Page 25 of Cocky Cruiser

A few of the other people with us started to hoot and cheer, and I smiled. Breaking the kiss, Adele pulled away, and her cheeks flushed.

I helped Adele back on her board, and we finished the lesson before getting some free time to explore on our own.

After paddling around for about twenty minutes, we decided to take a break and just float on the water.

“This is beautiful,” Adele marveled as we floated over colorful schools of fish and coral. “The water is so much clearer here than back home.”

“I haven’t been to the ocean that often. I went a few times in my college days, but the closest beach is three to four hours from Vegas. And where I grew up in Phoenix, it was about the same. With Cara always being so sick, we couldn’t really risk the trip.”

“That’s understandable. I couldn’t imagine not being close to the water. I’ve been within ten miles of the ocean pretty much my whole life.”

I gazed down at the vibrant sea life beneath us. “This is pretty amazing, like a whole other world.”

Adele skimmed her fingers through the water, a brilliant smile on her face. “I feel so at peace in the water. It calms my soul.”

I knew something buried deep within Adele had scarred her. And for some reason I couldn’t explain, I wanted to bring peace to her soul. I wanted to take away her fear and pain.

Even though I was going against my rule of not getting close to anyone, I couldn’t help but want to with Adele. She was so easy to talk to and the most genuine person I’d ever known besides my sister. And the sex was incredible; for knowing her a little over a week, the connection we had was unlike any I’d felt before.

And I wanted more.

I told myself that once the cruise was over, everything would go back to normal. Adele would go back to California, I’d go back to Vegas, and we would move on with our lives with the memories of the experience of a lifetime to look back on and smile.

But that was it. The cruise was an escape from reality, so once it was over, we had to accept the truth and move on.

No matter if the thought of never seeing Adele again made my chest tighten and my stomach sink.

I didn’t have time for a relationship, nor did I want one. I’d already lost one person who I loved, and every relationship ended, whether it be in a breakup or death. What was the point if they all resulted in pain?

I shook the thoughts from my head and focused on the present. I wanted to enjoy the trip and honor Cara’s memory.

And have some mind-blowing sex along the way.

After paddling around for a little while longer, the guide called us back, and we turned in our gear. Then we got back on the boat that returned us to the shuttle.

As we rode back to the port, Adele gazed out the window. “I still can’t believe I’m here. This is all so surreal.”

I smiled as I watched her. I was happy I could bring so much joy to someone else, especially through Cara. She would’ve loved Adele, and I knew she would be glad her bucket list was bringing happiness to someone.

“And we still have so much to see and do,” I commented.

Adele turned to me with a gorgeous grin on her face. “I know. I can’t wait.”

Once we were back on the ship, we went to the suite and got cleaned up.

“I think I’m going to take a nap,” Adele said after showering. “I’m exhausted.”

“Okay. I’m gonna hit the gym.” Even though we’d done some physical activity by paddleboarding, I’d been slacking on my workouts since the trip started, and I didn’t want to completely lose my routine.

I warmed up with some cardio on the treadmill, which looked out a window overlooking the water. I couldn’t believe that what I was looking at would be my view for the next couple of weeks.

When I got back to the room, Adele was awake, sitting on the couch looking at her phone. “How was your workout?”

“Good. How was your nap?”

She smiled at me. “Great. Much needed.”

I plopped down next to her on the couch. She waved her phone at me. “I just got done talking to my brother. He wants me to check in every day, or else he’s going to come looking for me.”

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