Chapter6
The next morning,birds chirped outside a window. They echoed in her brain as if they were drilling holes in her head. Belle swallowed and tried to ignore how her body swayed. She rubbed her temples and then winced at her morningbreath.
The bed rocked. She'd neverdrink that much champagne and she never would ever again. She sat straight and stared out the windows around her and into the beautiful blue ocean. No buildings were anywhere. The ship gently swayed in calmwaters.
She turned around in her bunk and saw she was alone. Her clothes were all still on, though her bra pressed into her breasts like the metal was tangled. The last thing she rememberedwas Peter holding her in his strong arms. He must not have taken her home, not that she told him her hotel. She massaged her temples as her bed bobbed with thecurrent.
Peter Morgan had them sailing someplace last night. She had no idea where they might be now. She stood and turned around to stare out the huge windows. The Miami skyline or any land was missing. As she stood, her stomachchurned as she stumbled. She held onto the wall and made her way toward thebathroom.
She flipped on the light, and it burned her eyes. Her head throbbed. She held onto the sink and let the wave that gently passed under the ship calm her. She glanced toward the sink again. A supply of small bottles and a new toothbrush were lined up to help hercleanup.
A few minutes later, somethingsplashed in the water. Her head throbbed less, though her stomach begged for something to eat. The engines weren't on. She crossed her arms and stepped out into theblazingsun.
There was no shade anywhere. The brightness again almost blinded her, but she covered her face and saluted the ocean. Clearly the ocean won against her today. Another splash echoed from the water. She covered herforehead so she might see what was in the water as shegazed.
Then a pair of dolphins bobbed their heads next to the ship. She fell to her knees and reached out like she might pet them. The two passed gracefully and sang. Her fingers ached to feel what a dolphin must be like, but nothing brushed against her. She closed her fingers, but then a strong pair of hands caught her wrist andyanked.
She tugged out of his strong grip but failed. So sheyelled, "Hey."
Peter's brown hair and eyes came out of the water. Her mouth fell open as she stared at his chiseled, naked chest. His white teeth shone as he lightly pulled on herwrist.
"Comeswim."
Belle pressed her lips together. She shook her head. "Are you mad? I don't haveasuit."
His wet fingers heldonto her wrist as her heartbeat grew faster. "When's the last time dolphins came this closetoyou?"
"Never." She gulped. His brown eyes were as mesmerizing as the dolphins that circled him. This wasn't fair. She licked her lips. "But I'm in my fancydress."
He tilted his head to the dolphins. "I'll buy you another. Come in before youmissthis."
This was one of those momentsshe'd never forget. Her skin was electric. This was a dream. She swallowed and jumped into the ocean. Peter's arms found her waist and tugged her toward the surface. Her bra needed to go anyway. Once it was thrown on the deck, she splashed and laughed. Then she peered at the ocean waiting, but nothing was there. She spit out the water in her mouth and intended to speak, but then something smoothbrushed againstherleg.
She covered her lips, unable to breathe a word. Peter took her hand, and she saw even more of his strong muscles. She licked her salty lips but then swallowed the water. She coughed as a dolphin's smooth, slippery skin bopped next to her. Her free hand reached out and petted its long nose. It let her and didn't move for a moment. The dolphin's nose brushed pasther lips as it dovebesideher.
A giggleescapedher.
Then Peter's arms grabbed hers, and he motioned for them to swim. The smell of oak was still present, so it wasn't any fancy aftershave that made her wish for things she shouldn't. The breast stroke came back to her, and she followed. The dolphins circled them once more and then swam too fast awayfromthem.
They swam fora moment in silence. Peter's hand on hers sent a tremble through her and knocked away her senses. If he held her close or tried to kiss her, she'd let him. Her lips puckered, though the salt water inched into her throat and made hercough.
Peter pointed her to the ship, and she swam on her ownbesidehim.
As they floated, she didn't see a cloud in the sky. This was all like adream.
Once they made it to the ship, he let her take the ladder first. As she latched onto the metal bars, she told herself to wake up. Then she climbed onto the deck, Peter's shadow covered hers. She squeezed her ruined black dress against the side of the ship to let the ocean have some of itswaterback.
Peter's arms brushed against hers as he joined her. He made his way right towardthe deck chair that held enough towels for both of them. He handed her one and wrapped her in another. His wall of muscles that surrounded her sent her body temperatureclimbing.
Then he wrapped himself in a towel and said, "Let's get you inside. You're already sunburned. I'll scrounge up some clothes for youtowear."
His tan was perfect. She held her question of whether his colorwent under his suit. Instead she massaged her neck andfollowed.
He pointed to a room. "I'll have clothes sent to your room. Meet me in five minutes on the second floor forbreakfast?"
She nodded. What else might she say? Then she retraced her steps and returned. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask why he had women’s clothes, but shehadn’t.
She washed off in the bathroom.When she came out, she found a pair of men’s shorts with an elastic waist and a tee shirt. She dropped her clothes in a pile on the floor as shechanged.
