5. Day Three
CHAPTER 5
Day Three
PUERTO PLATA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
KATIE
I should have said no. That’s all I can think as we stand in front of the boat watching people get on.
I hate open water.
No. I am deathly afraid of it. It’s not all open water that scares me though. I can go swim in the ocean as long as I can still touch the ground if I want to or if the land is close by and I know I can make it back to shore easily.
I knew when he said snorkeling yesterday that this was going to be a challenge. I thought maybe I grew out of it.
Yet, here I am. Shaking like a leaf, watching as everyone else gets on the small boat.
To make matters worse, Barrett is here with a chick on his arm.
“You okay?” Dominic asks, his arm wrapped around me, his hand rubbing up and down my arm.
“I’m not a fan of huge bodies of water.”
He nods. “It’s okay. I’ll be here with you the entire time. I won’t leave your side. I promise.”
As scared as I am, I feel better with Dominic here. He has been great.
Last night, he took me to dinner, not mentioning our little interlude in the afternoon. I thought he would press for more or tease me, but he was the perfect gentleman even if I made things awkward. Then afterward, he pulled me into the store to have me fitted for snorkel gear. He bought us both our own so that we wouldn’t have to use the provided gear.
I have to admit, I’m grateful. I’m already panicking about having to get into the water. I don’t want to think about how many mouths have been on the snorkel gear they provide or how well they actually clean them.
“It’s our turn. Do you want to go on first so I can catch you if you fall, or are you going to feel better by me being on the boat first?”
Glancing up at him, I can tell he’s being sincere. I give him a small smile, letting out the breath I was holding.
“I’ll go first. Don’t check out my ass.”
His answering smile is cheeky. “I don’t want to lie to you, babe. I’m going to stare at your ass the entire time.”
Shaking my head, I grab the railing. Dominic refused to let me carry anything, so the climb is easy. He hands some of his items to the guy helping load the boat, climbing right behind me. Once we are both on, his hand falls to my lower back as he guides me to the last open seats.
“Do you want to sit by the side or on the aisle?”
I swallow hard, looking at the water on the side. “Aisle.”
He moves in first, grabbing my hand to pull me down beside him.
“Why are you being so sweet?” I whisper to him.
He smiles, his fingers drawing a pattern on my hand as it lies on his thigh.
“I promised you the girlfriend experience. You’re nervous, so I’m going to do whatever I can to make you feel better.”
“That’s actually really sweet,” I murmur, staring at the way he is drawing on my skin.
The boat has started up and we are moving, but all I can focus on is his hand on my skin. Something about it is calming.
It’s a quiet ride for us, even though I can hear others talking around us. He focuses on me while I focus on him. When we stop, he pulls out his phone.
“Want to take a selfie with me? Document this moment? I have a feeling you’ve never been snorkeling before.”
“I haven’t,” I tell him.
He opens his arm. “Come closer.”
I move into his hold, soaking up his heat. He holds the phone out and I find that it’s easy to smile when he murmurs, “Say vajazzled.”
He snaps the picture.
We look good together. I’m looking at the camera smiling, but Dominic? He’s pressing a kiss to the top of my head, a smile playing on the corner of his lips.
He tucks his phone into his backpack as the guides start to give out their instructions.
“They want us to blow into this life jacket?” I roll my eyes at Barrett’s outrage.
I mean, I don’t really want to do it either, but bitching about it is useless and makes you look like an asshole.
I can’t believe I ever dated him. He’s such scum.
“I’m sorry. If I had known he was going to be here, I wouldn’t have chosen this excursion,” Dominic whispers to me.
I smile at him. “I overheard him when you went to get me a water while we were waiting to be brought to the boat. He switched from the beach thing to this when Candice begged him to join her.”
“Ah, so it was a last-minute thing. Guess I couldn’t anticipate that. And you got the hussy’s name.”
“I did. Besides, I don’t really care that he’s here. I’ll ignore him.”
I don’t mention that I’m likely to be more freaked out about the water than worried about whatever that joker is doing.
It’s the reason I didn’t tell Dominic about my fear. I don’t want him to see me as weak. I might have hated him a few short days ago, but that doesn’t mean I want him to see me as any less desirable.
Besides, after he whispered those naughty things in my ear yesterday, I couldn’t help but look at him in a new light. Not only that, but his words from dinner resonated with me.
Am I really that bad?
Dominic has always been the serious one. The quiet, broody type. If he talked, it was an asshole remark.
