2. Day Two
CHAPTER 2
Day Two
SEA DAY
DOMINIC
Last night was uneventful. After the safety briefing, Katie and I went back to our room. While Katie offered me the bed once again along with control of the TV, I waved her off. After ordering us both room service, I told her I’d be back in time to eat.
Then I made my way down to guest services. After speaking with one of their specialists, I set up my surprise for Katie.
I know she hadn’t made any plans for activities at our destinations on her original ticket. I also know that money is tight for her right now. Grant couldn’t tell me much, but he told me enough so that I wouldn’t ask for money from her. Not that I would’ve anyway.
Now, I have her all set.
I wasn’t surprised when she wasn’t in the room when I got back from working out this morning. She had told me what her plans would be for the day. So instead, I showered before heading out for the day.
Making my way into the atrium bar, I settle in and wait for the bartender to acknowledge me.
“Hello, sir. What can I get for you?”
It’s still early, so I opt for a soda instead of alcohol.
“A Coke. Thank you.”
As I wait for my drink, I admire the aesthetics of the bar.
That is, until I hear his voice.
“I’m telling you, babe. She was pathetic. Begging for me to take her back, even though I was clearly moving on with someone else. Then she still had the balls to come on this trip.”
His voice grates on my nerves as he moves to a stool a few down from my own. The bleach-blonde tramp on his arm looks like she smoked crack for breakfast.
“How sad. You think she’s going to try to get back with you on the trip?”
I can see the blonde press against him harder as if she’s worried he might flee.
Barrett chuckles. “Nah. I think she got the point. Besides, if I wanted her back, I would have already gotten her back.”
My fists clench as I hear him speak about Katie. I want to knock his lights out.
Instead, I force a harsh laugh from my throat, drawing his attention.
“What are you laughing about, Price?”
The blonde’s eyes light up as they catch mine. Yeah, she knows who the better catch is. Too bad, I don’t do desperate.
“You don’t deserve Katie. Nor do you know her. She never once begged you to stay and I can guarantee she’s more likely to throw you overboard than to take you back. Katie didn’t come here for you, asshole, she came because it’s her sister’s bridal trip.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about. She still wants me.”
I shake my head. “If she still wants you, then why is she sleeping in my bed?”
Barrett’s mouth falls open. “She’s rooming with you?”
I shrug. “Guess she finally came to her senses and saw who the better man is.”
“Bullshit. You’re dating her? You don’t date. You’re lying.”
“I don’t casually date. I date for endgame. We both know that’s Katie.” As the bartender sets down my drink, I stand. “If you don’t mind, I need to go find my gorgeous baby doll. You have a nice day.”
As I walk from the room, I pull out my phone.
We are in the middle of the ocean, so no service, but thankfully the ship has a chat app that you can pay for. I don’t even hesitate clicking the payment button. It only takes a moment for it to connect.
I pull up her name.
Me: Where are you?
I start to head back to the room, but her response comes quicker than I thought.
Katie: Did you really pay for the chat app so you can stalk me? That’s sad.
I scoff. She should really be thanking me right now. She has no idea that I stood up for her.
Me: We need to talk. Where are you?
I wait a second before she responds.
Katie: Front of the boat, deck eleven by the adults-only pool. Bring me a strawberry daiquiri.
I smile at her demand.
I make a quick stop by the pool bar before finding her lying exactly where she said she would be. The girl is a fucking fox. Unlike most of the other women wearing skimpy two-piece bathing suits, she has on a one-piece. It cuts low in the front, leaving her cleavage out for anyone to view. The sides are cut out as well, teasing me with her stomach.
I’ve never wanted to fuck this woman more than in this second.
She’s reading a book, oblivious to everything around her. She doesn’t even notice me until I sit down on the edge of her chair, holding out her drink to her.
“Oh. Thank you. I noticed you bought me the drink package by the way. Let me know how much it was and I will pay you back.”
I shake my head. “You have to buy the package for the room. “Really, it’s not a big deal. Now, we need to talk.”
“That’s what I’m saying. You have to stop buying shit for me. I allowed the drink because I knew it was free, but I can take care of myself. I know most women want you for your money, but I don’t.”
“Damn it, Katie. We need to talk. I fucking did something really stupid, and it’s going to affect you.”
