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“It was,” he agreed, gently kissing her lips. “Let me wash you so that I can get you back to my bed.” She nodded and turned to back into the spray of hot water, letting it soak her hair. She loved feeling his skilled fingers massaging her scalp as he washed her hair.
“Listen,” he said, “I’m sorry that I was a little rough with you.”
“You weren’t,” she insisted.
“You can’t see them yet, but you’re wearing my fingerprints on your ass. I think that I squeezed you a bit too hard and left bruises.” Eden looked like a dog chasing its tail as she tried to see what he was talking about.
“I don’t mind,” she insisted, giving up on seeing them at that angle. “I like how rough you were, Bowie. You were perfect.”
“I sometimes get carried away. You’ll let me know if it’s too much, right?” he asked.
“Of course, but I’m telling you that it was perfect,” she insisted. He turned her around to face him, letting the water rinse her hair. Bowie didn’t look convinced by her assurances.
“Just promise me, Eden,” he repeated. She wrapped her arms around his neck and nodded.
“I promise,” she agreed.
“Thank you,” he said. “I do have one more request.”
“Okay,” she said as he ran his soapy hands all over her already sensitive body. It was getting hard for her to continue to carry on a conversation while he was touching her like he was.
“We’ll be in France in a few days, and I don’t want this to end. I know we have to be careful around your co-workers and father, but I was hoping that you’d stay with me in town while we are docked.” She knew that they were going to the south of France so that he could attend to some business, but that was about all she knew about Bowie’s trip.
“I thought that you had business once we got to France,” she reminded.
“I do, but it’s with an old friend, Carter Lust.”
“Oh—I know Carter,” she said.
He stood from scrubbing her lower body and stared her down. “You know Carter?” he asked. “How the fuck do you know him?”
“He’s been a charter guest,” she said.
“That’s all he was?” Bowie asked. She wasn’t sure if she should be amused or pissed about him accusing her of sleeping with Carter Lust.
“First, I’ve never slept with any other charter guest. I thought that I made that clear in my reluctance to have dinner with you. Second, Carter is married, and I like his wife very much. So, I’m going to give you another chance to rephrase your question.”
“Shit, I’m sorry, Eden. I seem to keep sticking my foot in my mouth around you. I know I sounded like a jealous twat, but it’s just my nature. Forgive me, please?” he asked.
“I’ll forgive you, as long as you promise that there will be French pastries for breakfast every morning, I’ll stay with you while we’re docked. I have time off and would probably just head into town to explore.” After they were docked, the crew had free time to blow off steam and usually spent most of their time in whatever town they were in.
“Well, I think that pastries can be arranged, and we can explore all you want to. I just have to meet with Carter once we get to town, but then, I’m all yours.” He had no idea what he did to her every time he made her promises like that. She knew better than to get involved with any syndicate family member, but from what she heard, the Wraths were bad news. There was something about Bowie that had her wanting to blow all her rules out of the water. She just hoped like hell that he didn’t end up hurting her. She wasn’t ever careless with her heart and now that she was, she hoped that it didn’t get broken the first time out.
Bowie
Bowie was nervous about meeting with Carter Lust. It had been almost two years since he saw the guy. Carter had moved to France when he and his sister reestablished the Lust Syndicate. She ran the American side of things for the family, and he ran the European base. Bowie was surprised to find out that Carter had settled down and even got married. He had a kid and that made Bowie wonder if something like that would ever be possible for him. He had never believed that he'd be able to settle down, not in his line of work.
Carter was kind enough to invite him to his chateau for breakfast and even invited Eden to join them when Bowie said that she was staying with him. Bowie had rented a little two-bedroom flat in town, about ten minutes from Carter’s place, and he was glad to have the invitation extended to Eden since he didn’t want to leave her alone. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but his gut was screaming at him that something was wrong.
“Are you sure that it’s okay that I’m here?” Eden asked as he knocked on Carter’s front door. “I could have stayed back at the apartment while you had your meeting.”
“You’re fine, here with me,” Bowie said. “Carter said that you can hang out with his wife, Eloise, while we talk.”
“It’s awfully nice of them to invite me to their home. I’ve only known them as clients on charters. It’s going to be strange to be a guest in their home,” Eden said. The front door opened, and Carter smiled out at them as if they were long-lost friends.
“Hey guys,” he said. “Good to see you both.” He shook Bowie’s hand and kissed Eden’s cheek. “Come on in.” They followed him into his beautiful chateau and Bowie wasn’t sure if he’d ever seen a home so grand. He had grown up in a big, home that felt empty and cold. Carter’s place felt warm and inviting—like a happy family lived there.
“Your home is beautiful,” Eden said as if reading Bowie’s mind.
