Page 15 of Surrender to Me

“You know what.”

His grip on me tightened slightly, his lips brushing just below my ear. “Tell me you don’t like it,” he teased. I swallowed hard, my legs wrapped around his waist now, his strong hands steadying me, keeping me exactly where he wanted. I didn’t say anything because we both knew I’d be lying. Legend hummed, pleased. His smirk deepened. “Relax. We’ve got all night for that.”

My stomach flipped violently as we climbed out of the water, the sun drying our skin as we made our way back onto the upper deck of the yacht. I grabbed a plush towel, running it over my body, and tried not to stare at the way the water beaded on his tattoed body, slipping down the dark ink of his tattoos, tracing paths along the ridges of muscle.

I failed. He must have caught me because he smirked as he grabbed a bottle of dark rum from the bar. “Want a drink?” he asked, already pouring.

I nodded, settling into one of the lounge chairs as the yacht rocked gently with the waves. He handed me a glass before settling into the seat across from me, stretching his long legs out, his tattooed fingers idly rolling his glass between his palms. For a moment, we just sat there, letting the ocean breeze cool our sun-warmed skin.

I took a sip of drink, letting the burn of the Tequila settle in my chest before tilting my head at him. “So, you know a lot about me now,” I mused. “Feels like I don't know anything about you.”

He watched me for a second like he was assessing how much I actually wanted to dig. I held his gaze, waiting. Finally, he exhaled through his nose, setting his amber drink down. “What you wanna know, Honey?”

I leaned forward slightly, setting my elbows on my knees. “You always this private?”

“Yes.”

I scoffed. “Not even gonna pretend to deflect?”

“No point,” he said nonchalantly.

I studied him, watching the way he held himself so effortlessly, how everything he did felt measured, and controlled. “You’re used to people not asking questions, aren’t you?”

His smirk was slow. “Most don’t.”

“But I’m not most people.”

“No, you’re not.”

A flicker of heat passed between us, something unspoken but charged but I refused to let it distract me. Not yet. “So tell me something,” I said, swirling my drink. “Where are you from?”

“Here and there,” he said smoothly.

I narrowed my eyes. “That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the one you’re getting.”

I rolled my eyes but a small smile played on my lips. “Okay. What do you do?”

He lifted a brow. “For work?” I nodded. Legend took his time answering, rolling his glass between his fingers again. “Investments,” he said vaguely. “Real estate. A few other things.”

I tilted my head. “A few other things?”

He smirked. “You’re nosy as fuck.”

“You’re avoiding the question.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “I make money. A lot of it. And I don’t like to waste time explaining the details to people who only care about the number in my bank account.”

I pursed my lips, tapping my nails against my glass. “Is that how you see me?”

Legend’s dark gaze sharpened, his smirk fading slightly. “No.”

I exhaled, studying him, trying to figure him out, but this man was like a locked vault. He gave just enough to make you think you were getting somewhere. Then he shut the door before you could get inside. A man who had control over everything and let very few people past his walls. I took another sip of my drink, letting the warmth settle, then glanced at him again.

“Okay,” I said finally. “No more questions.”

Legend smirked. “Didn’t think you’d give up that easy.”