Page 31 of King of Guilt

As soon as I was fully immersed in the warm water, I made my way closer to her, looking around through the glass. The crew was busy doing what they did, and it felt like we were completely alone.

“I didn’t picture the view from in here to be just as amazing,” she said. “But then again, I’ve never been on a superyacht before.”

“I’m glad you like it.” I swam closer until only inches separated us. As if she were beginning to see what I was doing, Emma’s limbs stopped moving, and she fixed herself in place, looking into my eyes. I thought she was holding her breath because of how still she had become, nothing moving but the gentle mini-waves of water around her. When our faces grew closer and I could finally see the depth in her eyes, I whispered, “What are you thinking?”

“That this is the part in the story where we kiss,” she whispered, her eyes alternating between my eyes and my mouth.

I let my hand cross the imaginary line between us, reaching for a floating lock of her hair, flirting with it with my fingertips. “Would that be so bad?”

“It would be confusing as hell,” she confessed.

“I don’t know about you,” I held onto the lock of hair between my fingers before gripping it, coming closer and holding it near my mouth. “But I’m already there.”

“Dean,” she whispered, her eyes examining the way I clung onto the tips of her hair. “You are confused. Don’t do anything that you’ll regret.”

Inching closer, I felt our legs collide under the water. “You mean something like this?” Kissing her, I felt our lips slide against each other by the effect of the water. It was only for a fraction of a second, before she parted hers, and I let my tongue anchor itself in the nest of her mouth.

Before either one of us could resort to better judgment, we were lost in the kiss. Instead of holding onto just one lock of her hair, my hands found their delight in the weight of her head, holding it at the base and pulling it closer to me.

When I felt Emma’s legs get entangled with mine, I took it as a sure sign of approval. So, I moved one hand down to her waist, hugging her under the water while our heads remained above, lost in this enchanting moment.

The day was long enough for us to exchange a thousand kisses, but barely enough to find the ultimate release between these glass walls. There was something exceptionally delicious about knowing that we couldn’t go all the way here. Something that kept the fire going for hours upon hours.

When the sun began to set, Emma and I stood inside our glass haven, watching the colors of the sky change outside. Yes, the wind was growing mightier; the air, cooler; the clouds, thicker. But the warmth of everything that spawned between us made it all worthwhile.

Halfway drunk on alcohol and the general mood, Emma stood still as my arms remained wrapped around her from behind. She whispered, “I am going to miss you for sure.”

Why did she have to bring up reality at a moment like this? The reminder felt like a cold hand squeezing my heart tight, radiating pain through my chest and beyond. “Let’s not think about that now.”

“You’re right.” She softly and slowly rotated in my arms until she faced me, raising her arms to place them over my shoulders. As they encircled my neck, her eyes gazed almost lovingly into mine.

“Now,” she whispered, “you kiss me again.”

And I did.

Again and again and again, feverishly and hungrily, like time itself was about to end.

fifteen

Waterfalls of Desire

Emma

By the time we returned home, the heat between us had simmered back down to a slight spark. We exchanged a tender smile before I let go of Dean’s hand, rushing upstairs to reach the shower before changing my mind. If it were up to me, I would have stripped down and let him have me then and there. But I had to respect the fact that—despite the romantic afternoon we had enjoyed—he didn’t make that move.

In front of the mirror, I took off my clothes slowly, noticing how the faintest rays of sun gave the freckles over my nose and cheeks a new life. I smiled, remembering the way Dean had kissed me over and over again in the pool. Everything on his yacht was perfect—well, nearly perfect—and the whole day felt like a dream.

Stepping into the shower, I grabbed the showerhead and started running the hot water slowly over my hair, completely drenching it before moving onto my neck, shoulders and arms. As the hot water tickled my skin, I felt the need for something stronger. I adjusted the strength of the flow to the ‘massage’ setting and held the head closer to my chest, reveling in the feelings it spurred.

I must have been enjoying the feeling too much, since I forgot to lather any shower soap or even reach for the bottle. Instead, I closed my eyes, letting the splashing sounds of the water carry me out of the world.

And perhaps that was why I was slightly startled when I finally opened my eyes to see the nude silhouette of someone standing on the other side of the tempered glass.

Before I had the chance to ask, I heard Dean say, “You meant it, didn’t you?”

Mindlessly, I moved my hand over the knob, twisting it until it brought the water rush to a halt. “Meant what?”

Without either one of us moving, the words came to me. “That you’re going to miss me.”

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