Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
H alfway through the cruise, they spent the day in St. Lucia. Alexander had been even more secretive than he had at their other stops and she was eagerly awaiting whatever adventure he’d planned for them.
Tatum was happy to go along. Every step of the way, Alexander had proven himself not only attentive to her, but so romantic. While it went without saying that his wealth made it possible for them to travel outside of the usual tourist areas, the same connection that they shared on their first excursion in Puerto Rico continued to grow at their other stops in ports and on the ship.
When they were together, she never felt like he would rather be checking his phone or thinking about business. Yes, he paid for these amazing experiences, but he also gave her his time and attention, making her feel amazing at every turn.
A lex wasn't sure if he'd picked the right spa to take Tatum to.
Not because it didn't come with top ratings. It did. And the Miracle Matches staff assured him that it was an incredible experience, the issue was that he didn't know what he was going to do with himself. He wanted to treat Tatum, but he'd never gone to a spa as a customer.
"Alex?"
He turned and smiled.
"You look... amazing."
She blushed and her steps slowed as her hands smoothed over her sundress. "Thanks. I had a little debate about what to wear. I had dresses to wear to the dance classes on board, and some evening wear for dinners, but my excursion outfits were... a little limited."
He moved closer to her and held out his hand, wanting to touch her.
Tatum took his hand when they reached each other. "I know you're probably used to women with a better wardrobe than I have."
He lifted a brow at her. "I'm more than happy to treat you to anything you'd like from the boutique."
She winced slightly, hesitating before she answered.
He knew that his words hadn't gone over well, but he'd meant them.
"I just don't want to embarrass you wherever we're going today."
He held out his other hand and she mirrored the movement she'd done when she'd taken his hand.
Now, he held both of her hands and Tatum felt something settle inside of her.
Alex was her anchor.
"You could never embarrass me, Tatum. You have an innate beauty that everyone around you can see. The fact that you're as beautiful inside as you are outside only reminds me how grateful I am to have you near me. That you're spending time with me."
She smiled brighter and he was suddenly basking in it like people did in the sun.
"I was more than a little worried earlier," he spoke to her in a softer tone not wanting everyone to overhear, "that you’d see me in swim trunks and realized that I’m not nearly as fit as the men you’re used to dancing with.”
Tatum's brow lifted up at his words. "Really? Why would you worry about that?”
“You’re…” He couldn’t help the way his gaze swept over her figure. She was always beautiful and the clothes she wore only accentuated how fit she was. “You’re incredibly fit. And while I’m active and do my share of physical activities. I can’t possibly compete with the men you’ve been around for years.”
He saw a blush steal across her features.
"I... I don't want you to think that I'm trying to be inappropriate," she licked at her lips and suddenly, he was hanging on her words more than he'd been, "but while we've been dancing and... uh, holding each other," her blush intensified and he wondered if she'd already had too much sun for the day, "I know what your body feels like. If you’re worried about being attractive to me, don’t. Are you physically attractive to me? Yes.”
He heard the soft, husky tone in her voice and her soft laughter made him feel warm all over.
“You’re very handsome.”
Tatum leaned in closer.
“It’s the man who you are that’s quickly stealing my heart. You’re kind. You’re thoughtful. And the way you look at me, the way you touch me… I’ve never felt so touched before. Cherished.”
Alex had never felt this way before. He’d opened his heart to her, given her the ability to cut him to the bone with her opinion. She didn’t look at him as descriptors as many had before. She didn’t see him as rich. She didn’t see him as powerful. She saw the flesh and blood man who cared for her. That was a gift.
And he was going to keep opening himself to her, building this connection with her as he would dedicate himself to do for the rest of their lives if she wants him.
T atum couldn't help but feel as if she was on the verge of something special.
Well, she slipped a look over at Alex sitting on the seat beside her, every moment with Alex was special. Likely, what it came down to was how much she wanted him to find her attractive.
