“I thought you didn’t like that man. And here you are, ready to spend a seven day vacation with him,” Katherine smirked as soon as their mom left Aaliyah and her on the dock.
Aaliyah, who heard her sister’s snide remark, rolled her eyes before walking towards the entrance, checking for any latest news from her brother.
“Bryce,” Katherine breathed, and Aaliyah looked up from her phone to the man.
“You have no idea how excited I am for this vacation. I will get to see you in a bikini and -” Bryce cleared his throat when his gaze met Aaliyah’s dark ones.
Honestly, after Volkov, Aaliyah has been the only person with this hard stare that makes you want to cower away, and as much as Bryce hated to agree to it since he was also a prominent gang member, he had felt this way from the moment he had seen her.
Shuddering at her stare, Bryce straightened himself.
“Dominic will join us later. Welcome on board,” Bryce said like a gentleman, and Aaliyah rolled her eyes, dialing Momo’s number.
“Where are you?” Aaliyah asked.
“I am already on the ship with David and Ashton. Where are you? You invited us, and now you are not here. It’s getting a bit awkward. We don’t know anyone here. Mr. Volkov is nowhere either,” Momo said.
“I am on the dock. I will be on the ship shortly,” Aaliyah ended the call before smiling at the help that came over to take their bags from them.
“She is Aaliyah,” Bryce said to the help while nudging Aaliyah, and the lady raised her brows before smiling even wider.
“I will place your things in the room once it’s decided, madam. Please follow me. The guests are gathered in the hall. The keys to your room will be handed by Miss Samantha,” The lady said.
Seeing her younger sister getting the special treatment, Katherine raised her brows at Bryce, who shrugged before speaking something in her ears, making her smile that didn’t go unnoticed by Aaliyah.
Thinking they might be kinky talking again, Aaliyah grimaced before walking inside with the lady.
Remind her to not cross paths with these two for this trip, or she might see or hear something that will haunt her for life.
“She has arrived?” Volkov looked at his file while talking to Shane on the phone, and the latter hummed.
“You guys know what to do now,” Volkov spoke, coldly.
“Get her drunk and deliver to your room in a hot dress?” Dmitri asked from behind Shane, and Shane coughed, not wanting to be the target of Dominic’s fury at his friend’s words.
“Are you stupid? He meant we should tend to her properly before he comes down. Though, I don’t disagree with Dimitri’s ideas either. It’s going to happen sooner or later, no?” Samantha giggled, and Volkov sighed, a little worried that his friends would behave in front of Aaliyah and her friends.
Volkov was a little surprised when Aaliyah came with this request, but since enjoying the vacation with her and getting her to fall for him was his motive, he had no choice but to agree.
He made sure to mention to his friends more than thrice that no innuendo and jokes about them should be made in front of her friends, or they would suspect things, which is the last thing he wants.
Volkov wanted to go and meet her on the dock, but the call from his father held him up, and in a way, he thought it was for the better.
It would be better if he met her alone rather than in front of her friends, where he won’t even be able to express himself.
He will hug her as soon as he sees her. The softness of her skin against his and – Volkov cleared his throat to stop himself from getting distracted. Before doing anything he needs to check these contracts, or his father will throw a fit again.
“Are we ready for a trip worth remembering?” Momo shouted, and Aaliyah, who was walking towards her group, chuckled before shaking her head.
“Ahh, my favorite girl!” Samantha rushed to Aaliyah, pulling her in a bone-crushing hug, followed by Dimitri.
“My favorite girl!” Dimitri mimicked Samantha’s voice before hugging Aaliyah, and Ashton’s brows twitched a bit at their behavior.
He can’t believe these are Mr. Volkov’s friends who never smile.
“Stop it. Do you want to die?” Samantha asked, pulling Dimitri away, and Aaliyah, who felt someone’s gaze, looked around, finding it weird.
Turning her gaze to the upper floors, she squinted her brows when she felt like someone was standing there as she saw something moving.
“I promise she will enjoy her time here, sir. The team has been informed,” Robin, the cruise owner said, and Volkov hummed.
“Of course, make sure of it. I only need you guys to tend to her basic needs. Rest I can take care of,”
Volkov sat in his chair, relaxed, thinking about things he would enjoy on this cruise without watching over his shoulder all the time.
“Okay. The cruise is ready to depart,” Samantha clapped her hands when she got an okay signal, and Aaliyah raised her brows.
Does that mean Mr. Volkov is already on this cruise? Bryce indeed said he will join them later, but she had thought he would arrive a bit late. Could it be that shadow she saw earlier belonged to him? Aaliyah walked, deep in thought.
“Samantha, when will Mr. Volkov join us?” Aaliyah asked.
“He will probably join us later or tomorrow morning. I know it will be a bit boring seeing the ship so close to the city. That was the whole reason for departing at night. When you wake up tomorrow morning, you’ll be halfway in the ocean and near our first destination,” Samantha smiled, and Aaliyah nodded at the sensible decision.
“If you feel hungry, you can call for help through the intercom in every room. You can have something right now,” Samantha nodded toward the food aisle.
“Okay, everyone, come and take the keys to your rooms. You can go to your rooms or enjoy yourself near the swimming pool. It would be up to you,” Samantha started distributing the keys.
“Come,” Samantha nodded at Aaliyah, who shook her head.
“You can give everyone first. Let everyone choose first. I am not a picky one,” Aaliyah smiled, and Samantha nodded at her thoughtfulness.
Seeing everyone had almost chosen their rooms, Samantha bit her lips.
“Only three rooms are left. Which one do you want, Aaliyah?” Samantha placed the keys in front of her.
