Page 97 of Their Courtesan
Maria absentmindedly chewed her food; Dolores studied Miguel’s expression. “I’m sure it is.Muy interesante.”
The pain of the family lunch came to an end shortly thereafter. Dolores had an appointment, and Maria wanted to go shopping with some friends. A bevy of tanned beauties waited for her outside, each of their skirts so high that Miguel felt like he was on a party yacht in the Caribbean.When in Monaco…
“I hope to see you both again soon,” Dolores said outside, putting on her sunglasses. “It was interesting meeting you, Ms. King.” She tucked her purse beneath her arm and marched off, raising her other arm to herald her driver. A black sedan pulled up along the curve, and soon Dolores disappeared behind tinted windows.
“She seems cheery,” Judith said. “Both of them. Ahem.”
“They’re easy. It’s my parents who can be rude.”
“So I’ve gathered.”
Miguel turned her toward his parking spot. “Day’s beginning! Let me show you the other great love of my life.”
The Mediterranean was particularly bright and blue that day. Half the boats in the marina were out cruising, sailing, or puttering around in the harbor and beyond. One particularly loud vessel, full of reveling party-goers, made a splash as they cruised by with Bruno Mars blaring and what looked like a local French celebrity pulling down his swim trunks to show all the bikini-clad women what he was really packing.
“This place is fun,” Judith said, following Miguel down to the docks. “So where’s your nautical mistress?”
“Here.”Cornelia by Northwestwas the (at the time when he bought it) brand new vessel with a name that even he couldn’t explain. A humble two-stories tall and boasting enough room for a mere two dozen, it was Miguel’s second home in Monaco. Certainly, he had spent many tipsy nights in the cabin, sometimes with a female partner, sometimes alone. Usually his days were going out by himself, entertaining business associates, having silent time with his father (who had his own, much bigger yacht,) or even going fishing if the mood struck him. And taking pretty women like Judith out to show off and indulge in carnal pleasures.
He wasn’t sure about that latter part for today’s excursion. Which was interesting, because usually once they were out on the water, all Miguel could think about was getting beneath his companion’s skirt. When they were alone all the way out there… conversations died. Interests waned. If left to her own devices, the woman would either take a nap whilst sunning herself or play on her phone from here until eternity.
Even if Judith was bored, she never let on. From the moment they stepped on the yacht, she was smiling, checking out the cabin and bringing out more bubbly, and hovering around Captain Miguel as he showed her this and that – including the rope knots he tied by himself.
“I went through this phase as a kid where all I wanted to do was tie ropes,” he explained.
Judith laughed. “You gonna tie me up again sometime soon?”
“Perhaps.”
She asked when they were going to leave the dock and have some fun in the sun. Miguel informed her that he had no intention of cruising with the yacht. “Excuse me?” Judith asked, tapping her foot. “Then why did you bring me all the way up here? To look at toys I can’t play with?” Her hand went straight for his crotch.
Instead of indulging in what she offered right there in a public marina, he pointed to the smaller boat docked beside his. “We’re going out on that.”
She looked over the starboard side. “Ooh, sporty!”
“You don’t even know yet.”
In Monaco, speed boatingwasa sport. Hell, anything that combined dangerous, motorized vessels and showing off was a time-honored tradition. (He had shown Judith the world famous speedway earlier that morning. If they had more time together in Monaco, he would have taken her to the Grand Prix. Maybe one day, when he was her patron.) How much money did you have? How could you best show it off without looking like you were doing it on purpose? There were many art forms in the world, but for European billionaires, this was one of the most recognizable.
“It’s so cute!” Judith sat in the passenger seat while Miguel checked that everything was in order. “Do you go out in this thing much?”
“On beautiful days like this? As much as I can. But it’s not fun unless I have someone as equally fun to be with.” He winked at her, although she probably couldn’t see it through their combined sunglasses. “Ready?”
“Should I put on a lifejacket?” Judith eyed the one by her feet.
“If you really want to. I promise I’m a safe driver!”
He backed out of the dock, careful to not hit any of the other small boats whipping in and out of the marina. Judith held on with white knuckles, but the glee on her visage wasn’t anything but pure excitement. Her baggy white blouse and khaki shorts looked as carefree as the rest of her.
“You might want to put your hair up, though,” Miguel cautioned at the last minute. “Or so many women have told me over the years.”
“I dunno.” Judith pulled a red scrunchie out of her pocket and whipped her hair back into a loose, low-hanging bun. “You might look good with long hair.”
“Don’t think so.” Once she was situated again, Miguel gunned the gas on the boat and took off for the open water. Judith shrieked so loudly she almost drowned out the motor.
There was nothing like exploring the open seas at top speed, kicking back waves behind a boat and greeting the blaring sun above. Even with dozens of other white vessels crowding around them, Miguel still saw – and felt – nothing but freedom. When he was much younger, this was one of the only ways he could appropriately get away from his family. This and driving his assortment of luxury sedans and sport cars. Unlike the cars and roadways, Miguel was not beholden to trifle things likeroads.He could go anywhere. Whip in any direction. Face whatever view he desired. One of his favorite things to do was speed up and down the length of Monaco, taking in the crowded architecture and wondering what it looked like one hundred, five hundred years ago. Then he would veer off toward the southern coast of France, taking note of the rolling countryside and theMaritime Gendarmariepatrolling the coast for idiot billionaires and lost tourists in need of assistance.And pirates. I always wanted there to be pirates.Now Miguel was glad to not have to worry about pirates, but once upon a time, when he was a kid…
“This is amazing!” Judith cried, touching his shoulder as he whipped the boat around not once, but twice, creating a centripetal force that made both of their stomachs lurch in excitement. “Where the hell are we?”