She huffs. “You always do stupid shit. What the hell have you roped me into now? I knew I shouldn’t have fucking come.”
Glancing behind her, I spot Barrett and the blonde heading our way.
Scooting closer, I cup the side of her face, stopping her rambling in its tracks.
“Please don’t hit me for this,” I whisper before I press my lips to hers.
She tenses a moment, but when I nibble her bottom lip, she opens for me, allowing me to slip my tongue into her mouth. It’s only a few moments, but it feels like an eternity as the entire world around us falls away. My whole body feels like it’s on fire at the feel of her finally in my arms.
“What the fuck, Katie?”
She startles, pulling back. She doesn’t look at the intruder though. Instead, she locks eyes with me. She looks flushed, her lips swollen from our kiss. Her hand is still buried in my hair as I press my forehead against hers.
What the fuck was that?
KATIE
What the fuck was that?
Dominic just kissed me. No. He devoured me.
One second I’m reading my book, the next he’s pressing those perfectly kissable lips against mine without warning.
Well, I suppose his little plea for me not to hit him was a warning.
Why did he kiss me, though?
“Are you seriously with this tool? You used to tell me how much you hated him and now you’re dating him? Have you fallen that low?” Barrett’s voice filters into my head, shaking me from Dominic’s hypnotizing stare.
“What?” I ask Barrett, finally turning to find him with a blonde on his arm.
“You’re dating the man you swore you hate. How long has this been going on? Were you fucking him while we were together?”
My body grows hot with anger at his accusation.
“I’m not a cheater. You are. What is going on between Dominic and I is none of your business. Actually, I would prefer not to have to see you at all during this trip, so kindly remove yourself from my presence before I call your brother to come beat your ass again.”
His eyes widen. He had no idea I knew about that.
Of course I did. Once Grant found out what his brother did, he paid him a visit that ended with Barrett getting a black eye. Grant even offered to take him out of the wedding for me, but I told him no. Barrett is his brother, and as much as I dislike him, he’s not worth my time anymore.
“Have fun fucking her,” he directs his comment to Dominic now. “She’s a lousy lay. I could get more animation out of a corpse than her.”
I wince at his words. It’s nothing new. Ever since we broke up, I heard about him telling anyone who will listen how terrible I am in bed. Maybe it’s even true. It’s not like many of my exes ever told me I was amazing.
Dominic swings his gaze to Barrett, a small smile on his face. “She’s a fucking wildcat in bed. Maybe it was you that couldn’t keep up. Either way, thanks for fucking up, bud. She’s the best pussy I’ve ever had, and now she’s all mine.”
His eyes meet mine again before he leans in, pressing another kiss to my mouth. I’m too stunned by the way he effortlessly stood up for me to stop him.
I don’t know when they leave, but when we pull back, Barrett and his toy are gone.
Dominic reaches up, brushing a piece of hair back from my face.
“Are you okay?”
I nod numbly.
“If you couldn’t tell, I kind of told him we were dating. I didn’t mean to, but it happened, and well, now you’re my girlfriend.”
“You don’t date,” I mumble, my mind reeling over everything that just occurred.
He shakes his head. “I don’t date women who are after my money or are superficial. I don’t see the point in dating if the endgame isn’t forever. If you are always waiting for the expiration date, what’s the point of dating?”
I swallow hard. “We can’t date. This is a bad idea.”
He shrugs. “Well, he already thinks we are dating. I bet he leaves you alone now too. He knows I don’t share.”
His wink does things to my body. It doesn’t help that I already feel like my mind is cloudy while my body tingles from the way he kissed me.
I nod. “I think I need some time to think about this.”
He smiles. “Take your time, doll. I’m going to go work out some aggression in the gym.”
As he walks away, I mutter to his back, “What a cocky asshole. What the fuck was he thinking?”
Packing up my things, I head back to the room, trying to figure out my next step. I need to talk to Nessa. She will know what to do. If she doesn’t, at least she will cuss about Dominic with me.
After dropping my things off, I set out to find her.
I try the room first, but she doesn’t answer. Knowing her, she’s at a bar somewhere.
I head up to the main pool first. There are tons of kids running around with their parents, barely paying them any mind. Shaking my head as I almost get knocked over by one, I take in the bar. I don’t find Nessa, but I find Grant.
I frown when I see Barrett close by.
