Page 119 of Whirlwind

We strode up and down the deck, Lars and Stone on us from different angles. We stopped, the three of us making faces, having a laugh, Kaspar making jokes non-stop. We got to the end of the deck, my heart thumping, and watched for Lars’s signal.

We jumped in the water in the most nonchalant way possible, bodies relaxed as if it were no big deal to heave yourself off a yacht wearing a suit.

Pulse gone wild, I sliced through the air, Tag and Kaspar a blur of yelling and movement at my side. My body plunged in the inky sea and my breath cut, my body seized, as the cold water engulfed me. I let the sensation seep over me and swam, swam.

Stone was underwater with his camera, and Tag, and Kaspar, and I swam around each other, posed together. Something sort of risky, something kind of silly, and so much fun.

Gulping for air, we paddled back to the yacht. Alessio reached out for my arm and I clasped my hand in his as I heaved myself up. “Crazy,” he muttered.

“The water is incredible.” I wanted to dive right back in without the damned clothes. My heart beat fast and steady, the blood rushing through my chest as we stripped off the wet clothes on deck. The wind whipped over our wet bodies, and I grinned, high fiving Tag. I’d missed this.

Irina and Gabriella were on deck in yet another set of bikinis, Alessio fitting them with necklaces. Tag, in another bathing suit, chose a necklace for himself.

They were going to shoot footage for the jewelry promo video.

“Violet, you good to go in the water and swim around Tag with the girls?” said Lars.

“Me?”

“That bathing suit you’re wearing is phenomenal. The lines…I’d love to get it on film in the water.”

“Yeah those lines…” Tag grinned at me.

“Beck picked it out for me at a boutique in town,” said Violet.

“Terrific eye.” Alessio gestured Violet over. “Come here, please.” He chose a necklace for her and placed it over her head. Two bracelets and an anklet followed.

“Ladies, you know the drill. Violet, follow their lead. You’re exploring the sea, being playful. Think sexy but innocent sea nymph. Come up for air as often as you need, we’ll edit everything later. Have fun because it’ll show.”

Violet set her hands on her hips. “Just one thing—”

“Tell me.”

“No ass shots of me.”

Tag erupted into loud laughter.

“You got it,” said Lars.

“Aw, man.” Tag clapped his hands together, laughing.

I gave Violet a thumbs up.

“Irina, Gabriella—” Tag gestured. “You’ll jump off the boat with me. I have the drone over us and it’ll be on us ’til we hit the water.”

“Got it!” Irina and Gabriella hopped up and down, shaking their hips and listening to imaginary music again, being captured in “party mode” 24/7 was essential, after all.

“Alessio—” Tag focused a camera on Violet. “Go adjust Violet’s necklace, give her a kiss—whatever.”

“Whatever, eh?” Alessio smirked and went over to Violet who grinned at him.

“Let’s do this!” Lars shouted out.

Alessio adjusted the chain around Violet’s throat, and she smiled at him while she “danced,” her arms in the air, her hands lowering, digging in her hair. He grinned at her as his fingers lingered on the thick silver charm on her chest. My babe had it down.

“This is work, huh?” Kaspar came up next to me.

Tag got in between the girls, the drone right over them, all three looked up and laughed at the floating device. “Now!” Tag shouted and the three of them jumped up, Tag reaching for the drone, all of them grinning at it as they launched themselves off the side of the boat, tumbling into the water.

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