by Box Set
She giggled and patted the bed again. “Of course we’re going together. I guess I should have asked, but considering the way we’ve been attached at the hip, I assumed that was the plan. We’re going four-wheeling, by the way, so wear clothes you don’t mind getting filthy. The brochure said we’d be completely covered in mud by the time we’re done.”
Rider couldn’t stop his eyes from widening as he made his way to the bed to lie gingerly next to her. Trish didn’t strike him as the type of woman who’d be okay with getting dirty, but the smile on her face looked positively gleeful. Perhaps her normally reserved persona had more to do with image than who she actually was.
“Sounds fun to me,” he said. “We can sign me up for the excursion after breakfast.”
“First, I want to hear more about your ‘journey of discovery.’” She used air quotes before turning on her side and lying next to him, curling her hand beneath her cheek and staring into his eyes. “I’ve never done anything spontaneous or crazy my entire life. It sounds like you know how to go on adventures.”
“It wasn’t exactly planned. I went up there because I had no clue what to do with my life,” he pointed out. “It seems you always knew what you wanted and went after it. I really admire that.”
To his surprise, she shook her head. “Being a lawyer isn’t what I wanted. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love it, especially now that I’ll get opportunities to do trials. It’s just that my parents were very clear in what they wanted from their children, and I followed their plan to a T.” She paused for a moment and her brow wrinkled. “In fact, I think that’s why I got engaged to David. I was supposed to marry a good guy and have kids. It’s what they want. Lucy totally went her own way, despite the pressures they put on us, but I tried to be the good daughter.”
“I don’t have any siblings, but it’s shocking you and Lucy get along if that was the environment you were brought up in.”
“Oh, we hated each other most of our lives,” she clarified. “Right up until last year when Lucy told me why she made the choices she made, and I realized I’d been judging her without understanding her.” Trish sighed. “I was a real bitch, but Lucy has taught me there’s more to life than pleasing everyone around you. My parents weren’t happy to hear I’d broken things off with David. I don’t even think they cared that he cheated on me. They would have cared even less if I admitted that I don’t think I was ever in love with him.”
Things sounded better for Rider by the minute. If Trish had never experienced real love or been cherished in the way she deserved, he just might pull everything off. It didn’t matter if he didn’t want kids or that they didn’t know each other all too well yet. All he had to do was show Trish what a real relationship should feel like, make her the center of his world, and she would fall hard for him and be safe from Stacy and the woman’s evil plans.
He took her hand, pulling it to his mouth to kiss her palm lightly. “I’m sorry you’ve lived your life with such strictness. If I have anything to say about it, you’ll start experiencing a lot more adventure.”
She smiled, curling her fingers against his face and making unexpected butterflies erupt in Rider’s stomach. He kept telling himself he was doing all this to protect Trish from Stacy, but the truth was, he liked her. The more time that passed, the more he wondered if it would all be an act or something real by the time the trip ended.
“I’m happy to take any adventure with you,” she said. “Then again, this trip has been too adventuresome so far. No more people going missing. I don’t need that type of adventure.”
She was certainly handling things better this morning. Rider had half-expected her to be more freaked out once she’d rested and had a clearer head.
“You aren’t scared to continue our trip?” he asked. “I sort of worried you’d take the first plane home, and I wouldn’t get to spend this time with you.”
She shrugged. “I wish they knew for sure who took Carl out, and I do feel sorry for his family. Imagine going on a cruise and never returning home.”
Rider cupped her palm against his cheek, savoring the warmth of her skin. “I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen to you,” he vowed. “No matter what goes on, I’ll always protect you.”
“Great. And I’ll protect you too.” She leaned forward, giving him a peck on the lips. “Now, let’s take a nap before we reach the dock. The Dominican Republic awaits!”
Chapter 14
After their cross-terrain excursion on the four-wheeler, Trish stepped off the bus near the port, reclaiming Rider’s hand as soon as he joined her. They had been lucky enough to take fabulous pictures of breathtaking beaches and dense jungles, drink straight from a coconut, and all around had a great time. Trish couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this happy.
“It’s a good thing they had a place to shower,” Rider noted, using his free hand to rub at his ear. “I still feel like there’s mud in there. You’re a crazy driver, woman.”
Trish grinned. “You know you liked it. Just because you were too chicken to go fast when you took a turn driving doesn’t mean I’m crazy for hitting the gas pedal.”
“Fair enough,” he agreed. “The speed was fun, but if someone was going to flip our vehicle and break our necks today, I didn’t want it to be me.”
She bumped her hip against his and then pulled him along to walk down the pier with her. “Don’t be afraid, Trench Coat. It was my turn to keep you safe.”
Glancing at the watch she’d bought for the trip, Trish was pleased to note they still had a long time before needing to board the cruise ship. “What should we do for the rest of the day? I thought we could lay out on the beach or something, but this is all grass and walkways, no real sand to speak of.”
Rider grinned. “We didn’t go to California. Can’t expect the beaches to all look the same. Lucky for you, I have the rest of our day planned already.”
