Page 104 of Bitter Prince
“This is amazing,” I said. I could hear water splashing, telling me the girls had made it in. I couldn’t see them from here, so it was as if the two of us were alone in the world.
“On the count,” Amon drawled, holding my hand. “One, two, three!”
We leapt. The water was cool against my skin as we plunged in. It sucked the breath from my chest and loosened my worn bikini top, which I quickly held on to with my free hand. A one-piece would have been the wiser choice for diving, but the feeling of the water against my bare breasts made me feel alive and free.
As we reached the depths, my feet caressed the bottom of the sea, where the water was refreshing. With my eyes closed, I reveled in the quiet, feeling the current rippling gently around me. Kicking off the bottom, I rose easily and burst through the surface with my face turned to the sky. Salt hit my tongue as I opened my mouth to drag in a breath.
We snorkeled a bit, inching our way to the shallow waters. I pulled my mask up and wiped excess water from my eyes. When I opened them, I was met with Amon’s rapturous smile, his arm outstretched and pulling me up to the rock he was perched on.
“You love the water,” he claimed and I laughed, unable to contain my joy at this simple pleasure. There was a brief period in time where surfing was my go-to sport. Truthfully, I could give up the surfing part easily. It was the feel of the ocean and the quiet comfort of experiencing life beneath the sea that was impossible to give up.
“I do love it,” I admitted, grinning wide. “Although my top is about to be set loose.”
“You could go topless like the French,” he rasped, his eyes darkening and sending my heart racing.
“I’m not French,” I explained in a choked voice, trying to shake the image.
“Then let me fix it for you,” he offered. I turned my back to him as he tightened the bikini strap around my neck. I watched the navy hull and bright white of the yacht deck, giving me a majestic picture of luxury.I’d happily splay out on this warm rock in the sun with Amon’s hands on me forever.
Amon warned we couldn’t go far from the boat on our snorkel adventure. The tender wasn’t close by since apparently the chef was rushing back to shore to get the steak for Dante, and the currents were strong.
Being able to float along the surface of the crystal clear water at a depth of what I assumed to be about thirty or forty feet was mesmerizing, but it gave me peace of mind to know we could rest here to catch our breath. It was incredible to see the sandy and rocky bottom and the small silver fish with yellow tails that darted about here and there.
The cloudless blue sky and perfectly unmarred horizon took up almost all my view, making me believe we were in paradise. Just the two of us. The lightness in my chest felt so good. Warm from the sun and sweat pooling on my neck, I suggested we slink back into the water to refresh.
Treading water, I turned and wrapped my arms around his neck while his arms came around my waist.
“This is the best birthday ever,” I whispered, bringing my face close to him. “Thank you.”
His lips brushed lightly against mine, letting me taste salt and something else that was uniquely him. “Happy birthday, baby.”
My mouth tugged, and I realized we were both smiling, our lips molding to each other. “Baby, huh?” I teased. “You have so many nicknames for me, and I’ve yet to think of even one for you.”
“You have one for me,” he pointed out. When I frowned in confusion, he added, “Bitter prince.”
I let out an annoyed breath. “That’s not really a cute, loving nickname.”
“Your father gave it to me.” I could see the regret the moment those words left his mouth. I remembered he’d told me that before. I overheard Papà on the phone all those years ago, referring to Amon as “bitter prince.” I tightened my grip around him and wrapped my legs around his waist.
“You can be my prince,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to his lips. “Never a bitter prince. Don’t worry, if I ever hear my papà call you that again, I’ll give him my two cents.”
He chuckled. “Of that I have no doubt, cinnamon girl.”
“When is your birthday?” I asked, wanting to change the subject. I didn’t want any shadows or ghosts between us today. I’d deal with them tomorrow, pick them off one by one. Maybe it was naive and corny, but I was all in.
He was it for me.
“November,” he answered, trailing his mouth over my jaw and down my neck. “November sixteenth.”
I tilted my neck, a light shudder rolling down my body. “I’ll have to top this for your birthday.”
He nipped my neck gently. “I don’t care about topping anything. Just be here for my birthday.”
Pulling slightly away, our gazes locked. “I promise I’ll be here for your birthday,” I vowed, the blue sea serving as our only witness.
“I’ll hold you to your promise, Reina Romero.”
I heard a loud laugh in the distance and we both turned in time to see Isla and Phoenix settle themselves at the top of the slide hanging off the upper deck and push off. They both screeched the whole way down, their bodies plunging into the water with a splash.