She'd spent years and years studying dance and keeping her body in top shape so that she could compete. Ballroom dancing was a great cardio workout. Jive was one of the dance specialties that she enjoyed dancing when she just wanted to enjoy herself. The kicks and high-stepping moves made her feel like she was a kick-ass dancer. It was also one of the dances she felt worked the best with a flirty kick to it.
It gave her confidence in a way that she didn't have when she was just herself.
But with Alex?
He gave her hand a squeeze and turned to look at her. "You take my breath away, Tatum."
Just like that.
"You," she spoke softly, struggling to find the right words, "make me feel like I could fly."
The luxury car turned down a road and the wheels bounced a little on the uneven drive.
"Sorry, sir."
The driver looked back through the rear-view mirror.
"I'll try to keep things even."
Against his side, Tatum leaned in against his shoulder. "Don't worry," she leaned forward to speak to the driver, "I'm fine. The bump just gave me the excuse to lean against Alex."
As if to punctuate her words, another rut in the road lifted her up from the seat and she bumped up against Alex.
Grinning she looked at him. "Not so bad, hmm?"
He leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek and whispered into her ear. "Not bad at all."
T he spa was incredible. From the moment they walked in, everyone was wonderful. Attentive. Warm. Everything she could hope for. Until this cruise, the best massage she'd ever had was a quick 15-minute chair massage at a mall. It was a really good memory but faded into the background as soon as she melted into the massage bed at the beginning of the massage that Alexander had reserved for them.
Her cheeks heated with a blush when she found herself wondering what it would be like if this had been a couples massage with Alexander on a table next to her.
Parts of her body tingled and with her soft in-drawn breath she stilled and hoped that the masseuse didn't notice.
"Breathe." The woman gently worked at Tatum's shoulders. "Don't worry about a thing."
Tatum sighed and turned her head so that her cheek rested on the cool cotton pillowcase. "I'm not. I'm just... wondering."
Tatum heard the soft chuckle of themasseuse as the other woman worked down her spine.
"If you're wondering about your man. Don't."
A startled breath pulled into Tatum's lungs. "How?"
"I can tell that you're a couple." Her fingers found a knot of muscles at the base of Tatum's spine and shifted slightly to dig into the knot. "I didn't see you come in with him, but I was there when you separated to change for your massages. He didn't take his eyes off of you as you walked away." Themasseuse sighed and Tatum understood the sound. It was a longing sound. "If I had a man who watched me like that? I would be so happy."
Tatum resisted a moan as the knot in her back released. Her whole body relaxed, muscles releasing, her body sinking into the massage table. "I am... I really am."
When the massage ended and Tatum sat up on the table, the sheet wrapped around her body, she gestured to her purse on the counter. "Could you... please, may I have my bag."
The masseuse reached out her hands and clasped them around hers. "No need, Miss. Your man," the masseuse's smile was as bright as sunshine, "has taken care of a tip. And it was very... very generous."
Tatum's mouth opened gently.
"So generous," the masseuse nodded, "that I will never forget his generosity. I hope," she gave Tatum's hand a squeeze, "that you enjoyed the experience."
Tatum's whole heart swelled. "It was... amazing. Transcendent. I've never felt so good."
A secret smile touched the other woman's lips. "Then you should change into your bathing suit and join him in the spring."
Tatum hesitated a little. "I've heard the mud bath is incredible, but I'm not sure how he'll feel about me after seeing me covered in mud like a creature from the deep."
The masseuse's cheeks pinked. "He'll be covered in mud, too. But beyond that. I've never seen a couple come out of that mud bath with anything other than... romance on their minds."
Tatum lifted a brow at that. "Romance? Mud?"
The masseuse took a step back and covered her heart with her hands as she leveled a serious look at Tatum. "You'll see, miss. You will see."
Tatum smiled.
How could she do anything else?
"So, where is the changing room?"
