“What the fuck was that, Ysabelle?” Madam demanded.

I had no idea what came over me. I never got involved with the finances. I had responded on pure impulse. I was afraid that he wouldn’t pay $80,000 for me and I wanted to see him again.

“Madam…with all due respect, I’m allowed to set the bar for my appointments, or am I not? Let me know if I’ve overstepped my boundaries and it won’t happen again. I was under the impression that I could make my own decisions,” I informed her, standing my ground. Madam didn’t scare me anymore, she needed me more than I needed her and she knew that.

She raised her eyebrows at me, “Do I need to worry about your involvement with this client, Bella Rosa? Is there something you’re not telling me? Do I need to remind you of who and what you are, and of our business arrangement?”

“Of course not, if it makes you feel better take all of it. I screwed you out of your money, therefore take mine.”

“Shit,” she said with disgust. “I never thought the day would come. You’re attached to him. What the fuck, Ysabelle? Have I taught you nothing? Do I need to call him back and cancel this event? Must I make you walk away from him?”

“Madam, it’s nothing like that. I know how to do my job and you have nothing to worry about. I have this under control. But just to keep the record straight, you can’t tell me what to do. You are aware of that?” I hissed.

“Bella Rosa, you’re closer to me than any daughter I could have had. DO NOT get emotionally attached to a MARRIED man, do you understand me?”

“Perfectly,” I responded as I turned and walked out.

I got into my car and hit the steering wheel with the palms of my hands, “Fuck!” I yelled. “What are you doing, Ysabelle?”

I took a deep breath hit my steering wheel a few more times, put my car in drive, and drove home to contemplate what the fuck I was doing.

 

 

“I’m going to miss you so much, Sebby. I wish I was going with you,” Julia expressed with her arms around me. My face was buried in her neck, because it was getting more complicated and difficult for me to look at her. If she wasn’t so preoccupied with her current case she probably would have noticed.

“I know, Babygirl, I’m going to miss you, too. It’s not going to be long; I’ll be coming home to you before you know it. Plus, Christian will enjoy sleeping on my side.” She laughed.

I kissed her and picked up Christian.

“Remember what I said, bud?” I asked.

“Yep! I’m the man of the house. I got this,” he answered, making both Julia and I laugh.

I reminded Julia that I wouldn’t be able to talk to her until Saturday when I hit land in the Virgin Islands. I wasn’t lying when I said I wouldn’t get any cellular reception offshore. I gave her all my GPS wave points, that way she could check on me and she wouldn’t worry.

I drove to the marina and brought my bag inside the yacht. I knew it was too early to start drinking, but I had to do something to calm my nerves. I poured a glass of scotch and went out on the deck and looked out on the water. There were a million thoughts running through my head as I watched the waves.

“Hi, stranger.” I heard a familiar voice say from behind me, I turned and smiled. She was dressed in all white; a white lace top and long skirt, I immediately noticed she was wearing sandals and it made me chuckle.

“No heels, I see.”

She smiled, “Well you know, safety hazard and all.”

She walked over to me and put her arms around my neck, catching me by surprise. I wrapped my arms around her waist and picked her up off the ground. She felt smaller without the heels.

She smelled like honey and vanilla mixed together.

I put her back down on the ground and we smiled at each other. The awkwardness and nervousness that I thought would come was gone. It was never there. It was as if I had known her all my life.

“Want me to show you around?” I asked, grabbing her hand.

“Sure, where am I sleeping?” she questioned, smirking.

“Where do you want to sleep?” I replied, grinning back.

She giggled, “Wherever you want me to.” She was damn quick, that’s for sure.

“How about I just show you around first, and then we can decide where this sleepover will take place?” I questioned and she nodded.

“Perfect, I have a present for you.” She walked over to behind her bag and pulled out two coffees and bagels.

“I don’t know how you take your coffee, I know I can’t live without caffeine and it’s pretty early. You’re also big…I’m assuming you like to eat.”

“I do like to eat and I take my coffee black.”

“Ha, interesting. Me, too.”

