Tame

by Colet Abedi

  “Then what can I help you with?”

  “I was wondering if you could help me organize a car for this evening?”

  “Do you want to go shopping in town?”

  “I’m leaving tonight,” I tell him softly. “And I need a ride to the airport.”

  Joseph’s eyes round in surprise.

  “You’re leaving?”

  “Yes. I think it’s for the best.”

  Since Carla and Joseph were witnesses to the tension between Michael and me last night at dinner, I’m pretty sure he knows why.

  “Does Michael know?” Joseph asks curiously.

  “I haven’t had a chance to tell him yet. But if it’s not too much trouble, I was hoping you could help me.”

  “Of course.” His response is immediate. “I’ll take you myself.”

  “Thank you,” I say gratefully. “My flight is at seven o’clock so I’ll have to be at the airport a few hours before. But I’ll go whenever you can take me.”

  “We’ll leave at four.”

  “Perfect. I’ll be ready then.”

  I leave Joseph and head back inside. I’m grateful Michael is nowhere to be found. I head back upstairs and slip on my bikini, grab a towel and head back down. Since it’s my last few hours in Costa Rica, I’ll spend the day on the beach and enjoy the ocean. As I make my outside, I find Michael waiting for me in the family room.

  My stomach drops at the sight of him and another wave of heartache sweeps over me.

  I take in his rugged appearance. He’s dressed in black swim trunks and a white T-shirt. From the look on his face, I can tell he didn’t sleep at all. I do feel some satisfaction in knowing he is just as affected as I am.

  His blue eyes meet my gaze, turmoil swirling in their depths.

  “Abby.” His voice is husky.

  “Good morning.”

  “I spoke to Joseph,” he says to my surprise.

  That was fast. I nod my head in acknowledgment.

  “You want to leave?”

  “I do. There really is no need for me to be here any longer.”

  “You haven’t seen much of the country.”

  “No, but hopefully I’ll come back one day.”

  Michael watches me silently, and I wish I could tell what he’s thinking.

  “You’re here now,” he replies. “And there’s really no need for you to go.”

  “After last night, you know I can’t stay.” I swallow the lump in my throat.

  Michael sighs loudly and stands up to face me. It almost hurts to look at him, but I bravely meet his gaze.

  “If that’s how you feel. I won’t try to stop you.”

  “It’s how I feel.”

  “Since your flight doesn’t leave until late tonight, I’d like to show you something.”

  “Michael…” I shake my head. I don’t want to do anything with him that will confuse me more.

  “Please,” he pleads. “I promise you’ll enjoy where I want to take you.”

  The last thing either of us needs is to spend more time with each other. It will just hurt too much.

  “Let it be my gift to you.” He continues talking when he sees my hesitation. “Please. I want to share this with you. Please don’t say no. It will only be a few hours.”

  There are a million reasons why I should say no.

  A million.

  For my sanity. For my heart. For my self-preservation. But like someone hell-bent on torturing themselves even more than humanly possible, I crave him.

  Crave his company.

  Because I realize this could be the last time I’m ever alone with him again.

  “All right,” I finally say and watch how his body relaxes when I answer yes. “But I have to be back by four.”

  “I’ll have you back in time.” He smiles.

  A tremor rushes through me as we continue to stare at each other. Our eyes locked as memories of all that we’ve shared bounce between us. What’s a few more hours? One more moment with this man to have locked in my mind forever, keeping me company on the lonely nights I know I’ll have ahead without him.

  “Where are we going?” I finally ask, breaking the silence between us.

  “It’s a surprise.”

  ***

  An hour later, we’re speeding across the Caribbean in Michael’s motor yacht. His crew met us at the dock and saw to our comfort once we boarded. The yacht is really beautiful, with three bedrooms, a living area, and kitchen. The front deck has an L-shaped couch with sun chairs to take full advantage of the view and the sun.

  A member of his staff offers me a glass of champagne that I gladly take as I sit on the lounge chair and take in the ocean around me. When we arrived at the yacht, I made Michael assure me again that we would make it back in time for my flight. He told me I had nothing to worry about and I believed him.

  Michael sits next to me with a beer in hand.

  I have my sunglasses on and sneak a peek when I think he’s not looking. Once we were on our way to the surprise destination, Michael took his shirt off and is now bare-chested, sitting casually in front of me. Even though I try not to, I admire his physique.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “No.” I can’t even stomach the thought of food. A first for me, since it’s always been the way to comfort myself in the past.

  “You didn’t have breakfast,” he says, and I realize Giselle must have talked to him this morning as well.

  “I’m really not hungry. Maybe something later.”

  He props his feet up on the table and studies me. I can feel his gaze burning into me and I curse myself for saying yes to this little day trip of his. I’m so wound up I can barely relax.

  “So where are we going?” I ask him, breaking the silence.

  “It’s a surprise.” Michael smiles. “It won’t be long before you see for yourself.”

  “Can I get a hint?”

  “No. You’ll see shortly. I promise you won’t be disappointed.”

