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He lives for steak and fries. I’m not even sure he knows the true meaning of vegan. “But, honey-bunny, I’m worried about you.”
To her credit, Genevieve doesn’t bat an eyelash. “Whatever you need, my team is here to make it happen.”
“That’s so kind of you.” I’m about to ask if there are any little blue pills on board because my fiancé forgot his at home, but the moment my lips part, Leo seizes the back of my neck and crashes his mouth onto mine.
My pulse falters. His kiss is not sweet or gentle; it’s deep and unrelenting—possessive. The world around us blurs into insignificance and my knees weaken. I raise my hands to his chest intending to push him away, but when his tongue brushes mine, my mind becomes too addled to do much of anything.
With a final nip to my lower lip, he is the one to break the contact first, his gaze gleaming with victory.
Fuck me. And I fell it for it, hook, line, and sinker.
I rear back, ready to give him hell, but his eyes flash in warning. We’re still surrounded by the crew, still expected to act the role of a head-over-heels couple. So I do what I have to do. I grit my teeth and smile at the next person who steps forward, still feeling unsteady.
The man in front of me is tall and fit with sandy-blond hair that’s artfully tousled and bright-blue eyes that glitter as they roll lazily over my body. I don’t know what to make of his appreciative stare—and right in front of my pretend fiancé no less. But the feel of Leo bristling beside me has me smiling and holding out my hand.
“I’m Jack, the first officer,” he says, a broad smile spreading across his handsome face. Damn. He’s more GQ model than weathered sailor. “I assist Captain Hansen and manage the deck crew. I’m sure you’ll see a lot of me this trip.”
Picking up on the distinctive inflection in his speech, I ask, “Is that an Australian accent I detect?”
“Guilty as charged. Born and raised in Brisbane, though I’ve spent the last few years overseas, working on yachts like this one. It mellowed the accent a bit.”
“My family were huge fans of theCrocodile Dundeefilms,” I confess. “I know it’s so cringey, but it gave me the travel bug.” I huff out a laugh. “Made me want to visit Australia.”
“You definitely should. I’d be more than happy to help you plan an itinerary, even show you the sights—”
“Perhaps on our next adventure, love,” Leo interjects.
I shoot him awhat the hell?look, but he avoids my eye.
A few other crew members step forward, but I don’t pay too close attention, mostly because I’m fascinated at the way Leo is glaring at Jack. Is he just playing the part of a jealous boyfriend, or does he still feel some claim over me? That kiss sure seemed like he did, even if it was just to shut me up. The realization brings a satisfied smile to my lips.
It seems I’ve found a way to get under Leo’s skin—some harmless flirting with Jack. I’m not interested, and I’d never go out of my way to make a real boyfriend jealous, that’s not my style, but Leo isn’t a real boyfriend.
Not anymore.
He’s just some guy who broke my heart.
CHAPTERSEVEN
LEO
“This isn’t good.We should have more intel by now.” I rest my forehead against the window. My brother Daniil’s words barely register in my brain, my attention fixated on Aly by the pool below, chatting away with Jack, the Aussie first mate. Ever since we met him yesterday, he’s been buzzing around her under the guise of being helpful, but I know what that fucker is about.
A sudden burst of laughter pulls my gaze. It’s Aly. Her head’s thrown back in the kind of laugh that reveals her perfectly straight white teeth. She seems so unburdened and carefree, unlike when she’s with me, that I consider reaching for my Sig in the desk’s top drawer.
That bastard has no right to make my girl laugh like that. Even if she’s not actually my girl. Not anymore. Still, possessiveness surges within me, and I have to clench my jaw to keep from pounding on the window and shaking my fist at them. There was a time when I was the one eliciting those happy looks from her, basking in the glow of her affection. But those days are long gone, replaced by bitter glares and tense silences. And I only have myself to blame.
I really should find another office to work from; this one is going to be a problem. It overlooks the sundeck Aly seems to enjoy most for reading and lounging. And so far today, I’ve done little more than stare at her splayed out, gorgeous and golden in the sun, replaying our kiss from yesterday in my head rather than doing any actual work.
Fuck. That kiss.
I hadn’t planned for it to happen. Just felt like the best way to get her to shut her mouth at the moment. I had no idea it would be like a sucker punch to my gut.
Her soft body against mine was familiar yet entirely new. Curves that hadn’t graced her eighteen-year-old form pressed against me. Her breathless sigh as she relaxed into my touch made my dick hard. Christ, nothing good is going to come from fantasizing about her lush mouth, and—
“Are you even listening to me?” Daniil’s irritated voice filters into my consciousness.
“Of course I’m fucking listening,” I say, jabbing at the remote control in order to shut the blinds. Watching her is only getting me worked up. “You’re just telling me what I already know.”
