Chapter 6
Vanessa
Certain men rubbed me the wrong way while others infuriated me to the point of being unable to breathe.
Christian went far past the extreme.
He was commanding me to have lunch with him as if I was one of his flunky employees.
What troubled me was that his authoritative tone, deep and provocative had sent a thrill through me.
There was more than a rush of heat to what we shared, more like live wires dancing in a thunderstorm.
However, our personalities continued to clash in a way that made it feel like a tornado could appear just over the horizon.
Was I surprised at the incredible home site and what he was doing for people who could otherwise have no opportunity to live right on the water in Miami Beach?
Yes, but I knew there had to be a catch.
Deferred taxes came to mind. Or perhaps given his ruthless reputation, he was trying to provide some sense of charitable contributions, although even I knew that the amazing residential facility had cost tens of millions of dollars.
Who would do that to be seen as a charitable organization?
Was I being too harsh with the man? Maybe. However, I refused to allow my guard to fall even if I’d agreed to sitting down to a meal with a wolf as a companion.
Wait. I hadn’t agreed. He’d literally put me in his expensive sports car and now we speeding down the thoroughfare toward…
Wait a minute.
“Where are we going to lunch?”
He threw a look in my direction as he’d done before and when he did, a shiver tickled all the way down my spine.
Yes, he was attractive, even more so in white linen pants and a black shirt.
The look was unexpected and on him, gorgeous.
Even his dark shades and the way the wind tousled his hair created a stunning appearance.
But I refused to get lost in the moment any more than I already was.
“To the marina. I have a small boat and we can have lunch.”
“A small boat.” I laughed. “You mean you own a yacht.”
“Actually, the company owns two, but this is my personal boat. She’s my baby.”
“She?”
The deep baritone in his laugh created a pulse between my legs. “Boats are fickle and need constant tender loving care. Just like a woman.”
“You’ve been with the wrong women, Christian.”
He took the exit leading to the marina. I knew the location and I knew what types of boats were housed in the water.
I’d participated in several marketing campaigns in the last few months.
All glitz and glamor. I’d never thought I could become tired of seeing the way rich people lived, but I was wrong.
“Mmm… Maybe so.”
With a sly smile on his face, he pulled into the parking lot.
“Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?”
“If that’s what you’d like.”
“Not caviar and lobster?” Teasing him was incredibly fun, especially the way he reacted. Not quite offended, but enough that it fueled something inside of me.
He shrugged. “Not my favorite, but I might be able to wing it.”
“Wait. You don’t have a chef?”
Now he laughed, easier going than he was before. “Not on this boat. Yes, I have a captain and a few crew members, but the cooking is handled by yours truly.”
“This I need to see.”
“You don’t think I can cook?” His voice was devilishly deep, husky to the point another wave of prickles formed on my arms.
“I… I think you can do anything you set your mind to. It’s whether or not you make the choice to do so. Most entitled people hire others to do the dirty work.”
“You make me sound like the leader of a mob.”
As I unfastened my seatbelt, I threw him a coy look. “There are rumors.”
He shook his head as he flung open his door, jerking off the seatbelt as if I’d irritated him. “Why is it that men, or women for that matter, of power are considered ruthless, cruel, heartless, and their activities criminal in nature?”
Shrugging, I opened the door. “Because from what I’ve seen, it’s usually true.”
I heard him grumbling when I stood outside.
The early afternoon was beautiful, glimmers of sun streaming across the ocean water.
Every yacht was magnificent. Music lingered in the air, salsa to jazz, classical to rock.
There was an eclectic spirit in the air fortified by a restaurant and bar parallel to the water.
It was impossible not to stand in awe at least for a few moments.
Suddenly, he was there, his massive frame creating a feeling of utter suffocation.
His scent was as musky and masculine as before, all woodsy with hints of citrus.
But it was the spices that turned me on.
Cardamom and cinnamon. The combination was irresistible.
“You don’t get seasick. Do you?” he asked, almost as if it was the polite thing to do.
“Not usually.”
“Good because we’re going to take a cruise.”
Before I could object, he walked down the dock.
