Page 128 of Mark

He rolls his eyes and lets out a snort. “I wouldn’t go that far. I mean, I wouldn’t say I dislike you.”

“You like me,” I repeat, and there’s no mistaking the happiness in my tone.

He grabs my arse tightly. “Okay, I like you,” he huffs out. “I don’t see the point in ending this when the cruise is over. I’m nota stupid guy, and if I let us go back to being neighbours, I’d be an idiot.”

My heart flutters because I don’t want this to end either. No other guy has ever made me feel comfortable the way Mark has. There hasn’t been the awkward stage of getting to know each other because it felt like we already did. That’s how easy it’s been with him. I’ve not had to watch what I do or say around him. We just fit. But putting my heart out there, it scares me. Still, I feel safe with him. Safe enough to admit… “I don’t want this to end either.”

He grins, flashing those pearly whites. “You like me,” he teases.

I snort. “I mean, I don’t want to push you off the boat or anything. At least, not tonight.”

He chuckles. “I’ll take whatever I can get from you.”

“Kiss me,” I order, not wanting this moment to end.

He does, and for the rest of the night, he worships every inch of my body, making me forget the bathroom incident and the shit storm of my life.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Mark

When I came on this cruise, I didn’t expect to meet anyone. I wasn’t even planning on getting laid like Liam set out to do. I just wanted to enjoy the time with my family and get a break from work and Coldenshire.

I certainly didn’t think I would spend a majority of this time with my neighbour, the girl I once believed was sent to this earth to test me. It’s funny how life can change in an instant. She means something to me now. It’s no longer about fucking her, although that is a bonus. It’s more. I actually care about her. And admitting I didn’t want us to end last night has only brought us closer. It’s like neither of us are waiting for the clock to stop ticking anymore.

The reason I went looking for her last night was because Liam questioned what Freya and I will do when we get home. The thought of there being an expiry date on what we have scared me, and nothing scares me. I didn’t want to lose what we have, not when I’ve been searching for someone like her for so long. I just didn’t realise I was searching until she came into my life. I knew I was waiting to buy a home with someone I was going to settle down with, but I never expected to find that person now. That’s how much I can see this working between us.

I’ve never felt this kind of connection with a woman before. We fit together like a puzzle, all individual pieces, unique but essential. What was missing from my life, she completes, and I feel like I’m the same for her. We both have baggage, and I think we both needed someone in our lives who doesn’t judge. She takes my family as they are, and I give her something her family has never given her. Acceptance for who she is. They’ve made her feel like crap about herself for far too long. She needed someone to tell her, it’s not her, it’s them. She doesn’t need tochange. They do. Because if it wasn’t for her being who she is, we would still be at each other’s throats. I just wish they could see how fantastic she is.

Hayden rushes over to our sun loungers, a big, goofy grin on her face. “He’s coming,” she announces.

Cheers ring out as Uncle Max enters the pool area wearing a green bikini. Last night, Max lost a dare to my uncles, who bet him that he couldn’t stay on the bull for four minutes. His punishment was to wear a bikini outside for a full hour. Amongst other things.

“He’s not even embarrassed,” Freya muses, looking up from the book she’s been reading while settled between my legs.

Max, hearing her, turns our way. “Why would I be embarrassed when I have a body like this,” he announces, smacking his arse.

The others keep laughing, videoing him strutting along the pool’s edge. “Mum is going to kill him when she comes out,” Hayden says.

“I thought you told him you’d keep her inside,” I state.

Hayden snorts. “He shouldn’t have eaten my bacon this morning.”

“Fucker deserves it,” Liam mutters. “He stole my snacks.”

“That you stole from me,” Landon growls.

Liam sniffs. “You left them out.”

“They were in my locked cabin,” Landon snaps.

“How did you get in?” Paisley questions. “I’ve been trying to wrap my head around it since Landon kicked off about them being gone.”

“I’m a—”

“Carter,” Paisley finishes before dropping back down next to Landon. “Will any of you ever tell people how you know things or do the things you do?”

Liam doesn’t even look the slightest bit guilty when he replies, “Never.”

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