“You do?” Trish supposed she should have realized Rider had come on the trip with things he wanted to do. “I hope I didn’t spoil your day with my trip.”
“Are you kidding?” He threaded his fingers through hers. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be than wherever you are. But, I ran into a man on the dock who had a sailboat for rent this morning while you were getting drinks before the trip. He should have everything ready by now.”
Bemused, Trish followed Rider along the path, past quaint beach houses and lush vegetation. Even the smells were different than she’d expected. There wasn’t the regular fishy smell she’d experienced from the ocean before. It was fresh and tangy. Sometimes from inside the cruise ship, she forgot she was even on the water, but here the cove was magical and beautiful. The perfect place for a new romance to blossom into something greater.
They eventually walked far enough that they stopped seeing the huts. A line of sparkling boats of all sizes expanded before them.
Rider pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. “We’re looking for slip fifty-six. It’s a fairly small sailboat.”
Winding through the maze of wooden docks, they finally found the correct place. It was indeed a rather small sailboat, but also beautiful. The white sides shimmered in the sunlight.
A man stuck his head up from a hold below deck, nodding in recognition toward Rider as he jumped to the dock beside them. “It’s all set up the way you asked. Be back in four hours, or you’ll miss your ship.”
Rider nodded, unclasping his hand from Trish’s to shake the boat owner’s hand. “I’ll be careful with her. Thanks for this. My lady and I haven’t been on a real date yet, and I hope this qualifies.”
Trish’s heart swelled with anticipation and excitement. Last night she’d worried Rider was too ready for something, something she didn’t know if she wanted. The truth was, she needed to live a bit. Rider had seemed to understand that this morning when she explained about her childhood and her life plan. He knew she needed to have some fun without it getting complicated.
The man was truly trying to romance her, and Trish had n
ever had anyone do that before. He already knew a lot of the baggage she carried, and he hadn’t decided to hold back and stop seeing her. That counted for a lot, and Trish wouldn’t keep worrying whether this was right or if it would end in disaster. For now, today, it was perfectly right and exactly where she wanted to be.
Rider stepped into the boat first, holding his hand out to help pull her inside. “Are you ready for this? He gave me a map to one of the most secluded coves. It’s the first time we’ll be completely alone since first meeting on that sidewalk.”
She chuckled. “We were alone last night. Did you already forget?”
“We weren’t alone, alone. Other people were on the ship with us.” He raised an eyebrow. “There won’t be another person around for miles out there.”
“I’m not afraid to be alone with you,” she replied, wondering if that was his question, or whether he expected her to do more once they reached the cove than kiss and hold hands. Either way, she knew Rider would never force her into anything she didn’t want. She’d trusted him with her life already. It was easy to trust him with her virtue.
He busied himself, unhooking the boat from the ropes securing it to the dock.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked. “Also, have you ever sailed before? I have no idea what to do.”
Rider winked. “First time for everything, right?”
A tendril of panic rose throughout her body. “This isn’t your first time...”
“I trusted you with my life on the four wheelers. Now, you have to trust me.”
Trish suspected he tried to make her nervous, perhaps to keep her off balance and not able to plan her next move as she normally did in her carefully cultivated lifestyle. Little did he know, she didn’t want to follow a predestined path anymore. Lucy and Blake found each other specifically because her sister refused to follow along with what everyone expected of her. If that was what it took to find actual love and happiness, Trish was willing to give it a try.
In no time, Rider had the boat out on the open water and unfurled the sail. He explained about tacking against the wind and warned her whenever he needed to shift the sail so it wouldn’t clobber her in the head and throw her overboard.
Knowing there would be plenty of time to talk once they reached the cove, Trish sat back and enjoyed the rush of wind whipping across her face. If she closed her eyes, it almost felt as if she were flying. “I love this!” she said, keeping her eyes closed.
Rider’s ready chuckle floated on the wind. “I thought you might. I noticed how much you like speed.”
It was over all too quickly. They entered a beautiful pocket of water inset into the island. A backdrop of green vegetation gave rise to a steep hill to provide a picturesque setting. The water beneath the rocking ship was such a beautiful, clear blue that Trish could see colorful fish flitting about below them.
After taking down the sail, Rider dropped the anchor. He dusted off his hands. “What do you think?”
She rose from her perch near the side of the boat, walking to meet him in the middle and snuggling against his chest. “I never imagined places this beautiful and untouched existed. It feels as if we’re the only people in the entire world right now.”
He kissed the top of her head. “That was the idea. Although, I must admit that nothing about this trip feels like Christmastime.”
She nodded her agreement. “It will still be two weeks until Christmas when we get home. What are your holiday plans?”
“Hold that thought.” Rider released her, opening the hatch to go below deck and disappearing for a few moments.
When he returned, he carried a picnic basket and a blanket. “Help me spread this out, would you?”
Trish did as he asked, settling onto the blanket next to him. “So, about Christmas?” She shouldn’t be pushy, but she wondered if he planned to see her once they returned home, or what exactly was going on in his mind.
“I figured we could have Christmas at my place,” he said, “but we’ll be sure to see your sister and her family. My dad lives back east with his new wife, so I’m open to whatever you have planned for Christmas dinner.”
