He is right. We can’t stay in hiding forever, especially if there is no way to get off the island with or without the waters. We would need to make contact with them and work out some sort of life together.
Only if my plan fails.
“I can’t imagine how different that would be, all of us together on the island.”
He takes another sip from the bottle with a slow nod. “It would be.”
“Are you worried about Dane?” I ask.
Worry etches across his forehead, and every hint of his smile from moments ago is gone. The thoughtful, serious captain is back, and I can’t help but remember how I still feel like there is something he isn’t telling me.
“Are you?” His eyebrows draw together as he tries to read my face.
“No.”
The tension in his shoulders drops and his forehead relaxes.
“I realize how much he lied to me, and how quickly I believed everything he said because I was starving for friendship.” I gulp down the lump in my throat, the realization of how badly Dane hurt me finally hitting. I hadn’t planned to admit this all to Weston tonight, but if this is what he needs, this reassurance that I don’t have any feelings for Dane any longer, and that they were all based on a lie, then I’ll give it to him.
“He used that against me. He exploited my one true weakness, and the worst part is, I don’t know why. Why me?”
His throat bobs and I think he wants to say something, but I don’t let him. I want to get this out, so he has no more reasons to hold back.
“In the end, it doesn’t matter why, it just matters that it happened, and it’s over. I’m not the same person I was when I met Dane, and I never will be again. I don’t want him to affect my relationships anymore. He may control the island, but he doesn’t control me.”
“I’m glad to hear that, princess.”
His eyes soften, and I step in front of him before I lose my nerve. A look of confusion comes over his face as he uncrosses his ankles, shifting to stand, but he freezes and watches as I close the space between us, stepping between his knees. I grab thebottle out of his hands and lift it to my lips, taking a quick pull. The burn of the drink heats me from the inside out, but I need the bit of courage that my bottle won’t give me.
Reaching over and leaning into him, I set it on the rail, hoping that will be enough to let me say what I want to say. My breath catches as I feel his hands wrap around my waist, his fingertips pressing into my sides.
“What are you doing?” he says softly, and the entire ship drops away. It’s only me and him, standing under the stars.
My heart pounds in my ears as I step closer, leaving only a breath between us, and reach out to grasp the bottom of his vest. The feel of the leather on my hands and the brush of the linen shirt on the backs of my fingers grounds me. I don’t trust myself touching him, but my fingers itch to slide under his vest and run over his firm chest. If I do, I don’t think I could stop there.
Gulping, I push the thought of his round, firm muscles out of my mind.
“Giving you your truth,” I say. I try to keep my voice giddy and bubbly but don’t feel convincing, not after how erratic being this close to him is making me feel.
We may never be this close ever again, not after tonight.
I hope he forgives me.
“I didn’t win the bet,” he says. His voice is low, and his chin is tucked to his chest as he watches me.
I lean closer, my chest brushing against him, and I feel his stomach tighten.
“We could make another one,” I whisper playfully.
I can blame the wine if I need to.
The corner of his lips twitches as he slides his hands down my sides before settling on my hips, his thumbs pressing into my hipbones and sending off flutters between my thighs. His eyes are dark, his pupils wide as he takes me in, and the way he’slooking at me makes me think he’s also forgotten we’re standing in the middle of the deck, surrounded by the crew.
“What do you want to bet?” he murmurs.
Fuck.
I hadn’t thought this through, hadn’t come up with an idea because I wasn’t expecting him to keep me from telling him. My mind is blank of anything that would be worthwhile, because I am too focused on the feeling of him holding me, of pressing into him, and on doing whatever I can to stay right here for as long as possible.
