XanderI crossed one leg over the other and relaxed into the comfortable couch. I did enjoy a nice evening out on the boat. I realized in that moment, it was even better with a little company. โAre you busy planning another party?โI smiled. โAlways. There is always another one.โโAny more shipping parties?โโNo. If I do another with a ship theme, it is going to be all in and it will not be for a shipping company.โโI hope you didnโt take what I said seriously. Iโm the last person you want to take party advice from.โShe pushed up her sunglasses. I did the same. โIt was true. You were being honest. Brutally honest.โI cringed. โI tend to be a little tactless.โโItโs okay,โ she assured me. โIt was deserved.โโHow come you have never been out on a boat?โ I asked. โYou said you lived in the area all your life. Itโs kind of hard to avoid the water.โShe shrugged. โWe didnโt have a boat when I was growing up and it really never appealed to me. I like the sand beneath my feet. I like solid
EvieI was not going to let myself think about the fact I was kissing the man in his kitchen, on his boat. I was letting go of all my rules and inhibitions. I was living in the moment. Holy hell, what a moment it was. His mouth moved over mine like a man that had been searching the desert for water. His hands, holy shit, his hands were everywhere.I struggled to keep up. My hands roamed his body, getting my first real feel of the muscles in his arms and stretched across his back. He was powerful and hard and so damn hot. He reached for the hem of my shirt and tugged at it until it was halfway up my body. Our mouths tore away from one another while he quickly removed it before diving right back in.One of his large hands grabbed my breast, lifting the weight of it. He groaned low in his throat and attacked me with new enthusiasm. I wanted the same. I pulled at his shirt, essentially trying to tear it from his body. I didnโt want to take it off the usual way. I didnโt want to lose his m
EvieHe began to move, slowly at first as he pushed my body against the wall. His length stretched me and filled me to completion with every stroke. I felt like I weighed no more than a feather as he held me with an arm around my waist and the other on my hip. He rocked into me, picking up the speed, grunting with every thrust.โFucking hell, you are so goddamn wet,โ he whispered.โYou are making me that way,โ I managed to get out. My brain felt foggy, saturated with lust and need. I could feel myself already on the climb to another orgasm. Sex with him was way too good. It was addicting.He pounded into me a few more times before releasing a frustrated growl. He pulled me away from the wall and carried me across the small expanse to the wraparound couch. With me mounted firmly on his dick, he used one foot to move the small coffee table out of his way before lowering me onto the couch.I had no idea how we were both going to fit, but he made it work. His body slid into mine once agai
XanderI walked into the restaurant where I was supposed to meet Charlie. He was taking a long lunch and had the time to actually leave the plant where he workedโmanaged, really. He was good with his hands and had a hard time keeping to the managing. He liked the doing.He put up his hand. โXander,โ he called.I made my way to the table and took my seat. โDid you order yet?โโTwo BLTs.โโOne is for me, right?โ I joked.โMaybe.โโAsshole.โHe chuckled. โHow have you been? I havenโt talked to you in a week.โโI was out of town for a few days and then I was working on that other job for a client,โ I told him.โYour pet project?โI smiled. โYes. Itโs nice to do a little something different.โโWhatever happened with the party planner?โI took a drink from the glass of water. My first option was to play dumb. โWhat do you mean?โHe chuckled, shaking his head. โYou know exactly what I mean. You being dodgy tells me something did happen. You said you were going to take her out on the boat.โโ
XanderโThey will be at the plant,โ he said as we walked to our cars.โIโll follow you over there. Let them know youโll have a plus one.โHe laughed. โGlad I can return the favor.โI was too irritated with the idea my designs had failed to laugh. I was already going through the potential causes in my head. I had no information to go on, but I knew what the likely suspects were. I prayed it was manufacturer or user error. If it was something I did, I would be very pissed at myself.Thirty minutes later, we were in the air and flying out to the ship that was stuck out in open water. They had only left the dock a few hours ago. That told me it had to be a failure of some kind. I brought along my iPad with access to the file containing the design specs, including the engine specs. Charlie built them from what I designed. He knew them just as well as I did, but he knew the way it sounded and how it looked when it was all put together.The helicopter landed on the massive deck. Charlie and
EvieI closed the dishwasher and turned it on. Being a single lady that was rarely home and didnโt eat a lot at home meant few dishes. I had to practically wash my dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. If I didnโt, they would be crusty and gross by the time I got a full load. I put the towel on the counter and shut off the light.I had plenty of candles going. I loved candles. Anytime I got a chance to burn candles, I did. I carried my glass of wine out to my itty-bitty balcony and sat down. It was a warm evening with some serious humidity.I settled in, putting my feet up on the railing and staring out at the pool below that was packed with tenants taking advantage of the warm weather. My phone chimed, alerting me to a text. I didnโt want to look. I didnโt want to deal with a client bitching at me. I was completely chill at the moment. Not a minute later, the doorbell rang.โNelle!โ I said, already knowing it was her.I walked barefoot to the door and pulled it open. โI didnโ
