Page 75 of The Accidental Wife

Cole

“Tristan Cole Hoult,are you trying to get me drunk?” Shayla giggles as I pour us another glass of white wine.

I shake my head chuckling, “No, not at all.” I declare, feigning innocence, and she narrows her eyes at me sceptically. “Besides, a couple of bottles of wine isn’t going to get us that drunk. I don’t think anything will top how drunk we were the night we met.”

Shayla groans with a smile shaking her head, “Oh my god, don’t remind me. I was hungover for three days straight. I will never drink that much ever again.” She declares, putting her glass down and lays back, staring up at the star-filled sky with a sigh. I couldn’t even tell you what time it was. We’ve been sitting up on the top deck of the yacht just talking and drinking wine and eating a cheese board. I lay down beside Shayla, and we gaze up at the stars together. She looks over at me when I feed her a grape and smiles. “Tell me a secret about yourself?”

I look at her and frown, “A secret?” I ask, and she nods, watching me.

“Yes, something no one else knows about you.”

I lick my lips and mull over her question, “Well, I don’t know if this counts as a secret, but I can sing.” I confess to her, and she lifts her head and looks at me, surprised.

“You can?” Shayla questions and I nod, rolling onto my side. I rest my head in my hand and watch her. She does the same and holds my gaze. “Will you sing for me?”

I smile and rub her jaw gently, “Sure, I’ll sing for you someday.”

She beams at me, “You’re a man of many talents, Lord Hoult. You continue to surprise me every day.” She claims, leaning into my touch. “Thank you for arranging this getaway. I’ve honestly had such an incredible time.” I look into her eyes, smiling, and drag my thumb along her bottom lip.

“So have I, sweetheart. I’m so disappointed we have to go back.” I admit studying her angelic face.

I wish we had more time.

Shayla smiles prettily, kissing my thumb. Arranging this mini getaway with her was the best idea I have ever had. I’ve never felt so relaxed and at peace than I am when I’m with her. She does something to me, something I simply can’t explain. It’s like that feeling you get when you eat something so good that you just want to take your time and savour every bite and not finish it because you’re scared you’ll never find it anywhere again. She’s my coconut cream cake, and now I’ve had a taste of her, I can’t imagine giving her up or not having her in my life.

“Cole?” I blink, snapping out of my thoughts when I hear Shayla call my name. “You okay? What are you thinking about so deeply?”

I sigh, “Shayla, I—”

“Mr Hoult, we need to head back to the marina. There’s a storm headed this way.” The captain alerts us, and I nod.

“Thank you, Captain, we can head back,” I tell him, and he nods and walks off. I look back at Shayla, and she shrugs with an adorable smile.

“Guess the boat party for two is over,” She states, getting up to her feet. She walks to the front of the boat and looks out at the ocean. The night was so clear you could see the full moon perfectly, the stars twinkling in the sky like diamonds. I watch her as she stood there, the wind in her hair, a faraway look in her eyes, and I wish more than anything I could read her mind right now.

With a sigh, I get up and walk over to her. I wrap my arms around her and pull her against me holding her tight. Shayla smiles and wraps her arms over mine, and sinks back into me. “What’s on your mind?” I ask, pressing my forehead to her temple and feel her sigh.

“Nothing, just letting this moment sink in.” She replies, tilting her head back to look up at me. “Today is the seventh day of the bet.”

I look down into her eyes and stroke her jaw softly. “Oh, wow. I forgot all about that. So, I can’t kiss you anymore after tonight?” I ask, leaning in closer, and she doesn’t answer, just looks at my lips and back up to my eyes.

“That is what we agreed,” She whispers, leaning in also.

“What if I forget and kiss you…” I whisper back, my lips a breath away from hers. Shayla’s eyes close when I brush my lips over hers. “Would you pull away?”

“Mhm,”

I look down into her face and fight the urge to smile. “Then pull away now.” I breathe, trailing my finger down her throat. Shayla moans and lifts her arm, curls her fingers at my neck, and pulls my head in, closing the gap between our lips. I rub her jaw and kiss her softly before I spin her around so she was facing me. She drapes her arms around my neck, and I envelop mine around her waist, pulling her up against me. I kiss her slowly and thoroughly as if my life depended on it. How am I supposed to be around her and not kiss her when she kisses like this? I felt the first drop of rain on my head before it started absolutely chucking it down.

Shayla gasps, and we pull apart and look up. The skies that were clear moments ago were now engulfed with dark clouds. “Come on, let's go inside,” I say, pulling her, but she shakes her head laughing and tugs me back to her.

“No, stay…” I look at her with a frown, and she pulls me in for another kiss.

“We’ll get sick, sweetheart,” I whisper between kisses, and she cups my face in her hands and smiles.

“I don’t care.” She whispers, kissing me back avidly. There we stood in the pouring rain, completely soaked, kissing passionately without a care in the world about anything else but each other. That moment was definitely worth catching pneumonia for. The flash of lightning, followed by a loud rumble of thunder, interrupts our moment. We jump apart, and I take her hand, pulling her inside to the bottom deck just as the boat pulls up to the marina.

“You’re shivering,” I say, rubbing her arms, and she shakes her head, smiling up at me.

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