Page 44 of Sovereign Oaths

“Too bad it isn’t an accurate representation of the rest of your manhood.” I sighed and dropped my hands to the counter. “Derek handles me by himself all the time.”

His eyes lifted to the ceiling.

I leaned over and stared up in the same direction. “What are we looking for? Your spine?”

He shoved my shoulder, forcing me out of his space. “Why did you wake up today and choose violence?”

I straightened. “I’m bored, and I’m sick of being inside. Please, can we go out?”

“You hate boats.”

“I hate having to take one just to get to our car. I like the yacht, especially the bed in the front.”

“The bow.”

“Whatever.” I waved him off. “Please? Pretty please?”

He cocked a brow. “You’re begging.”

I nodded. “See! I really, really, really want to go.”

“Not only does it take hours to call in the crew but the boat has to be prepped and fueled. And it’s not just ours. It’s like a timeshare. We have specific days we can use it, and the rest of the time, the other owners can take it out. This week is someone else’s.”

“Can’t we call and check? Maybe they aren’t using it.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “It also requires more than one of us because it is a rather large, rather vulnerable target. If Brazzi or Dias sent men to attack, it’s too difficult to protect.”

“The boat or me?”

He sat his mug down. “Both. Plus, the human crew would be at risk. Do you want to put a dozen innocent men and women in jeopardy just so you can get a tan?”

Well, that’s one quick way to kill my joy.

“Fine.”

“We can go up to the pool if you’d like.”

I scrunched my nose. It wasn’t the same, but at least that option involved fresh air and sunlight. “Fine.”

He rolled his eyes and rinsed out his mug before loading it into the dishwasher and walking past me. “Give me a second to change.”

I didn’t bother waiting for him. We had private, sole access to the roof through the staircase in our apartment. I claimed a lounger, which was not nearly as comfortable as the bed on the yacht, and laid out my towel before dragging one of the tables closer and putting my water and phone next to me.

As soon as I was situated, the door swung open, and Marco stalked over.

“Why so grumpy?” I lowered my sunglasses and checked him out while he brought another lounger toward me.

He was less bulky than Derek and Javi but more defined. Each ab muscle flexed as he leaned over and spread out his towel.

“The guys haven’t checked in yet,” he muttered before meeting my gaze with a raised brow. “What?”

I eyed him, biting my lower lip.

He straightened. “Em, I am not a piece of meat for you to ogle.”

I smirked. “Then put a shirt on.”

“And get a tan line?” He dropped onto his seat and closed his eyes. “Never.”

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