3. Chapter Two
Chapter Two
James
I step into the Martini Bar on the upper deck of the Infinity, glancing out at the setting sun that’s dipping beneath the horizon. The bustle of the ship fades behind me as the door closes and I walk up to the bar, the polished marble cool under my palms as I lean against it.
“Whiskey, neat,” I say, ordering my drink.
The waitress gives me a look. She probably expects me to order one of those fancy cocktails she’s just handed to a group of ladies down the bar. Fancy straws and pink fucking fairy floss laying on top of a weird-shaped glass.
No, thanks.
I’m not here for the pretentious drinks or martinis. I’m here to let the burn of the alcohol remind me that I’m still alive. I’m still breathing, even if the weight of my thoughts threaten to drag me under.
I take the first sip, and focus on the burn as I close my eyes.
Dammit.
This cruise is supposed to be a break—a well-deserved one, according to my CO. Truth is, I’ve been struggling to relax since I stepped aboard the Infinity Voyager.
After years in the Navy, I’ve grown accustomed to the constant pressure, the never-ending demands. I’m always on. Always ready. But here? I’m supposed to unwind, let go of the weight that’s been pressing down on me for so long.
I scoff at the thought, shaking my head slightly. Unwind? Not likely.
Then, like an angel sent to distract me, I see her.
She’s standing at the bar, a vision of curves that steals my breath away.
Lillian.
I feel my pulse increase and my heart start pounding as I stare at her.
Lily, she told me to call her earlier today. My mind flashes back to our encounter—how I stumbled upon her as she tried to catch her breath, clearly distressed. I couldn’t just walk away, not when something about her tugged at a part of me I didn’t even realize was still capable of feeling.
That’s part of the reason I came up to this fucking bar. My thoughts have been obsessively focused on her since I left her all alone in that tiny cabin of hers, her adorable cheeks blushing a scarlet red.
Her dark brown hair cascades down her back in loose waves, catching the light as she turns her head slightly, offering me a glimpse of her profile.
That curvy figure of hers… it’s enough to drive a man wild. What I would give to unravel that gorgeous angel with my tongue. Those legs—long, toned, and wrapped in a dress that clings to her in all the right places. Damn.
I knew I was in trouble the moment I saw her earlier, but seeing her now? I’ve always known there is one part of my life that I’ve been missing.
And I might just have found it.
I take another sip of my drink, trying to play it cool, but I can’t tear my eyes away from her. She hasn’t noticed me yet, too focused on getting the bartender’s attention. It gives me a moment to really take her in. There’s something about the way she carries herself—self-assured, but with a hint of vulnerability. It’s intriguing, to say the least.
I have to talk to her.
Pushing away from the bar, I make my way over, my heart pounding a little harder with each step. As I approach, she finally looks up, her warm, hazel-colored eyes meeting mine. The recognition is instant, and I swear I see a flicker of something—interest?—in those depths.
“James,” she says, her voice soft and surprised but clear. “We meet again.”
“Couldn’t stay away,” I reply, a grin tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Mind if I buy you a drink?”
She hesitates for a split second before nodding. “Sure, why not.”
With my body aching, I fumble for the chair beside her and sit down. I can feel my need for her coursing through me. Instantly, it’s become a basic need like eating, drinking, or breathing. I need this woman in my life.
I signal the bartender, ordering another whiskey for myself and a martini for her. As we wait for our drinks, I take the opportunity to really look at her, not just with my eyes, but with that deeper sense that comes from years of being trained to observe, to notice the details others might miss.
That’s what you get in the Navy. You learn to observe, to get inside people’s heads and know them without even speaking.
But with Lily, I can help but talk to her.
“Enjoying the cruise so far?” I ask, keeping my tone casual.
“It’s… different,” she says, her lips curving into a small smile. “I wasn’t really sure what to expect.”
“You here alone?” The question slips out before I can stop it, and I mentally curse myself for sounding so damn eager. But I can’t help it. I need to know more about her, need to understand this pull I’m feeling.
Lily nods, her eyes drifting away from mine for a moment. “Yeah, just me. I needed to get away for a bit.”
The thought of her being here all alone makes my muscles clench tight. I don’t like it. Anyone could come and grab her. That’s a thought that makes me want to throw her over my shoulder and take her back to my penthouse suite. Then I’ll know she’s safe.
The bartender places our drinks in front of us, and I hand him my keycard to cover the tab. Lily’s gaze flickers to my card, and she looks at me with those big, beautiful eyes.
“Penthouse Suite, huh?” she says, a hint of cheekiness in her tone.
I laugh, not once taking my eyes off her. “You’re welcome to visit anytime.”
She takes a sip of her martini and I can only sit and watch as her perfectly pink lips wrap around the rim of the glass. Fuck. My hands tingle with the need to touch her so I reach for my glass and knock it back in one gulp.
“So, James,” Lily says. “You never told me why you were on a cruise. Are you by yourself, too?”
Her eyes lock on mine, and I swear to God I see a hint of hopefulness in them. Could she be interested in me like I am her? I don’t dare look away, that thought driving my primal needs for this woman and I scooch in closer, so our legs are almost touching. Her breathing quickens and she takes another sip of her drink. The moisture from the straw lingers on her bottom lip, and ever so slowly, she licks it off as her eyes roam down my chest.
