Chapter Eleven
Lissa woke up with a smile on her face, stretched and winced. Lordy, everything down there was tender this morning. Still, definitely the good kind of aching. She moved over to Gabe’s side of the bed, only to find it empty. She rolled her eyes at the immediate wave of disappointment that assaulted her.
Jeez, she had it bad, and of course, he wouldn’t be there. The hum of the engines and the gentle rocking movements of the boat meant someone had to be steering it. As they were the only two people on the yacht, logic dictated Gabe must have gotten up at the crack of dawn to move them on. Where that man got his energy from was beyond her.
She turned a little more to avoid the sun shining right in through the little balcony attached the bedroom and frowned. Then again, what time was it exactly? She sat up properly and spotted Gabe’s note propped up next to a travel mug on the nightstand. A big bold arrow pointed upwards with two words.
Drink this!
Her heart skipped a few beats when she picked up the mug to reveal another note. Having popped open the lid, she inhaled deeply as the wonderful aroma of coffee filled her nostrils. She then took a sip and read that note.
Morning, sweetheart. Didn’t want to wake you. Once you’ve had this coffee, and I can be sure that you won’t kill me, come and find me.
G x
PS: If you come above deck wear a life vest.
She grinned to herself as she drank up and traced that one kiss left behind on the paper. Such a small thing to do, yet it meant the world to her.
Having taken care of the morning necessities in the bathroom—the run-down candles made her smile widen—she pulled on some leggings and a t-shirt, twisted her long hair up into a messy bun, and went in search of her husband. As she thought he was at the wheel, and the sight of him stalled her breath anew.
With the wind blowing through his hair, and clad in a long-sleeved shirt and jeans, he looked much younger than his age. Were it not for the gray streaks in his hair and beard, he could have passed for someone in his late thirties. Not that his age mattered to her. Other folks might think he was old enough to be her father, and technically he was, but so what?
She loved him.
Oh my God, I do love him.
Far from sending her into a panic attack, that knowledge settled around her like a comforting blanket. Those large hands of his, handling the wooden wheel with expert ease might be used to kill people, but they’d given her nothing but pleasure. So much pleasure, that she grew wet just remembering it, and she squeezed her thighs together to relieve the sweet ache in her pussy. A look at the clock on the wall gave her an answer to her earlier question. It was almost lunchtime, and her stomach rumbled loudly. The view out of the portholes showed nothing but a wide expanse of sea, and another giggle bubbled up inside her.
This was just so exciting. Just the two of them sailing away. Not for one moment did she feel unsafe. Gabe clearly knew what he was doing, and this enforced proximity meant they could truly get to know each other. Starting with some food.
A rummage through the fridge unearthed bacon, mushrooms, and eggs, the perfect ingredients for the one thing Lissa could make to perfection. She set to work humming to herself, so engrossed in her task that she didn’t notice the yacht wasn’t moving anymore until Gabe’s large hands landed on her shoulders.
She jumped, almost flinging the omelets onto the floor rather than their waiting plates, and Gabe’s low laughter washed over her.
“Easy there, baby girl. That actually looks delicious, and I’m starving.”
He nuzzled into her neck, and Lissa shut her eyes and simply enjoyed this moment of tenderness between them. It was over all too soon, as he stepped away and, grabbing the plates, put them down on the table for her.
When she joined him, he grinned at her and tucked into his omelet with a groan of delight, which gave her the most ridiculous happy glow inside.
To mask her reaction to him, she picked up her cutlery and started eating.
A comfortable silence fell between them until Gabe pushed his plate away, patted his stomach, and fixed her with a stern look, that made her stomach flip in anticipation. She knew that look, and she squirmed on her chair.
“I thought you said you couldn’t cook, baby girl?”