We sat on the platform in the back of the boat. Drinking and eating.

“What kind of yacht is this?

“It’s a Carver C40, rides like a dream. Have you ever driven a yacht?” She cocked her head to the side with a smile.

“What do you think?”

“Uh, no?”

“Seriously…you think you’re the first man to whisk me away on a yacht? For some reason men like to teach me things. I don’t know where it comes from, it’s some cave like mentality you guys have. I could probably teach you a thing or two,” she laughed, looking at my stale face.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I replied walking away to the top deck.

I needed to be alone with my thoughts for a second. I knew what she did for a living, hell I had purchased her just like many others have before me. I couldn’t help feeling, I don’t know, resentful I guess. I didn’t like the thought of other men teaching her a mother fucking thing. Not how to navigate a yacht, not how to…No, that wasn’t it. It was the thought of what she was doing on these yachts with other men. I had no right. What the fuck was I thinking? This was a bad idea. My wife and kid should be here with me.

 

 

Great. Way to start the trip, Ysabelle. I knew I had hit a nerve, I’m not quite sure why. He knew what my profession was; I mean damn, he was paying me to be here. Did he honestly think that I cruised around the ocean with men as eye candy?

This was going to be more difficult than I could have ever imagined. I didn’t know how to act around this man. All the rules and guidelines were thrown out the window. I didn’t know what I could and couldn’t say. This had never happened to me before.

He paid for my companionship and he just needed to realize that this is who I am. Fuck it. We had no ties to one another and I was here to complete another job. This trip was not starting out the way I’d hoped it would. Did I really even know what I was getting myself into?

“Ysa!” he called, breaking me from my thoughts. I turned to look at him.

“Come here,” he excitedly called.

I walked up to the upper deck and looked out to where he was pointing; two dolphins were frolicking in the distance. I was glad that the atmosphere had lightened up and he was once again smiling. It truly was an amazing sight. The sun was bright, warming our skin.

“I love dolphins, let’s go swim with them,” I stated.

“We’re not swimming with the dolphins. We’ll scare them away,” he laughed. I looked up at him grinning and looked back at the dolphins, not wanting to comment on his remark. I didn’t want him to know that I had seen dolphins before, I’ve even swam with them, so I kept quiet and admired the view.

“Say it,” he demanded. I looked up at him with raised eyebrows.

“Say what?” I asked confused.

“Say what you’re thinking.”

“I wasn’t thinking anything,” I tried.

“You’re a liar. Did Madam teach you that, too?”

“I’m not lying. I was just thinking about swimming with dolphins,” I smirked, biting my bottom lip to keep from laughing. I knew the look in his eye. It was a little off, sort of strange. I could read him pretty clear. I knew what he was thinking. He was getting ready to attack.

I screamed when he scooped me up effortlessly. “You want a swim with dolphins?” he tormented.

“No, I was joking. Don’t you dare, Sebastian; I’m wearing a nice outfit. Let me put on my bikini,” I demanded, tightening my arms around his neck. Maybe I couldn’t read him. I was afraid there for a second that he was really going to do it.

“Trust me, doll, if I go in, you’re going with me,” I assured him, clasping my hands, not about to let go of him.

He laughed. I loved to hear him laugh. “You do realize that I am a hell of a lot bigger than you, don’t you?”

“And you realize I could-.”

“You could what, Ysa? Tell me what you could do?” he teased, knowing he had the upper hand.

I’m not sure why I did it, I kissed him. Our playfulness turned into a sinful, romantic kiss. I imagine I kissed him because that was the weapon I had, the weapons that I was used to using. My body, it always won. I had played this game numerous times, but it was the first time it was attached to feelings, and I got them, full force I had them.

Once again I was kissing and in the arms of the man that utterly fucked with my head and I didn’t want it to stop. I was digging myself deeper into a hole that I didn’t know if I had the capability to dig myself out of. It was deep and dirty. The feel of his body against mine, as he carefully placed my feet on the deck and slid me down his body, was overwhelming.

