Page 31 of Jordan
They spent the rest of the first day on board, chatting with acquaintances. And then he took her into the lavish casino where she made him laugh when she won several hundred dollars at the slot machines.
He found her stifling a yawn as they went poolside and was having drinks with several others.
"Kinda." Tilting her head back, she gazed at the wide-open sky with the orb of silver moon. The water lapping against the ship was strangely comforting. It felt nice being here with him like this. Ever since they had agreed to the arrangement, he had been nothing but kind and respectful to her. She wanted to ask him about former relationships or if he was seeing anyone, but felt it was not her place. She had noticed a blonde staring wistfully at him and also saw when she approached him. The conversation had been brief, but intense and made her wonder what it was all about. She was married to him, but not privy to his personal business.
"Want to head up to our cabin?"
"Why don't you stay here and I go on up?" she suggested.
His expression remained bland, even though the resentment and despair was churning inside him. She did not want him with her. He had seen the way she stared at the beds and could almost read her thoughts. They would be sleeping in separate beds but would be in the same cabin.
"Good idea. You remember where to go?"
"Of course." Finishing her drink, she rose, shivering as the breeze played over her skin. "I'll probably be asleep when you get there."
With a nod, he watched her make her way through the chairs, stopping to speak to one of the ladies.
Picking up his drink, he took a swallow, his mood taking a nosedive. He would stay away from the cabin and give her space. That was what she wanted. But he did not have to be damned pleased about it. Finishing his drink, he motioned for a refill, content to stay on deck for as long as possible.
*****
She did not go straight to bed but stepped out on the deck to stare at the vast ocean. The ship appeared to be barely moving, the gentle rocking motion, soothing. Moonlight shimmered on the deep blue water, turning it silver.
Her vivid writer's mind conjured up a scene where her male and female characters had a moment sitting on a deck like this one, enjoying each other, soaking up the atmosphere. Everything she sees usually becomes a potential scene and this was no different. The breeze brushed against her skin and had her shivering slightly. But she stayed where she was. It was pleasant.
And she wondered if he had thought of her when he made the arrangements. She had been grateful and appreciative of the surprise trip. It felt strange that they were together like this, but not really together, she reminded herself.
They both wanted something -- both had a reason for doing this and she had to remember that. It did not matter how attentive he was. Or how she had enjoyed having a meal with him. Or the fact that he made her laugh. Nor did it matter how easy he was to talk to.
They could pretend all they want, but the fact remains that they were together for different reasons. Taking in the clean air, she tilted her head back and enjoyed the silence. Their cabins were bigger than most because he was part owner of the cruise line. And she was going to enjoy every minute of the trip. They could be friends. They were already getting along splendidly, so there was no reason they couldn't be friends. With that in mind, she went back in to take a shower.
*****
He stayed away long enough to give her time to fall asleep and had ended up going back to the casino.
Unkeying the door, he stepped into the dark and waited for his eyes to adjust. The drapes were drawn over the glass doors leading to the deck, plunging the room into complete darkness. Hissing out a breath, when his foot caught on a table, he inchedin until he was standing next to the bed she had chosen. She was fast asleep, with one hand flung to the side and her face buried in the pillows.
Easing himself on the edge of the bed, he sat there, staring at her face. Her hair was partially covering it. Lifting a hand, he pushed it back gently, careful not to wake her.
He smiled slightly as he took in the parted lips and the length of her lashes. His touch lingered. At the chapel, he had been required to kiss her and had been careful to make it a chaste one. But the feel of her lips, her breath mingling with his had sent fire straight to his loins.
That had been a constant problem for him ever since he proposed to her. At first, it had been just an attraction, but it had rapidly become so much more.
And he was going to have to find a way to keep things under wrap. He could not allow her to see what she was doing to him. He did not want to scare her away. But good Christ! He wanted her so damn much. He wanted to slide into bed next to her-- to taste her skin and wallow in her sensuality. He wanted his hands and mouth on her.
"God!" he whispered achingly. How the hell was he going to sleep a few feet from her, feeling like he did? And how was he going to endure this hell for seven whole days? Rising, he stoodthere staring at her, before heading into the shower. It was going to have to be a cold one.
Chapter 9
He was determined to show her an incredibly good time. It was a Caribbean cruise, and they stopped at several ports, including the Bahamas followed by the Cayman Islands and Hawaii. Their final stop was Jamaica -- in the delightful resort area of Ocho Rios.
His mind was frazzled, and his body was so wrung out staying away from her and trying to keep his desire for her under control. The nights were the worse, so he had taken to staying away until he knew she was asleep.
It frustrated him that she did not seem the least bit affected by him. They talked like friends and did things together. He was delighted by her and happy she had shed her trust issues and was being herself with him. He just didn't want her to place him in the friend zone. He could not allow that to happen.
She was particularly excited about the visit to Jamaica and amused him by poring over everything the island had to offer.
"I think we should try and score some weed."
