Page 31 of Sailor's Delight

“It’s calledforeplay, Trey! I was doing my damndest to rev things up between us!” She shifted, pulling the skirt up a little higher as it sagged, undone, around her hips. “God knowssomeonehas to take that on; allyou’vedone is put the brakes on everything since the very first night.”

She’d paused. He knew this tactic: she was pausing to give him a chance to attempt to defend himself before furthereviscerating him. A little more rope with which to hang himself. A tactic right out of the corporate handbook.

He saw all the warning signs, and still he took the bait, anyway.

“You were going to, and I quote, ‘ride my cock!’” He used air quotes to emphasize the line. He knew she hated that.

“I was talking dirty, Trey! People do it! I believe most men actually get quite the turn on from hearing the woman grinding their privates talk about wanting more.” She huffed, sneering. “Not you, apparently.”

“No? How about Casey? Casey into the whole dirty talking girl thing?” The words left Trey’s mouth before he could stop himself. The cold shiver of regret wiggled its way up his spine.

Jenn blinked and her mouth opened in what Trey could only interpret as disbelief. “Casey? I’m sorry, did you follow me or something?”

Trey shifted uncomfortably side to side on the bed. He hated fighting. “I… when you didn’t answer your door—,” he jerked his chin to point at it. “Or answer my texts, I went looking for you.”

“Okay, and what? Followed me all the way to my excursion?” Jenn glanced at Trey’s foot. “How did you really hurt your ankle?”

He winced from the accusation and the amount of hurt in her voice. “I really did fall down some stairs.”

Jenn didn’t miss a beat. “Then how did you see me with Casey? We didn't even meet up until the far end of the dock!”

“Whoa, hold on, ‘met up?’ Did you plan to meet him?”

“I’m not dignifying that with an answer.” Jenn turned to face the door and pulled it open, standing behind it. “Will you please go? I’d like to shower.”

Trey took an angry, shuddering breath in and stood up off the bed. He walked out on both feet, his pride hiding the pain from walking on the hurt ankle. The door clicked shut behind him.

“I don’t get it. We were going to spend the entire day together. Couples’ massages, a private seaside cabana, the works! It was supposed to be this incredibly romantic occasion, but instead…” Trey took a breath and a swallow of the whiskey in his glass. “She spent the entire day riding a fucking bicycle all over Mexico with that macho-prick, Casey!” He snorted derisively into the glass, glaring when it turned up empty.

Across from him, Chloe and Desire glanced at each other uncomfortably. Trey saw the look and glanced around the banquet hall, reminded of his surroundings.

“So, what are you thinking?” Chloe asked quietly. “Do we call everything off?”

Trey’s head shot up. “What? Are you kidding? No, absolutely not.” He drove the point of his finger into the tabletop to emphasize his point. “This is happening. Now, more than ever.”

Desire took a deep breath. Trey saw Chloe squeeze her elbow and shake her head minutely.

“What?” he asked shortly.

Desire took Chloe’s hand reassuringly. “If this is still going to happen, you have a lot of work to do. Because from where I stand, right now, not only is this not likely to happen, but if it keeps going this way, it’s impossible. You’ll never get her there right now. It doesn’t sound like she’d go anywhere with you, at this point.”

“Desire!” Chloe whispered harshly.

“What? He’s got to hear it.” Desire looked back to Trey. “Speaking of, have you found anywhere that something like what we’re planning is even possible, yet?”

Trey shook his head, spinning the tumbler between his fingers. He clenched his jaw.

Desire scoffed lightly. “So, is this basically going to be a monumental waste of time?”

“Stop it!” Chloe said. “We've still got time. He can make it work.” She turned to look at Trey, her eyes wide. “Right?”

Trey stood up. “I’m working on it. If you’ll excuse me, it seems I’ve got my work cut out for me.”

Chapter 9

Jenn finished toweling off her hair and sat down on the bed. She sat for a moment in the silence of the cabin, looking around her. The cabin felt decidedly empty. Empty closet, empty bathroom, empty bed. The sheets were made immaculately, evidence of the enthusiastic housekeeping efforts of Ricardo.

Jenn picked up the small towel animal, an adorable little elephant, and chuckled. Ricardo was incorrigible. She set the animal undisturbed on the small nightstand at the side of the bed. It seemed a shame to ruin something so cute for no reason.

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