Page 92 of Raul
Raul was nodding as he looked thoughtful. Then he gave her an apologetic smile. “I have an idea, but I might have to make some slightly offensive comments about you. I apologize in advance.”
“Don’t hold back on my account,” she said.
Raul pulled his phone out of his pocket. Of course, the royals got to keep their phones at the wedding reception.
He tapped at the screen before holding the phone to his ear. Erica held her breath as they waited for several long seconds.
“Hey, Nasir,” Raul said, his voice genial and slightly slurred. He was playing drunk. “I was looking for you at the party, but they said you left. You know, Kyran Redda is going to play later, so maybe you should come back. Anyway, I called to ask a favor. I met this very hot girl at the party, and I’d like her to come with me for the tour of your yacht tomorrow.”
He went silent for a while before frowning. “Mierda,why didn’t you tell me you were departing early? I already promised Erica the tour, and I don’t like to break my promises. Especially not when I’m trying to get a woman into bed.” The last was said with a heavy leer in his voice.
He listened to al-Buya’s response and then said, “Hey, I just realized something. Erica is a helicopter pilot. I’ll bet she could fly us out there right now. Just slow down a little, and we’ll get our tour.”
Al-Buya had a lot to say to that.
“I can see Kyran Redda anytime. He and Gabriel are good friends,” Raul responded. “But I don’t want to miss the world’s newest and fastest superyacht. You know as well as I do that yachts make women horny.”
Erica choked on a laugh, and Raul gave her an apologetic look.
“No, I insist,amigo. Erica and I are coming tonight, so put the brakes on. I’ll get your position once we’re in the air.” He lowered the phone and ended the call. “I can be a royal asshole too.”
“A very convincing one,” Erica said and heard a muffled snort from the front seat.
“Now we have to figure out how to look for the dragon eggs and possibly the dragon,” Raul said.
“Leave that to Pascal and me,” Dario said. “You keep al-Buya busy with showing you the fancy stuff on the ship. We’ll go exploring in the name of security. And with my apologies as well, Erica, but maybe you could cut your skirt off extra short to add to al-Buya’s distraction.”
“In these sneakers?” Erica lifted one foot clad in the well-worn athletic shoes. “But I’m flattered you think my legs could catch his attention.”
Raul gave her a smoking look and leaned in to murmur, “Every inch of you will catch his attention.”
Her internal temperature jumped about a hundred degrees as his words licked through her, almost dispelling her apprehension about landing a helicopter on a boat.
Chapter 21
All her nervousness came roaring back when Dario drove through the airport’s private gate and parked on the tarmac beside her flight instructor’s helicopter.
Two service attendants stood in the pool of light around the sleek blue aircraft. Because Halcón used it for sightseeing flights, the helicopter had large glass panes on the sides, so the four leather bucket seats inside were clearly visible.
As Erica swiveled to climb out of the SUV, Raul laid his hand on her forearm. “You don’t have to do this.”
Seeing the familiar aircraft had settled her a bit, making it possible to inject confidence into her voice. “I’ve got this. No problem.”
He gave her arm a quick squeeze. “Then let’s get your skirt hemmed.”
She stepped out, and Raul followed, pulling the scary knife out of its sheath.
“I will be very, very careful with the blade,” he promised. “But don’t move.”
He picked up one side of the beautiful skirt that she’d spent so much money on. She sucked in a breath as his hand brushed her thigh, sending desire dancing over her skin.
She stood like a statue while he worked his way around the skirt, his fingers occasionally grazing her skin to send more waves of sensation through her. By the time he was done, her arms were wrapped around her waist like a vise.
He surveyed his work. “Al-Buya will probably think it’s fashion-forward, but I owe you a new dress.”
She looked down at the jagged edge and realized that he could have cut it much shorter. That he had chosen not to display more of her legs for the amir to ogle lifted her heart a little.
One of the attendants walked up to them and bowed. “Su Alteza Real,SeñoritaOrtiz, the helicopter is fully fueled and ready to fly. The equipment Dario requested is already on board.”
