Page 21 of Hooked on a Feeling

When he blinked his eyes open, she was grinning from ear to ear, sitting on her bed. “It wasn’t as good as sex, but I enjoyed it. It’s been a long time since I’ve done that.” She put emphasis on the word long, and John couldn’t help but laugh.

“You have no idea how amazing that was. Where is the bathroom?”

“Follow me. Let me wash my hands, and then you can have it all to yourself.”

He followed her down the hall and let her go into the bathroom first. She stepped aside, giving him room to pass, but he reached out and locked his arm around her waist. “Kiss me.” He bent down and nibbled her ear.

She giggled. “Whatever you want.”

His heart thundered at those words, and he tried really hard not to put too much stock into what she’d promised. Whatever he wanted. When his mouth pressed against hers, he reminded himself not to like her too much because she wouldn’t be here for long. Then he repeated the mantra: Don’t get attached. Don’t get attached. Don’t get attached.

Chapter Nine

Starr grabbed her purse and sunglasses and stepped onto the back patio, where her grandparent’s personal dock and slips bobbed with the gentle push of waves from the boats entering and exiting the harbor. The water sparkled and begged her to enjoy it. Starr had ample amounts of Dramamine on hand, hoping that she wouldn’t get sick on John’s yacht. After last night, Starr was anxious to see him and also a tad nervous. If he didn’t mind having a short fling for the next week that she would be in town, she should be fine with it too. In fact, she should grab on to this quick-and-easy relationship and enjoy the ride. John was sexy. Nice. He made her laugh. He was ice cream on a stick. Plus, yachting on a Saturday was something she’d only witnessed in romance movies.

A large yacht backed out near the Davenport office buildings. She hadn’t yet walked along their side of the harbor, but she assumed their property was made up of docks and one of those extra-large, overwater sheds where they could lift boats into and out of the water. The yacht pushed water aside as it cut slowly through the harbor. Nerves jumped around in her belly. Maybe John would have a condom today.

She wasn’t sure what the food situation was on a yacht. John hadn’t mentioned anything, so Starr had taken the liberty of packing snacks. Grapes. Crackers. Cheese. Olives. And, of course, she’d brought the rest of the six-pack of beer they’d shared last night. The yacht pulled up to the marina, the gears shifting quietly as it came to a stop. It was big. But it wasn’t one of those ultra-lavish boats she’d seen on television or in the tabloids with famous celebrities on board who were flocking to the Mediterranean for the summer.

She gripped her handbag and picnic basket, hoping that would stop the trembles in her hands. John popped out of the boat wearing a white-collared shirt. His hair was a little windblown, or since it was Saturday, maybe he hadn’t taken the time to style it like he normally did. Her heart knocked around in her chest. He was stunning.

“Miss Young, please join me aboard My Way.” He extended his hand, and she held her breath as she put her hand in his and stepped off solid land and into his life of luxury.

Safely on two feet, she tilted her head up to John’s face, ignoring the mild hurricane in her stomach. He smelled like sunscreen and summer. He looked like heaven. His mouth nipped the side of her neck just below her ear.

“Thank you for joining me today.”

“Thank you for inviting me. I brought snacks.” She held up the picnic basket. Don’t get sick today. She followed him into the yacht, which was nicer than her condo in Colorado. Everything was polished to a shine. A young woman dressed in a light-blue uniform smiled when they approached. “Mr. Davenport. Miss Young. The captain is ready when you are.”

“Of course,” John said. “Please take this to the galley and let Gianni know we’re ready to go. Would you like a tour, Starr?”

“I’d love one. I’ve never been on something like this before. It’s nicer than my condo. How many people do you have working on it right now? I thought you would be driving it.” Starr couldn’t help but smile, and she really hoped that her stomach wasn’t playing tricks on her. She was nervous, and her stomach dipped and fluttered here and there, but it wasn’t to that sickness point.

John chuckled at her excitement. “There are just five of us today. If we were going to be out longer, I would have a whole crew on board, but Annaliese is equipped to handle the day. Along with Gianni, the captain, and his first mate, Salvatore, of course.” He touched her cheek, spreading his thumb over her bottom lip. She licked the tip of his thumb, and he inserted it farther into her mouth, where she licked it again. “You’re going to tease me all day, aren’t you?” he asked.

She pulsed wildly between her legs. He removed his thumb and placed his mouth just a hairbreadth from her lips. “I have big plans for us today, Starr. How many orgasms have you ever had in a row?”

She couldn’t answer him because she couldn’t think. He was invading all of her senses. She vaguely heard the bells from the drawbridge. John let out a growl and pressed his lips to hers. He tasted like a lifetime of happiness she’d been dying to try.

When John broke the kiss, she pressed a hand to her chest. Was she going to be able to survive the next week without falling in love with him? “I… uh.” She blinked. “What was your question?”

John laughed at the dazed and confused look on her face. “Come on. Let me show you around.” He pointed to the back of the yacht. “Swimming platform.” Then he pointed to the bridge. “Up there is where the captain is.” He held out his hand. “Let’s check on the berth. I’m going to show you my cabin. But you have to promise me that you won’t jump my bones.” He chuckled. “At least not yet.”

“I’m not sure I can make it for thirty minutes without getting sick, let alone do those kinds of things with you.”

He leaned in conspiratorially. “You see, I have a big plan that I’m going to cure you of this motion sickness thing, and you’ll feel so good about it that you’ll want to thank me. You’ll want to ravish me with gratitude.”

Starr laughed at his teasing. But he wasn’t wrong. If she could go all day without getting sick, she would devour him. As long as she could avoid thinking about the vessel’s contribution to ruining the plant and sea life in the ocean. She would have to check the statistics later about how many sea creatures get injured by boats. “You know, the stubborn part of me would like to say, ‘Dream on, lover boy.’ But I have to agree with you. If I don’t get seasick on this outing, I would love to cover every square inch of your skin with my tongue.” She clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth for good measure. “To the bedroom.”

“You don’t have to ask twice.” He winked. “Plus, you can have a little tour on the way.”

They descended the stairs—small lights illuminated each step even though lights also shone down on them. Starr was in awe at the opulence surrounding her. The ship looked like a hotel lobby rather than an actual cruising yacht. White upholstered couches and love seats took up the center of a large room. Her feet sank into the rich white carpeting as she followed John across the room.

In the corner was a large open bar with blue lighting illuminating the bar stools and high-top tables and chairs. Lights were everywhere—reflecting off the glossy, marble countertops of the bar and dazzling back at them from the few mirrors that lined the walls. A grand piano took up the opposite corner—complete with a harp and a microphone. For entertaining, obviously. “So, this is a super yacht? I just saw a brochure inside the marina.”

“I’m impressed. That’s correct. I did a little reading of my own about yoga moves.”

Starr laughed. “Is that so?”

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