So it was a surprise to hear his voice drop so low as he read my book to me. I didn’t even realize my eyes had fallen closed as he whispered promises of pleasure in my ear.
If Nessa and Grant hadn’t come, I might have let him finger fuck me right then and there. I was that worked up.
Even more surprising is the way he seemed to genuinely care about what I wanted at dinner last night. Maybe he isn’t what I made him out to be.
“Here.” Dominic sets down the life jacket they handed him to help me put mine on.
He motions for me to stand as he readjusts the straps to fit me comfortably.
When he moves to buckle the strap between my legs, I gasp.
He looks up at me with a knowing smirk, running his knuckle right across my pussy as he does the buckle.
When he stands, he leans in. “Does that feel all right?”
I shake my head. “Tease.”
Moving closer, he presses a kiss below my ear. “I don’t mind teasing a little, but if you want me to ever make it a reality, just say the word.”
I’m about to respond when Barrett’s voice breaks in. “Get a room. This is a family event.”
I roll my eyes at him, but Dominic doesn’t move away.
“I need to blow up my jacket,” I whisper.
“I have something you can blow,” Dominic jokes back.
“Ha-ha. Now put your life jacket on. I’m going to need you to float next to me. God knows your ego will sink you to the bottom.”
“You wound me, baby.”
He does as I ask though, putting on his jacket while I try to figure out how to blow mine up.
He leans in close to my face after a moment. I startle, looking into his eyes.
Then he puts his mouth on the tube over my breast and blows. After three strong exhales, my life jacket is inflated, but I don’t focus on that.
I focus on the way his eyes never left mine.
Why is it that everything with this man went from a fight to a fucking turn-on?
“Okay. When you are ready, put on your goggles and head toward the back of the boat.”
I don’t know where my head is, but I missed the whole safety speech. I look over at Dominic with worried eyes.
“I’ve got you. Trust me.”
I nod, letting him lead me toward the back of the boat.
“I’m going to jump in here. Do you want to jump in or use the ladder?”
I glance back to the ladder where a lot of the women are going. I don’t know if I can make it down the ladder without freezing. As it is, I’m having a hard time not looking out over the ocean. Instead, I’m focusing on my feet.
When did I put flippers on?
I must be really out of it.
“I’ll jump.” My voice is shaky, but I don’t have a choice.
If I don’t jump, I won’t get in.
Like a Band-Aid, right?
“Okay. I’ll get in first. I’ve got you.” Then he grips my chin, pulling my face to his.
He gives me a quick peck, and then he’s gone. Within seconds, his mask is over his face as he jumps into the water.
I gasp, waiting for him to surface, which he does quickly. I notice his life jacket doesn’t even look inflated.
“Okay, babe. Put your goggles on. Then put the snorkel in your mouth. Then jump while holding the goggles to your face. I’ll be right here.”
I take a couple of deep breaths before doing what he said. As soon as my feet leave the boat, I want to scream, but I don’t.
Instead, I feel the rush of water around me. I’m about to panic, but then I feel him. He pulls me to him quickly.
“Are you okay?”
I can’t see his eyes clearly through my goggles, but I can tell he has his off.
“I’m okay.” I say the words, but I’m shivering and not from the cold. I’m afraid.
Sharks. There are sharks in here. Barracudas too. That’s why he told me to take off my jewelry. Oh and stingrays. So many things that can eat me.
He peels my goggles up off my face before pulling me in close to his body. I can feel his legs kicking as I wrap my legs around his center.
“We don’t have to do this. We can get back on the boat. I am so incredibly proud of you for even jumping. Hell, for even getting on the boat in the first place. You are so fucking strong.”
The look of adoration on his face is my undoing.
He is proud of me.
I don’t know why, but that makes me feel stronger.
“I needed a second, but I think I can do this. I want to. Don’t leave my side, though.”
He smiles. “My brave baby doll. I’ll be right here the entire time.”
He lets me take a moment before helping me put my goggles back on. Then he helps me lean forward so I’m floating on my stomach. For a moment, I almost freak out, but then his hand is in mine.
I don’t move, letting him lead me by the hand over to the coral reef.
Dominic is patient, letting me jerk and move when something scares me, but he never lets go.
Then I see the fish. They are so beautiful. All of my fear dissipates as I stare in awe.
We get a little closer to the group, and I hear Barrett talking to the guide. He sounds like he’s being his normal jackass self.
Sitting up, I pull my goggles up, looking at Dominic as he does the same.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
I nod, glancing past him.
“Can you tell me what this is? I found it on the bottom over there.” Barrett’s voice is loud.