“I, well, this is just an omelet, hardly cooking, Daddy.” Her whispered reply made his eyes heat in lust and some other, much deeper emotion that meant she grew wet for him all over again. He inhaled sharply and crossed his arms over his chest. The action made his biceps bunch under the fabric of his shirt, and Lissa barely suppressed a sigh of contentment. This was her husband, and right now she couldn’t have been happier if she tried. One eyebrow cocked up at her reaction, and when he spoke his voice took on that delicious edge. The one which meant she would do anything for him.
“Have I not told you not to call me that unless we’re in a scene, girl?”
Lissa tore her gaze away from his muscles and nodded.
“You did, Daddy.”
A deep animalistic growl came from the man sitting opposite her, and she swallowed past the lump in her throat, as every feminine cell in her body sighed in submission.
“Topping from the bottom, girl?” he asked, and she shrugged.
“I don’t even know what that means.”
A sigh was his answer this time.
“Come here, girl.”
He uncrossed his arms and patted his lap, and Lissa wasted no time taking him up on that invitation. She scooted onto his lap and snuggled in when his arms came around her in a tight embrace.
“Better?” The deep rumble of his voice vibrated through her, and Lissa snuggled in closer, closed her eyes, and whispered her answer.
“Much, thank you.”
His cock hardened under her butt cheeks, and Lissa’s breathing grew heavy as she wriggled against it. A sharp slap to her thigh stopped her.
“Behave yourself, minx. You’re not up for a repeat performance and, besides, I want us to have crossed the Bay of Biscay by this afternoon. I’ve got a table booked at a charming little restaurant in La Rochelle.”
That got her attention, and, pushing her hands against his big chest, she sat up more. The fact that he let her, smiled down at her, wasn’t lost on her, as he kissed her nose.
“Like that idea, I see?”
Lissa swallowed her snarky comeback. Her Daddy wouldn’t appreciate that, and she sure didn’t want to spoil the moment.
“I thought we’d just stay on the boat?”
Gabe ran a hand through his hair and studied her for the longest time before he spoke.
“That had been my original intention, but I find that I want to show off my wife. And I think you’d enjoy exploring, wouldn’t you, sweetheart?”
The unexpected endearment made her grin like a loon, and Gabe’s stern features relaxed into a smile.
“Thought so, plus I’m pretty sure you won’t be trying to make a run for it the minute we’re on dry land, right? Not that you’d get very far, if you tried, girl.” His voice dropped on the last few words, took on that edge which would have terrified her before with that silent threat, but now she simply smiled and nodded.
“Why would I run?” she asked. “Maybe I quite like the perks that come with being married to you.”
Gabe threw his head back and laughed before he wrapped his hand into her bun and tugged her head back. The sharp zing of pain settled straight in her clit, and she gasped.
“Are there now, girl?” He sobered and studied her with that grim intensity which never failed to get her wet. “And what would those be? Do enlighten me.”
“You do own a mirror, right?” she countered, and Gabe’s eyes narrowed.
“Meaning?” She jumped a little at that clipped reply, but she carried on with her train of thought. It seemed imperative to make him see. Not that she had the courage to confess her feelings—she wasn’t entirely sure he would welcome such declarations—but she had to show him that she’d changed, and that she appreciated all the effort he’d put in on her behalf.
“Well, look at you. Any woman would be happy to call you her husband, and then there is all this.” She waved a hand around the yacht, and his gaze grew tender. “I mean, you didn’t have to do any of this. Papa all but sold me to you.” His hold on her hair grew painful and she winced.
“Andrini doesn’t deserve that title, and I don’t want you mentioning him again, are we clear?”
Lissa blinked back tears, and the hold on her hair lessened, turned into a soothing caress as he slid his fingers to her nape and kissed her. A mere brush of his lips across hers, as he murmured his apology.
“Forgive me, but I don’t want to think about that fucker or his cohorts while I’m on my honeymoon and neither should you.”
He pulled back slightly to study her, and Lissa offered him a wobbly smile.
“Neither do I. I’m just saying that you’re so very different to how I thought you would be, and…” That eyebrow of his rose again, and Lissa faltered in her attempt to explain herself.
