Chapter 9
KIERNAN
THAT EVENING, TURKS AND CAICOS
S pending the day on a lounger was not hard work.
Or work at all.
I kept wondering why Alex needed me here.
There was no security threat. Except for the risk of falling overboard and even then, they’d be better off with the rest of the deck crew than with me. I wasn’t the best swimmer. Hell, I’d probably sink like a stone.
I felt guilty being paid for doing nothing more than relaxing in the sun.
Well, not entirely relaxing...
Earlier today, I’d watched Charlie walk down from the wheelhouse and noticed Rafe and Rowan congratulating him. I was so fucking proud. Charlie was moving up the ranks and soon he’d be leading his own charters.
Then he glanced over and smiled at me. But not in his usual way.
His grin was flirty but also intense, and it told me he wanted to do very dirty things to me.
The power of that look. I’d never felt anything like it.
I wanted to get up and walk over to him, to walk into his arms, but with everyone around, I couldn’t. And also, that wicked smile of his caused a situation in my shorts and standing up was not an option.
What happened to staying friends?
Was it because of the hug? The one I’d initiated.
He was looking at me like he wanted more, or was that my hopeful imagination?
We hadn’t had a chance to talk since then and I was having a hard time concentrating on the dinner conversations going on around me.
Charlie was seated at one end of the table, and I was seated at the other. I figured I was far enough away from the source of my crush, right?
Nope.
Anytime Charlie would laugh, which was often, my eyes followed him. I don’t remember what I ate for dinner or how many courses we had or who was saying what around me.
I was trained to observe my surroundings but the only thing I was monitoring was Charlie.
Good thing I was off the clock for the night.
All my mind could do was replay that hug this morning.
I don’t know where I got the nerve to ask for it, but I was so glad I did.
It confirmed everything that I was feeling inside.
Charlie had slipped his arms around me, and he clenched me tight, like I belonged to him.
And when he rested his head on my chest, that ache that was growing inside me bloomed to a white-hot inferno.
It was a dizzying rush. Something I hadn’t felt since the first time I’d set foot in the ring.
Better.
Then I wondered what it would be like if he’d reached up and kissed me.
I could almost taste the sunshine on his lips. And those dimples. I wanted to claim them as mine.
Charlie hadn’t shaved this morning and the feel of his rough scruff on my skin, over my heart, had my breath catching and my pulse beating faster than any run.
Would I shiver like that every time he touched me?
Was this what other people were going on about when it came to sex?
I felt like I was gonna burst out of my skin at any moment.
And finally, after two hours of gourmet food and conversation, the crew, except for the captain, headed back to work.
With Charlie gone, my brain finally clicked online again.
“Did you enjoy dinner?” Andrew asked.
I startled, forgetting he was sitting beside me.
Head in the game, K.
“Always. Chef outdid herself again with that feast.”
“Good. I wanted to make sure. I noticed that you didn’t eat much of your meal. Normally you have a very healthy appetite.”
“Ah, well, you know—” I paused, thinking of a good excuse as to why I had no appetite.
For anything except Charlie.
“I didn’t do much except sit for most of the day.”
“That’s what I thought.”
I suspected that Andrew didn’t buy my explanation, but he was too polite to say any different.
After we had coffee and dessert, Andrew excused himself and he was followed by Dylan, Rafe, and Jared. All four of them were deep in conversation as they wandered off down the stairs.
Over the next half hour, Jana and the interior crew cleared the table and I helped them move furniture around to make room for dancing.
Olivia had volunteered to play DJ for the night.
“Attention everyone!” Jana announced when everything was set up.
“Attention please! Before we open the floor for dancing, we would like to kick things off with a surprise performance for your viewing pleasure. An early Christmas gift, so to speak. So, sit back and grab a glass of water because if you think it’s hot now, just wait! ”
Jana pointed to Olivia and a sultry rendition of “Santa, Baby” pumped out of the speakers.
Then the lights dimmed.
“Let’s give a warm round of applause to our performers this evening: Charlie, Rafe, Dylan, Derrick, Cade, Jared, and Andrew. Making all your Christmas wishes come true, they are the men of Now, Voyager … XXL!!!” Jana yelled out.
What?
She didn’t mean…
Everyone around me clapped and whistled as all seven guys appeared on deck in the same uniform of tight navy shorts, red button-down shirts, and Santa hats.
They lined up in a v formation, with Charlie at the front.
Suddenly, he looked up and began to move to the beat, the others following suit.
Charlie had incredible dance moves. His body undulated in perfect rhythm with the song, his hips twisting and grinding. It was so damn sensuous all I could imagine was him, well, actually fucking.
