Page 6 of Beneath the Flames
Brie looked down at Antony cradled in her arms. He stared up at her intently, seeming to only have eyes for his mother despite the commotion all around them. That innocent gaze filled her with a sense of joyful peace. “You’re just too stinkin’ cute.”
Glancing at Hunter, she said, “I want to thank you again for including our children. It is especially kind when this is such a momentous occasion for the two of you.”
Hunter put his arm around Lea. “After everything you have been through, Lea and I wouldn’t dream of separating your family even for a short time.”
Brie was overwhelmed with gratitude. “To be invited to share in this special moment means the world to me.”
Lea took Brie’s hand, squeezing it tight. “You know I love ya.”
As they were walking up the gangway, Lea leaned in and whispered, “I remember once, there was this first-time cruiser who asked the captain, ‘Do ships like these sink very often?’” She grinned at Brie. “Do you know what he said to her?”
Sensing a joke was imminent, Brie teased her by answering, “Not really.”
Lea giggled, knowing Brie would not be able to resist.
“Fine! Tell me what the captain said already.”
“I’ll never forget it, Stinky Cheese. He said it in such a serious tone.”
Brie rolled her eyes, knowing Lea was milking this one for all she was worth. “And his answer was…?”
“The captain told her with a straight face, ‘Usually only once.’”
Snorting, Brie covered her mouth. She looked down at Antony and shook her head. “I can’t believe your Aunt Lea would joke about something like that when weare about to board a ship.”
Turning to Lea, Brie said accusingly, “You know…you’re almost as bad as Rytsar. He joked with Sir about planes crashing when we were taking off from LAX.”
“Okay, thatisover the top,” Lea insisted. “But my joke is funny, right?”
Brie held up her thumb and pointer finger very close together.
Sir asked with a relaxed smile. “What are you two going on about?”
“Lea just tried a new joke on me.”
“Ah…” he smirked. “My condolences, babygirl.”
Brie burst into giggles, but they quickly died out and she stopped dead in her tracks. Gazing upward, her jaw dropped in awe as she looked at the grand foyer of the ship. It was several stories high and looked like a setting from a fairytale castle. She loved the intricately inlaid marble flooring and the impressive staircase highlighted with golden accents and romantic lighting.
“Pretty!” Hope cried, clapping her hands together excitedly.
“It sure is pretty…” Brie murmured breathlessly.
“The dining room is just as spectacular,” Lea told her with a happy sigh. “I’ve been wanting to take a voyage on this boat ever since it launched.”
She looked at Hunter adoringly. “I never dreamed it would be for my collaring.”
Hunter lifted her hand and kissed it. “Such an important moment in our lives deserves the appropriate backdrop.”
She giggled. “You shouldn’t spoil me so…”
He raised an eyebrow. “As your Master, I can andwillspoil you as much as I want.” With that, he grabbed the back of her neck, giving her a deep and possessive kiss.
Their chemistry was so intense that a woman walking past smiled and turned to her husband. “Must be newlyweds.”
After Hunter pulled away from the kiss, he winked at Lea. Placing his hand on the small of her back, he headed toward the elevators.
Lea looked back at Brie with a blush on her cheeks. “The size of the cabins are going to surprise you.”