  I take a sip of the champagne and lean back into the cushioned chair, tucking my legs underneath me. I close my eyes and let the ocean breeze move over me. I can feel his eyes on me. Watching my every move.

  “What’s your favorite flower?”

  I open my eyes and look over at him.

  “I’m sorry?” I ask in confusion.

  “I have eight more questions.”

  Right. The bet.

  “Tulips.”

  “What color?”

  “Purple.”

  “Is that your favorite color?”

  “Yes,” I reply, quickly pointing out, “you only have five more questions.”

  Michael laughs good-naturedly.

  “Now you’re counting.”

  “I am.”

  “All right,” he says with a smirk. “I’ll take that.”

  “Finally,” I mutter as I scoop out a strawberry from the champagne glass and pop it in my mouth.

  “Finally?” he repeats, tilting his head to the side in question.

  “We finally agree on something.”

  Michael stares at me pensively.

  “I think we’ve agreed on more than that.”

  “Really?” I ask impatiently. “What would that be?”

  “Your stepbrother being the world’s biggest ass.” His voice is biting and filled with loathing.

  His comment makes me laugh.

  “All right,” I say. “I’ll give you that.”

  “I hate the way he’s treated you.” Michael’s voice is gentle, and my traitorous heart responds to the sympathy I hear.

  “He’s terrible,” I agree.

  “He’s more than that. He’s an awful human being. And I can’t imagine what your life must have been like growing up with someone like that. I wish I had smashed his face in at the club. He deserved to be put in the hospital.”

  My heart responds to the protective tone in his voice. I know he means what he says. And I love him even more for it.

  “But the
n you’d be in jail,” I point out the obvious.

  “It would be worth it. I might even pay him a visit when I get home—”

  “Please don’t.” Even after everything that’s happened, I couldn’t bear the thought of Michael getting in trouble on my behalf.

  Or worse, getting hurt.

  “He’s not worth it,” I tell him.

  “Protecting you is worth any price I would have to pay.”

  My breath hitches and I silently curse, wishing he would stop talking. I don’t want to hear him say these things. It’s only going to make leaving even harder.

  “It’s kind of you,” I say as my emotions wage war.

  “I’m not feeling kind right now. I’m feeling just the opposite.”

  My stomach twists in knots and I force myself to look away from him and not prod him to continue. This is not a conversation I want to have.

  “Are we close?” I ask, changing the topic.

  “About fifteen minutes out.” He finishes his beer and stands up. “I’ll be back.”

  When he’s gone, I let out a sigh of relief. I can finally breathe again. It takes all my strength to distract myself from the turmoil that is churning in my stomach. All of this, the way he’s behaving now, this is why I’ve loved him for all these years. And to know, after last night, that I can’t ever have it is devastating. I try to remember all of the things we said to each other. The reasons why it can never be. The reasons he told me himself. And I still want to cry out in frustration and ask why. I grab my phone out of my bag and look at the time.

  Only four more hours, I think to myself. And then I’ll be on my way to the airport. The torture finally over… and a new kind of torture waiting for me on the other end. I didn’t want to think about everything else that would come after, what I’d do at the office with him, all of the uncomfortable moments that were sure to come—at least not yet. There was plenty of time for that.

  Michael returns a short while later with a platter of cheese and crackers and places it on the table between us.

  “Something to snack on. You’ll need your energy.”

  I smile gratefully and take a cracker. He watches me carefully.

  “Does your mother know?” he asks to my surprise.

  “Is that your next question?” I ask him with a raised brow. “You’ll have only four left after.”

  “Touché. Yes, it is.”

  “Yes.” I give him a simple answer.

  “What did she say?” Michael prods. “I know I’ll have only three left after this.”

  I shrug uncomfortably before leaning in to grab a piece of cheese.

  “As you can imagine she wasn’t too thrilled.”

  “Specifics,” he insists. “I get to have more than that.”

  “What do you think she said?” I sigh. “She is furious with me. She thinks I’ve embarrassed the family even more and of course, it’s all about her.”

  “Embarrassed the family?” Michael repeats quietly.

  “My mother is well aware of your reputation,” I point out to him, not caring if I hurt his feelings.

  “My reputation?”

  I look at him and watch as he takes off his sunglasses. I can tell he’s not very happy with my comment but if the shoe fits…

  “Your vast experience with the female anatomy and your philandering ways,” I tell him with a sweet smile. “You were quick to point them out to me last night, so I wouldn’t look so shocked.”

  He stares at me with an inscrutable look.

  His face is so handsome, I think to myself. I wish more than anything I could lean over and pull those philandering lips to mine and have another taste of them.

  God.

  I want him again.

  Manwhore that he is.

  Incapable of settling down. Incapable of emotion. Incapable of giving me what I want.

  And yet I still want him.

  Life can definitely be cruel.

  “There are advantages in having my vast experience,” Michael says, his eyes darkening.

  “Really?” I laugh off his comment.

  “I think you’ve experienced them firsthand.”

  My stomach flips at the thought of the pleasure he’s given me. Yes, there were definite advantages.

  “Haven’t you?” he prods huskily.