EvieโI canโt take him to meet my dad. For one, we are not even close to being at that stage, and for two, no way. You know how critical my dad is. Xander would cut and run before we even get started. My dad would find fault with a royal prince. There will never be a right man for me in his eyes.โShe smiled, sipping on her diet soda. โThatโs because he loves you. He wants the best for you.โโHe wants me to be a spinster.โโI think he just wants to make sure you are with someone that is going to treat you right. He loves you. He raised you. He has some very high standards. Itโs normal for dads to be picky about who their daughters date.โโMy dad takes that a little too seriously.โโYou wonโt know until you try,โ she said.I shook my head. โNope. I have not taken a man to him yet and I donโt plan on doing it now. Not until I am a million percent sure he is going to be the man I am going to marry. Then, I will be more willing to fight for the man.โโMakes sense, but I think your dad is
XanderI flipped off the TV and walked outside. I had my swim trunks on and was ready to dive into my pool. I had gone down to the beach earlier, but it was packed. I couldnโt wait until school picked up and some of the tourists drifted away.I dove in headfirst, the cool water washing over me. I swam a few laps before drifting to the edge of the pool and holding on. I waited to see if I heard the sound again. My brain could be playing tricks on me.When I heard the birdsong again, I sprang out of the pool, using my arms to lift myself up. That was Evieโs ringtone. I felt a bit like a teenage girl, but I wanted to make sure I knew when she called. I picked up my phone. โHello?โ I answered, pretending to be totally cool and casual.โHey, itโs me, Evie.โI smiled as I picked up my towel and rubbed it over my head. โYes, I gathered that. What are you doing?โโI am calling to ask you for a huge favor,โ she said.โWhat would that be?โ I asked, praying like hell she didnโt ask me for money.
XanderLaughter floated out of the ballroom behind us. I was glad everyone was having a good time. It was the culmination of a lot of hard work over the year. Every person in there deserved to celebrate their success, including Charlieโs crew.โWhat kind of business?โ she asked. โAre you guys cooking up another scheme to make ships even faster?โโNo. I think Iโm good for a while now. I have more important matters to focus on.โShe touched my cheek. โI better be one of those matters.โโYou are. You absolutely are.โโMy dad is pretty excited to be a part of all of this,โ she commented.โHe should be. He made it possible, which is why I gave him a check for his cut of the profits.โHer mouth fell open. โYou did what?โI shrugged. โWithout him, I never would have gotten those first few ships to try out the new hardware. He offered suggestions that made it work even better. He deservedโno, he earnedโthat money.โโWow. Did he accept it?โI laughed and nodded. โOh yeah, he did. His name is a
XanderOne year laterPride. That was what I felt in that moment. My ships were heading out to sea. Everyone else was already making their way back away from the dock. I couldnโt leave just yet. I watched the ships navigate out to sea one at a time. I didnโt have children, but I imagined what I was feeling was similar to what a proud papa would feel.I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Charlie next to me.โThis is a big day,โ he said.โIt is. You pulled it off.โโYou pulled it off.โโWhat do you think?โ I asked him. โIs it going to work? Do you foresee them falling apart halfway around the world?โHe shook his head. โMy guys did excellent work. That shit is solid.โโGood. Those test ships seem to be holding up.โโOf course, they will. My team is the best. Your idea wasnโt half-bad either.โโThanks,โ I said, watching as one of the ships cleared the harbor.โYou know, you could have made a lot more money with that plan,โ he lectured.โI could have but I already have a lot of
EvieโIโm going to make love to you all night,โ he promised. โThis is just the beginning. This is to tide me over until we get home. I want you in my bed. I want me inside you.โโYes,โ I gasped, my head dropping to my chest as he slid in and out of me. Every stroke touched new places. Every stroke sent my body into a wild tailspin of desire and need. โPlease. Please. Donโt stop.โHe didnโt speed up his pace. He kept moving in that slow steady rhythm, sliding in, grinding his hips, and then gliding out and leaving just the tip inside me. The spasms rocking through me made it difficult for me to remain standing. I wanted to crumble in a heap at his feet with him still inside me.โThis is just the first,โ he said, his voice strained. โI canโt hold back. Your body is milking me. You are too tight. Too hot. Too fucking wet.โโDonโt hold back,โ I told him. I needed his release. I could feel mine hovering just out of reach as if my body refused to give in until it had his complete surrender.