The masseuse gestured toward the doorway at the back of the room. "You can change in there and the other doorway will take you out to the spring. Your man will be waiting for you out there."
When she stepped outside, she found herself in another corner of paradise. The air was warm, the sunlight shining down on her felt like a spotlight, but the most important element of the amazing venue was Alexander.
He was standing at the edge of the spring with an elegant flute of champagne in his hand.
As if he'd sensed her step into the sunlight, he turned and smiled.
She meant what she said earlier. He was attractive and hit wasn’t just his body, although that wasn’t a shortcoming at all. He was fit, but when he looked at her. When he smiled. When he showed how amazing his personality was. It was all…
Wow .
Her eyes and her heart moved up and down fromhis feet to his face and back again.
Even though she'd had the most amazing breakfast and the lunch they were headed to on the way back to the ship promised to be amazing, she was hungry.
Hungry for Alexander. Just seeing his body encased in the deep red, almost knee-length shorts, she was stunned to find a bone deep hunger bubbling to the surface. She'd found a number of men handsome throughout her life, some were even arousing in their forms, but she'd never had such an immediate reaction to a man's physicality as she had for Alexander.
He gestured for her to come closer so she set her bag down on a chair and made her way to his side.
"How was the massage?"
"Perfectly amazing." Tatum closed her eyes and shuddered a little, feeling the pleasant sensations rolling through her body at the memories of her massage. "I've never had such an amazing massage before."
Alex handed her a champagne flute. "We'll have to make sure that you have that opportunity again soon."
She shook her head. "I'm good. It was truly amazing. I feel like I've been tenderized like a fancy piece of meat."
Alex's laughter echoed in their private area, bouncing slightly off of the rock walls surrounding them. "It's not fair, Tatum. Now you have me wondering what you might taste like."
She blushed and felt every inch of her body warm at his words. "I doubt you'll feel that way after we're covered in mud."
He put his champagne flute down and took a step into the spring.
Tatum watched his expression closely and she saw his features tense for a moment before he lifted an eyebrow and almost smiled.
"How does it feel?"
Alex nodded and smiled at her. "Actually, good."
He took another step down and the tension she'd noticed in his shoulders fell away.
"Really good. I don't know what I expected this to feel like, but..."
Tatum set her glass down beside his and stepped up to the edge of the spring. Before she put her foot into the muddy water, Alex held out his hand to her.
She took his hand and felt her heart flutter in her chest.
Two steps in, she almost slipped but Alex caught her with his free arm, wrapping it around her body.
Together they eased into the spring and Tatum found herself nearly floating in the strange, thickened water. "Is it weird if I say I kind of like this?"
Alex's laughter rang in her ear. "Well, I kind of like it, too. So I guess we're both a little weird."
She looked up into his eyes and was struck again with how deep and dark his eyes looked.
If she could, she'd stare into them forever.
"I had a feeling..." his words were low and gentle, his hands moving to her waist under the water, “that your kind of weird is just the kind that matches my weird."
She laughed, her belly shaking and she lifted her hands up between them and smiled as she painted his chest and abs with the mud. "I like your kind of weird, Alex."
She felt her feelings welling up inside of her and bubbling up over the top. "I love your kind of weird. All of you. Your serious side. The way you make people at ease by just being you. It's all I could have hoped for in the man I've fallen in love with."
She felt him still under her hands and then his hands moved down to her hips, bringing her closer against him. "Did you... did you just say-"
"That I love you?" Tatum felt her heart swelling in her chest and her breath shortening. "Yes." She smiled at how shocked he seemed. "I wasn't planning on it," she admitted, "but it just... it just happened and-"
Her next words were swallowed up by his kiss.
And when he leaned back, breaking the kiss they both realized that he had his hands on her cheeks.
He looked so startled that it startled her as well. "I... uh-"
"Does it look good on me?" She pointed to her face when she saw the confusion in his expression. "The mud?"