He’s trying to get attention.
The guide looks at the item before glaring at Barrett.
I squint my eyes, then snort.
“What a child,” I murmur.
“What?” Dominic turns around, finding Barrett holding a butt plug right in the guide’s face while his girlfriend giggles next to him.
“You better not lose that in the ocean or you will be fined. I expect to see it in your hand as you leave my boat.” The guide is stern with him.
“How did they sneak that onto the boat? Neither one brought a bag,” I murmur, curious.
Dominic pulls me closer to him, pressing a kiss on my lips. “Obviously one of them was storing it in their prison purse.”
I tilt my head, not getting it right away.
“You know, up their ass? My bet’s on him. He always seemed to have something stuck up there.”
I burst out laughing. Dominic seems to smile brighter as I laugh.
“You’re probably right.”
After a moment, he looks down. My legs have found their way around him again, his hands resting on my thighs.
“Not that I don’t love holding you, but do you want to look some more? Or we can go back to the boat.”
I glance out at the water, only feeling a small pinch of fear now.
“I think it was more the fear of the unknown. Now that we are here, I feel better. Let’s look some more.”
He helps me back into position, floating beside me. He even pulls me when I point at something I want to look at. It’s like he is my own little motor.
I thought this would be torture, but before I know it, the guides are whistling for us to go back to the boat.
Once we are on and heading back toward the beach, I lean against Dominic. His arm comes around me, pulling me closer.
It feels natural being with him like this.
Then I lean into him, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
“Thank you. That was the best day of my life. I cannot wait to do it again.”
His answering smile is bright. He is pleased that I had fun.
“I scheduled us a snorkeling and stingray encounter later in the trip.”
I swallow hard at the stingrays, but I’m not as nervous as I thought.
“You’ll hold my hand again?”
Reaching over with his free hand, he grabs mine.
“I’ll hold your hand as long as you want me to.”
My chest warms as I nuzzle into his side.
I don’t know what is in the water here, but I feel like I’m floating.
I only hope that I don’t turn out to be the fool when this is all over.
DOMINIC
“You look gorgeous,” I whisper in Katie’s ear.
Today was crazy.
I wanted to pull out of the shore excursion, but Nessa made me promise not to tell her, so how would I explain it?
I’m glad I didn’t. Instead, Katie surprised me.
I could tell right away that she was frightened. She was shaking like a leaf. Still, she got on that boat. Then she let me comfort her on the ride over. When she opted to jump instead of take the ladder, I was concerned.
At least at the ladder, she would have been able to climb back up quickly if it was too much.
Instead, she jumped in and thrived.
I can still feel her legs wrapped around my waist. It took everything I had not to grow hard, but thankfully I was more focused on how she was doing.
It took a little bit for her to settle, but she seemed to enjoy herself.
Now, here she stands, looking like a dream in a little sundress, her brown hair cascading over her shoulders.
“It’s a sundress, not a ball gown, Dom.”
I smirk at her. She’s started calling me Dom more often than not. It brings me pleasure knowing her opinion of me is changing. Before, she refused the nickname, claiming I was an asshole she’d never be friends with.
Now she’s freely letting me touch her.
She’s right, she will never be my friend. I could never be just friends with such a woman.
Katie is the kind you wife. The one you imagine having children with.
It’s why I think I jumped so quick at the opportunity to play this part with her.
I’ve always wanted Katie. She’s just never wanted me.
Maybe this trip can change that.
“You still look beautiful. Even if it’s just a sundress.”
She rolls her eyes at me in the mirror as she puts on a pair of earrings.
“I checked us into dinner already. Our table should be ready in five minutes. You ready to go?”
She grabs her room key, looking at her outfit one more time.
“I didn’t think about pockets. Why don’t they give women more pockets? Like where the fuck am I supposed to keep my shit?”
I try to withhold my smirk. She is so adorable when she’s frustrated. I want to kiss her.
“Here.” I hold my hand out.
She looks over at me, dressed in slacks and a button-up shirt. Most people walk around the ship in casual clothes, but when we go to dinner, I prefer to dress up a bit. Especially since each one is like a date between us.
Sighing, she hands over her key card and phone, then slaps a tube of lipstick and a small mirror in my hand.
I raise a brow at her.
“I’ll need to touch up my lips after dinner since you said we are going to a comedy show.”
I smile. “It’s not a problem. Let’s go.”
Slipping her items into my pocket, I feel like I’m smiling too wide. Something about having her trust me with her items inflates my ego. Maybe it’s because it’s a very boyfriend thing to do. I’m not sure what it is, but I don’t hate it.
