“Good morning,” she says as though we haven’t spent most of it together already.
“Why don’t you come sit by me, princess?” Eldon Crisp asks.
“Why would she want to sit with you, old man?” Nathan asks. “She needs something a little more exciting.”
“She’d be out of luck with you then,” Jeremy says acerbically before turning to address Kennedy directly, “Sweetheart, I promise I could make this the best month of your life.”
“What the hell, Hobbs? You just asked to have someone brought up!” Eldon gripes.
“I’d gladly trade for this one.”
I clear my throat, suppressing the sudden urge to thump my chest and then beat the shit out of everyone at the table. I have to remind myself that this is, after all, what they’re here for. Only not with Kennedy, but they don’t know that. “Gentlemen, this is Kennedy and she’s joining me for breakfast this morning. And every other morning,” I add sharply, meaningfully.
I can only hope that they get the message loud and clear because something tells me I could very easily get violent over Kennedy. Normally, my clients can have anyone they’re interested in as long as that person is interested as well. I’ve never made someone off limits. Never cared enough to. But this time is different. This person is different. I’d gladly offend one or two or all of them if they so much as breathe in her direction. Offend or tear limb from limb, either way.
Silence falls across the table as I scoot out the empty chair beside me for Kennedy. She smiles up into my face as she gracefully takes her seat. She sits primly on its edge as coffee is poured for her and the first course of fresh tropical fruit is served. As the morning wears on, she eats and chit-chats with my clients as though she has lived her life on a yacht surrounded by the wealthy, rather than roughing it as the hired help on one.
As the dishes are being cleared for the main course to be served, Amber arrives, looking very…voluptuous in a tight, black sheath that hugs every curve and valley. She gives me a brilliant smile, but it falters when she sees Kennedy beside me.
I’m all too familiar with feminine cat fights and how vicious the fairer sex can be toward one another. It’s for that reason that my protective instincts surface and I give Amber a warning look as she takes her seat beside the waiting Jeremy.
Much to my relief, she doesn’t bare her claws and the men seem to behave themselves. No asses will have to be kicked. Of course, the day is young.
When breakfast is over, everyone disperses, either returning to their room or heading to the gym to work out as we all await the readying of the upper deck. The ship’s male staff shuffles out to begin breaking down the table and removing the chairs from the raised dais on which we sat for our morning meal. After that, they’ll dismantle the platform in order to reveal the pool underneath, which will be enjoyed by all throughout the rest of the day.
As they work, I lead Kennedy to the railing along the bow of the ship, the place where I saw her standing the night we left Marina del Ray. I tuck her between me and the railing, pressing my chest into hers, loving the way she fits me so perfectly, the way she sort of melts into me. I’m not even sure she’s aware of it, but I sure as hell am.
“Mr. Spencer, please!” she exclaims softly with mock outrage. “I’m your employee!” She glances over my shoulder to make sure no one can see us. I don’t know who’s back there, nor do I care. My attention is focused squarely on the gorgeous female turning to butter against me.
“Fine, you can have the rest of the day off then,” I say as I dip my head to rub my lips over hers.
“I didn’t work yesterday. Or the day before that. Or—. ”
I silence her arguments by flicking my tongue over the silky inside of her lower lip, my mouth watering at the sweet taste of her.
“I didn’t say anything about this evening. You’re getting paid to dance, so you’ll dance.”
She leans back to look at me, her eyes a mixture of things I couldn’t begin to fathom. “I’m dancing?”
“You’re dancing. But until then, you’re mine,” I tell her, spinning her in my arms to press her front into the V of the railing. “All mine.”
I run my hand around her waist and up between her heavy br**sts to her throat, urging her head back toward me. I lick her from her collarbone to the shell of her ear as I rub my c**k against the top curve of her ass.
“Wear something just for me today. Something you know I’ll love. Will you do that for me?” I ask.
I can hear her accelerated breathing as I drag my hand back down the valley of her cle**age, my wrist skimming over the hard peak of one nipple. “Yes,” comes her breathy reply.
“Just for me,” I repeat.
“Just for you.”
Reluctantly, I release her, backing away. “Why don’t you get changed while I talk to Karesh about arrangements for tonight?”
Kennedy turns to face me, her cheeks flushed, her eyelids at half-mast. “You’re evil. You know that, right?”
I wink at her. “Oh, you have no idea.”
It’s harder than I ever thought it would be to turn and walk away.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT - Kennedy
As I sift through all the beautiful clothes that are now tucked safely into the drawers and hanging in the closet of my new room, I rack my brain for something that Reese might like.
“I can’t very well go up there naked,” I say to the empty room, giggling at the thought of what his reaction might be. My laughter dies when I think of all the other eyes that would see, though. An exhibitionist, I’m not.
I’m still struggling to come up with just the right thing to wear when I come across a plain gray sweatshirt. It reminds me of something Reese told me years and years ago. If he sees me in this, he’ll remember that he told me and know that I had him in mind when I dressed. But it’s not appropriate for a day by the pool. No, it’ll have to wait for tonight. And so will Reese.
With an excited smile in place, I pick out a suit and cover-up combo that shows off my curves in just the right way and complements my coloring. Although it won’t be as much for Reese as tonight’s outfit will be, knowing that he’ll be thinking of taking it off me makes me certain he’ll love it just the same.
I slide my feet into a pair of strappy gold sandals and grab some sunglasses and sunblock before perching on the edge of the bed to call Karesh. Reese isn’t the only one who needs help with arrangements sometimes.