Our Secret Summer(46)
I didn’t get my tour earlier, so I might as well do a self-guided one now. Sliding glass doors sweep open automatically when I approach, and as I reenter the air-conditioned interior, goose bumps trickle down my arms. I wish I had my cover-up on as I sneak through the second floor, peeking into staterooms and bathrooms, a gym, sauna, and massage room. Fortunately I don’t bump into a single person. I assume there’s a skeleton crew working today since we’ll only be out on the water for a short while. It makes no difference to me. In fact, I like it this way.
I find stairs that lead down to the lower deck, opting to avoid the upper decks just in case Cristiano is still up there talking to the captain. I don’t want him thinking I came wandering in here after him. I’m just distracting myself while I give Felix and Simone some time to figure their feelings out. I hope they’re enjoying a full-on make-out session right now. Felix better be getting handsy! I’m sure Simone will give me the full scoop later.
I walk quietly down the stairs and find more staterooms. Near the front of the yacht, I stumble upon the largest one yet, with a sprawling king bed and separate sitting area, a coffee station and wet bar. Ooh la la. I could easily call this room home for a week or two.
I’ve only barely dipped my toe past the threshold when Cristiano suddenly walks out of the adjoining bathroom. I’m ashamed to admit the very first thing that pops into my head as I watch him toss a hand towel into a hamper is Simone’s stupid comment speculating about why he really came in here. My cheeks burn beet red, which is fine because Cristiano can’t read my mind. As far as he knows, I’m just embarrassed to have been caught snooping.
When he notices me, he looks surprised but not upset to find me here.
“Hi. Sorry. I hope it’s okay that I was showing myself around… Didn’t mean to invade your space.”
He nods, dismissing the apology as if he didn’t need it. “It’s fine.”
I tilt my head and smile. “Is this your room?”
He glances at the space, looking at it with fresh eyes. “The main stateroom, yes.”
My brows rise as I look around. I feel a little zing of excitement to get to see inside his inner sanctum. His scent lingers, and I’m intimidated to stand here with him watching me. The lack of clothing isn’t helping matters, either. He didn’t put his shirt on before coming back inside. I have the perfect view of his broad chest and toned stomach.
Though I try to keep my attention on the room, it flits back to him before long. “It’s beautiful. The room,” I clarify, practically panting.
The space is beautiful—simple and luxurious. A large window on the far wall looks out over the sea, bathing the space in natural light.
“I worked with a good design team out of Monaco,” he says, eschewing the credit.
“Well, they chose well.” I smile.
He doesn’t respond, and in the growing silence, I’m forced to look at him. His dark eyes are taking me in with a heady interest. I wish he would say more, give me some hint about whether he’s happy to have found me here. It’s hard to tell with him hiding so much of himself behind his aloofness.
I clear my throat. “Did you speak to the captain?”
“Yes. Just before I came down.”
Ha. See, Simone?
He takes a step forward, motioning to the hallway. “I was going to head back to the aft deck unless you wanted to see that pool I mentioned earlier,” he offers.
My eyes alight with the possibility. I might not be burning up now that I’m in the air-conditioning, but I know the moment I step outside, the hot sun will feel just as suffocating as before.
“If you don’t mind…”
Out in the hallway, Cristiano leads me to the stairs. “It’s on the upper deck.”
“Surprised we aren’t taking the elevator…”
Cristiano comes up the stairs after me, a few paces back, his eyeline basically level with my backside, and I suddenly know exactly why we’re taking the stairs. Cristiano’s private smile only confirms my theory.
I’d be lying if I said he didn’t intimidate me. From his looks to his age to his experience, I’m wholly outmatched. I shouldn’t be dangling myself in front of him like bait on a hook, except… I want to be caught. I’ve now fully decided I want to cross a few things off my bucket list with Cristiano.
So I put a little sway in my hips, pushing down my insecurities and self-doubts. Before arriving on Ibiza, I’d never had the freedom to play the role of feminine seductress. Since Winnie, I haven’t gone on any dates at all. Before that, the guys I dated in college and grad school were either in my classes or family friends—there have always been confines and stifling expectations brought on by my last name. But with Cristiano, it’s different. Whatever happens here stays between us.
I reach down and adjust the straps of my bikini bottom so they sit a little higher up on my hips, imagining Cristiano watching me do it. There’s no downside to being bold. If this morning doesn’t work out in my favor, I’ll go back downstairs and enjoy the rest of my yacht day. Annika and Simone will high-five me for trying, and I won’t have to worry about disappointing Winnie because I will have given it my best effort.
On the third floor, Cristiano steps up behind me, ushering me outside to a balcony only slightly smaller than the deck one floor below. Again, I can’t help but smile.