Page 79 of Don't Look Down

We’re anchoredout at sea. There’s an inflatable slide leading from the top deck into the water. Sky shoots huge puppy dog eyes at me. “Is there any chance at all you’d slide with me?”

“Not one,” I answer matter of factly. Because nope. Ain’t no way.

His crestfallen expression makes me a little sad that my fear of heights would prevent me from doing something as simple as sliding off a boat into the ocean.

It really shouldn’t be this big of a deal, but it is. And I hate it. “Leigh will do it.” I offer my friend up on a silver platter. “Let’s go ask him.”

We pass by Davi and Antonov and they tell me Leigh is inside the cabin.

He’s a hundred percent on board with the slide. “I’ll go up with you, but I’m not going anywhere near the railing. And there’s absolutely no way I’ll go down the slide.”

Sky and Leigh whoop and yell the whole way down. It sounds like they’re having a great time. Good for them. That won’t be me. Just being up here has my heart racing. Palms sweating.

After a few more trips down the slide, Sky decides he needs more of an adrenaline rush. This time when he returns, he has Bash with him. “Bash is going to jump in with me.”

“Sky.” Just the one syllable is all I can manage. My throat closes at the thought of him jumping from so high. The slide was nothing compared to a jump.

People have gotten seriously injured falling or jumping from heights like this into water.

But that doesn’t stop the crazy fuckers.

Sky perches on the rail, then leaps over the side. My heart drops out of my ass. I rush to the edge and see he’s laughing with Bash.

The dizziness is instantaneous. I’m going to puke. I back away just as quickly as I rushed up, if not faster.

Yep. I’m done up here. I can’t do this. Off to the bottom deck I go.

This vantage point is another form of torture. Sky climbs the ladder back onto the swimming platform. Water droplets slip and trickle their way down his chest and abs, eventually meeting the waistband of his shorts.

The droplets beg to be licked off.

Voices draw my gaze off to the side. Addy and Savannah have their heads together. It makes me want to scream.

Lord save me from intuitive, meddling people.

People who see right through me.

Can a guy keep anything to himself? How can I live comfortably in denial if none of my people leave me here in peace? They’ve all blown my denial to Hell and back.

Can I just get a minute to adjust?

Fuck.

I back away from the rail, intent on hitting the head. I need that minute to myself.

Grabbing a fresh beer, I make my way back on deck. When I get there, Sky is on the dance floor with Savannah and Nadia. Leigh and Addy are dancing. Every movement of Sky’s body is sinful. Hypnotic.

Backing away from the sight, I turn to sit on one of the L-shaped benches off to the side. I’m not feeling the vibes right now. If I go any closer, I’ll be tempted to press my body against his. I’m not a good dancer, but he makes me want to try. To match my rhythm to his.

Savannah catches sight of me and raises an eyebrow. I send what I hope is a reassuring smile her way. It must work, because she continues dancing. Sky bends over in front of her, twerking his ass back and forth to Drake singing about rich baby daddies.

And damn. It’s mesmerizing.

Jealousy rises. That could be me. I could be out there dancing with him, instead of sitting here essentially moping.

The song changes and Savannah takes the opportunity to break away and head over. She plops herself onto my lap, an arm thrown around my neck. To anyone observing us, I’m sure it looks like she’s whispering naughty things into my ear. In reality. she’s berating me about my attraction to Sky.

Again.

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