The Billionaire's Christmas Cruise by Dakota Rebel (my reading book txt) 📕

also…life changing. As in…I wasn’t sure how I’d recover from him after this cruise. He’d already been filling my thoughts. Now, they’d taken a turn for the steamy. Well…steamier.

Still…

“Turn around,” I murmured, letting him go.

“What?”

“If I’m taking off my shirt and bikini top, you’re not watching.”

“I could help.”

“We’re not there yet.”

He looked hopeful. “But we will get there.”

Probably. Likely. Hopefully.

I smiled and twirled my finger for him to turn. “Maybe. But for now, turn around.”

Instead, he grabbed me and kissed me hard and fast, leaving me breathless. “That maybe is going to turn into a ‘hell, yes.’ I promise you that.”

I swallowed hard, my thighs pressing together as I tingled. Chase’s eyes were full of heat as he turned. I watched his back and the play of powerful muscles there as he stripped off his own tee. Holy back porn. I never knew how stunning a fit torso could be from this direction.

“Ready?”

Take me. Take me now…

“Um,” I squeaked. “Nope.”

“You okay?”

“Um-hmm.”

Except I had to take off my clothes and lie under a thin sheet with my nipples as hard as little rocks. Damn. It.

Turning, I stripped off as fast as possible then dove under the sheet, crossing my arms over my all-too-perky breasts while I waited for Millie and Shane to come in.

“Okay,” I told Chase, closing my eyes. “It’s safe.”

“What are you doing?” he asked. His amusement was hard to miss. Apparently, he was checking my position, but I refused to open my eyes and glance over to see what he was doing.

“Waiting.”

“Is something…wrong?”

Yeah, I don’t want you to see my nipples.

“I’m cold.”

“It’s eighty degrees.”

“Just shut up and get under your sheet.”

Chase laughed. His lips brushed over mine, startling me because I hadn’t realized he was that close, and he squeezed my forearm. When his thumb caressed over my cheek, I opened my eyes and looked up into his warm, dark-chocolate gaze.

“You’re a refreshing treasure,” he murmured.

“Ready?” Shane called before I could reply. I bit my lip, watching Chase climb onto the other bed.

After we replied yes, the two masseuses returned, and what followed was a blur of melty pleasure. The lighting remained low, and they played soothing wood pipe music while their magical hands rubbed every bit of tension from our bodies without getting too intimate.

I was a pile of boneless mush when they murmured that they were done and to have a wonderful day and make sure to stay hydrated.

“Oh my God, I don’t want to move,” I moaned once they’d left.

“We can stay here all day.”

“Nah…” I started to lever myself up then remembered I was naked from the waist up. I dropped back down and looked over at Chase to find him watching me avidly with a smirk.

“Close call,” he teased.

“You’re a perv.”

“Yep.”

“Stop looking at me and get dressed. You have a busy day planned for us, and I intend to enjoy it all, so I can sleep like a rock tonight.”

“I’m sure I can help tire you out if the fun, sun and island pub crawl don’t do it.”

“Maybe—and this is just a suggestion—you should dial it down a couple notches.”

“Mmm…no.” He tossed back his sheet and pretty much vaulted from the table. After a quick press of lips to my temple, giving me a shiver of pleasure, he scooped up his shirt and shoes then left the cabana. I waited a few moments then slipped off my own table, got dressed and joined him.

Chase grabbed my hand, twining our fingers. “Off to get our buzz on and explore!”

“After you—and I’m not getting drunk.”

He leaned in and kissed me, and I realized he’d been pretty free with them today. And I’d let him…enjoying them way too much.

“Of course, you’re not,” he agreed. “That would ruin tonight’s fun.”

Tonight’s fun? What?

Chapter Seven

~ Chase ~

“Shall I get you another Mai Tai?” I whispered in Emerson’s ear as we entered the ship’s casino.

“No, thank you,” Little Miss I’m Not Getting Drunk stated firmly, pretending not to sway on my arm. “I believe I’ve had enough.”

“I believe the fact we left the cabin is proof to the contrary,” I teased her.

“Were you trying to get me drunk to take advantage of me?” she accused, keeping her tone light as if to assure me she was kidding.

“Do I have to?” I asked.

I watched heat darken her gaze and couldn’t resist dipping low for a kiss. She’d allowed me that pleasure freely all day, and I wasn’t about to give up any chance to repeat it as often as possible. Her lips were like the sweetest elixir, and I hadn’t needed a drop of alcohol to feel punch drunk every time I’d tasted them.

“I’m not a big gambler,” Emerson said as we walked the floor.

“That’s okay,” I assured her. “It’s just play money.”

She shot me a sideways glance I ignored.

I’d already purchased chips as I’d wandered the ship waiting for Emerson to get settled in the room. Thankfully, I didn’t have to go through the ritual of exchanging wads of cash in front of her. It was one thing to spend money on things that brought her pleasure. It was another to basically flaunt my finances in her face.

“How about roulette?” I asked, steering her toward the large wheel. “How are you with odds?”

“Really good actually,” she said. “Your best odds right now would be to put your chips back in your pocket and return to the room.”

I stared at her, wondering if she realized what she was implying with that innocent statement. She was looking around the casino, so I didn’t believe she did. But it wasn’t fair of her to tease me.

I leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Em, if you’re telling me that I’d be luckier in our room than I would be here, I will grab you fireman style and make you prove it.”

Her cheeks flushed as her wide eyes met my gaze. Her hand shook as it reached up to touch my face. She leaned forward and kissed me softly.

“I don’t mean to be a