea, so he can’t be all bad,” she muttered to herself as she headed back to her room for some Tums, a toothbrush, and a shower followed by a fresh change of clothes.
Riley stared at her reflection. She knew she looked good in a bikini. She worked very hard for her body, and it showed. She just never showed it to anyone. The dark blue swimwear and tiny white shorts and light pink tank-top was the perfect ensemble for boating. She brushed her hair until it shone, then put it up in a deliberately messy bun. Her red lip stain would last for hours, in spite of the saltwater, but she went back and forth on the eyeliner awhile before ultimately deciding against it; no matter how waterproof it claimed to be, it always ended up making her look like a raccoon in the hot sun.
It was already baking outside, and steam rose from the concrete pavement and sand where the clear blue sky had released a brief sprinkle. There was a cooking-metal scent in the air from the heat, and she wrinkled her nose as she walked past the resort to the public dock. She stood there, examining the boats. Maggie really was a stunner, with sleek lines and brilliant white hull. Even more brilliant, though, was Gray standing near the bow, with his hand up to shade his eyes.
A thrill ran though her body as she dashed toward him. “Hey there!”
“Hey! You made it,” he said, wearing a huge smile and holding out his hand for her to take.
As she took his hand, all her worry instantly evaporated. Suddenly she wanted to go out on that boat more than she had ever wanted to do anything else in her life, satanic sea turtles and Jaws aside. “Wow. It’s just beautiful,” she said, looking around as Gray helped her aboard.
“She,” he corrected gently. “She was my grandfather’s, then my mom’s.”
“Oh. Was your mom named Maggie?”
“No. That was my grandmother. The boat’s her namesake,” he said with a sweet smile.
He led her to a seat, then cranked the engine. They slid out of the berth and Riley watched as Gray tilted the controls, steering them deftly along the shoreline while keeping it in sight. The sun beat down on her arms, and she sighed with happiness. The day had gone from weird and slightly awful at breakfast to wonderful, and she was grateful for that. They rocked on the waves and she clutched the seat back, afraid of tipping over for a moment, but the boat easily crested the swells and rode forward.
Eventually they headed out to sea, passing jet skis and other boats as they went. Riley held her breath when Gray finally stopped in a small spot close to several slightly larger boats and a few actual yachts. Music wafted across the dappled water, splashing off the waves. She smiled as Gray took her hand and helped her to her feet. It took a moment for her to regain her balance, but once she did it felt good to stand on the vessel with him; freeing, in a way. Gray led her to the railing and they stood there, staring down at the blue waves.
“How deep is that water?” she asked, even though she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
“Pretty deep.” He gave her a crooked smile. “I’d love it if the resort would let people come out on boats, for day trips or cruises. I was just saying so last night.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “That’s a good idea. Why don’t you tell the owner?”
His lips compressed. “Oh, I did. That was who I was talking to.”
“And he doesn’t agree?”
“He never thinks much of my ideas. He can be a real…control freak when it comes to this place.” He said the words casually, but it was clear that they stung.
Riley asked, “Does he know about your business degree?”
Gray shrugged again, and his silence betrayed his pain.
She reached for him, looping an arm around his smooth, tan waist. “His loss then. What other ideas do you have?”
He gave her a startled look. “You really wanna know?”
“I asked, didn’t I?” She gave him her most encouraging smile.
“Well, I think we should build a dance floor outside, near the sand, maybe take out that stupid barbecue pit nobody ever uses. Back in the day, people actually bought groceries and kept them in the suite kitchens, but only a few still do that.”
“Yeah, I don’t see anyone using the grills much anymore, no matter where I go.”
“Also, there’s this timeshare that wants to buy into the two floors that still have full or mini kitchens. I think that’d be awesome, because we really don’t have enough help to keep things running the way we should. Everyone is overworked like crazy. Some of the maids are working double shifts, and they can still barely keep up. It’s not fair.”
“How many hours do you work?”
“Ten on a slow day,” he said quickly. A vertical slash formed between his eyes. “The night bartender’s stealing, too. I know he is, but I can’t prove it.”
“You know, as a guest, I agree with you. No offense, but it doesn’t seem like anyone working at the resort really wants to be here. It makes it kind of hard to enjoy the place. You’re a good bartender; I’m surprised you haven’t looked somewhere else.”
His grin was rueful. “No offense taken. I used to be excited about my job, but that was years ago. Now I just sort of dread it. The maids and the groundskeepers feel the same way.”
“You’ve been tending bar for years, huh?”
Gray rubbed his bottom lip over his teeth. “No. I used to do other stuff. I worked on the landscaping team for a few years, then with maintenance for a while. Now I’m tending bar. I guess I should just be glad that job was open when I came back from college, or I might be washing sheets as we speak.”
That confused her. “Why don’t you just work somewhere else? I mean, there are dozens of resorts around here.”
He looked away, avoiding her gaze. “I know. After this summer, if things don’t change, I’m gonna look into that.”
“Still hoping to be promoted in-house?”
His lips tightened even more. “Something like that. I know it’s a lost cause, but I-I still keep thinking and hoping they’ll eventually figure it out. I have some good ideas, skills, and a lot of plans that could actually work.”
