Page 17 of Not that Sea-Rious
“Joyce is a incredibly light sleeper, being a mom to a toddler and all.She never gets to sleep in,” she continued.
He nodded.“It’d be rude for you to go in there and wake her up.”
“That’s what I’m thinking.”She fluttered her lashes and bit on her bottom lip, looking up at him.
“Then, clearly, we have no other choice.”Beau took a step toward his door.“You should return to the pool and find a lounge chair.”
When she blinked at him, clearly unprepared for his retort, he couldn’t help but erupt into a fit of laughter.
“I’m kidding,” he reassured.“You’re more than welcome to stay with me tonight.”
Narrowing her eyes, she blew out a breath.
Had he gone too far?His sniggering subsided as worry crept into his chest.
Marissa smoothed her hands down her jeans and pursed her lips.
Dammit.He screwed up.
Glancing over her shoulder for a moment, Marissa hesitated, and his heart lodged in his throat.Had he misread their banter?Did his joking ruin their moment?He expected a more enthusiastic answer.
Turning toward him, she inhaled deeply and her chest puffed.“For Joyce.”She nodded.
“Of course,” he agreed, relief washing over him like a cool ocean wave on a warm day.He took a few more steps toward his door with Marissa right behind him.“For Joyce,” he echoed.
“It’s really the only respectable thing to do,” she continued.
He nodded as he stuck the key card into the slot.“Absolutely.Joyce is a wonderful lady and deserves her rest.Carolyn, too,” he added as the lock whirred.“I mean, she’s getting married in a few days.If anyone needs her sleep, it’s a woman planning a wedding.”
Thoroughly in agreement, once the lights blinked on the door, the two of them spilled into his room.It slammed behind them as they made their way deeper into the space.“Wow,” she marveled.
Glancing around, he tried to see the room through her eyes.With lots of space and an enormous bed with kissing swan towel animals on it, it definitely gave off a vibe.
“You have all of this to yourself?”she asked, pointing to the towel animals.
“Yeah.”He dropped himself onto the bed and purposely dismantled the stiff display.
“Impressive,” she commented, but it seemed like more words were behind that one.
Running a hand through his already messy hair, he figured he should at least somewhat address the elephant in the room.“I wasn’tsupposedto be alone, but stuff happened, plans fell through, and instead of losing the money, I decided to come on my own.”
Concise and honest.He wasn’t lying.It was what happened.He’d merely omitted the dirty details.
Nodding, she stuffed her hands into the back pockets of her jeans as she strolled deeper into the room.
Once within reach, he extended his arms, circled them around her hips, and pulled her closer to him.He didn’t want to delve too deep into the whys and hows of when he got on the ship.All that mattered was that he was there and she was with him.Hopefully, she felt the same, and at this late hour, with as many drinks as they’d had, she wouldn’t press him for further information.
Marissa placed her hands on his shoulders and looked down upon him as her body met his.She smelled of sweet citrus.He couldn’t tell if that was her natural scent or the lingering cocktails on her breath.
Either way, he enjoyed it.
Turning his head, he rested it on the softness of her belly as he squeezed her tighter.“Spend the night with me,” he whispered.“I don’t want our time together to end just yet.”
Her fingers ran through his hair, and he closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation.“Window or door?”
After one last deep inhale of her, he peered up at her in confusion.“What?”
“Window or door?”she repeated.“Which side of the bed is yours?”