  “Is that your next question?”

  “It is.”

  “Yes,” I whisper, taking another nervous sip of my drink.

  Before Michael can continue his tortuous line of inappropriate questioning, the boat slows down and I hear the crew begin to call out to one another. Michael stands and looks out the bow. A smile sweeps across his face.

  “We’re here.”

  Since I’ve been so consumed by his company, I hadn’t even taken note of everything going on around me. I stand up and look out on the ocean and the sight that greets me takes my breath away. Hundreds of dolphins swim around the boat, playing in the water, jumping out as if they are putting on a display for us.

  “Oh my God!” I whisper in awe, setting down my drink and grabbing my phone to take pictures.

  It’s one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen.

  “This is incredible!” I tell him in excitement, soaking in the sight.

  “It really is,” he agrees as he comes to stand next to me.

  We take in the joyful scene and I’m beyond grateful he brought me here to see this. I lean over the railing to soak it all in. I turn to give him a happy smile.

  “This is everything!” I tell him. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

  “There’s more.” His eyes sweep over my face and linger on my lips. My body reacts to his hungry look and I force myself to look away.

  “Come with me,” he says, grabbing my hand and leading me to the back of the yacht.

  Two members of the crew are waiting for us at the back of the boat with snorkels and fins. I turn to look up at him in excitement.

  “We can go in?” I ask giddily.

  “Yes,” he says with a warm smile. “This is the best part.”

  I quickly pull off my sundress and rush to grab the snorkels and fins from the waiting crew. Michael laughs at my enthusiasm.

  “Wait for me,” he cautions.

  I slip on the gear and turn to him and watch as he does the same.

  “Ready?” he asks, giving me the thumbs-up sign.

  “Yes!”

  One of the men helps me to the side of the boat where there are steps that lead out into the sea and I jump in, easily treading water as I wait for Michael to follow. He gets in quickly and we bob in the water together.

  “Follow me,” he says, dunking his head in and swimming toward the mass of dolphins.

  I do the same and the underwater display that greets me is spectacular. There are dolphins everywhere. Swimming playfully underneath us, calling out to one another as they gracefully move through the water. I could stay here forever.

  Michael takes my hand and leads me out as we both swim around and take it all in. He squeezes my hand and points out different pods and I look on in happiness as I watch the dolphins. They watch us curiously, turning to their sides and swimming around us, allowing us this secret look into their habitat.

  We spend what feels like hours out on the ocean.

  And I never want to leave.

  When Michael tugs on my hand and motions for me to come up out of the water so he can talk, I’m reluctant to take leave of the sight.

  We both emerge at the same time and I take off my snorkel and shake my head in happiness.

  “This is unreal!” I tell him in pleasure.

  “It is,” Michael agrees smiling back at me with as much joy as I feel. “But we have to go in now.”

  “Why?” I ask, wanting to take more in.

  “Lunch. Then we’ll come back out.”

  “But I’m not hungry. You can go in—”

  “No.” He interrupts me sternly. “I don’t want you out here without me. We’ll go ba
ck in, I promise. You have to eat.”

  Since I know he won’t let me argue the point I reluctantly follow him back to the waiting boat.

  Once we’re back on deck, I can’t stop myself from throwing my arms around him in a wet, slippery hug.

  “That was truly incredible!” I tell him happily. “I’m so glad I came.”

  He holds onto my body, his strong arms curving around my hips as he crushes me to his chest. Our eyes meet and something electrical passes between us. He leans down and before I know what’s coming he kisses my mouth softly. Later, I will tell myself it was the excitement of the moment. My adrenaline is pumping through my body, making me feel more alive than I ever have before. That’s what I will tell myself.

  I kiss him back, not caring about the audience around us who busy themselves with cleaning up the deck.

  I kiss him with the gratitude I feel.

  With the joy I have in my heart at this moment because he is giving me another first experience. Another experience I never thought could be possible.

  His mouth becomes more forceful, his body insistent. His erection is hard against my naked belly as his tongue sweeps into my mouth, holding me close, taking what I willingly offer him.

  After a long minute, he pulls away from me, leaving me breathless with longing.

  And then he leans down, picks me up in his arms and carries me into the yacht, through the living area, into one of the bedrooms. There are so many reasons why I should say no, why I should deny him—deny myself—this moment, but I don’t want to.

  I want him.

  I want this.

  We reach for each other with a frenzied need. Ripping off our bathing suits, our naked bodies coming together like our lives depend on it. He lifts me up and places me on the bed, his body never leaving mine as we kiss each other deeply, passionately. His hand moves over to palm my breast, teasing my nipple until it’s a hard nub while I rub myself against his cock, craving him inside me.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispers against my lips. “So goddamn beautiful.”

  I respond to him the only way I can—kissing him, licking his lips, rubbing my hands down the length of his back before my hands cup his ass, begging him for the fulfillment I know he can give me.

  “I want you,” I tell him hungrily as my mouth covers his face with kisses.

  He leans up on his elbows and pulls away so he can stare down at me. His eyes, bright with passion, sweep over my face.