I don’t think she understands what she’s doing to me right now.
“I’m all alone, Lily,” I say, my voice low and deep. “I’m here because someone forced me to be here.”
“Forced you?” She looks me up and down, then cocks a brow. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t think anyone could force you to do anything.”
I laugh, the sound rougher than I intend. “It’s not like that. I’m in the Navy, third-generation, actually. My grandfather was a decorated officer in World War II, and my father served in Vietnam. Growing up, it was practically written in stone that I’d follow in their footsteps. I didn’t just join the Navy—I became a Commander, leading men into situations most people can’t even imagine. My commanding officer practically ordered me to take this trip. Said me and my men all needed to clear our heads after the last mission.”
Her eyes widen slightly. “That sounds intense.”
“It can be. But it’s what I know. What I’m good at.”
Her eyes roam over my body again. She takes in the tattoos that soak into my muscles, her gaze making my skin all warm. The air around us thickens and I’m starting to realize I’m not crazy - there is something between us - and when I lean in closer, I watch as she swallows hard and flutters those long, dark lashes of hers.
“And what is it that you do, Lily?”
She laughs lightly, almost self-deprecatingly. “I’m in marketing. Nothing nearly as exciting or brave as the Navy. But it keeps me busy enough to stay out of trouble.”
The way she says it, with that hint of weariness, makes me wonder what she’s running from. Because she is running— there’s no doubt about it. I can see it in the way she carries herself, in the way she looks around like she’s searching for something, or maybe trying to avoid someone.
“So, a marketing expert on a luxury cruise,” I say, trying to draw her out. I need to know everything about my future wife. “That sounds like the start of a story.”
She quirks an eyebrow at me. “A story, huh? What kind?”
I lean in closer, lowering my voice just a bit. “The kind where the leading lady meets a man who’s just as much of a mystery as she is.”
Lily laughs again, and I feel like a goddamn hero making that face light up. “Is that so? And what kind of mystery are you, James?”
I smirk, holding her gaze. “No spoilers. I’m the kind you might want to figure out all for yourself.”
Her eyes sparkle with amusement, and for a moment, it’s just the two of us, the rest of the bar fading into the background. I can feel the connection between us growing stronger, the attraction simmering just beneath the surface.
“Maybe I will,” she says softly, her voice carrying a promise that makes my pulse quicken.
She’s so fucking sexy. I’m already completely obsessed with this girl.
Before I can respond, a burst of laughter from a nearby table snaps us both back to reality. Lily glances around, suddenly more aware of the people around us. I watch her closely, noting the way her demeanor shifts, like she’s retreating back into herself.
But I’m just getting started. I want to know everything there is to know about my Lillian.
“How about we grab a table?” I suggest, nodding toward a quiet corner. “Someplace where we can actually hear each other.”
Lily hesitates for a moment, but when I catch her eyes and stare deeply into them, she just nods. “That sounds nice, James. Lead the way.”
I guide her to the secluded table, my hand resting on the base of her spine as I pull out a chair for her. She flattens out her dress as she sinks down, and I just want to pull it off and see what kind of panties she’s wearing. I want to tear them off with my teeth and see my red hand marks on her plump flesh.
Fuck. She’s got this grip on me that I can’t shake.
The noise of the bar fades to a dull roar as we settle in, our drinks in hand, our eyes locked on each other.
“Tell me something,” I say, leaning in slightly. “What’s a woman like you doing on a cruise like this, all by herself?”
Lily’s smile falters just a bit, and I can see the internal struggle play out in her eyes. She’s debating how much to tell me, whether to let me in. And dammit, I want her to. I want to know everything about this woman who’s got me so twisted up inside.
“I needed to get away,” she finally says, her voice barely above a whisper. “Things back home… they were getting a little too much.”
“Too much how?” I press, sensing that there’s more to the story.
She takes a deep breath, her eyes meeting mine with a vulnerability that hits me right in the gut. “Let’s just say I’ve had my fill of… certain people in my life. And I needed to remind myself that I’m still my own person, that I can still live my life the way I want to.”
There it is. The reason she’s here, alone on a cruise, running from something—or someone—back home. And as much as I want to know more, to dig deeper, I can tell she’s not ready to spill all the details just yet and I’ll never make this woman do anything she doesn’t want to.
“That’s brave,” I say, and I mean it. “It takes guts to walk away from something like that.”
She looks at me, surprise flickering across her face. “You think so?”
“I know so.” I reach across the table, my fingers brushing against hers. The contact is brief, but it’s enough to send a jolt of electricity through me. “You’re stronger than you think, Lily.”
Her lips part, and for a moment, I think she might say something. But then she just smiles, and it’s a smile that reaches all the way to her eyes, lighting them up with a warmth that makes my chest tighten.
“Thanks, James,” she says softly, her fingers lingering against mine for just a second longer before she pulls away. “That means a lot.”
And just like that, I know I’m in deep.
This woman—this beautiful, intriguing woman—has got me hooked. And now, I just have to figure out how to get her to realize she’s meant to be mine .