Still, I make my way over.
“Katie, where have you been?” Grant asks, pulling me into a side hug.
It’s obvious he’s been drinking a good portion of the morning.
“Reading. Where’s Nessa?”
He laughs. “She was hot, so she went to the pub on level five with Casey.”
“Cool.”
I’m almost out of there without a run-in with Barrett, but he can’t just leave me alone.
“Where’s your boyfriend, Kat?”
I groan at his use of the nickname. I hated being called Kat, and he knows it, but he still insisted on calling me it.
I smile sweetly back at him, ignoring the confused look from Grant.
“Dom went to the gym to get all sweaty for me. He knows how much it turns me on seeing him all masculine. I’ve been missing that for quite some time now.”
He frowns, catching my insult to him.
Grant goes to open his mouth, but I shoot him a “shut up” look.
“Grant, maybe you should come with me to get Nessa. I’m sure she misses you.”
He nods. “Yeah. I should.”
As soon as we get into the elevator, he whispers, “What was that about? You and Dom?”
I shake my head. “Oh, didn’t you hear? Your idiotic bestie and I are supposedly dating now. Fucker.”
“Wait, what?”
I sigh. “It’s best I explain this once. Let’s grab Nessa and go back to your room.”
It doesn’t take us long to find Nessa singing at the pub with Casey and a couple of new friends they have made. It does, however, take us quite a bit to convince her to come back to the room with us. By the time we get there, I’m regretting not drinking my entire strawberry daiquiri.
“What was so important that you had to pull me out of karaoke to come back to the room? I mean, I wouldn’t say no to some hanky panky, but I’m not doing that with my sister here.”
Grant shakes his head, chuckling. “It seems your sister has some explaining to do. Something about her and Dom dating.”
Nessa’s eyes clear as they lock on me. “What? You bitched at me for an hour yesterday for rooming you with him and now you’re dating? What the fuck, Katie?”
I hold out my hands. “I don’t know what he did, but he told Barrett that we were dating. I guess Barrett didn’t believe him because he came to find me on the pool deck. Only Dominic found me first. He kissed me. I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but I’m fucked.”
Nessa giggles. “I bet you’ll be fucked. I’ve heard Dominic knows what he’s doing too.”
Grant sighs. “Seriously, babe?”
She shrugs. “You’re the one that told me girls fawn after him.”
“This is entertaining and all, but I won’t be fucking him. I don’t even like him. Now he wants to pretend to date me? I mean, it’s bad enough your brother cheated on me. Now Dominic is going to pretend to be my boyfriend, then dump me? How much more humiliation can I take? I’m going to have to move.”
It wouldn’t take much. I lost my job at the newspaper two months ago. I’ve been living on my savings while taking a part-time waitress job while I try to figure out what else I can do. Journalism seemed like a great job until it became obvious the only things people want to read is about fashion and makeup. That’s where the money is.
“You’re not moving,” Nessa says seriously.
I throw up my hands. “What do you propose I do? It was bad enough being around Barrett because you’re marrying his brother. Now his best friend too? We can never hang out as a group again.”
Grant steps forward. “I think you’re overreacting. You said Dominic did this, right? He never makes impulsive decisions. Talk to him. He probably already has a plan. One that doesn’t involve humiliating you more. He’s not like that.”
I roll my eyes. “That’s why he doesn’t date, right?”
Grant gives me a quizzical look. “He doesn’t date. Not for the reason you imply. You should ask him about it. I think you will be surprised by who he is.”
I huff, throwing myself on the bed next to Nessa. “What do you think?”
She shrugs. “I think you were planning to hide away in your room the entire trip to avoid dipshit and now you have a reason not to. Dominic is a good guy. I think you should accept his offer to fake date or whatever and enjoy this trip. At least having him near you will keep Barrett away.”
I nibble my bottom lip, looking back at Grant. “I know why Barrett hates Dominic, but why does Dominic hate Barrett?”
He huffs out a sigh. “My brother is an idiot, but what he did to Dominic was especially bad. It’s his story to tell if he wants you to know. Just know that the only reason Barrett is even still in this wedding is because my mom begged me.”
Letting out the breath I was holding, I stand.
“Okay. I guess wish me luck.”
“Where are you going?” Nessa asks.
“To find my boyfriend,” I say sarcastically.