by Ella Miles
I ignore Liesel’s last comment.
“I need you to a pack a bag.”
“Oh, so this is an overnight booty call.”
Ignore her, I tell my temper. I’m trying to save this woman and everyone I care about at the moment, and she is trying to goad me.
“Pack a bag with everything you could possibly need for months. I’ll have Langston pick you up within the hour. We are all getting on the Savage, and I don’t know when we will make port again.”
Silence. For a woman that always has words to say and never shuts up, it’s unusual to hear silence.
“Did you hear me, Liesel?”
“Yes,” she finally says. “What happened?”
“I don’t have time to explain everything, but Milo Wallace happened. I fucked up and betrayed him, and now he will be hunting me and everyone he knows I have a connection with. He’ll kill you if he finds you to try and get information on me and to retrieve what he bought from me. So you are going to get your ass on my yacht in the next hour because I don’t want to have to worry about your safety. I don’t care how many clients are expecting your law skills. You can work from the yacht.”
Another pause. Fucking Liesel, this isn’t the time to get silent on me.
“What did he buy from you?” her voice is soft and quiet as she speaks, and I suspect she already knows the answer.
“Kai, he bought Kai.”
More silence, and I know she’s judging me. Not for selling Kai to Milo, but for stealing her back. Liesel has always wanted me to be stronger. To stick to my decisions and not look weak. Stealing Kai back, Liesel would see as a weakness.
“Thirty-minutes, Liesel. Langston will be there in thirty minutes.” I hang up the phone without waiting for her to confirm she is coming. She will come, if Langston has to drag her ass onto my yacht. I don’t care. I’m not leaving her behind for Milo to find.
WESTCOTT DRIVES Kai and me to the pier to get on the Savage, my favorite yacht out of the fleet of yachts I own.
I hold Kai’s hand the entire time, but I’ve been on the phone most of the drive dealing with the logistics of getting everyone that matters onto the yacht as quickly as possible, while also ensuring Surrender and the rest of my businesses are running smoothly. But when we pull up in front of the yacht, I drop the call with Langston. He can figure out what needs to be done; Kai is my entire focus.
“Are you okay, baby?”
Kai doesn’t react to me calling her baby. It feels natural falling from my lips. As does every other term of endearment I can think of.
Kai’s chest rises and falls slowly, as she forces herself to take a deep breath. The sun reflects off her light olive skin and jet black hair. She tucks her long wavy hair behind her ear and shivers in her pale yellow sundress. She needs a jacket, but I’d rather be the one providing her all her warmth.
I scoot closer and put my arms around her shoulders. She leans back into me, accepting my offer to warm up her body.
“You ready for this? If there were any other way, I would do it,” I say.
She shakes her head. “No, you wouldn’t. There is another way. We stay and fight instead of running. But it’s not about if we should stay and fight or if we should run and hide. You think I need this in order to fully heal. In order to be able to let me go, you need to know that I’m whole. I will never be whole; I can’t be. Not anymore. But thank you for trying.”
I cup her chin, not accepting she is anything less than whole. Sure, she has more healing she needs to do, but that doesn’t change that I think she’s pretty amazing as she is.
My lips come down hungrily on hers, determined to wipe away any thoughts that she is less than. I tease her tongue with mine, and suck the oxygen from her lungs, making her feel like enough while also distracting her from what she is going to have to do. Step onto a yacht and not know when it will return to shore—her nightmare.
I want her panties soaked; I want her begging, dying to come before she has to step foot on the yacht. I want her focused on me and my cock—nothing else will be able to distract her.
I hear Westcott step out of the car, giving us at least the illusion of privacy, and then I make my move. I grab her bare thighs, and slide my hand upward, gliding my hand along her shimmering skin.
I move to pull her panties down, when I find none. She’s bare.
So. Fucking. Hot.
I want to fuck her right here on the backseat of the Porsche Cayenne. Thank God, I have great self-control. Otherwise, I would. And then she’d be spent, but not necessarily distracted.
Focus. You’ll have your chance to have her, just wait.
Good thing I believe in delayed gratification.
Kai arches as my fingers dip between her thighs. Her mouth opens wide in a cry, unable to focus on kissing me when I’m teasing her so tortuously.
“Please, yes,” Kai moans.
I kiss her neck, careful not to touch the area that has been recovered with a bandage. And I swear I feel every nerve ending in her body switch on like a light switch. I feel the surge of energy swirling and begging to be set free.
Not yet, my beauty. Not yet.
My hand is soaked with her sweet juices as I taunt her clit with my fingers. I slip one inside to feel just how wet. And I know she is seconds away from squeezing my finger as her orgasm pulses around me. When she is one second away, I stop.
Her head whips to me. “Why did you stop?”
I kiss her plump and swollen lips. “Because I want you thinking about me all damn day. Don’t you dare touch yourself. I want to know I can make you come whenever I want with just a touch.”
I remove my hand from her dress.
“I’m going to be dripping all day,” she huffs.
“Yes, and I’ll love it.” I lick each of my fingers slowly, torturing both her and myself as I do. You are doing this for her, to keep her from panicking, I remind myself as my dick hardens painfully in my jeans.