“Jared, baby, take it all off!” Aiden yelled out.
Jared winked at him and then blew a kiss to Alex, who looked as stunned by this surprise as I was.
“I got your tip right here, Drew!” Rowan announced and pointed to his mouth.
Andrew whipped off his shirt and threw it to his husband, who caught it and held it up to his face.
Max leaned into me. “This has got to be Dylan’s most memorable performance. Ever.”
I turned my head to find Max with his phone held up, recording the dance.
Someone yelled out Charlie’s name and I turned my attention back to the dancers.
Then all the shirts came off. The show was really getting started.
Charlie peeled his off slowly, one shoulder, then the next. All the while he was singing the song and giving me, us, that dimpled grin and a flirty wink.
When he finally removed the shirt, he didn’t toss it in my direction. And truthfully, I was kind of disappointed.
Instead, the shirt landed at Max’s feet. Max picked it up and waved it in the air like a prize.
The shorts came next, until the only thing the guys were left wearing were tiny red speedos covered in candy canes.
And their Santa hats, of course.
The shouts and hollers around me grew louder as the guys continued to move their bodies to the sexy music. Charlie turned around and shook his round arse, the cheeks bouncing and flexing with every beat.
If this didn’t confirm that I was an arse man, nothing would.
My cock grew painfully thick and heavy in my shorts, and I hoped that no one noticed, or the entire group would find out exactly how I felt about Charlie.
Finally, the guys lined up and one at a time, threw their hats at us.
This time, Charlie aimed right at me, and I caught the fuzzy cap in shaky hands, holding it tightly to my chest. I’m sure my mouth was hanging open and my face was bright red, but I didn’t care at that moment.
Having all of Charlie’s attention on me was heady.
When the last hat was thrown, Charlie motioned for everyone on the deck to join in on the dancing. I would’ve sat it out, but Max urged me to get up, and even George got into the party spirit, taking Rafe in his arms.
All the couples, and throuple, matched up and I found myself standing in front of Charlie, my heart racing out of control.
“Dance with me?” he asked.
Instead of shying away like I normally would, I took hold of his waist and pulled him in tight.
We didn’t dance so much as grind our hips together and stare into each other’s eyes. Like we were the only two people out here.
I felt his cock against my thigh, getting harder and harder. Knowing that I was the reason he was turned on, turned me on. And he couldn’t miss my now rock-hard erection digging into his stomach.
His dark blue eyes promised all kinds of sinful things. Things I’d never experienced and only now dreamed about.
Between the heat of his body, and mine, and the electric awareness between us, I was sure I was gonna spontaneously combust.
Right here on deck.
“Follow me,” he finally whispered and pulled me across the room and over to the stairs.
We raced down to the lower deck, where Charlie pulled me into a dark corner.
“Is this okay?” he asked as he slipped his hands around my waist and brought our bodies in close again. God, that felt so good, so right.
“Yes. More than.”
“Kiernan, I?—”
I gripped his face in my hands, rubbing my thumb over his lips. They were so soft, and I was dying to taste them.
“I know.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I answered without hesitation. “Give me two weeks.”
“What?”
“I know you don’t do relationships, but I want you. In a way I’ve never wanted anyone before. You make me feel… feck, I can’t describe it,” I paused and looked down in his eyes. “Give me two weeks. And then, you go back to your life, and I go back to mine.”
“And our friendship?”
“That won’t change. I don’t make friends easily and no matter what happens between us, I want you in my life.”
“So, you’re okay with having sex and then going back to being friends?”
The idea was a heavy weight in my gut, but I could deal with it. I needed this, I needed him. Whatever happened in the aftermath, I’d deal with it.
I was used to getting knocked down, but no matter what, I always got back up.
“Yes,” I finally answered. “And, hey, maybe this thing will burn itself out before then.”
Charlie raised one eyebrow and I couldn’t help but smile at his annoyed expression.
“It’s possible, right?” I teased.
It was so unlike me, but I couldn’t help it.
Charlie punched his hips forward and I let out a loud moan.
“I think you’re underestimating what’s happening between us. But there’s one thing you should know about me before we do this,” he whispered as he gripped my waist even tighter. “I like to be in charge.”
My cock twitched and Charlie’s smile matched mine.
“You agree with that idea.”
I nodded, ready to surrender.
My nerves were still high given that I’d never kissed a man before, and I had no idea how this was all gonna play out. But I wasn’t walking away. I couldn’t. I wanted him more than any prize I’d ever fought for and won.
“Kiss me,” he demanded.
I leaned down, as Charlie reached up.
We met in the middle and there was no room to pause.
I caught his smile.
This time, I finally got to taste it.