Page 65 of The Situation Ship
“Such sweet words. Now look at me. Don’t close your eyes or I’ll stop,” he ordered, pulling her up from the bed so she was straddling him. Her hooded gaze met his as she rocked her hips against his. The desire in her gaze ruled him.
“Take what you want, Princess,” he ordered, and his lips silenced her moans as she eased herself onto his hard length, taking every inch until his eyes rolled back in his head. Withher chest against his, he wondered if she could feel his heart hammering.
“You’re what I want,” she gasped. “What I need.”
His eyes snapped open, and her mischievous smile nearly undid him.
“Is that an order?” He thrust forward, and she bit his shoulder to silence herself.“Fuck, Poppy,” he growled, fisting her hair to stop her before she ruined him for life.
“I’m the boss, after all,” she said, rolling her hips.
He tried to hold her still, trying to draw out the moment, but wrapped up in her body, he couldn’t stop himself from making her his.
“Then I should make sure my client is satisfied with my performance.” He laid her down, pinning her hands above her head so she was at his mercy. She arched her back off the bed as his thrusts came faster and faster; he released her hands as he felt her tightening around him, and she dug her nails down his back as she came undone, clinging to him. Her writhing sent him over the edge, and he buried his head in her shoulder as he cried out her name. Sweat clung to their bodies as they held each other, trying to catch their breath.
Once he could remember his name, he pressed his lips to hers, and she unwrapped herself from him.
“I don’t think I can move,” she panted as he rolled away from her carefully.
“Good, because you aren’t to leave this room.” He winked, discarding the condom in the bin. The sheets were pulled from the bed, and he smiled to himself as he watched her wrap herself up in them. “What are you doing?” he asked as she turned on the bathroom light.
“I’m not going to walk around naked, and we have Sophia’s dinner to get to!” She blushed, closing the bathroom door.
He hadn’t expected her to be self-conscious, but he wanted her to be comfortable. When she came back, showered and dressed in a short red dress, she stood by his side of the bed.
“Can you zip up my dress the rest of the way?” she asked. She smelt like that delicious shampoo, and it made him hard again. He didn’t think he’d ever get enough of her.
“I think I like you all wrapped up,” he said, brushing her hair over her shoulder. He kissed between her shoulders and felt her shiver. He loved how her body responded to his touch.
“Oh yeah?” She frowned a little as he kissed her shoulder and then her neck. She tilted her head, giving him better access. He didn’t need to be told twice.
“Because then I get to unwrap you.” His lips brushed her ear as he tugged down the zipper and brushed the tiny straps from her shoulders.
She gasped as he pulled her down onto the bed. They were going to be very late to dinner.
“Thank you all so much for attending. It would mean a great deal to my dear aunt that you all came tonight, despite the foul weather, to honour her memory,” said Sophia, Calliope’s niece, as they waited for dessert to be served. Despite her grief, Sophia’s deep auburn hair was coiled to perfection, and even with her tears, her makeup didn’t dare budge.
Poppy and Isaiah stood with about two dozen other guests at a long table, raising their glasses in Calliope’s memory. The storm had kept everyone else away, leaving them alone in the Silver Dining Room, a welcome break from the gold – though the room felt like an odd choice, given the rough seas. The glass shards dangling from the chandelier above made Poppy uneasy, as if they might crash down at any moment. After a twelve-course tasting menu wrapped up with a mint sorbet, she didn’twant to even look at another plate of food. She had expected more griping from the other guests about the prolonged docking in Amalfi, but by the third course, they had given up on the topic.
Isaiah nudged Poppy with his elbow, silently asking if she was alright. She smiled softly and shifted her focus back to Sophia, who was at the head of the table. With her bright round eyes and red hair, there wasn’t much family resemblance. Why hadn’t Calliope ever brought her to events or award ceremonies if they were so close? Perhaps, unlike Poppy’s aunt, Calliope had wanted to spare her niece from a public life.Not everyone chooses to exploit those they’re supposed to love and protect.
“Though Calliope was taken from us so cruelly and before her time, I think passing on stage would’ve brought her some peace,” Sophia continued. “Poppy, is there anything you’d like to say? We’ve just met, but since our aunts were such great friends. I’m sure you could share a few words with us.”
Everyone turned to look at Poppy, awaiting her response as Sophia sat down.
“Sorry, I wasn’t expecting to say something,” Poppy said, trying not to fidget with the edge of the pale blue tablecloth.
“I hate to put you on the spot, but since you were with her in those last moments when I couldn’t be—” Sophia dabbed her eyes with her napkin.
Backed into a corner, Poppy couldn’t say no. Her niece might not look much like her aunt, but getting what she wanted was apparently a shared trait. Poppy didn’t see any tears, but she wouldn’t call out a grieving woman in front of her friends.
“Please, Sophia. You didn’t know what would happen, and she wouldn’t want you to have such regrets. I only knew Calliope as part of a pair. My late aunt, Martha, had a sisterhood with Calliope long before I was born. They loved to laugh and gossip, argued constantly, and were often rivals in their careers. They greatly loved and admired each other. I’m sure they’re enjoyinga bottle of red together wherever they are now,” Poppy said, raising her glass. “To friendship and sisterhood.”
There were quick cheers as Poppy downed the glass of champagne to wash away the bitter taste from her tongue.
“I hope we can have such a friendship. Our aunts would want us to look after each other,” Sophia said, smiling at Poppy. Her tears were long gone.
Poppy smiled, knowing she had been manipulated, and took her seat.
