Chapter Thirteen
Marissa
My mouth gapes open. I can’t believe I said it. I freaking said it. I told him we should sleep together.
Oh. My. God.
What’s worse than spilling those words I never should have said is the fact that he’s staring at me, a lost look on his face, and not speaking. Hell, I’m not sure he’s breathing.
See? This is why I shouldn’t have listened to Harper. Nothing good could ever come from “just have some fun, no-strings sex with the crazy hot man. It’ll be fine.” She’s a liar. Her nose is probably growing right now from across town!
Rhenn continues to stare at me. His hands hold mine, but they’ve stopped moving. I never thought I’d miss the touch of his thumb grazing lightly over my knuckles as much as I do right now. I just hope that when he takes off running out the front door, he drops my hands so he doesn’t drag me along behind him. Though, that would probably be the perfect punishment for me: a little road rash and a few bumps and bruises.
Stop mouth!
“I’m sorry, can you repeat that? I was clearly hallucinating.” His words are hushed as he blinks repeatedly as if to clear away confusion.
“Never mind. Pretend I didn’t just say that.” Oh God! Kill me!
I try to pull my hands away, but his hold only tightens. “You’re serious?” he asks, his blue eyes searching my green ones.
“No.”
“No?”
“Yes. I mean, I don’t know.”
His eyebrows pinch together as he seems to consider his next words. Oh God, this is where he lets me down easy! You know, “it’s not you, it’s me.” Or my personal favorite, “you’re really great, but…” Is it too much to ask for the ground to open up and swallow me whole right about now? My face is burning with mortification, why not just let my body go ahead and spontaneously combust?
Without letting go of my hands, Rhenn gets up. He comes around the table and drops to his knees beside me. Using one hand, he grabs the chair leg and slowly turns me to face him. The only sound is the scraping of the chair and the beating of my heart. It sounds like a foghorn blaring in my ears.
Once he has me facing him, he takes my hands in his again. “If you mean it, say it again.” His eyes burn into me with question. But do you know what else is there? Lust. I can see it laced in his eyes, the ones the same color as the ocean. I can feel it in the way he holds my hands, ebbing from every pore in his large, muscular body.
It’s that look, that feeling I get when his eyes devour me, that has me opening up my mouth and making him the offer I know he won’t refuse. “I wanted to know if you’d like to temporarily change the status of our friendship from platonic to sexual.”
Rhenn growls. He actually growls, like an animal, moments before his lips claim mine. His kiss is fierce and dominating, it makes me wrap my legs around his waist and purr like a cat.
But all too soon, he pulls his lips from mine, my mind cloudy with desire and anticipation. “You’re serious, right? I mean, I’m not trying to talk you out of it, mainly because having you has been a fantasy since the moment you walked out of that house with smudges of dirt on your face, but are you sure? Really sure?”
“Yes.” And I am. I’m one-hundred-percent in.
“Fuck, I can’t believe you just suggested that. I thought I had actually died there for a second.” Rhenn drops his forehead to mine, our breaths mingle as we both try to calm our racing hearts. When he opens his eyes, they pierce into my soul. “I really get to have you while I’m here? For the next two weeks?”
“Yes.”
He closes his eyes, his lips softly caressing my temple. “You have no idea how turned on I am right now.”
“I think I have a pretty good idea,” I retort, flexing my hips just enough to feel the hard length of his erection pressed against my center.
Rhenn snorts a laugh before placing both hands on my cheeks and kissing me soundly. My hands wrap around his back, gripping at the tight T-shirt and holding on for dear life. My God, this man can kiss like a god. Like he majored in it in college and earned straight A’s. Warmth and wetness floods my core, and I can’t help but wonder if our first time together is actually going to be right here, on my kitchen table. I’ve never experienced table sex, and I’m a little surprised at how appealing it sounds.
“Shit,” he whispers against my mouth, stopping the kiss but not pulling away.
“Change your mind already?”
“Fuck no,” he growls, placing another kiss on the corner of my mouth. “I was just thinking about how bad I want to throw you down on the floor and ravish your body from head to toe, making you scream no less than five times before I’ve had my fill of you.”
“Five times?” I gasp, my brain barely able to compute.
“Five fucking times, Angel.” He places a chaste kiss on my lips before pulling away. “But not here. Not right now.”