EvieI was being terribly irresponsible. I was not the girl who got naked in the park and had sex. Unfortunately, when I was with Xander, all bets were off.And he loved me. The words echoed through my mind over and over. He loved me. I would follow him into the fires of hell knowing he loved me. I didnโt realize just how badly I needed to hear those words from him.He loved me. I loved him. I didnโt know what that meant for the two of us, but damn if I was going to pass up the chance to find out. The way he was kissing me was different. Maybe it was mind over matter, but I could practically taste the love on his tongue. It was in the way he touched me. The gentleness of his hand on my cheek, holding me steady while his tongue plundered inside my mouth.โOver here,โ he said as he broke his mouth away from mine.I felt a little dazed. His kiss made me feel drunk on lust. Again, I was ready to follow him anywhere if it meant I got more kisses like that. He took my hand and led me away f
XanderโXander, I want to believe you, but Iโm hesitant.โโI know. I expect that. It isnโt just the memories of Kade that brought me back. You. Memories of being with you. Thinking about this place and our time together. Those are all really good memories. I want more memories like that.โโYou are saying all the right things,โ she said with a smile. โYou know I canโt resist you.โโIโm counting on it.โโIโm glad you are back,โ she said.โMe too. Does this mean you will entertain the idea of having a relationship with me?โโI could be convinced,โ she said.โI am going to work very hard to convince you,โ I vowed.She sipped her wine. โHow are you doing? Like really doing?โโIโm doing a lot better thanks to you.โโThanks to me?โโYou are a sneaky little lady,โ I told her.She raised her eyebrows. โMe? Sneaky?โโI got a call yesterday.โโCongratulations.โโOh, youโre cheeky too.โ I laughed. I opened the picnic basket and pulled out the small cheese tray and peeled back the plastic. โYou ho
XanderI was so close to losing her. I sensed it in her voice. I wasnโt expecting her to jump at the chance to see me, but I wasnโt expecting such resistance either.The sense of urgency I felt was making me anxious. I couldnโt imagine my life without her. It had taken me way too long to realize how I felt about her. Anytime I thought about my life in a month or a year or in ten years, she was there. I wasnโt sure how it happened, but I knew she was a person I wanted in my life. It wasnโt even a want. It was a need. I needed the woman like I needed air.I was prepared to chase her down if I had to. I would do whatever it took to make her hear me out. I knew there was still a chance she would kick me to the curb. I wouldnโt blame her if she did. I had fucked up. A lot. I would spend the next year trying to convince her to give me a chance. I couldnโt explain when things clicked but they had.It was like the light went on. I hated that I was so ignorant for so damn long. I hated to thin
EvieโI donโt know,โ I answered. โI didnโt take the call. I was in a meeting. And it wasnโt the kind of meeting that allowed me to answer my phone.โโDid he leave a voicemail?โโNope.โโI hate that,โ she groaned.โMe too. If it was important, he could leave a message. The guy has fallen off the face of the earth again. He hasnโt called or texted and now he blows up my phone? Iโm not interested.โโLiar,โ she shot back.โOkay, I am interested but I donโt want to make it too easy.โโYou know youโre never going to be able to think of anything else if you donโt call him back and find out what he wants.โโWonโt that make me sound like Iโm desperate for his attention?โ I asked.โNo. The man called you. Calling him back is just polite.โTruly, I was looking for her approval. She had given it to me and now I was anxious to call him and find out. โIโm going to do it.โโLet me know,โ she said and hung up.I held the phone in my hand, tapping it against my forehead. I needed to mentally brace mys
EvieI pulled up the images from a sweet-sixteen party I had planned about six months ago before I turned my laptop for the new client to see.โOh wow, that is stunning!โ the mother exclaimed.โI donโt want pink,โ the spoiled princess pouted.I smiled, remaining calm. โYou donโt have to have pink. You can choose any color you want.โโNo,โ the mother quickly interjected. โWe are not having black.โThe girl scowled. โI wasnโt going to say black.โI kept my smile in place. The affluent family had reached out to me last week. Initially, I didnโt want to do it. I was in no mood to deal with a spoiled teenager.โWhat colors were you thinking about?โ I asked.โPurple,โ she answered. โI want several shades of purple.โโOh, thatโs very regal,โ her mother said with a relieved smile. โI like it.โโI was at a party you planned for my friend like a year ago,โ the young girl said. โShe said you were really good. My party has to be better than her party.โAh, teenage envy. โWe will do our best.โโWe
XanderโNo, I donโt suppose it was. You did it for yourself. You made something of yourself. Iโve kept my head in the sand, trying to ignore what youโve been doing. I did a little research. You have changed the world, just like you said you were going to. You really did something remarkable. Your mother used to show me newspaper clippings with your name. I know I didnโt say it, but Iโm proud of you. Iโve always been proud of you.โI put the bottle of beer down. I could not continue to drink it if he was going to send me into coughing fits every time he dropped one of his little bombshells. โYou are?โโI am. I should have told you before. You are my son. Iโve said some pretty shitty things. I donโt know how to make them go away but I was hoping we could try and start over.โI felt like I was being pranked. Maybe I was dreaming. In thirty-two years, my father had never believed I was worthy of his last name. โYou want to start over? Iโm sorry, Dad. This is all coming out of left field.