~Aaron~
I felt her before I saw her. The last of my drink burned down my throat as I watched the sea stretch endlessly under the dark sky. I told myself to hold out, to keep my eyes fixed on the horizon, not to turn around until she was closer.
The driver had picked her up from the hotel, and she’d expressed her displeasure enough in the texts she sent. But tonight wasn’t about her mood or her protests. It was about her. About us.
Planning a dinner date on a yacht had taken effort. I’d kept it under wraps because I knew myself too well. The moment I saw her in that dress, I’d be done for. I’d forget all my plans, cancel everything, and spend the night showing her exactly who she belonged to.
“Should I be scared we’re trespassing on private property?” Her voice, soft and teasing, broke through my thoughts, and my restraint slipped. I turned.
She stood just a few feet away, the night wrapping around her like she was a part of it. Her brows lifted slightly in curiosity, and she looked stunning-more than stunning.
My gaze swept over her, from the emerald green dress that clung to her skin, perfectly matching her eyes, to the diamonds catching the light at her neck.
She probably didn’t know they were real diamonds-if she did, she’d never have worn them.
Then there were the heels, making her legs look impossibly long. Her red hair spilled over her shoulders, framing her face like it was painted there. Her lips were red, and I couldn’t tell if it was intentional or if they just always looked like that.
“If you’re done ogling, move out of the way,” she muttered, her voice filled with mock impatience.
A smile tugged at my lips as she closed the space between us. Her scent hit me first, something soft and sweet.
She hugged me briefly, her arms brushing against my back before she pulled away. It wasn’t much, but it was enough. My cock stirred in response, and I clenched my fists to keep myself in check.
“What are we doing here?” she whispered, her eyes darting to the setup behind me-the table for two, the candles, the quiet luxury of it all.
“What does it look like?” I asked, watching her expression closely.
She tilted her head, a genuine smile tugging at her lips, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe.
“This looks like a date,” she said slowly, narrowing her eyes like she was trying to solve a puzzle. “And there’s no way you pulled this off so quickly after we landed in Paris.” She paused. “Wait. Did you crash someone else’s dinner party?”
A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. She’d always had a way of catching me off guard.
“You wanted dates,” I reminded her, my voice low as I reached for her waist, pulling her closer. Her body fit against mine like it was made to.
Her lips parted slightly, and her throat bobbed as she swallowed. “When did you even plan this?” she asked, her fingers brushing against my stubble.
Her touch was light, hesitant, but it sent a wave of heat through me. I wanted to close my eyes and lean into it, but I couldn’t let her take the reins just yet.
I caught her hand, holding it in mine as I led her toward the table. “Does it matter?” I asked, glancing back at her.
I drew out her seat as she settled in before I sat opposite her.
Her gaze dropped to the table, going through the dishes and drinks before it returned to mine.
“This… It’s beautiful. Thank you,” she muttered, and I leaned in, brushing her cheek with my thumb.
“You look gorgeous, just as I knew you would in that dress,” I said, and her eyes glimmered.
“Oh. I had trouble putting it on,” she chuckled. “I also had trouble zipping up, but the dress is beautiful. I love it. Though I know we’ll have to return it after this,” she muttered, and I raised a brow.
“It’s yours,” I stated, unimpressed. What? She thought I’d rent a dress for her? Her eyes widened as she stared down at herself.
“Who zipped you up?” I asked because I really wanted to know.
She leaned back in her seat, a smirk tugging on her lips.
“I couldn’t find you, so I asked the first person I saw,” she shrugged like it was no big deal. “It was a guy. He said I had a nice build. Funny.” She laughed as she reached for the glass of wine, but I closed my hand around hers.
“What?” My voice was low. Okay, let’s not talk about the annoyance and jealousy battling inside of me.
She raised a brow.
“I’m trying to enjoy my date here, Thompson. Not every day I get to watch the sea while drinking a glass of wine,” she blinked innocently at me, like she had no idea what she did.
“What guy?” I asked, and she just stared at me for a second before she huffed.
“Kidding. Can you let go of my hand now?” She rolled her eyes, and I narrowed mine, trying to figure out if she was telling the truth.
I let go of her, and she eyed me over the glass of wine that she raised to her lips. We remained silent for a while, my attention on her while she pursed her lips, glancing at the sea.
We weren’t far from land. I mean, the yacht was anchored, so we weren’t floating yet, though we probably would soon.
“Aaron, I…” she was saying before we were interrupted by a waiter who brought in more food and I watched as her eyes went wide.
“Is that pork?” she whispered, leaning forward slightly, like the tray held some treasure. The waiter smiled at her.
I barely glanced at him. “Leave. Tell everyone else to leave,” I said flatly.
The man blinked at me, confused. “But sir-”
“Only the sailor stays,” I interrupted, my tone leaving no room for argument.
Joan didn’t seem to notice, too busy tearing into the food with her bare hands. Sauce smeared her fingers, and while the cutlery sat neatly beside her plate, she didn’t bother with it.
She glanced up, amused when the man scurried away. “If everyone leaves, what are we going to do?”
I didn’t answer. Instead, I pulled out my phone and made a single call. “Move,” I said, my voice clipped.
The yacht shifted a moment later, the faint hum of the engine breaking the silence as we drifted further from land.
She pursed her lips as she leaned back in her chair, watching me. “That was hot,” she muttered under her breath, stealing another fry from the plate.
We ate in silence for a while-well, she ate. I couldn’t take my eyes off her long enough to focus on the food. Eventually, she noticed.
“There’s so much food,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “Why aren’t you eating?”
I stood, reaching for her hand. “There’s plenty of food, but I only want one thing,” I said, pulling her to her feet. “And my food happens to be eating.”
Her cheeks flushed, but she didn’t pull away.
“Dance with me,” I said, my voice low.
Her eyes flicked to the open deck, the absence of music, the absurdity of the request. But then she nodded, stepping closer.
She wrapped her arms around my neck, and for a moment, it felt like the whole world shifted. Her body pressed against mine, and we moved slowly, the waves against the yacht keeping time for us.
“Thank you for this,” she whispered, her eyes locked on mine.
I leaned in, brushing my lips against her ear. “This is just the beginning, kitten,” I murmured.
She sighed, her arms tightening around me, her fingers tangling in the hair at the back of my neck.
We moved together, slowly, turning in soft circles.
After a while, she pulled back, her hands sliding down my chest, stopping just above my waistband.
Her eyes met mine, bright and filled with something I couldn’t quite name.
“Aaron,” she murmured, her voice soft and breathy. “Make love to me.”