Wait, what?
“Our first time together isn’t going to be on the floor or on the table.”
“I’m not opposed to the counter,” I whisper, apparently loud enough for him to hear.
Rhenn chuckles. “I promise you, our first time is going to be better than this,” he adds, nodding toward the floor, and believe it or not, I’m disappointed by this development. “Right now, my friends are probably getting ready for our day of sailing. We’re going to head back to my boat, you’re going to throw on a swimsuit, and I’m going to enjoy the fuck out of watching you prance around my boat. And tonight? I’m going to love sliding into that shitty-ass fold out bed, and do you know why?”
“Why?” My mouth is Sahara dry.
“Because you’re going to be beside me.”
“And because you’ll get sex?” I tease with a smile.
He shakes his head. “No, no sex tonight. Not with Nick and Meghan on board. When I finally have my way with you, there’ll be no one else around to hear your moans, Angel. No one else will know how many times I’ve made you come. No one but me.”
Then he kisses me again with a hunger that feels as if it won’t ever be quenched. Like he might die if he doesn’t have another taste. I know right then and there, I’m in trouble. I’m completely over my head with this man, which is why I must keep my heart completely out of the equation. In fact, I’m leaving it here at the house. No way am I taking it with me, allowing it to catch one glimpse of the man who kisses me like I’m the very air he breathes.
“And at the end of the two weeks, we walk away.” I say the words aloud, as confirmation to him, but to me, as well. Saying them makes it true, right?
“At the end of my time here, you probably won’t hear from me again.” Even though those are the words I expected to hear, actually listening to him say them causes a little hitch in my heartbeat. See? That’s why my heart is going to be locked in the cabinet at home and not allowed anywhere near my time with Rhenn.
“Just promise me one thing,” I say, pushing aside the heavy feeling in my chest and digging deep for the girl who’s engaging in a no-strings relationship.
“Anything.”
“Promise me you won’t fall in love with me.” I mean it as a joke, as a reminder of what this really is, but I don’t anticipate the catch in my breath and the slight pang of sadness when his eyes twinkle with laughter.
“No worries there, Angel. Love isn’t my thing.”
I should feel better. I mean, I knew going into this that there was no future, no real relationship. He made it clear way before he even said the words aloud, but I guess hearing him say those exact words makes it all the more final. Our time, while enjoyable as it may be, will come to an end.
It will expire.
He will leave.
And I’ll be left here, praying I still have a heart intact long after he’s gone.
* * *
I’m not going to lie: I’m a little nervous as we make our way to the small boat that’s tied off to our dock. Rhenn is holding my overnight bag in one hand and my hand in his other. My stomach feels fine (thank you, Dramamine), but my head is subtly reminding me of every other time I’ve gotten on a boat – and puked.
“You okay?” he asks, standing on the edge of the dock.
“Yep!” I reply, a bit too cheerfully. The truth is, I’m terrified.
“Come on, Angel. You got this. Nick and Meghan will be there, so you don’t have to worry about me ravishing you the moment we get on board,” he whispers, his warm breath tickling my ear. “And I promise if you’re not having a good time, I’ll bring you back. I don’t want you to be miserable.”
That. That right there. Why does he have to be such a considerate guy?
“I’m sure I’ll be fine,” I reply, steeling my spine and taking a step down into the small boat. I take my seat quickly, holding on to the side of the chair as Rhenn gets in.
So. Much. Rocking.
He sits behind me and fires up the motor. Glancing around, I start to panic. “What’s wrong?” he asks, over the sound of the motor warming up.
“Where are the life jackets?”
“There’s aren’t any on here. We’re not in very deep water.”
“Didn’t you see Titanic?” I ask, one step away from jumping ship (literally) and plastering myself to the dock.
Rhenn chuckles. “Angel, I thought you weren’t scared of sailing.”
“I’m not.”
“Then, why are you holding on to your seat like your life depends on it.”
“Because it might. You don’t have life jackets.”
“I have them on the boat. Not in here. We’re only going about two hundred yards, and the water is still fairly shallow.”
“You should always have life jackets, Rhenn. What if something happens?” Why am I panicking? Seriously, I’m starting to get embarrassed for me.