She completely understood, because no one in her father’s many companies would listen to her either. They always dismissed her, thinking she was spoiled and benefitting from nepotism. She was, to some extent, and all they had to do was go over her head and around her to get things done. She was sure they would act the same way when she actually started working there, and that upset her greatly.
“Look,” Grayson said as he flicked his wrist, “let’s forget all that. How about we go swimming?”
Riley cast the water a doubtful glance. “Now? As in…right here?”
He smiled. “Where else?”
“Um, but sea turtles and sharks and—”
“It’s not so bad,” he said, giving Riley a kiss that instantly made her weak in the knees. “I promise. C’mon. I’ll show you.” He stripped off his shirt and headed for the small deck by the steps.
Riley gasped as he plunged into the sea, sending a wave of water up in the air. Her heart hammered in her chest as she scanned the indigo water for a sign of him and found none. Where was he? She crept closer to the ladder, her heart in her throat and her whole body shaking. “Gray?” she said weakly. It wasn’t that she would have minded giving him mouth-to-mouth, but she was more worried he was going to become shark bait.
Finally he bobbed to the surface, his body glowing under the sun. He waved at her and did a quick breaststroke back to the boat before climbing the ladder to stand before her. The waves continued to slide across the hull of the boat, rocking them gently. The sun was high overhead, and his body was slick and wet. He slicked his hair back with one hand, and his lips lifted in a smile. “See? Just jump. It’s no big deal.”
For her, though, it was a huge fucking deal, the biggest deal ever. What he wanted from her was something she could not give, something she did not have to give. He wanted her to be brave, and not just brave enough to jump off the back of a stupid boat. She knew that the longer she stayed near him, the more he changed her. She had no choice in the matter, really, because their time together was coming to a swift end. She had to go, and he had to stay behind, and her heart hurt just thinking about it.
“I see.” She moved toward the back of the boat. The little platform and ladder seemed to mock her as she stared at them. That’s it. I’ve officially gone insane, she decided as she stared down into the deep blue sea. She was a good swimmer, but she had never been out so far before; she was in over her head in more ways than one.
Gray gave her a push, and Riley went overboard, arms flailing and a scream issuing from her mouth. She landed in the blood-warm water, her feet kicking frantically as a wave caught her and then pinned her beneath its watery weight. Terror filled her, and she was sure he’d just committed manslaughter. All kinds of crazy thoughts ran around her head: What if he is really a hitman hired to do me in? What if I drown and he goes to jail for murder? What’ll Mom and Dad say about the whole thing? I told you so?
Gray found her soon enough, and his strong arms hauled her to the surface as she kicked and shrieked, coughing and spluttering out saltwater with every swear word. He held her tightly, and she stopped fighting and resisting as he consoled, “Riley, I’m here. I’m sorry. I didn’t know it would scare you so much. I was right behind you along you. Just relax for me, okay?”
“Go to hell!” The words came out on a long exhale, but she quickly softened. The water was filled with teeming life. Fish darted around her legs, and she stared down into the crystal depths, fascinated despite the gravity of the situation. “Holy shit. What was that?”
He looked down. “Manta ray. C’mon. Let’s get you back on the boat.”
Now that she was in the water, though, she was content to stay there, but her horror had yet to abate fully. “O-Okay,” she said with a shiver.
Gray swam next to her with one arm still around her as they made their way back to Maggie.
She collapsed on the deck, torn between terror and wonder.
“Check it out!” Gray said, pointing out at a school of dolphins.
She turned her head in time to see the leaping, frolicking, friendly-looking creatures rush past the boat. It was such a joyous sight that all her fear instantly subsided.
She turned to Gray, and he took her face in his hands and kissed her, bringing the taste of salty water to her mouth and helping wipe away the last vestiges of her confusion and fright. His lips were warm and firm. His tongue dived deep into her mouth, and she followed every thrust of his tongue with one of her own. Her breasts flattened against him, and his hands went to her wet hair. He tugged hard on the cascading locks, making her hair and scalp ache slightly. That little pain thrilled her, enticing her nipples to jut upward, simultaneously hard and tender, aching to be touched, icy and throbbing as his hands passed across her chest in a gentle, fast stroke before he crushed her to his chest again and tugged her face even closer.
Her hands yanked his shorts down, and he stepped out of them easily. His staff sprang out, thick and swollen. It filled her palm completely, pulsing within her fist as she wrapped her fingers around it and stroked upward, from the base to the head.
Gray quickly divested her of her bikini, pulling it away and letting it fall to the deck while his fingers delved into the wetness between her thighs, sliding into her only to withdraw and run along the seam of her labia. He circled her clit with his fingers, making it rise, lift, and shiver. His mouth moved along her body until he engulfed her clit with his mouth. His fingers entered her, pushing, stroking, and testing her limits until she was gasping, sobbing, and begging for more.
They soon found themselves perched on the little seat. Her legs opened, and his head came up. He joined her on the seat, his body hovering above hers for a moment. “Open your mouth,” he said.