“Maybe we should get this trip on the move,” I questioned, pulling away. He let me go. He was having the same emotional roller coaster battle that I was. I knew he was, I could see it on his face. I also knew that we would never talk about it. We’d spend our couple of days together, he would go home to his family, and I would go home to my men.

“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea,” he said, clearing his throat.

“So, where can a girl get a drink around here?” I questioned, I needed alcohol and I needed it now.

“There is a bar with alcohol by the kitchen. You will find a ton of stuff there. The yacht came fully stocked, we can replace what we drink when we arrive.”

“Perfect, would you like anything? I make a mean margarita.”

“That would be perfect, thanks.” He turned around and went over to the control room. His demeanor had changed and I could see he was having some sort of internal battle with himself.

We set sail at almost 10 a.m. that Thursday morning. While he was getting everything situated, I took the opportunity to compose myself and went to change into my white bikini. Now living in Miami I had tons of bikinis, I had brought eight different kinds for this trip, a girl needed options. I chose to wear my white bandeau top and white Brazilian bottoms first.

I went into the kitchen and made frozen margaritas. He wasn’t lying when he said the bar was fully stocked. I decided right then and there that one drink wasn’t going to be enough for me and grabbed the blender and brought it up with me.

“Wow, this is spectacular, Sebastian. I could live on the ocean,” I addressed him casually, walking into the control room in a bikini and drinks in my hands.

He turned in the direction of my voice, immediately taking in my body with his eyes and he wasn’t subtle about it at all.

“Like what you see?” I taunted, I knew I was being bad but I just couldn’t help it, it was in my nature.

“Hmm…let me think about that for a second, no I don’t think I do, Ysa. I actually love it, and that seems to be the fucking problem,” he decided, laughing.

I handed him his drink, set down the blender on the co-captains chair, and moved to stand in front of the steering wheel that also happened to be in front of him.

“Look what I can do,” I grinned, grabbing the steering wheel and pushing the level forward to speed up the yacht.

I loved being on the water it did something to me, I started steering and shaking my butt in a happy dance, smiling in the wind.

I suddenly felt Sebastian’s arms around my waist and his face in the crook of my neck, nuzzling me from behind. I leaned into his embrace and we drove the boat like that for quite some time.

For the next hour we talked, flirted, and enjoyed each other’s company. We talked about nothing, which was still just as entertaining. He told me stories about his dad and his outrageous patients, how his mom was his rock and was always there for him. I found out about his fraternity brothers and their crazy drunken times, how much he loved NYU and New York. He told me how much he loved the water and would love to live on a boat and sail around the world if he could.

I told him that maybe he was a dolphin in a past life, or better yet, he was a pirate. I let him do most of the talking and before I knew it, I had drank the entire pitcher of margaritas by myself.

 

 

She was giggling like crazy for the last twenty minutes and she kept touching me in one way or another, at first it was subtle. Now, she was practically sitting in my lap. Every time she laughed her whole body would shake and it was making me sort of hard, I kept trying to think of baseball or puppies; it wasn’t working. I finally had to casually move her off me, because I didn’t want this to turn sexual.

As much as I wanted a repeat of our last encounter, I didn’t want her to think this was all about sex. I also didn’t know if I could do it again. As of right now, I just wanted to be around her and get to know her. When she kissed me, I remembered what it was like being in her arms. She was a fucking addiction for me, I just had to keep coming back for more.

Her body was fucking ridiculous, I couldn’t fathom how such a tiny person could have an ass like that, and how her breasts were perky and plump. She kept having to pull up her top and every time she did it made them bounce. What the fuck, I was turning into a fifteen year old boy all over again.

“Sebastian!” she yelled. “What the hell? Did you hear anything I just said?”

“Mmm hmm.” I nodded.

“Who’s lying now?” she harassed me. “Anyhow, guess what?” she said a little too loud while clapping her hands. “It’s time to go swimming.”

“Swimming? Really? You’re not scared of sharks?” I could never get Julia to go in the ocean when we were this far offshore. Hell, I could never get Julia in the water since we were kids.