Rhenn moves, causing the entire boat to shake. “You’re right,” he says, softly, reaching forward and rubbing my cheek. “I should have them on here too. I’ve never really thought about it since I only use this every once in a while. Next time, I’ll have them.”
Swallowing hard, I get lost in the sea of blue in his eyes. “Okay.”
“Are you all right?” he asks, again that thumb caressing my cheek.
“Yeah.”
“I promise you’re safe. I’d never let anything happen to you.”
There’s so much sincerity and honesty in his eyes that I can’t help but believe him. Nodding my head, I offer him a small smile. It feels tight against the tension in my cheeks, but when he smiles back, I relax just a little more. This is going to be okay. This trip, this relationship, or whatever you want to call it, it’s going to be fine.
I’m going to be fine.
While holding on to the container of leftover pancakes as if it were going to save me in the event of the boat capsizing, Rhenn unties us and gently reverses away from the dock. We move slowly toward his sailboat (probably in light of my sudden fear of drowning), the detail and magnificence of it more evident as we draw closer. It really is a beautiful boat. Large and white, with deep blue trim. I can’t wait to get on board and really check it out.
Nick and Meghan are there as we approach the rear of the boat. Nick presses a button and the back slowly drops down, making a perfect rack to store the small boat. “Seriously?” I ask absently, watching how this entire process works.
“You okay?” Rhenn asks, steering us to the ladder. “Can you climb up there? Nick will help you.”
“I’m good,” I reply, ever so slowly reaching for the ladder. The boat is rocking, which makes it more difficult to maneuver. Not wanting to show any more fear than I’ve already displayed, I grab the rungs and pull myself up. Nick places his hand under my arm and helps guide me over the edge.
As soon as I have both feet on the deck, I’m engulfed in a warm hug from Meghan. She smells of sunscreen and coconuts, and instantly hands me a cup of something cold and bubbly. “It’s a mimosa. I figured you’d earned one since I know this isn’t your thing.”
I take a tentative drink, relishing in the cold liquid as it slides down my throat. She drinks from a glass too, but tells me hers lacks the champagne kicker. I find myself curious and carefully walk over to the edge. Nick reaches down and grabs the bags and Tupperware container of breakfast, while Rhenn expertly uses a winch to lift and secure the small boat in place.
Once it’s all set, Rhenn climbs aboard and offers me a warm smile. “Still good?”
“Yeah,” I reply, realizing for the first time that I really am good. I don’t know if it’s the anti-nausea drugs or the mimosa, but I’m really not that nervous now. The boat is much bigger than I anticipated, and the rocking is actually quite soothing, instead of frightening.
Rhenn heads over to the steering wheel and presses a few buttons. It makes me realize I know absolutely nothing about sailing, and curiosity gets the best of me. I walk over and watch as he does his thing, assumedly getting us ready to head out.
He notices my approach and waves me over. “So, this is the helm. We’ll use the motors to move out of our position, and once we get into deeper, open water, I’ll turn it off and we can sail for a bit.”
“Can I watch?” I find myself asking.
He grabs my hand and pulls me close. “I’ve got a better idea. I’ll let you sail.”
“Wait a minute, you give me shit for days and I’ve been doing this with you for years, but suddenly, you’re ready to hand the wheel over to Marissa? What the hell, man?” Nick teases his friend, a smile and ornery gleam in his eyes as he waits for a response.
“She looks much better in a bikini, man,” Rhenn replies with a shrug. I continue to watch for a bit as he does a systems check and checks all of the sails, getting us ready to head out. Once he’s done, he reaches for my hand. “We’ll take a quick tour before we pull anchor.”
I don’t draw attention to the way my body shivers when he touches me. At least, I hope I don’t.
“The deck up front is perfect for sunbathing or watching sea life,” he says, pointing to the bench seating around the sides. He heads downstairs, grabbing my bag from the stairway as he goes.
As soon as I hit the floor, I stop, shocked by how beautiful it is down here. “Wow.”
“Right? She’s a beautiful lady,” he says with a smile, gently tapping the wall beside him. “Galley kitchen with all the amenities, only slightly smaller versions,” he adds quietly, pointing to the dorm-sized fridge.
“But you have coffee,” I comment, noting the Keurig coffee pot sitting on the counter.
“Definitely,” he replies, taking my hand once more.
