“Don’t mind me at all,” Ari murmured.
“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m starving. That volleyball game really zapped my energy,” Rachel said, saving them from the slightly awkward moment.
“Me, too,” Lia piped in.
“Yes, Ari was saying she was quite hungry herself. You must have played a strenuous game. I may have to join you next time,” Rafe said as he looked down into Ari’s eyes, which widened in a bit of panic.
He liked catching her off guard. He’d been giving her too much space. The longer she took to realize they were going to be together, the less patience he had. Seeing her tonight was lighting a fire beneath him.
“A couple of our opponents sure wanted to whisk Ari off to the high seas,” Rachel said with a mischievous grin at Rafe. He glared at his little sister before turning to Ari who was looking at Rachel in horror.
“Really? Do tell,” Rafe commanded.
“Oh, I think it was the red bikini. She looked hot with a capital 'H'. The guys were tripping over themselves to offer her drinks, help her up when she fell, and then, of course, the dinner and drinks invitation. We were a little tempted to accept and tag along just to watch the show, but the boat was calling our names,” Lia answered.
Neither of his sisters was fooling him. He knew exactly what they were doing. Knowing didn’t matter, though. The thought of these unknown men flirting with Ari was causing a simmering burn in his gut. He needed to brand her – let the world know she wasn’t up for grabs. He planned on doing it soon.
“I need to speak to the Captain. Why doesn’t everyone get seated, and I’ll have dinner served immediately,” Rafe snapped as he walked from the room.
He decided right then that they were staying out for the night. He knew his family wouldn’t mind, and he wanted to keep Ari trapped on the ship with him – where she couldn’t possibly escape. He would show her who she belonged to.
He returned shortly and their first course was served. As she sat next to him, his temper cooled, but his desire continued to escalate.
Conversation filled the room as his exuberant family all spoke at once. Rafe was used to the loud voices of his family as everyone demanded to be heard. He enjoyed nothing better than sitting back and listening to his loved ones, especially now. It helped soothe his easily roused temper.
“Ari, has Rafe told you yet what a hellion he was as a teenager?” Lia asked with a twinkle in her eye.
“Lia…” Rafe said in a warning tone which she completely ignored.
“I somehow can’t imagine Mr.… um… him as a child,” Ari quickly corrected herself. Rafe was somewhat disappointed. He would love for her to slip up. He had big plans on different forms of exotic torture he could put her through.
His hand slid beneath the table and landed on her bare thigh, causing her to jump and nearly knock her wine glass over.
“Is everything okay, Ari?” his mother asked.
“Yes. Sorry about that. I’m being a bit clumsy. I think I got a little too much sun today,” Ari said as she tried to push his hand away without causing a scene. He just squeezed her leg a little tighter, letting her know he had zero intentions of letting her go.
She sent a desperate look his way before responding to a question his father asked her. As his fingers danced along her thigh, she sat tensely next to him with her legs clamped tightly shut. He had no doubt he could outlast her. She’d grow too tired to hold herself so stiffly long before he’d lose interest in caressing her.
“Back to my story, Ari. Rafe was once a child, though I do understand how that’s difficult to believe considering he rarely even takes off his suits now. He was a horrible monster, always playing tricks on Rachel and I. I remember the worst thing he did was put a huge snake in my bed. I was so tired after a late night volunteering at our church, and the room was dark. I turned on my lamp and pulled back the covers and an eight foot snake was slithering across my sheets. I screamed so loud that my dad burst through the doors a few seconds later with the shotgun raised. I was sufficiently satisfied when Rafe got grounded for a month. To this day if I see any snake, even a gardener one, I freak out,” Lia said dramatically.
“How did he get that big of a snake to stay in your bed?”
“Oh, it was his pet. However, after that incident, Mom made him give it away. He was grounded from having any more reptiles or rodents in the house. I was quite pleased with that outcome.”
“Snakes give me the creeps, too.”
“Who actually likes them? Only other reptiles,” Lia said as she stuck her tongue out at Rafe.
“You did your own share of pranks, Lia. Why don’t you explain why I put that snake in your bed,” Rafe said with a laugh, not offended at all by her goading.
“It was nothing compared to what you did to me.”
“Nothing! Are you kidding me? She put itching powder in my work-out shorts. I started running in P.E. and then had to make a mad dash to the showers. My friends wouldn’t let me live that one down for the rest of my high school career.”
“Oh, that’s great,” Ari said with a laugh as she looked up at him, delight dancing in her eyes. It seemed his Ari had a wicked streak about her.
The bantering of his family caused Ari to relax, and he was able to move his hand higher up her leg, his fingers drifting to the inside of her thigh. Before she realized she’d let down her guard, his fingers brushed the brief piece of lace covering her delectable womanhood.
Her legs tightened immediately again, but all it did was trap his hand flush against her heat. He took immense pleasure when he felt the warm wetness of her body drift through the delicate lace. She desired him – whether she was willing to admit it or not.
Suddenly, his little game turned on him to the point of pain. Knowing her body was prepared for him to enter her caused him a pulsing erection. With a small gasp, Ari opened her legs and he reluctantly removed his hand. He’d never make it through the rest of the meal feeling her moist heat.
Her cheeks were flushed and her breathing quickened and she refused to meet his gaze. She was doing her best to carry on conversation with his family, but he could see it was taking a lot of effort on her part.
As their final course was served, Rafe breathed a sigh of relief. Soon, he’d get her alone again. He knew it wouldn’t take him much longer to convince her to make their situation a mutual arrangement. He could offer her much pleasure, and he had a feeling she’d provide for his needs more than sufficiently.