“Sebastian! Don’t be such a puss, and besides, sharks are more scared of you than you are of them. They only come up to you because they’re curious and usually only attack if they feel threatened.”

“You’re a marine biologist now?”

“No, smart ass. I love to read and I love the water. I didn’t have this growing up like some trust fund babies do,” she boasted, sticking out her tongue. “In reality I was actually thinking of buying myself a boat, I don’t need something this luxurious. Have any idea where I could purchase one?”

“I think I may know somebody.”

“Oh really…hmm…you think he’ll give me a discount?”

“You know…I don’t know, it may cost you.” I knew that I was playing with fire, I had no control when I was with this woman. She moved over to me, flipped her hair to the side, and looked at me with seduction in her eyes.

“What did you have in mind?” she provoked me, licking her lips. I swallowed the saliva that had accumulated in my mouth; my throat seemed really dry all of a sudden.

“Sebastian…” she whispered.

“Yeah, Ysa…”

“I want…”

“What do you want?” I grunted.

“I want…” she said, licking her lips again, “to go swimming,” she blurted out, pushing me back at the same time; she quickly turned and took off running and giggling the entire way.

Her laughter was contagious, “oh…it’s on, little girl. You better run because I will catch you and when I do, you’re in trouble,” I threatened. I put the yacht in idle and took off after her.

By the time I reached the bottom, I heard a splash and then a shriek.

“What? Shit, are you all right?” I asked, looking over the edge.

“Fuck. I lost my top! Seriously…it’s completely gone. I love that top. Help me…” she pleaded.

I laughed a little before jumping in to search for her top. I found it over by the front of the boat and swam back with it in my mouth.

“My hero!” she shouted, jumping in my arms with her legs and arms wrapped around me.

It took exactly 2.5 seconds before my cock decided he was going to make an appearance. She immediately noticed and busted out laughing.

“You are such a guy!”

“Are you kidding me? I have a topless, beautiful woman wrapped around me; I’m not dead, but I am drowning,” I stated, maneuvering us over to the ladder. I sat on the edge of it and she stayed right where she was.

She smiled at me and it wasn’t a seductive smile that I was used to, it was the type of smile that lit up her entire face. Her eyes were shining from the sun and she had raccoon eyes from her mascara and the water. Her hair was messy and gathered all over her face. She looked perfect.

“Now what?” she tempted, waiting for me to make the move.

I slowly kissed the tip of her nose, her cheeks, then her forehead, and moved back to look into her eyes. What I saw shocked me, they were teary eyed; she bit her bottom lip, shook her head, and swam away from me.

I didn’t know what I had done wrong, I had made her uncomfortable. She put her head under water, came back up, and it was gone.

 

 

Why was he doing this to me? This wasn’t about sex at all. I had tried the entire morning to get him to fuck me and he wouldn’t or couldn’t, I don’t even fucking know. He was trying to treat me like…a lady, be respectful and not make it seem like I was here for sex. I had been with hundreds of men and not one had ever made me feel like my walls could crumble at any moment.

I know I wasn’t supposed to call myself a prostitute. I knew the shit that Madam put in our heads; we were escorts, companions, jewels, and so forth, deep down I knew what I was. It didn’t matter how you labeled or sugar coated it, I sold myself for money. I was at the mercy of whoever purchased my time.

They made me feel a lot of things; emotional wasn’t one of them. I needed to get away from him and I needed to do it fast, how the fuck was I going to do that now? I was stuck and not just for today, for the next three days.

I dipped my head under water and put on a show. That’s what I was good at and that’s what I fucking knew.

“Hey! Do you have fishing poles?” I suggested, hiding behind my façade while reaching for my top. He looked at me confused and nodded handing it to me.

I tied it back on, “let’s put them out and troll while we head back in the right direction.” He nodded again, this time less confused, yet sad for me.

I hated it. I didn’t want it and I sure as hell didn’t need it.