We walk forward just a couple of steps and find ourselves smack dab in the middle of the living area. “Your TV is huge.” It’s on the one section of wall that doesn’t have windows or storage and is bigger than the one I have in my own living room.
Rhenn chuckles. “Yeah, it came with the boat, not that I’m complaining. Bathroom,” he instructs, pointing to the small yet nice room. Honestly, the bathroom is pretty great. It’s probably fancier than my own in the cottage. “And master bedroom.”
We walk into the room, which boasts a full-size bed in the middle. There’s a chest of drawers that appear to be built into the wall, and a small television. The walls are a dark wood, offset by the light blue bedding and skylights. There’s access to the bathroom from inside the room, as well as a tiny closet.
“We can test out that bed after my guests leave,” he whispers in my ear, while running his thumb down my bare arm. Instant. Goose bumps.
“If I play my cards right?” I tease, glancing at him over my shoulder.
“Oh no, Angel. I’m a sure thing.”
And cue the ache between my legs…
“You two ready to hit it?” Nick yells down the stairs.
“Oh, I’m definitely ready to hit it.” Something tells me he’s not referring to the sailing. To confirm my suspicions, Rhenn steps forward and presses his erection against my side. It’s big – holy moly, is it big – and definitely hard. Something tells me I’m completely out of my league with this man. The room is suddenly a thousand degrees and climbing.
Before I can rip off my clothes, throw myself onto the bed, and beg him to take me three ways to Monday, Rhenn pulls back. “Why don’t you get into your suit and I’ll get us ready to go. You can use the drawer out here for your things,” he says, stepping out of the scorching bedroom and pulling out one of the empty drawers in the living space.
I nod, unable to find words, and watch as he sets my bag on top of the table. Without a word, he throws me a wink and heads upstairs. My eyes close and a loud groan spills from my lips. How did I get myself into this mess? Well, not a mess, really. And to be honest, I’m here because I want to be. Because there’s nowhere else I’d rather be in this moment. Everything else just fades away.
Making quick work of placing my personal belongings into the drawer, I grab my suit – the one I purchased on impulse and have yet to find the guts to wear – and slip into the bathroom. There’s more room in here than I anticipated. There’s a beautiful shower unit and a small sink. More dark built-in shelves line one wall, and natural light spills from the ceiling.
I close the door, anxiety filling my stomach as I glance down at the scrap of blue material. I knew I should have brought my one piece, but I also knew that if I had, I would talk myself out of wearing this one. Harper convinced me while I was having a weak moment that I could pull this one off. I’m not so sure I can, though. It’s…well, tiny. It’s all dental floss and majestic blue material, the same color as Rhenn’s eyes, coincidentally.
Sucking it up, I rip off my shorts and tank top and throw on the bikini. I feel naked. I’ve never – and I do mean never – worn something so revealing, especially in front of another human being, let alone three others. Before I grab my wrap, I risk a glance in the mirror. I’m a little on the pale side, having no time to sunbathe this early in the summer season. Actually, I’m not sure I’ve spent much time in the sun for the last three summers. The bed and breakfast has taken off so much, filling every weekend to capacity, that I don’t allow myself much downtime, even though my mom tries to push me out the door. There’s just too much to do on a day-to-day basis, and taking an afternoon to lie in the sun isn’t a luxury I’ve been able to afford.
I risk a glance down at the bikini bottoms. I feel like my ass cheeks are completely exposed, but I find them tastefully covered. Well, as covered as can be, all things considered. I do have a two-piece suit that I’ll wear on occasion, but it has a tankini and a skirt. Not a lot of skin showing there; not like this one.
Also, it’s a good thing my sister talked me into a bikini wax last weekend…
Overall, I don’t look too bad, all things considering. My stomach isn’t nearly as tight as Harper’s but that’s because I don’t spend nearly as much time in the gym as I pretend to. Plus, I like home-baked goods. You know, cookies, brownies, chocolate truffle a la mode with home-churned vanilla ice cream. I make some fabulous desserts, and I’m not one to shy away from a little taste test every now and again. Desserts are life. And that’s okay. Steeling my resolve, I suck in a deep breath and grab the door handle. Before I can throw on my wrap to cover up the bikini, I head upstairs, grabbing my sunscreen as I go.