I studied him for a few seconds before following.
He was definitely in his element, taking control of the afternoon as he did with every aspect of business.
On the surface, I loathed his dominating personality, but the constant twinge of heat and intense throbbing created conflict.
Huffing, I carefully trailed behind, mindful I was wearing heels and there were spaces between the decking boards. Yet not mindful enough. When my heel slipped into a crack, I was pitched sideways toward the water. The rope railing wasn’t going to keep me from plunging into the ocean.
My yelp was shrill until the breath caught in my throat.
Big, strong arms wrapped around me at the last second, keeping me from disaster.
I was yanked against Christian’s rugged body, his hand firmly planted in the small of my back.
We were so close I could almost kiss him, so close I could feel the rapid thudding of his heart.
How strange it seemed to be keeping the same beat as mine.
For a moment there was no wind, no Caribbean music, no yelling from one boat to the other, and no clinking of glasses from people enjoying such an incredible afternoon. There was only the sound of our beating hearts and labored breathing.
Was he lowering his head to kiss me? Was I tilting my head to accept, moistening my lips by dragging my tongue around my mouth?
Why, yes, all three were happening. My pulse was racing, my legs trembling to the point I feared if he wasn’t holding me so tightly, I’d fall victim to the moment of weakness.
Oh, hell, no. I pushed both palms against him, trying to break free. “You can let me go now.”
The slight scowl on his face gave way to a look of amusement. “You should be more careful, Wildcat. I don’t want you to hurt yourself. As I said, heels weren’t the best choice.”
“Don’t use that term. I have a name.”
They were the only words released from my mouth before he swept me into his arms, immediately yanking one heel off my foot then the other.
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Being chivalrous.” His grin was wide as he took long strides down the dock, casually tossing me quick glances every few seconds.
“Let me down. I can do this myself.” I almost pounded on his chest as if he, Tarzan, me, Jane, but resisted. A few people standing on their boats lifted their glass in toasts of appreciation. Meanwhile, heat rose on my face, my skin on fire. I wiggled in his hold, but he was way too strong for me.
“Evidently not, but you have me around to save you.”
“As if I need saving from the likes of you.”
“You might eat those words one day,” he growled. The man actually growled at me. Did he think he was the sexiest man in the world and I was going to fall for his fake chivalrous act? He obviously didn’t know me very well.
“What did you call me?”
He slowed his gait, handing me my heels before leaning over and grabbing a handrail. “You heard exactly what I called you. Now, be careful.”
I caught the name of the boat on the stern. Captivating Caroline.
Caroline. Like the building. Obviously, an ex-girlfriend.
That certainly didn’t allow for the warm and fuzzies to form.
While maintaining complete control, he eased me onto the boat, grinning the entire time like he’d just won a point in a tennis match. Gah, the man was so infuriating.
I backed away as he climbed on board, hugging my shoes. Barefoot, I felt even more vulnerable around him.
As he walked closer, I couldn’t fully comprehend his expression under his dark sunglasses. Instead, I concentrated on the absolutely incredible chiseled appearance of his jaw. I’d seen and even admired men with two- or three-day stubble, but he made the look casually elegant instead of unruly.
Although unruly was an excellent word to use for the man.
He crowded my space and I resisted budging while hating the fact that without my heels, he towered over me by several dominating inches.
“I called you a wildcat because you are. Determined. Primal. Unrelenting.” His words were almost like a sensuous whisper.
Maybe I should tell him he hadn’t seen anything yet, but I refrained, instead limiting my rebuttal to a slight sigh as if bored with the analogy.
He motioned to the glass door behind me, crowding my space even more since I was standing right in front.
When he brushed his arm against mine, I was instantly hit with a crackling of electricity so intense I was momentarily breathless.
I pulled away, allowing him to open the door, begrudgingly moving inside.
The salon was everything I would expect with light woods and off-white leather, a gleaming bar capable of seating six, and an impressive-looking entertainment center.
I padded into the center of the room, captured by the incredible view out the windows.
There was nothing more relaxing than being on the ocean.
“Please, make yourself at home. I need to tell the captain we can set sail.”