“I’m just gonna shut up now. Can we go back to you just holding me, please?”
Gabe’s tender smile in answer to her hesitant question warmed her from the inside out, and she snuggled back into his embrace.
“What did you mean earlier by topping from the bottom?” she eventually asked when she couldn’t stand the silence between them anymore.
“It means you’re trying to get me do something you want. You’ll find I’m not that easily manipulated, and if you try that again you’ll earn yourself a trip across my knee and not the fun sort.”
He nudged her chin up with one hand until she had no choice but to look at him. The swirling emotions in his dark gaze took her breath away, as she waited for him to continue speaking.
“However, you’re new at this, so I’ll let it pass for now. In future, if you need something from me, ask. I’m pretty good at reading body language, but while we’re working out our dynamic, I’m bound to get things wrong, and I need you to tell me if I do.” The concern behind those grumbled words made fresh tears fill her eyes, and Gabe swore softly.
“Jesus, girl, don’t do that. I don’t like it when you cry.”
He released her chin and scrubbed a hand over his face as though he truly didn’t know what to do with her reaction right now, and Lissa swiped the useless tears away.
“Not even if they’re tears of happiness?”
A noncommittal grunt was his response, but he tugged her back into his chest and simply held her.
“This is nice,” she said as she hugged him back and his chest shook in silent laughter. “I didn’t like it when I woke up on my own.”
Another sigh came from the broad chest she was snuggled up against, and he hugged her closer.
“I figured you wouldn’t, but I had to get moving and didn’t want to wake you. I did leave you a note, sweetheart.”
There he went again with that simple endearment that made her heart leap for joy. She was such a sap, for him at least.
“I know, thank you.” She sat up more to find him studying her again. When she smiled at him, his answering grin softened his harsh features, and it was her turn to sigh.
“As much as I’m enjoying this, we do need to get going if we want to make that reservation, so, you’re good now?”
Lissa nodded and hopped off his lap.
“Yes, thank you for the hugs, Daddy.”
“Anytime, baby girl.”
With that, he turned and went back above deck, and Lissa made herself busy clearing up the lunch dishes. After a shower and having changed into a light summer dress in deference to the much warmer weather they were experiencing she joined him on deck with her life vest on, just in time to see him negotiate the old harbor of La Rochelle.
One they were on dry land, the beauty of the place took her breath away, as he pointed out landmarks and they soaked in the atmosphere together. From the cobbled streets of the old town to the bustling shops, the intimate restaurants they discovered and the magnificent structure that was the Saint Nicholas Tower, doing the tourist thing with Gabe was fun and exciting.
If she found it odd that he avoided the casino, she kept her opinions to herself. Clearly Gabe wanted to disassociate himself from his usual surroundings back home in London as much he could, and that was just fine by her.
Their journey along the coast continued, as the days wore on, and with each new place they discovered, she felt closer to him. And then there were the delights to discover in the privacy of their yacht. Who knew submission could bring such innate piece? Far from it being demeaning, it was empowering, and as they settled into their dynamic, Lissa had never been happier, or more creative.
Reams and reams of paper were filled with her paintings, because the artist in her needed to capture all the sites. Seeing Gabe’s approval of her skills also gave her a much-needed boost. All too soon their time was up, and they were heading back to Southampton.
The change in his demeanor the closer they came to England burst the bubble of happiness Lissa had been floating in. Something was clearly bothering him, but any attempts of getting him to talk about it, were rebuffed. Lissa sought refuge in her painting, as they moored one last time before returning home.
****
“Boss, we have a problem.”
Gabe scowled at Stone’s worried face as he fired up his computer for the first time since they left England behind. Back in the secluded cove they’d started their journey, all that separated them was short trip across the Channel this morning.
“Meaning?” He barked that question, and across the yacht Lissa jumped. He could just about see her engrossed in her painting. She scowled at the blue slash across the middle of her painting of the yacht, and Gabe sighed. He’d caused that, and it would take her hours to correct that mistake. Then again, if she was busy with that it might be a good thing all ‘round.