We went back on the boat and I decided that we needed some space. He drove and I laid out on the bow with my iPad. I read for a little while and dozed off. I awoke to him lying beside me, on his side, and propped up on his arm.

“It’s a little stalkerish watching me while I’m sleeping, don’t you think?” I said yawning, “How long have I been out?” 

“A long time. It’s almost dinnertime. The liquor and sun got to you,” he explained, moving my hair away from my face.

“You make the cutest noises when you sleep by the way. Were you dreaming?”

“I don’t think so,” I cautioned. “I’m going to go take a shower and change. Oh! Did we catch any fish?”

“We most certainly did, a couple groupers and a snapper.”

“Yum.”

“I’ll tell you what, you go shower and change, and I will make us some dinner.”

“Really?” I asked surprised.

The men I was with never made me dinner; I mean, they took me out to dinner, just never made me anything, unless it was delivered or on my body.

“Of course, let me wine and dine you,” he retorted.

I showered trying to ignore the crazy whirlwind that had been today, and it was only the first day. I tried not to think about the sleeping arrangements, I contemplated sleeping in another room, I didn’t want to. I wanted to sleep next to him and maybe even in his arms.

I never wanted to sleep in a man’s arms, I fucking hated it. I endured it because I had to. For the first time, I wanted to sleep in the warmth and comfort of another person. 

I opted on drying my hair naturally. I didn’t even bother with any makeup. I put on a pair of white cotton shorts and a gray crop top that fell off my shoulder. No bra or panties, I couldn’t help myself, can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

I went to the table that was next to the kitchen and he was already sitting there, looking showered and dressed in basketball shorts and a sleeveless NYU college shirt.

“Great, I guess comfortable is the dress code for tonight. I was worried I might be underdressed,” I announced.

“I think you look even better than you do when you’re all done up. Your hair is curly,” he said, pointing to my hair.

I grabbed the ends and twirled them around my finger, “the humidity makes it even curlier, I usually straighten it.”

“Why?”

“Madam,” was all I replied.

He placed the food in the middle of the table, “Dinner is ready, I made some salad with it and put Italian dressing on it. I hope that’s all right?” he stated, changing the subject.

“Italian is great.”

We ate in somewhat of a silence, and it was driving me so crazy that I got up, grabbed my phone, and put it on the dock. We listened to soft jazz music.

After dinner was done I excused myself to go brush my teeth and when I came back I found him outside looking up at the moon.

“It’s a full moon tonight,” he said.

“It’s striking.”

He turned to me, “You’re striking” he said while he grabbed my hand and kissed my inner wrist.

“I know this probably must seem very confusing to you because it’s confusing to me. There’s this big purple elephant in the room that neither one of us will address and it should be me to say something.”

He took a deep breath, “Ysa, you are completely and utterly fucking with me. I don’t know what to do with you, I can’t stay away from you. You’re this remarkable, breathtakingly beautiful woman who literally has men groveling at her feet.” I rolled my eyes.

“No, I’m serious…I don’t want to talk about VIP but you literally have men paying thousands of dollars for an hour with you, me included. You don’t realize this pull you have. I never imagined I would be this man. Okay…I know what I’m doing is wrong, and I can’t stop myself from picking up the damn phone to see you again. I can’t lie, at first it was about you looking like Olivia,” he sighed.

“Now I don’t even think about her when I look at you, I don’t see her anymore. I see Ysabelle. I see you, Ysa. I see you,” he repeated.

“Sebastian, please…we don’t have to discuss this. Let’s take it for what it is all right? I am what I am, and it is what it is. When this is all over you’re going home to your family and that’s where you belong. I will be going home, where I belong,” I explained.

“Why didn’t you tell her?”

“What?”

“Madam, why didn’t you tell her what happened at the hotel?”

I couldn’t answer that question, I didn’t even know the answer, and so I just shrugged my shoulders.

He bowed his head in defeat and pulled me to him, hugging me and molding me to his body. Then he looked into my eyes, kissed my forehead, grabbed my hand, and we danced there under the moonlight with nothing other than the demons that await.