She glanced at him, a teasing grin trying to burst forth. “You’re that sure we’ll spend Christmas together?”
He busied himself opening the picnic basket, pulling out a selection of fresh fruit slices, chocolate-covered strawberries, and small bottles of what looked to be juice. “I decided to keep this trip alcohol free. I hope that’s okay.” He finally looked up, his brown eyes boring into her. “When you decide that you want me as much as I want you, I don’t want the excuse of alcohol making you question your decisions. It’s time for you to live a little.”
She gulped, both thrilled and nervous with his directness.
Rider cracked open a bottle, handing it to her. “As far as Christmas, yes, I’m confident we’ll be together. I don’t plan on this being a short-term affair. Why mess with a good thing?”
“Fair enough,” she said. “Who am I to question your judgment?” She raised the juice bottle, preparing to take a sip. “Cheers!”
Rider breathed a silent sigh of relief while packing the remainder of their fruit slices away. Today had gone much better than he expected. Not only was Trish smart and beautiful, she wanted to be with him. For a few minutes, he thought he’d blown it by so casually planning her Christmas instead of answering her question and saying what he was doing, but she seemed to like that. Liked knowing Rider really wanted to be with her.
It made him wonder if she’d ever felt that way before. It seemed like her parents had children because they needed some sort of trophy to show off and brag about their successes, not because they actually wanted kids. Trish admitted that her engagement had been more of a convenience and not because she and her ex were actually in love. It was only obvious that she envied her sister, wanting the type of life Lucy had.
All Rider had to do was figure out how to be the man to give that all to her.
The cruise may have had some bumps so far, considering the people they were stuck on the ship with, but he couldn’t be more pleased with the progression of his plans with Trish.
“It’s nice and warm,” Trish murmured. “Do we have time to lie in the sun before going back?”
Rider checked his watch. Still more than two hours before check-in time on the cruise ship. “Sure do. Come here.”
He lay down, holding his arm out in invitation for her to use his chest as a pillow.
Trish smiled, accepting the invitation. Her hair brushed against his face, bringing the sweet smell of coconut from the shampoo provided to them after their earlier trip. “I could get used to this life,” she said.
“You wouldn’t miss the cold weather and rain back home?”
“Not hardly.” She laughed and ran her hand lightly over Rider’s stomach, suddenly kicking his hormones into overdrive.
Rider’s groin region tightened, and he did his best to think about anything besides Trish’s hand rubbing up and down his abs. Baseball scores, pitching stats. Come on, man. Think!
“Doesn’t it feel like we’ve known each other longer than we have?” she asked. Her hand slipped beneath his shirt, and she continued caressing him, making direct contact with his skin.
Heart pounding, Rider knew he was done for. His pants bulged and his dick throbbed in rhythm with his rapid heartbeat. “Maybe we should sit back up.”
She slid off him slightly, not stopping in her ministrations to his stomach. Propping herself up on her other elbow, she smiled. “Something wrong?”
“I...” He shook his head. “You little minx. You know what you’re doing, don’t you?”
She nodded. “I might not know what love is, but this...? I know how to do this.” Her hand dipped lower, roaming across his pants and exploring him through the fabric.
Rider took a ragged breath, wondering how long he’d be able to withstand this unique bit of torture. Was she only teasing him, or did she plan to deliver
on the promises she made to his long-dormant libido?
“You didn’t answer my question,” she said, gently tugging on the zipper of his jeans. “Doesn’t it feel like we’ve known each other much longer than we have?”
Did she need him to say that in order to feel okay about what she contemplated doing with him? Rider didn’t want her to stop, but he didn’t want her to regret it later, either. As much as he wanted to get his rocks off, he had to remember the ultimate goal. She needed to love him before the cruise ended.
“You don’t have to do this,” he managed to say, though he gritted his teeth and silently pleaded with his eyes for her to keep going.
She finally had the zipper worked down and then sat up, using both hands to tackle the button. “Want me to stop?”
He shook his head, desperate for her to get his pants off and stroke him more. “I want you, Trish. I think you know that. You’re the smartest, most attractive woman I’ve met in a long time. All I can think about half the time is having sex with you.”
She took her hands away from him, only to tug on the bottom of her shirt and rip it over her head, revealing a bra filled to the bursting point with her beautiful tits. “Then stop discouraging me. Even if this is all we have, I want you. Right now.”
All they had? She was still thinking short term. He knew he should stop this. He should refasten his pants and tell her to get dressed.
As though they had a mind of their own, Rider’s hands reached for her, circling around her waist and fumbling with the clasp to her bra. “You’ve already got me hot. Let me warm you up.” He sat up and stripped off her bra.
Grabbing her silky shoulders, Rider gently pushed her toward the deck, following to crawl on top of her, kissing and sucking at her neckline while he ran his hand up and down her body, pausing in the journey each time to tweak her tightening nipples.
“Oh, Rider.” Her words were barely a whisper on the breeze, but they drove him crazy with the amount of longing and need he heard in them. “Touch me down lower.”
