AllFreeNovel
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“You’re gorgeous. Please don’t cover it up.”
“I couldn’t now if I wanted to. You threw my wrap overboard.”
He smirks, not an ounce of apology on his face as his eyes slowly peruse down my body. I can feel the heat of his stare all the way to my toes. “I’m not fucking sorry.” When his eyes finally return to mine, they’re smiling and bright, and suddenly, the tension I felt about wearing this suit just sort of fades away.
I take the seat behind him, across the boat from Meghan and Nick. Their fingers are linked on her lap and I don’t miss the way his thumb strokes her bare stomach. She’s not far enough along yet to show, but knowing she’s pregnant with his child and he’s tenderly stroking her abdomen has my biological clock ticking a little too loudly.
Rhenn raises the anchor and fires up the engine. It purrs like a kitten, a low hum that has me excited for my first sailing adventure. When he’s ready, he pushes on the throttle and the boat starts to move. As we head out to open water, the boat slowly picks up momentum, yet he keeps it at the appropriate speed. When he reaches the final buoy, he hammers down, the beautiful sailboat taking off like a bullet.
My heart is pounding in my chest, the wind whipping my hair, but do you know what I don’t feel? Afraid. There’s something about Rhenn at the helm that has me refraining from reaching for the nearest life vest. Instead, I try to relax a little in my seat, keep my eyes open, and enjoy the ride.
After a few more minutes, Rhenn slows the boat and turns off the engine. Once he does, Nick jumps up and, together, they prepare the sails. I watch, awestruck, as they both fluidly move about the boat. Nick doesn’t do anything without Rhenn agreeing, which tells me he respects his friend and his boat. There’s something almost magical about the way Rhenn moves, his taut abs flexing beneath his T-shirt and the corded muscles working on his powerful legs. And let’s not forget about his board shorts. I never thought a man could look so sexy in a pair of navy and white trunks, but heaven help me, this man is pure sex appeal.
With a rope in his hand, Rhenn starts to raise the big blue sail. The moment the wind catches, we jerk forward, Runaround Sue finally stretching her beautiful legs. Nick and Rhenn continue to work in tandem until we’re sailing at a comfortable pace. I wish I knew what they were saying, but I have no idea what aloft, jibboom, mast, or headsail mean.
The landscape starts to change as the shoreline becomes smaller. We’re surrounded by vibrant water as the sun shines high in the sky, warming my skin. I close my eyes and feel. Feel the wind against my face; feel it whipping through my hair, and feel it kissing my skin. Sailing is glorious, and I’m so glad he convinced me to face my fears (well, with the help of Dramamine) and come out for the day.
And the night too.
Let’s not forget that I’m staying here.
All night.
With Rhenn.
After about an hour, the boat starts to slow and eventually come to a stop. I’ve been lost in my own world, watching the distant landscape and the sea life that appears at the water’s surface, and truly just relaxing for the first time in…forever. “Where are we?” I ask, glancing around as if some familiar landmark might tip me off.
“We’re not too far from Wilmington,” Rhenn says as he drops anchor. The water is littered with boats of all sizes, but they’re still pretty distant. “I thought we could relax here for a while and grab a bite to eat.”
“Yes, please. Baby needs food,” Meghan replies, rubbing her stomach.
“Then we must feed Baby,” Nick says, capturing her lips with his own.
“Do they do this all the time?” I mumble to Rhenn as he approaches and sits down beside me.
“All the fucking time. It’s so gross. I don’t need to see Dad maul Mom like she’s his dinner. We haven’t even had the birds and the bees talk yet,” Rhenn quips with a smirk.
“Who do you think taught me about sex?” Nick asks without removing his lips from his wife’s. “And it wasn’t Mom.”
Rhenn laughs and stretches out beside me, his arm brushing my shoulder as he places it on the back of the seat. “I believe that was Penthouse.”
“First time I saw boobs and got a boner,” Nick adds, pulling his wife into his embrace and holding her close.
“Where did you get Penthouse?” Meghan asks, glancing over to Rhenn as if he’s instantly the guilty party.
“Don’t look at me like that. Your husband found it and showed it to me.”
“Bullshit, asshole! I only found it because you told me to snoop in my dad’s office.”
“I told you to look for spare change to buy candy. Not porn,” Rhenn blasts, giving his friend a pointed look.
“Whatever. I should have dumped your ass years ago. You were the worst influence,” Nick retorts, though clearly kidding.
“I was the best influence. Your parents loved me.”
“Not so much senior year,” Nick adds, making them both laugh.
“Yeah, maybe not so much then,” Rhenn concedes.