The sun is bright as I join the others on deck, so I move my sunglasses from my head to my face. There’s a light breeze, not enough of a chill, but enough to not feel like you’re baking under the intense mid-morning sunlight.
“Hubba, hubba!” Meghan bellows before throwing in a catcall for good measure.
I can feel my cheeks starting to heat as I glance her way. She’s smiling widely, wearing her own pink and yellow bikini, and sitting beside her husband on the bench seat. Nick wears a smirk, but his eyes aren’t on me; they’re just over my shoulder. Slowly, I turn and face the driver…errr, captain. His mouth is hanging open – like catching flies open – and his eyes are so wide, I can see the whites behind his sunglasses.
“Fucking hell,” he mumbles, and I’m pretty sure he didn’t mean for me to hear.
I glance down, suddenly afraid I don’t have something properly covered. When I don’t see anything exposed (you know, no one needs a Janet Jackson nip-slip), I take the wrap and start to bring it to my shoulder. I’m not entirely sure if his reaction is of the good variety or not, but I’m not really comfortable enough to wait around to find out.
Rhenn is moving lightning fast before I even have the sheer black material over one arm. “Don’t you dare,” he practically growls, low enough that I don’t think my cousin and her husband heard. He rips his glasses off, the look of pure lust and desire clearly etched on his handsome face as he reaches for the wrap and tosses it over his shoulder.
Into the ocean.
“That wasn’t very nice,” I whisper. Meghan starts to laugh behind me, and all I can do is stare into those intoxicating blue eyes. He looks as if he’s about to eat me alive, slowly and deliciously. My body is humming and I’m pretty sure my nipples are now poking through my suit.
“You’re gorgeous. Please don’t cover it up.”
“I couldn’t now if I wanted to. You threw my wrap overboard.”
He smirks, not an ounce of apology on his face as his eyes slowly peruse down my body. I can feel the heat of his stare all the way to my toes. “I’m not fucking sorry.” When his eyes finally return to mine, they’re smiling and bright, and suddenly, the tension I felt about wearing this suit just sort of fades away.
I take the seat behind him, across the boat from Meghan and Nick. Their fingers are linked on her lap and I don’t miss the way his thumb strokes her bare stomach. She’s not far enough along yet to show, but knowing she’s pregnant with his child and he’s tenderly stroking her abdomen has my biological clock ticking a little too loudly.
Rhenn raises the anchor and fires up the engine. It purrs like a kitten, a low hum that has me excited for my first sailing adventure. When he’s ready, he pushes on the throttle and the boat starts to move. As we head out to open water, the boat slowly picks up momentum, yet he keeps it at the appropriate speed. When he reaches the final buoy, he hammers down, the beautiful sailboat taking off like a bullet.
My heart is pounding in my chest, the wind whipping my hair, but do you know what I don’t feel? Afraid. There’s something about Rhenn at the helm that has me refraining from reaching for the nearest life vest. Instead, I try to relax a little in my seat, keep my eyes open, and enjoy the ride.
After a few more minutes, Rhenn slows the boat and turns off the engine. Once he does, Nick jumps up and, together, they prepare the sails. I watch, awestruck, as they both fluidly move about the boat. Nick doesn’t do anything without Rhenn agreeing, which tells me he respects his friend and his boat. There’s something almost magical about the way Rhenn moves, his taut abs flexing beneath his T-shirt and the corded muscles working on his powerful legs. And let’s not forget about his board shorts. I never thought a man could look so sexy in a pair of navy and white trunks, but heaven help me, this man is pure sex appeal.
With a rope in his hand, Rhenn starts to raise the big blue sail. The moment the wind catches, we jerk forward, Runaround Sue finally stretching her beautiful legs. Nick and Rhenn continue to work in tandem until we’re sailing at a comfortable pace. I wish I knew what they were saying, but I have no idea what aloft, jibboom, mast, or headsail mean.
The landscape starts to change as the shoreline becomes smaller. We’re surrounded by vibrant water as the sun shines high in the sky, warming my skin. I close my eyes and feel. Feel the wind against my face; feel it whipping through my hair, and feel it kissing my skin. Sailing is glorious, and I’m so glad he convinced me to face my fears (well, with the help of Dramamine) and come out for the day.
And the night too.
