Vann

He wasn’t sure if GiGi looked impressed or disappointed. He supposed that her uncle had many boats, most of them far bigger than this one.

She turned to him. “Nice yacht. Don’t you have anything bigger?”

Vann laughed and then hopped from the dock into the deck. Before she could reject his offer to help her aboard, he was lifting her up on to the deck as if she weighted nothing more than a feather.

Before he set her down he took a moment to gaze into her face as they were at eye level. She looked away. “What’s on your mind?” he asked.

She breathed. “Feeling a little intimidated, I guess”

“No need to be. You should get used to this. I’m very interested in taking care of you.”

He set her down and she said, “I bet you say that to all the girls.”

“No, just you.”

“You do know how to cook for me, I’m not gonna lie,” she said.

“I do other things besides cook, you know. And I’m very good at those other things.” He moved in closer to get a read on whether or not she would like a kiss. He was going to kiss her either way, he just wanted to gauge how soon.

“I don’t really have any other needs,” she said, with blood rushing to her lips and cheeks.

“Oh, but I think you do,” he said. “Your life is out of balance. You work hard, but nobody is feeding you.”

She looked a little bit scared. He hugged her small waist with his beefy arms.

“And you’re trying to feed my ears with words because you’re also really good at talking,” she said with a smirk.

“Nope,” he said. His fingertips grazed her cheek. He traced a thumb across her cheekbone and he detected the slightest of sighs and flutter of eyelashes. At this response he took it a step further and laced his fingers into her locks of dark, wavy hair. He tilted his head close and brought her temple to his nose. He breathed her in. Her scent was strong but homey, like browned butter and spice. Her closed his eyes and pressed his cheek against hers. The feel of her skin reminded him of bed, waking up underneath cozy flannel sheets on a frosty morning. How he would love to wake up just like that, and reach over under the covers and feel her there, lying on her side, the curve of hips calling to him…her rolling over to say good morning…her limbs reached out to pretzel around him. Allowing him to wake her up with his mouth, plunging into her hidden depths, still warm from sleep.

Suddenly she sucked in her breath. Weird. It was just at the moment when he was thinking about what it would be like to taste her sex in the morning. Had he somehow whispered his desire into her ear? Had she somehow felt his thoughts?

“What are you thinking, angel face?”

“I was just noticing how you seem very …happy.” He pulled back a bit to look at her face. Her eyes were open and she was glancing downward. Then he realized why she’d gasped, his cock was hard as a granite countertop and pressing against her.

“Oh, that. Well, I’d be lying if I denied you were the cause of that.”

“Nobody’s ever called me angel face.”

“That’s a shame, ’cause you are downright gorgeous. Did you know?”

She laughed. “Rosie tells me that all the time. And…I guess I can’t be all that bad to look at if Vann West is getting a boner.”

“Don’t do that,” he said, slightly letting go of her.

“Do what?”

“Don’t put me in this untouchable box where I’m only a celebrity. I’m a human man with needs. And I need you.”

She scoffed gently. “You need me.”

“I need you in all kinds of ways, most of them in my bed.”

Her face flushed deeper. “Too bad we’re on a boat and not in your bedroom. I’m safe.”

“I guess I should take you on a tour, of the craft, then, ma’am.” he said.

She stiffened in his arms. “There’s a bed on this boat?”

“You know it.”

She pulled back out of his embrace then. “Vann, I have to tell you something. I’m a virgin. And I’ll understand if you want to take me home. I don’t have enough experience to impress you in bed.”

Vann reached out again and pulled her back toward him. “Doll, listen. I’m glad you’re a virgin. Because honestly, the idea of another dude getting it on with you makes me want to go back in time to kick their asses one at a time just so I could get to you and be your first and only.”

She was fighting the urges inside her, he could feel it. What was coming out of her mouth was not matching the scent she gave off, or the growing intensity of her pulse.

“That’s a little much for you, Vann. I always got the impression you’re much more chill than that,” she said.

He stared at her lips as she spoke. They were thick and luscious and aching to be kissed. “GiGi, I have zero chill when it comes to you.”