AllFreeNovel
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“Tell me something, honestly. Do you think it’s sexy watching your man take charge?”
Alessandra’s eyes traced the muscles of his chest that strained beneath his polo and the biceps that bulged out of his sleeves as he moved around the boat with practiced ease. Her belly clenched as she imagined the boat rocking them as he moved on top of her.
Drake laughed and turned back to untie the boat. “That’s what I thought.”
Despite the odds, Alessandra grew to care about her husband. The man he portrayed himself thus far in their marriage and the courtroom wasn’t the real Drake. She silently vowed to allow him time to let his guard down and earn his trust.
The boat cut through the ocean, spraying water around them. Alessandra occasionally watched Drake steer the boat with ease through her Tiffany sunglasses. About half an hour from the resort, Drake cut the engine and dropped anchor. He settled close to Alessandra and stretched out his legs. The warm sun baked their skin, and the only sound around them was the gentle lulling of water against the boat.
Alessandra couldn’t stand the tension or silence any longer. “Want to go for a swim?” she asked.
She stood and seductively peeled off her clothes, giving her husband an impromptu show. Drake’s eyes burned hotter than the midday sun as they caressed every inch of her bare skin.
Alessandra swayed her hips as she stepped toward the railing. Taking a deep breath, she swung her legs over the metal bar and jumped into the crisp cool blue water. When she crested the surface, Drake was looking down from the railing.
“Come on in, hubby! The water’s refreshing!” she called up to him.
Drake quickly stripped and jumped in the water. The splash his body caused drenched her, but she laughed at his lack of grace. He grabbed her waist when he resurfaced so she couldn’t swim away. That suited her just fine, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Happy now? Was this all a ploy to get me naked?” He asked, laughing.
“I didn’t plan on taking a boat out today. But since you decided to spend the day with me, I quickly called the marina and asked if they had any rentals left. I wanted to see if my husband knew how to drive a boat.”
“There are several harbors in the state. I learned how to sail through the Lake Forest Sailing program. My family owns a yacht, and learning how to navigate a beast like that makes a simple speedboat easy. I also own a jet ski, ATV, and a snowmobile.”
“And a sports car.”
“Oh, bella, you think I only own one?” He laughed and whispered in her ear. “You haven’t seen me drive a stick yet.”
Their conversation turned into heated territory she wasn’t expecting. “You were a preppy boy growing up, weren’t you? I’m impressed.”
He shrugged noncommittally. “If I was a preppy boy, you must’ve been a goth chick.”
“I was homeschooled. My father said it was too dangerous for me, though Marcello was allowed to attend high school and college,” Alessandra said morosely.
Drake cleared his throat. “It was a great idea to take a boat out today. Thank you,” he said sincerely.
“Since you wanted to do something together, why not make it fun? It beats sitting in the bungalow alone, wondering where you’ve been for the past few days.”
Drake gazed at her meaningfully but didn’t reply. He let her go, slipping back into her broody husband. She dropped her arms from his neck, and he swam a few arm lengths away.
They returned to the boat and sunned themselves naked on the deck.
Alessandra pulled her knees to her chest. “I wanted to say how genuinely sorry I am for everything, Drake. I honestly didn’t know my father planned this.”
“You know I could lose my case due to this, Alessandra, and receive a sanction. I interviewed to become an assistant U.S. attorney. That dream won’t come true because of this scandal. Your father fucked up my life and my career.”
“I’ve already said I’m sorry. But I refuse to feel guilty that my brother may be released. He’s a good man and my best friend. I miss him.”
“He’s a criminal, Alessandra!” Drake exclaimed. “He broke the law. He may have acted on Anthony's orders, but ultimately, it was his decision. Your father and brother deserve to go to prison. Forgive me, but you will never change my mind about that. It’s my job to ensure the bad guys remain in jail.”
Alessandra hugged her legs tighter. Of course, she knew who her father and brother truly were, but they were still family. Her heart twisted over the consequences Drake faced. Pulling back layers and being vulnerable wasn’t easy for Alessandra. But she was willing to bear the pain for the sake of her partner.
“I have happy memories from early childhood, but everything changed after my mother died. I used to wish I had been born into a different family. Maybe things could’ve been different for Marcello and me.”
“Wishes are for children.” She winced and absentmindedly rubbed the scar on her wrist. “I’m sorry you were hurt, Alessandra. You didn’t deserve to be used like this.”
“Thank you, Drake. That means a lot to me.”