His smile lifted the corners of his mouth. "You look good in anything."
She put her hands on his cheeks and bit her bottom lip as the mud slicked across his skin. "You look good, too. We're going to have to get a picture before we wash off."
Before she could think better of it, she leaned in and kissed him.
Alex gave as good as he got on the kiss and when he broke away, he was breathing hard and heavy.
"You make it so easy for me to be... me." His voice deepened a little. "A me that I never knew I could be, Tatum. I smile more. I laugh more. And," he took one of her hands off of his face and worked it down between them until he could press her palm against his chest, "I know that this..." He squeezed her hand as she felt his heart pounding against her palm. "This is going to continue once this cruise is over because I've never felt for anyone the way I feel for you. This love? It's just beginning, growing stronger."
Tatum felt her whole world open up and the heat surrounding her wasn't just the heated spring they were standing in but the love she shared with Alex.
He was right. Things were going to continue after the cruise because neither of them was the kind of person who gave up on things easily. She didn't end up as an international champion because she gave up and Alex didn't become the head of a world-wide publishing empire by taking the easy route.
They were going to give this love every chance it could.
I f spending the day at a private hot spring spa wasn’t enough to make her melt, having dinner
in a private dining room had tipped the scales. It wasn’t the quality of the food, which was just as amazing as it always was, worthy of every Michelin Star and then some. It was the company and the conversation that made her heart melt even more for him.
When it was time, Alexander walked her back to her cabin.
She knew it would be a repeat of every other night of the last week since they’d had dessert
together in her stateroom. They’d talk, they’d kiss and then Alex would head back to his own room. There was one distinct difference in each night.
Each night, he stayed longer and longer and each night she wanted him to stay more and more.
Tonight, she was going to ask him to.
The door opened up easily, nearly silently, or maybe it just seemed so with the thundering beat
of her heart in her ears. A building crescendo of sound and feeling that had her entire body trembling with need.
Once the door closed behind them, she turned and walked him back to the wall.
His eyes widened slightly until she touched her hand to his cheek.
He mirrored the movement, bringing his hand to her cheek and trailing his fingertips against
her temple. "Is this your way of asking me to stay?"
"I was hoping you’d want to. I know I want you to stay."
He took her breath away.
The look in his eyes.
The way his hand tunneled through her hair and his breath fanned across her lips. "I didn’t want
to assume anything. I wanted to ask. I wanted to stay the night and hold you."
She couldn’t help the smile that touched her lips. She’d wanted to ask him the same thing. She wanted to be with him, but she wasn’t quite ready for more physical intimacy. Not yet.
But the thought of Alexander holding her through the night?
She couldn’t think of a better outcome to the night. "Please,” she heard the breathy tone of her voice, “stay."
His gaze dropped to her lips, and she couldn’t help her instinctual response. Drawing her lower
lip into her mouth, she wet it with her tongue as she held herself back and slowly let it loose.
Alexander leaned in, slanting his lips across hers.
She’d been kissed by him, numerous times, but not like this.
His lips surged against her like waves along the beach, rocking her back, and then his
teeth plucked at her lower lip, holding her in place while his hands moved over her back, pulling her closer.
She heard his rough intake of breath and felt her own catch in her throat.
“One day,” his voice was a whispered promise, “I’m going to love you, all night long, Tatum. I’m going to worship you from head to toe.”
Sighing, she wrapped her arms around him and wondered if he could feel her heart pounding in her chest. “It’s going to be magic.”
His hands reached up and brushed her hair back from her face until they were looking deeply into each other’s eyes. “You, Tatum. You are magic.”
She closed her eyes and fought back tears. So many years she’d moved around and competed all over the world, enjoying the art of her profession, but she’d never had a true home.
She’d dreamt of finding a home and settling down.
Never once had she considered that home might end up being a person.
Alex.
He was quickly becoming that home that she wanted to settle down with, knowing that settling was the last thing she was doing.