Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 58353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58353 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
"What are you talking about?" Marco growls.
Derek lets his eyes glide to me. "She's satisfied enough by your wealth or your magic dick, or both. So much that I couldn't tempt her to betray you with the promise of more money. Lucky you. Don't let her go, brother. When this night is through and I win the company, she's all you'll have left."
Derek rounds the corner out of view. Marco grabs my arm, pushing me back into the room with him. He slams the door shut, his gaze burning into me. "Is that true? Did you really choose me over Derek's offer of money?"
Startled by his aggression, I swallow hard and stare back at him. "Yes, of course."
Marco's expression softens, some of the tension leaving his face. He takes a step closer to me and pulls me in for a hug, holding me close as he exhales against my hair. His arms are solid, keeping me in place while my mind wants to run all over the place. I wish we could stay like this. Everything is okay when we’re like this. With Marco holding me I could forget about all the troubles happening outside this cabin.
He takes a few steps back so we can look at each other properly, but keeps a hand on my waist as if he needs to feel my warmth reassuringly against his skin.
"Thank you," he whispers fervently, gently stroking my cheek with his thumb before pressing a tender kiss to my forehead. His eyes ablaze with emotion.
"Why are you thanking me? Who would ever choose a tainted payout over love?"
His face crumbles apart, shifting through sadness, to pain, to defeat. "Forget about it. I'm just relieved."
"No, wait, I want to understand," I implore him.
He shakes his head quickly. "I can't tell you. I wish I could, but it would be wrong of me."
I'm more lost than before. Marco hugs me to his chest, his scent filling my brain. His lips are tender on my temple. "I have to go talk to the others, before Derek convinces them that I really don't care about the family business."
"It's my fault," I sigh. "I didn't know that coming here would be a trap for you, or I would never have––"
"Shh." He kisses my mouth to silence me. I'm breathless by the time he pulls away. "You did nothing wrong. Plus, there's still time. If I can just get the others to switch back––"
"But how will you do that? He's made them think you aren't all in on running the business, because of me." My stomach twists in disgust.
Marco cups my chin, kissing my left cheek, then my right. "Until the vote happens, I haven't lost, and Derek hasn't won."
My heart thuds faster. "What will you do?"
With a sly smile, the kind I first saw on the plane when we met, he reaches for the door. "I'm going to win some votes."
"You're sure they said they were going diving?" Marco asks me. We're on the top deck. The sun is blazing, turning the smooth floor and railings into blinding diamonds. I shield my eyes to scan the deck. There are tons of guests drinking, chatting, or soaking in the pool and Jacuzzi.
But no sign of Nathan or Trey.
"I'm sure. They asked me to come along, but I wanted to find you first."
Marco's eyes fill with appreciation. He squeezes my hand, then looks out at the horizon. "I'll go talk to the event coordinator. They should know where the divers were dropped and when they'll be back."
I give him a small nod and he smiles warmly before turning away to leave. He strikes a powerful shape, broad shoulders that taper to his muscular lower back and shapely ass. Guys with thick thighs do it for me and Marco’s are thicc with two uppercase Cs.
He's most likely reached the other side of the ship when a sound reaches me. It's faint, I think it's the waves below. Maybe one of the seabirds floating above. The ship is near a port, probably planning to dock there later so guests can go ashore and enjoy some sight-seeing in Italy.
The noise comes again. The hairs on my neck stand up. With a frownI spin toward the railing, gripping it as I crane my body over for a look at the water. It takes me a moment to make out the dark shape of someone floating on their back, pale face gleaming in the black, rocky waves.
"Help!" Nathan coughs.
"Oh my god!" I shout, gripping the rail tight. "Nathan! Hang on!"
He's struggling against the current that wants to drag him under the ship. I look frantically in all directions, searching for help. Marco is gone. The strangers around me are gawking and pointing. Useless.
I've never liked deep water. When my dad took me to the beach as a kid, I'd sit in the sand and watch the people surfing. Content to be dry. Safe.