She did and he slid his finger, wet with her juices, inside it. Her tongue licked eagerly at the digit in a move so bold that her face burned and her eyelashes fluttered against her pale cheeks, but she could not seem to stop. She had never tasted her own body before. The salty-sweet fluids were slick, not at all heavy as she had expected they would be. His finger left her mouth and went back to her pussy. This time, he found the hard nub of her clit and circled it then flicked his fingers across it, sending thrilling sensations up along her upper body, tingles that then slammed downward, leaving her lower body reeling with delight.
“Damn it, Gray, fuck me or… Just fuck me!” she whispered, the only words that came to her pleasure-muddled mind.
Her body shivered with need. He positioned himself between her legs, entered her slowly, and then quickly withdrew. The boat rocked beneath them as he continued. Her cries grew louder, longer, and far lustier.
Gray shuddered and moaned. The boat rocked harder, and his body worked faster. The orgasm hit her hard, making her lift her ass off the seat. She dug her nails into the tender skin of his back as her mouth met his shoulder, tugging and nipping as her insides clenched his huge, hard dick that rode the narrow passageway, the highway to her body’s greatest desire. He groaned and his breathing hitched as he cried out. In that instant, she realized they hadn’t used a condom. Slow panic hit but she set it aside for a moment, not wanting to spoil the moment.
Gray tugged her upright. “Looks like we have company,” he whispered.
She dressed quickly, staring at the other boats and wondering if anyone had seen them. The same elation of daring flooded into her, just as it had the night before when they sexed each other up in an alley.
Gray asked, very gently, “You wanna try again? If you’re too scared, it’s okay.”
“More sex?” She realized what he meant and blushed. “No. I mean, no, I’m not too scared.” She was, but she wanted to make him happy. Furthermore, she wanted to do something that was just for her, to go on yet another new adventure. She’d seldom been on a boat, let alone cum on one, out in the open, in broad daylight.
He took her hand, and they walked to the little steps together. They held their breath, then jumped.
The sea welcomed them. The water was warm on top and cold below, and the depth was still quite shocking. Riley could feel nothing below her feet, and she knew she would have to go a long way down to feel the bottom.
Gray’s arms wrapped around her, and they floated there, their bodies gently surfing the waves. The water was silky and salty; it clung to her mouth as she squinted up into the sun.
“Thank you,” Gray whispered in her ear.
“For what?”
“For jumping.”
Riley laughed, even as the comment seemed to carry more weight than she thought he meant. “I should be thanking you for not letting me drown earlier.”
“I would never let you down.”
Down? Not drown? There was a wisp of something sad in his voice when he said it, and when she turned to face him, he smiled at her. The lemony yellow light slanted down on his face, and his eyes locked on hers. Her pulse quickened, and she wondered why he suddenly looked so terribly sad. She didn’t ask, but the answers that came to mind left her feeling both thrilled and scared. Is he sad that I’m leaving? Can he possibly really care that much?
They swam back to the boat and climbed aboard. Riley sank down on the seat, letting the sun dry her skin and bathing suit. Gray sat beside her, resting one strong arm behind her head. She relished the heat and strength of it.
“I think I like boats…and swimming in the sea.”
He smiled. “It’s a light chop today, perfect for swimming.”
“You’re talking Greek to me now.” She nestled closer into his body and closed her eyes. Bright colors swam through the darkness behind her eyelids. “How long have you been taking this boat out?”
“Since I was a kid. Grandpa took me out back then. Dad hasn’t come near it since my mom died.”
“Why not?” she asked as her eyes popped open.
Gray stared out at the bright blue horizon. “She was killed in a storm. She took Maggie out one afternoon and capsized in a hard squall.”
“What?” Riley said, gawking and looking around. “I mean…”
“Mom knew the risks. She listened to the weather report and went out anyway. I’d never do that. Apparently my mother was fearless, though, and she was sure the storm would be nothing, just a brief light squall. It got a boost from a hurricane in the Miami area, and it just tossed things up too high.”
“So she…died in the storm?”
“Yep, but I’m sure if she could tell you she’d say it was worth it.”
“Oh,” Riley said, scared all over again, her eyes searching the horizon for any sign of clouds or rain. “You, um… This is the same boat?”
“Mostly. I mean, Maggie had to be completely redone after. Dad thinks she’s haunted because they never found Mom. Believe it or not, the boat floated all the way to the shore, near the resort. Mom loved this boat… beyond reason, some would say.”
Riley could tell Gray didn’t think the boat was haunted, at least not the way his father did. It did not take her degree in psychology to know that he took the boat out to honor and feel close to the mother he didn’t really remember. That was probably why he worked at the resort. “I’m so sorry about your mom.”
He shifted a little in his seat. “Don’t be. If she could have chosen any way to die… Well, I’m sure she would have chosen that.”
It sounded like an utterly horrible death to Riley, but she was sure Gray had to tell himself that, if only for his own comfort and closure.
They sat there, just resting and enjoying the remainder of the day. Gray seemed more relaxed, and Riley began to let go of the initial shock and fear she felt after the scary story he told.
Her eyes closed, opened, then closed again as the ocean rocked them like two sleepy babies.