Stupid, Aaliyah. Did you really think anyone would get to choose the room Volkov has decided for you? This is just a notion to make everything look natural and not a setup pre-decided. Samantha smirked in her heart.
“I think the one with the balcony and outer facing sounds good,” Aaliyah picked the room on the seventh floor, and Samantha’s smile widened.
Volkov’s guess was right about her picking this one. They had even made a bet. It looks like he has won easily. Samantha looked at Bryce, who smirked and nodded, looking at Dimitri, who lost the bet.
“Hey, isn’t this too much? All of us have our rooms on the second and third floors. You will be so far,” Momo grumbled, and Aaliyah sighed.
“You know me, Momo. I would always choose peace over a party night. This much height would be good to down the music when you’re partying. The marvelous view would be the bonus,” Aaliyah grinned, and Ashton looked at his key before sighing.
If he had known Aaliyah would choose the room on the seventh floor, he would’ve chosen the other room on the same floor. It had given him some privacy with her.
“Let me walk you to your room and check it,” Ashton said, and though it was unnecessary, Aaliyah nodded.
It’s better to be safe than sorry. Though she trusted everyone here not to pull something, it was a habit to check the room she stays in.
“We will have dinner and play games before you guys call it a night,” Samantha swung her hand on Momo’s shoulders, and Aaliyah smiled.
It looked like her friends were starting to open up to these people.
After one hour~~~
“Hey, mom. Yes, the ship has started moving. It’s okay, mom. Chill. You couldn’t see it because you were busy saving lives. It’s been an hour. Don’t worry. I will try to control Katherine from drinking too much. She is not sharing a room with her boyfriend. You too, take care,” Aaliyah ended the call before standing near the balcony.
“It’s beautiful,” Aaliyah mumbled as she faced the ocean on the full moon.
Turning her head, she looked to the balcony of her adjacent room, raising her brows when she heard a clicking sound, and a man with a cigar came into view.
The man whose back was facing her wasn’t wearing a shirt, and not wanting to invade someone’s privacy, Aaliyah was about to withdraw her gaze when he turned slightly, his side profile too hard to miss.
Seeing him throwing lighting off his cigar, Aaliyah was about to call him when his words registered in her mind.
“What do you mean it’s not done? I think my father gave you an ultimatum. Have I become too lenient with you guys? Have you forgotten what the punishment is for not completing your assignment?” Mr. Volkov’s voice was cold and devoid of emotion, and Aaliyah raised her brows, hearing this voice of his for the first time.
“Get it done within two days, or I won’t think twice before bathing my hands in your blood when I come back,” Volkov spoke before turning around with a cold sigh, freezing in his place when his gaze met with Aaliyah’s curious ones.
Did she hear everything? Judging from her face, it looks like it.
He hadn’t expected Aaliyah to come to her room so soon. He thought they were near the pool partying and having dinner. Why did no one inform him about it? Now, what excuse will he make for his words? Volkov thought, and Aaliyah tilted her head.
He was about to explain himself when Aaliyah spoke.
“Too busy?” Aaliyah asked, completely off-topic, not wanting to show her disappointment over his absence earlier, and Volkov shook his head.
“I wanted to meet you alone,” He walked closer to her on his balcony as if understanding her hidden question.
“So here I am, alone,” Aaliyah smiled, her gaze lingering on his chest a little more than needed.
This was the second time she was seeing his chest. The last time she kept her gaze away to be respectful. However, now – she cleared her thoughts.
“Will you accompany us to the dinner?” Aaliyah asked, and before Volkov could answer, her intercom rang.
“Aaliyah, it might get a little overboard with the seafood. We have arranged for your dinner in your room. You can come to the party later,” Samantha said, and Aaliyah sighed.
“Okay,” Aaliyah answered before a wicked idea crossed her mind, and Volkov squinted his brows, remembering the look.
Jumping over the railing to reach his balcony, Aaliyah balanced herself, shocking Volkov one more time.
“What are you doing, Aaliyah? It’s dangerous,” Volkov said, looking at her with a tense gaze before pulling her closer when she reached him.
“Not more dangerous than this man standing in front of me,” Aaliyah looked into his eyes suggestively, and for some reason, Volkov felt that something about her was different.
“Well, isn’t this a bit cooler?” Aaliyah smiled, the earlier look in her eyes vanishing.
“Since you were too busy, I guess I have to take a step ahead,” Aaliyah took a step closer and hugged him, smiling at the feel of his skin and the intoxicating smell that was asking her to do things to him she wouldn’t even imagine.
“Would you like to come inside?” Volkov asked, not touching her, and Aaliyah nodded, her gaze landing on the scattered files.
“You were indeed busy, huh? I didn’t want to disturb -” Aaliyah couldn’t complete her sentence because as soon as she turned, Volkov pulled her towards himself, finally hugging her in a bone-crushing hug before nuzzling his face in her neck.
‘Fu*k!’ Volkov thought when his soldier down there started reacting to her body scent immediately.
“This is called a proper hug,” Volkov said, and Aaliyah, whose heart was racing fast because of how good his skin made her feel, tightened her hold on him, making him smile.
So his assumption was right. Aaliyah was finally starting to acknowledge his feelings.
“You have no idea how much I missed you these two weeks,” Volkov pecked her neck, and to his shock, she tilted her head as if giving him access to her neck.
“Do you like it when I kiss your neck?” He asked, but she didn’t answer.
“Because I think I might have to take your hint and try to believe in supernatural creatures even more. Like right now, I want to believe in vampires and werewolves,” Volkov said, grazing his teeth on her neck softly, and Aaliyah’s nails grazed his chest as her breathing became ragged.
This was the first time she was giving in to her feelings, and though it felt all new to her, in her heart, she knew this was what she wanted.