As we walk down the hall, I stay behind her under the guise of not taking up the entire hall. Truth is, I want to watch her. It’s one of my favorite things to do.
“I can feel your eyes on my ass,” she teases, shooting me a saucy smile over her shoulder.
“You have a nice one. Let me appreciate it.”
She chuckles. “My ass is small like my tits are.”
“Did you just refer to your breasts as tits?”
“Yep.”
I chuckle. “I’ve never heard a woman call them tits before. I thought that was a male thing.”
She stops, turning with a hand on her hip. “Equal opportunity, buddy. It’s my body. I’ll call it what I want. Besides, I’m obviously a member of the itty-bitty titty committee. It was the one thing Barrett disliked most about me.”
She goes to turn, but I grab her arm, pushing her into the wall to crowd her body.
“Baby doll, there is nothing about you that isn’t perfect. If he couldn’t see you for the gorgeous woman you are, then that’s his problem, not yours. As for your tits and ass? I want to take a bite out of them. Don’t think for a second that you are unattractive because you have been making me hard since the day we met.”
Her eyes are slightly glazed as I push my obvious hard-on against her.
My phone dings, reminding me our table is ready.
Pressing a chaste kiss to her cheek, I pull back, wrapping her hand in mine.
“Let’s go get you fed.”
She lets me pull her down the hall toward the elevator. While I hate using elevators, it’s a necessary evil if we want to make our reservation on time. Once inside, I press the button. I thought she would pull her hand away, but she doesn’t. Instead, I see her in the reflection in the doors. She’s biting her lip, lost in thought.
When we step out of the elevator, our restaurant is in front of us. I cringe when I realize who else is in front of us. Barrett and the woman from the beach, along with everyone else from the wedding.
“Fuck,” I whisper.
“It’s okay,” Katie whispers back, snuggling against my arm.
I want to melt into it, but when I see Barrett’s eyes on us, my mind wonders if she actually wants me right now or if he is the reason for her sudden closeness.
Shaking it off, I walk up behind the group.
“Dom. My best man. Where have you been?” Grant calls to me, clapping me on the back. Nessa has moved closer, whispering with Katie now. Katie pulls away, letting go of my hand.
“We took a nap after our afternoon excursion.” My attention isn’t on him though.
Instead, I’m looking at her.
It’s not a complete lie. Katie took a nap, but I didn’t. I stayed up watching a movie quietly on the television. I could have left the room, but I didn’t want to leave her.
“How nice. You want to join us for dinner? I can have them add two chairs. They are setting up our table now.”
I don’t ask Katie for her opinion. Instead, I turn to Grant.
“Nah, man. We were doing a date night type thing. You understand.”
He puts his hand on his heart. “I’m starting to think you love Katie more than you love me. You have been spending all of your time with her.”
His loud, boisterous voice draws her attention. Her eyes flick to mine.
“Have you seen her, man?” I ask him, seeing Barrett move closer from the corner of my eye. “She’s a damn dime piece. Of course I want to spend all of my time with her. I can’t get enough of her.”
“Yeah, but you have to admit, she’s a bit of a starfish in bed,” Barrett adds in.
My anger rises. I’ve never heard it said that way, but no man should ever reveal what women are into in the bedroom. It’s not classy.
I glance over to Katie and find her eyes glassy with unshed tears as she glances toward Barrett.
I’m about to fuck this guy up.
“Barrett, you have about two seconds to step away from me before I give you a new hole to drink through. You get me?”
I don’t look at him, but my tone says it all.
Grant grabs Barrett, pulling him away from me.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Grant mutters.
I step forward, grabbing Katie by the hand.
“Let’s go find our table. Fuck him,” I whisper to her.
She gives me a small smile, letting me lead her up to the hostess.
“Room forty-three twenty. I checked in on the app.”
“Of course, sir. Right this way.”
After we are settled in at the table, I reach across, holding my hand out. She looks at it a moment before placing her hand in mine.
“He’s an asshole. He shouldn’t have outed your sexual preferences like that.”
She shakes her head. “I’m not a starfish or whatever. At least, I think I’m not.”
I narrow my eyes. How does she not know?
Making my tone lower, I ask her, “Did he force you into anal?”
She had just taken a drink of her water, spitting it out onto my face.
“What the fuck, Dom?”
I pick up my napkin, wiping down my face.
“What? How else do you not know if you like a little starfish action? I mean, if he didn’t do it right, then I bet that’s why. He doesn’t seem like he would give you any tender love and care while poking the starfish.”