When he’d woken up that morning, he watched her sleep for the longest time, conflicting emotions making his chest feel tight. The faint rope marks left behind on her skin made his inner caveman strut. He loved leaving his mark on her body, and he loved her reaction to his visible reminders of his possession of her even more.
As he traced the fading half-moon of a bite mark on her left breast, he tensed. Lord knew what awaited them back in England. Would his precious girl still feel the same way about their dynamic when it came under society’s scrutiny?
He wanted nothing more than to stay on the yacht with her. To hell with business and his responsibilities back home. Seeing Lissa come out of her shell and blossom into the radiant, happy young woman she deserved to be had been a joy to witness. She thrived under his dominance, and it was his pleasure to meet her needs by being her Daddy. Her gift of submission served to ground him, to satisfy his need to care for and protect her like a husband should. Truth be told, he couldn’t fool himself any longer. He had fallen head over heels in love with her. He’d found the perfect counter foil for his darker needs and desires, and the thought of losing her burned a hole in his gut.
If she ever found out how much she meant to him, she would have the perfect ammunition to bring him to his knees. Not that he truly believed she would do that. Unless his senses were completely off, his baby girl needed him as much he needed her, and the way she looked at him when she didn’t think he was noticing soothed his damaged soul.
Silly girl. As though he ever did not notice her. Her very scent was imprinted in his psyche, which should probably worry him a great deal. To love someone this much made you vulnerable. The one thing he could not afford himself to be, yet he couldn’t bring himself to care about that either. Hence, he hadn’t been in touch with Stone until now.
“What sort of problem?” He tore his gaze away from Lissa, not before sending her a reassuring smile when she glanced across, clearly concerned by his earlier snarl at his laptop. She wouldn’t be able to see who he was talking to, but his wife wasn’t stupid.
“There’s a warrant out for your arrest, boss.”
Gabe gave a short laugh and scrubbed a hand over his face.
“Is that all? What for this time?”
Stone didn’t share in his amusement, and the light scent which signaled Lissa drawing nearer ensured his amusement fled.
“Hi, Lissa, great to see you.” Stone fixed his attention behind Gabe, and sure enough, a hesitant Lissandra appeared on the screen behind him.
“Sorry, I don’t mean to interrupt, but I figured if there’s a problem, I should know it, too.” Her voice, while wobbly, carried that grim determination Gabe had come to know well.
“Nothing the boss and I can’t handle, right, Gabe?” Stone’s attempt of reassurance fell flat, as Gabe knew it would. Lissa frowned at his second in command, crossed her arms under her chest, and he swallowed a groan. Even when covered in her painting apron, she looked far too damn sexy, and despite the imminent threat he hardened in his pants. A trace of blue paint marred her cheekbone as though she’d swiped her fingers along it, and he wanted nothing more to clean that up for her, before he tied her up and took her out of her head for bit.
He did neither, all too aware that she had a right to know what was awaiting them at home. Plus, he could sense her worry positively pouring off her little frame, and he needed to make that better for her. With that thought uppermost in his mind he pushed the chair back from the desk and patted his lap in an unspoken invitation.
The speed with which Lissa complied and snuggled into his hold lessened that building knot of fury in his guts.
Stone seemed to have other ideas, if the way his eyes narrowed were any indication.
“Erm, boss? Should we be having this conversation in front of … erm…”
“My wife? Yes, we should, as I’m pretty sure this will concern her, too, right?”
Stone’s sigh spoke volumes, and Lissa tensed in his arms. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head, which caused Stone’s eyes to widen.
“Right, well, it does, but I figured you didn’t want to—”
“Spit it out already, Stone.”
Gabe’s snarl made Lissa jump, and he hugged her a little tighter, while nuzzling into her neck. Her automatic head tilt to give him better access made him smile despite the situation, and he indulged himself by nibbling on her earlobe.
