“We wouldn’t sail, sir. It has a top speed of fifty-eight knots. You’ll be holding on for dear life while tears stream from your eyes.” The captain grinned.

I wanted to punch him. What if he’d been hired to take us out to sea and dispatch us on behalf of Emerald Dragon and his concubine hoard, or the Rattlesnake ass**les in Australia with their harem of drugged-up slaves?

“Surely there’s another pilot who can fly the Otter?”

“Q?” Tess appeared by my shoulder, flanked by Franco. Her eyes landed on the man who I wanted to throw off the pier.

“Everything okay, boss?” Franco asked, eyeing up the speedboat captain with a glint best described as wolf-like. Franco had embraced what we’d done in Rio, and I had no doubt he’d like to have a reason to do it again.

“Apparently our pilot is on his death bed, and our transportation now includes a flimsy dingy.”

“Not a dingy, sir. It’s a top-of-the-line vessel. And unfortunately it’s your only option as the Otter is in for its regular maintenance and the other seaplane operators are fully booked this week with a Japanese tour group.” Bill raised an eyebrow. “If you want to travel, I’m your only option.”

“A boat doesn’t sound so bad,” Tess said, smiling at Bill. She may look unafraid and cool but no one knew her like I did. The nuances of the way she held herself hinted she didn’t like being around strangers.

I glanced at the line of boats all bobbing like f**king corks in the water. So unreliable. So rudimentary. “How long will it take?”

“Depends on where you’re going. I’ve been sworn to secrecy and was told you’d provide coordinates.”

Shit, yet another bribe-able human who would know about Volière. Was there another way?

Bill seemed to hear my thoughts. “I’m your only choice, unless you want to swim.”

I glanced at Tess. She seemed fairly relaxed—not too tense. I trusted her instincts and she wasn’t throwing off alarm signals.

“Fine. It’s 29.0580 North and 16.8796 West. How long?”

Bill’s forehead furrowed, doing some quick math. “About thirty to forty minutes. That’s at thirty-five knots. Can’t have you falling overboard at top speed.”

I glowered.

“If it’s the only option, it’s the only option,” Franco said, stating the f**king obvious.

We’d only been away from home for five hours, and I already missed the security and sanctuary of my chateau.

“Fine,” I muttered. “Let’s go.” Grabbing Tess’s elbow, I guided her toward the sparkling white speedboat. State of the art instruments and glass radar screens refracted the sun, blinding me as I stopped. How the hell were we supposed to get on board?

Bill dashed past us, hurling himself onto the deck looking nimble and a regular seafarer. The creaking of the salt-drenched pier sounded haunted as he placed a small platform across the gap. In another second, he’d attached a handrail, beckoning us across.

“You go first.” I motioned at Franco. He rolled his eyes but took our bags, striding over the plank. Bill took the duffels and placed them inside one of the mahogany bench seats.

Tess went to move forward, but I couldn’t unwrap my fingers around her wrist. I hated the thought of letting go—even though I’d be able to touch her the moment we were on board. Let go of her, you idiot. My fingers released, and I cursed the burn deep inside me. I needed the ‘Q’ branded on her neck to be in full view. I needed everyone to see who her master was.

Flashing a fleeting smile, she crossed the gangway, following Franco’s example. A lash of anger filled me when Bill’s eyes lit up. He offered her his hand to jump the small distance into the boat.

Franco might have rights to touch my woman but no other male did. Never f**king again.

Ignoring the plank, I leapt over the side, narrowly missing an embarrassing plunge into the sea, and spun to offer my hand. The roll and buoyancy of the boat beneath my feet gave me instant seasickness. Give me planes, helicopters, even gliders and parachutes, and I was fine; put me on a boat, and I f**king hated every moment of it.

Tess looked between me and the captain, her lips pressed together. She knew what I was doing. She knew I wouldn’t let him touch her, and she knew exactly what I would do if she took his hand over mine.

Lucky for her she didn’t play games, otherwise I would’ve had to break the captain’s legs.

With a soft smile, she reached for my palm. The moment her fingers looped with mine, my c**k thickened. I might be governed by my heart nowadays but having her delicate, very breakable touch in mine turned the man into a monster, and f**k I wanted her. I wanted her spread below me, bound before me. I wanted her gagged and chained, so I could worship her for hours.

Squeezing my eyes briefly, I kept a tight hold on my needs and very carefully grabbed her waist. Lifting her the small distance downward, I deliberately kept her body away from mine. I swallowed hard. “Tu vas bien?”You okay?

She nodded. Her lips parted, and the scent of mint and Tess’s unique smell enveloped me. “Yes. I’m always okay when I’m with you.”

I couldn’t help asking why? Why did she trust me? Why had she forgiven me? She’d been stolen when she’d been with me. Taken when I’d promised to keep her safe. My chest concaved with a quarry of guilt.

I turned to face the man who had our lives in his hands while crossing an ocean. Hell, I hated boats. “I don’t want to be on this piece of shit any longer than necessary. Let’s go.”

Bill jumped to action. Tess moved to sit on the back wraparound seat while Franco perched on one of the high seats by the control hub. His eyes were hidden behind dark sunglasses, and he’d taken off his black blazer, revealing the shoulder holster with his two guns.

Tess eyed the weapons but instead of looking distasteful, she looked relieved. I wanted to know what she thought. I wanted into her damn mind. If she didn’t start talking soon I’d have to use drastic measures to get information out of her.

I sat beside Tess. She instantly slid closer, pressing her hip against mine. I wasn’t one for public displays of affection but if she so much as touched me again, I would strip her in seconds and take her in full view.

Goddammit, the images in my head were thick and tempting. Her panting while I licked her pu**y. Her tears streaming as I re-introduced her to pain and pleasure. My balls tightened in anticipation.