Let’s not forget that I’m staying here.
All night.
With Rhenn.
After about an hour, the boat starts to slow and eventually come to a stop. I’ve been lost in my own world, watching the distant landscape and the sea life that appears at the water’s surface, and truly just relaxing for the first time in…forever. “Where are we?” I ask, glancing around as if some familiar landmark might tip me off.
“We’re not too far from Wilmington,” Rhenn says as he drops anchor. The water is littered with boats of all sizes, but they’re still pretty distant. “I thought we could relax here for a while and grab a bite to eat.”
“Yes, please. Baby needs food,” Meghan replies, rubbing her stomach.
“Then we must feed Baby,” Nick says, capturing her lips with his own.
“Do they do this all the time?” I mumble to Rhenn as he approaches and sits down beside me.
“All the fucking time. It’s so gross. I don’t need to see Dad maul Mom like she’s his dinner. We haven’t even had the birds and the bees talk yet,” Rhenn quips with a smirk.
“Who do you think taught me about sex?” Nick asks without removing his lips from his wife’s. “And it wasn’t Mom.”
Rhenn laughs and stretches out beside me, his arm brushing my shoulder as he places it on the back of the seat. “I believe that was Penthouse.”
“First time I saw boobs and got a boner,” Nick adds, pulling his wife into his embrace and holding her close.
“Where did you get Penthouse?” Meghan asks, glancing over to Rhenn as if he’s instantly the guilty party.
“Don’t look at me like that. Your husband found it and showed it to me.”
“Bullshit, asshole! I only found it because you told me to snoop in my dad’s office.”
“I told you to look for spare change to buy candy. Not porn,” Rhenn blasts, giving his friend a pointed look.
“Whatever. I should have dumped your ass years ago. You were the worst influence,” Nick retorts, though clearly kidding.
“I was the best influence. Your parents loved me.”
“Not so much senior year,” Nick adds, making them both laugh.
“Yeah, maybe not so much then,” Rhenn concedes.
Nick just smiles. “Only because you told them you were the one screwing Jane Rhoades in my bedroom.”
Rhenn shrugs. “They forgave me in the end, but only after I had to endure your dad’s safe sex talk. Did you know that it only takes one sperm to fertilize a woman’s waiting egg, Nick? One sperm.”
We all laugh, even though they’re clearly having their own conversation right now. “I think I have that figured out, man, but thanks for the tip.” Nick kisses the top of Meghan’s head and holds her close.
After several moments of quiet, Meghan finally speaks. “Jane Rhoades, huh?”
Nick and Rhenn laughs. “I told you about her.”
“Was she the college girl?” Meghan asks curiously, not an ounce of jealousy in her voice.
“With huge tits,” Rhenn answers for him with a head nod. “Only time I’ve ever been fucking jealous of your man. She was a screamer.”
“That’s why I got caught. Anyway, let’s stop talking about our younger, stupider days. My beautiful wife is hungry, therefore I must feed her.”
“There’s pancakes in the fridge,” I reply, finally able to add to the conversation, though I never felt like an outsider. I’m used to sitting back and listening, and Rhenn and Nick have amazing friendship dynamics.
“Wait, no there’s not,” Rhenn replies loudly, before turning to me. “You weren’t supposed to tell them that. Then I can eat them later for a midnight snack.”
“Give me the pancakes, Burleski, and no one will get hurt,” Meghan demands, standing up and following her husband to the stairs.
“Fine, I’ll share. You can have one. But your no-good husband isn’t getting his hands on my pancakes.”
“You can put your hands on my pancakes,” Meghan assures him with a wicked gleam in her eyes. Rhenn and I get up to follow them downstairs, and are treated to watching Nick wrap his hands around his wife’s ass and pick her up. Her legs automatically wrap around his waist and their little kiss from earlier seems to continue immediately.
Only this time, I’m not so sure they’ll stop.
“We should grab our food and return to the deck. Otherwise, we’re going to get another bird and bees lesson. And this one might be a visual,” Rhenn says loudly to me, earning a middle finger from Nick, who never breaks the kiss.
“I’ll grab the silverware. You grab the food,” I reply, making quick work of getting our food and supplies and returning to the deck.
Nick and Meghan don’t join us.
Apparently, pancakes can wait…