She freezes, then she bursts out laughing.
“You think when he said I was a starfish in bed he was referring to the fact that I like anal? Seriously? How do starfish and anal even relate?”
I shrug. “The mouth on a starfish looks like a butthole. So you know you poke the starfish, slide into the butthole. Makes sense. So, are you saying that’s not what he meant?”
She shakes her head, biting her lower lip.
“Tell me,” I whisper, not realizing this is worse than what I thought.
Before she can answer, the server comes over, interrupting us. After giving our drink order, I turn back to her.
“I need you to explain.”
I reach out and rub my thumb across the back of her hand.
“It’s embarrassing.”
“Trust me. Please.”
She takes a deep breath. “After I broke up with him, he started telling people I was a starfish in bed. Meaning I just kind of lie there and make him do all the work. You know, like a starfish.”
Then she pulls her hand out of mine and holds her hands and legs out like a starfish.
She gives a small laugh, pulling her hands back into her.
It’s not funny though. I’m so angry I could punch him.
I’ll get kicked off the cruise, but fuck it. Katie can come home with me. Then I can show her exactly what I think of his accusation. There is no way in hell she’s a starfish.
“He’s an asshole and I’m about to go murder him.”
I go to get up, but she grabs my hand.
“Please don’t. Let’s enjoy dinner. I’m already over it.”
Flipping my hand over, I pull hers to my lips as I settle back in.
“You are not a starfish. He’s a jealous asshole who couldn’t take it when you broke up with him when you caught him cheating. It’s a reflection of him, not you.”
She blushes a little, raising a brow. “How do you know I’m not a starfish? You’ve never fucked me.”
My dick twitches as she says it. He wants to offer himself up to her service.
“I don’t need to fuck you to know that you are passionate in all avenues of sex. I’ve kissed you. I’ve felt you squirm against my body as I whispered dirty things into your ear. I’ve felt the way your body reacts when I trace my fingers along your skin. You are reactive, baby doll. I know if you allowed me five minutes with you, I could have you clawing at my hair, back arched, screaming out for mercy. So if you were a starfish with him? It’s because he couldn’t make you go out of your mind with pleasure. I’m more than willing to believe he’s a liar, though. You could never be a boring old starfish. I mean, unless it’s my definition of starfish. I sure wouldn’t mind giving your starfish a good massage.”
She swallows hard. “I’ve never done that.”
My hand tightens on hers. “I’m down for it anytime you want. I promise I’ll make you feel good.”
She clears her throat, pulling her hand from mine.
“I think this conversation went way left field all of a sudden.”
I’m about to respond when our server comes back. After giving the menu a quick glance, we both order, turning our attention back to each other.
“So what made you want to do a comedy show tonight? The rest of them are doing the deck party thing at ten.”
Her question comes before I can get us back on the topic we were having before. I know that’s not an accident.
“Would you rather go to the party?” I ask.
“Hell no. I’m not much for parties and drinking tons of booze. I don’t mind having some drinks every once in a while, but the whole get wasted thing was never me. Another reason Barrett probably never liked me. He always said he felt I was trying to be the mom of the group because I never drank as much as them and I was always trying to make sure he and his friends got home safely. At the time, I thought it was a compliment, but now I think he was making fun of me.”
“He’s an asshole. Don’t take anything he said to heart. It had nothing to do with you. Barrett has always been a bit of a douche. I don’t think he knows the meaning of monogamy. You should have seen him in high school. He always hung out with the worst people. I thought for sure he was going to end up owning a pedo van selling dope to junkies.”
“Really?” There’s amusement back in her eyes.
“Of course. I’m honestly surprised he wasn’t trying to find drugs on the island yesterday.”
She chuckles. “I remember he was complaining about the lack of dope allowed on the ship. He wanted to try to sneak some in his ass.”
I snort. “Proves my point about the butt plug earlier. He has no problem shoving shit up his ass. I bet he’s the butt plug smuggler.”
She laughs. “The what?”
“Kind of like the Hamburglar, but with butt plugs. We can call him Booty Plug Smuggler. Has a nice ring to it, right?”
She is holding her stomach now as she laughs. “When did you get so funny? I don’t remember you ever cracking a joke before this trip.”
I wink. “Maybe you bring it out in me.”
Katie rolls her eyes. “Yeah right.”
“A gentleman never tells his secrets.”
She smiles at me, but I know she doesn’t quite believe me.
I’m not sure why I feel so carefree with her, either. I just know that I like it.