Fuck, why do I have to be such a martyr sometimes?
I open my door, grab her hand again, and jerk her outside of the car.
She takes a deep breath as she stares up at the massive piece of metal looming over every other boat in the harbor. We can’t stand out here for very long. I don’t want anyone to spot her that isn’t a part of the crew. But I know this is a big moment for her. And I’m not going to take that from her like I’ve taken everything else.
I hold her against me tightly while my men continue to load up the yacht with supplies.
I don’t ask her if she’s ready again. She never will be, not truly. It’s like jumping into the ocean when you know it’s still too cold to swim in, you just have to do it and know you’ll survive long enough to find the beauty in it.
I start walking, and she walks with me. There is a ramp, but I’m feeling nostalgic, and I’m hoping it will keep her mind fighting me instead of the trepidation of the boat.
I give her a wink as I release her, and then I jump up onto the main deck. It’s a big jump, and the consequences of missing mean I’ll take a dip into the ocean water below. But I’ve done it countless times. I never miss.
I turn to Kai still standing on the deck below. “Your turn,” I shout.
It’s a risky move. She could take the moment to run away; I already know she doesn’t want to do this. But I would chase her down and catch her within seconds.
Her eyes twinkle at the challenge. If we are anything, we are relentless against challenges.
She takes a step back, and I think I was wrong. She’s not going to do this. Then she takes a running leap, flying through the air as she sucks all the evil in my life away in a second, before landing firmly on the deck.
She winks back at me. We exchange knowing glances, both remembering the last time we boarded a yacht together all those years ago. And even though it ended in disaster, the moments we stole on that yacht together were something I wouldn’t give up for anything.
Our fingers intertwine together as I hear Li
esel’s voice.
“Am I going to have to pull my luggage up the ramp myself, Black?” Liesel asks.
I smile at her sassiness as I stare down to the deck at her. She came. Everyone I care about will be safe. I’ll ensure that.
“Zeke and Langston will help you,” I say noticing both men hurrying down to collect Liesel’s many bags.
I had to practically force Kai to pack an entire bag worth of clothes. She knew we could be gone for months, but she didn’t see the need to pack more than a week’s worth of clothing. She said she could do laundry. But Liesel, on the other hand, packed her entire life.
It’s just another way the two women are so completely different. But they share one thing, I will protect both to the end of my days.
“What is she doing here?” Kai asks.
“Liesel isn’t safe from Milo, not after I brought her as my date to his party. I’m making sure everyone on board is safe. Her included,” I say.
I feel the tension oozing out of Kai. Her body stiffens, her face pales, and she’s no longer thinking about the ache between her legs.
“Are you jealous?” I ask.
“No.”
I laugh, because she obviously is.
I lean down and lick around her ear, slowly and seductively. “Don’t worry, baby. You are the only one who will be screaming my name later tonight.”
I pull away, and her cheeks have flushed as she bites that gorgeous lip I want to taste again.
Mission accomplished.
“Let me introduce you to everyone, and then I’ll give you a tour of the boat before we leave.” I tighten my grip on her hand as I lead her to where the crew is boarding.
“This is Aidan, the captain. James, Pedro, and Scotty,” I say.
“Everyone, this is Kai,” I say, not adding her last name. No one needs to know she’s a Miller, or pretending to be my spouse, or any other details.
“You will take orders from Kai the same way you would me. She’s not just my guest; she’s my equal.”
Kai smiles at me when I speak. I promised her I’d give her as much freedom as I can while she’s still mine, and I plan on keeping my promise.
“And this is my childhood friend, Liesel Dunn. Liesel, this is Kai. I know you two have already met under very different circumstances, but I think you both can become good friends if you want to be.”
Liesel holds out her hand to Kai to shake it. Liesel knows exactly what she’s doing. She knows Kai doesn’t like to be touched.
I frown at Liesel as I pull Kai closer to me, letting Kai know she doesn’t need to shake Liesel’s hand. She doesn’t need to touch anyone while she’s here. I will take care of all of Kai’s needs.
“Langston can show you which room you’ll be staying in, Liesel,” I say.
Liesel smiles, cocking her head to the side as she looks to Kai. “We aren’t sharing a room? I guess it might get a little crowded if we did.”
“Liesel,” I threaten with just the one word, and she stops.
Langston scowls at Liesel as well as he grabs her shit and leads her down the where her bedroom is.
I notice Kai out of the corner of my eye giving Liesel a dirty look. And then suddenly, Kai isn’t by my side anymore. She grabs Liesel’s hat that has blown off her head and races to her.
I should intervene. This could get ugly. Kai will have no problem punching Liesel, and if Liesel is threatened, she will fight back. These two women have to share the yacht, which is large, but not large enough for these two to never have to interact with each other. But I don’t make it in time.
Kai cocks her head at Liesel as she hands the hat to her. “You dropped this. And I wouldn’t want you to mistake that I steal things that aren’t mine. I don’t.” Kai’s eyes say more. Enzo is mine. And I didn’t steal him. He was free for the taking.
