Page 18 of Voyage with Dad's Best Friend
“Dan?” I call as I walk out to the deck.
The sun is up, waves are lapping against the hull and the sail is flapping against the wind, but I hear grunts. Dan’s somewhere, but what is he doing?
My breath hitches in my throat when I catch the sight of his bronze body, glistering in the morning sun. He’s doing push-ups on the trampoline, topless and sweaty. Oh, my! My body tingles and I’m hungry for him again just by the sight of him pushing on his arms up and down, up and down. His biceps ripple and the thick muscles on his back contract each time he goes down. Wow. I haven’t quite noticed his athletic prowess until now, although I knew how powerful his arms were. I bite my lip as I watch quietly, unable to believe that this beautiful man was on top of me last night.
Just a little over twenty-four hours ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed of being Dan’s woman. He was forbidden although I fantasized him often. Does it mean I’ll get to spend a lot of time on his boat with him? I’m pleased by the thought.
When Dan pauses to wipe his sweat, he notices me and smiles. “Morning, Elle, did you sleep well?”
I nod. “I slept like a baby. Didn’t wake even once!”
“Good,” he says as he stands up. “Now let’s breakfast and get ready for the day’s lessons.”
“Lessons?” I ask, frowning a little. Does lesson mean punishment?
He chuckles as he wraps his arm around my waist, and we walk toward the saloon. “Yes, sweetheart. I’ll teach you how to sail. You’ll need to learn some basics if you plan to spend time with me. Don’t you think?”
My frown breaks into a smile, pleased by the fact what’s between us isn’t over yet. “Yes, Dan. I think you’re right. I need a sailing lesson!”
“And of course, that’s not the only lesson I plan to teach you, little girl,” his voice suddenly becomes low as we enter the galley. “There are a lot more you need to learn.”
“Yeah,” I say, trembling at that look and the voice. “I need to learn how to cook, too. My mom never has the patience to teach me and tells me to watch YouTube videos. I know how to bake cookies, though.”
He chuckles. “Sure, I’ll teach you how to cook, too.”
I sense he has something else other than cooking on his mind, so I ask, “What else do you plan to teach me, Dan?”
“Mostly some workout,” he says. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve my gym on the foredeck. I need to teach you how to use the equipment. I’ll also teach you some yoga poses that’ll strengthen your muscles.”
“Oh,” I say, a bit disappointed because I must prefer workout in his bedroom. “Why do I need muscles?”
He chuckles again, and without warning, he presses his thumb on my inner thigh. I yelp because it’s so tender!
“Do you see my point, little girl?” he says. “Don’t tell me you aren’t limping when you walk!”
That’s true. Jeez. “I don’t mind the soreness, though,” I mumble, my cheeks burning.
“That’s because I haven’t used you thoroughly, sweetheart,” he growls. “If I did, you wouldn’t be able to get out of bed today.”
I gasp. Ohmygod. “Do you…mean it?”
“Of course!” he says. “I was awake half of the night watching you sleep, baby. It was a torture to have you in my arms without fucking you over and over!”
I take a big bite of the blueberry muffin and gulp down some coffee, flattered and bewildered by his appetite for me. “Sure, Dan, I’ll work out for you!”
“Good girl,” he says, sipping his coffee while gazing at me with intense eyes. “And of course, there will be bedroom lessons, too.”
I shudder as a heat wave ripples through me. I swallow down the muffin quickly, can’t wait to start the exciting trainings.
Epilogue
Dan
I sit on my lounge chair and watch Elle’s beautiful body wriggling in my swimming pool. Hell. I take mighty effort not to get in the pool. If I did, she wouldn’t be able to swim, and we’d end up mating right in front of my mom, Claudia. I’m not hiding my infatuation with the girl—I couldn’t even if I wanted. I can hardly keep my hands off her whenever she’s around, not to mention my eyes.
I’ve been staying in Santa Barbara for nearly a month, since I sailed Elle home from school. It’s the longest time I’ve stayed on land in the past two decades—this fact alone is the evidence of my love for Elle. My dear, shrewd mother must be thrilled by the fact, but she hasn’t said a word about it yet.
The two of them are racing and I’m supposed to be timing both, but I’ve probably lost count. It doesn’t really matter, though, because Elle has warned me many times not to let her win even if she does, knowing my seventy-five-year-old mother swims regularly and is proud of her prowess. Elle wants me to lie to my mother to make her happy, and I obey her noble wish.