Her breathing sped up, and her little moan in response made him even harder. If only he could say fuck all this shit and simply lose himself in the delights of her body, but that wasn’t an option anymore and wouldn’t be until they’d sorted this out.
“Boss, I’m sorry, this … pay attention, will you?”
Lissa tensed anew, and Gabe swore softly as he fixed his attention on his second in command.
“You’ve got my attention, so spit it out already. What are they trying to pin on me this time?”
Stone shook his head, threw a worried glance at Lissa, and grumbled his answer.
“Kidnap, rape, attempted murder, to name but a few, boss.”
Lissa’s horrified gasp rang in his ears, and Gabe took a few deep breaths into calm his rioting emotions.
“Right.”
Lissa struggled in his arms, and he reluctantly released his hold on her. The fact that she didn’t immediately jump off his lap, utterly horrified, soothed his churning gut a little.
“We’ve got Parkinson on it, of course, but there isn’t much he can do at present. They’ve got an impressive number of witnesses together to make their case.”
Gabe gave another short laugh. It was that or pace the room, and with his baby girl still sitting on his lap, seemingly frozen in shock, he couldn’t do the latter.
“What witnesses?” He ground the question out through gritted teeth, while he drew circles over his baby girl’s tense back.
“Andrini, for one.”
“Papa?” Lissa’s response was barely a whisper, but both men heard it anyway. Stone’s expression softened as he fixed his gaze on Lissa.
“Yeah, I’m sorry, he’s one of the chief witnesses, Lissa. He claims the boss abducted you and attempted to kill Andrini while the fucker, sorry, Lissa, was trying to protect his only daughter. Blasted ass sure can lay it on thick.”
“Fuck this shit.” Lissa leaned into Gabe when he grunted that answer, and the savage beast inside him calmed down instantly.
“But that’s not true. All they have to do is ask me. I’ll put them straight, right, Daddy?”
Stone blinked once and shook his head at Gabe.
“Not as easy as that, Lissa. There’s other witnesses, too. Most of them Parkinson can hang, but there’s the vicar who married you.” That made Lissa sit up and pull away from Gabe, and he swallowed another curse.
“Fucking wanker wants more money, is that it?” Gabe asked.
“Reckon he got more, a hell of a lot more, or Ollivanti put the screws on him. You were right before, boss.” Stone paused as though he wasn’t sure how much to say in front of Lissa, and at Gabe’s silent nod continued with a sigh. “Ollivanti and Andrini are thick as thieves. There’s a number of Ollivanti girls who’ve come forward to claim you’ve raped them, boss.”
Another one of those utterly horrifying gasps from Lissa, which made him want to take her far away from all this crap. She didn’t deserve to be associated with the dark side of his business. The allegations weren’t true, but would she believe them?
“It’s all a pack of lies, Lissa. The boss wouldn’t touch Ollivanti pussy with a barge bole, let alone rape anyone.”
Lissa didn’t respond other than to hang her head. Her hair hid her expression from both men, and Gabe’s stomach churned at her silence. He would be left with a fucking ulcer at this rate.
“Lissa, you know that, right?” Stone’s voice grew more insistent, and he scrubbed a hand over his shaved head, clearly at a loss as to what to make of her lack of response. Gabe shook his head at him, and Stone frowned.
“Anyway, Parkinson will make mincemeat of them, but there’s someone else whose statement might make a difference.”
If that was possible Lissa tensed even more, and Gabe’s chest tightened to such a degree it hurt to breathe. He was going to lose her, he just knew he would, because she wasn’t handling this well. Not that he’d expected her to jump to his immediate defense, but this stillness, the waves of shocked terror which he sensed coming from her, they made breathing difficult.
“Do enlighten me, Stone.” Gabe grimaced at the hoarse quality of his voice.
“I’m sorry, boss, it’s Ange.”
Gabe shut his eyes and murmured his reply.
“Fuck.”