That’s my girl.
Liesel retaliates by grabbing hold of Kai’s hand as she takes the hat back.
Kai just cocks her head and smiles lazily, but I know the touch is killing her. Liesel lets go with a smug smile, but Kai slaps her a little too hard on the back showing she can tolerate touch just fine, especially when she’s the one giving it.
“It’s good to see you again, Liesel. You look pretty tired though; you should make sure you get some good rest tonight. And make sure Langston doesn’t put you in a bedroom near ours. We won’t be sleeping much,” Kai says, strutting back to me.
Liesel frowns but doesn’t say anything as she follows Langston.
“Savage,” I say.
Kai shrugs. “Are you ever going to tell me the whole story about Liesel?”
I open my eyes wider. “Do you want me to?”
“Maybe. Not right now.”
“Should I give you that tour then?”
She bites her lip again, and I know what she’s thinking as her eyelids grow heavy with lust. “Honestly, I just want to explore your body.”
I laugh.
“Captain says we are ready to depart,” Zeke says interrupting our exchange.
I feel Kai’s heartbeat stop next to me. She doesn’t breathe; she’s a statue next to me.
Don’t block this out. Don’t block me out.
I pull Kai into me, hoping my arms will warm her enough to bring her back to life.
“Tell him to depart,” I say.
Zeke’s worried stare moves to Kai. “Is she going to be—”
“She’s fine.”
Zeke pouts, but does as I say and heads to the bridge to tell the captain it’s time for us to leave.
“Kai?”
Nothing.
Fuck.
The tour will have to wait until later. Right now, Kai needs me to bring her back to life. And that’s exactly what I plan on doing.
9
KAI
DAMMIT, the second Zeke mentions we’re leaving I close up. It happens automatically, as it almost always does. And then I’m pushing everyone out, Enzo included.
No, no, no!
I’m stronger than this. I fought to be better than this. I’m not going to let this happen—not again.
I am fucking healed.
I will not give in to the fear.
Jarod doesn’t get to win.
Milo doesn’t get to win.
The memories don’t get to win.
I win.
Enzo scoops up my legs in his arms, and I win the first battle of pushing the cold shield down.
“I’m okay,” I say.
Enzo smiles, but it’s fake. I know he’s worried about me. “I know you are. I know you can take care of yourself. You can heal yourself, but this is all my fault. We wouldn’t be running if it wasn’t for me.”
“It is your fault,” I say with a teasing smile.
“I know, so let me fix it,” his eyes grow dark, and I know what that means. The tour of the yacht will wait till later.
His lips lean down, and he kisses me softly, barely touching me. But it’s enough to spark alive the feelings of torture he provoked before. It warms my core and drenches my thighs, all from the lightest touch of his lips.
He’s my anchor—the thing keeping me present instead of drifting away into oblivion.
Even when he fucks up, it still makes me want him. It still keeps me anchored to the moment. He keeps me feeling everything.
“You aren’t going to give me a tour?” I ask, even though I already know the answer, I just want him to confirm it as he continues to carry me through a door.
“Nope. The only thing I’m giving you a tour of is my body.”
I grab his neck and pull his head back down to my face so I can keep kissing him. I don’t care if he can’t see where he’s going while he carries me, I need the distraction.
We stop outside another door.
“You have to stop kissing me for a second, baby,” Enzo purrs.
“Why, when you like it so much?” I ask back, still kissing him.
“Because I’ll fuck you right here in the hallway if you don’t
let me open the door.”
“You don’t need your lips to open the door.”
He chuckles as I push my tongue deeper into his mouth.
“Just my eyes,” he says, wiggling his eyebrows.
I stop and watch as the system uses facial recognition, a code, and his fingerprint to get through the door.
I must be gaping because Enzo says, “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you know all the codes and the system recognizes you to get to my private bedrooms.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Paranoid much?”
“I’m in the security business. Securing yachts is my favorite part. No one will touch you here. Milo will never be able to get to you.”
If I was worried before, I’m not now. The way Enzo speaks with such intensity, I know he would take a bullet before he let someone touch me.
“Does every room have this level of security?” I ask.
“No, just yours and mine.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“The sound of what?”
“You and me.”
He grins as he carries me into the room at the end of the hallway. I expected a tiny room with a modest bed; we are after all on a yacht. But this room rivals the one in his beach house mansion.
“Seriously? How is this room so big?”
“The same way everything else about me is big,” he wags his eyebrows.
I laugh. I could get used to playful Enzo. I know he’s just teasing to keep me distracted from the fact we are now moving. But I could tell the second the engines started. The familiar rock of the yacht starts immediately, and I know it will only get worse the further out to sea we go.
The bed is beautiful, made of light whites and gray linens. I expected it to feel darker in here, but instead, it’s heavenly. I remember the cave of a room I stayed in for years; this is the opposite of that. The windows look out into the ocean, but the high ceiling and lights overhead make up for any darkness. I don’t feel trapped so much as encased by beauty.
“Put me in the bed and fuck me,” I tug on his bottom lip with my teeth.
