Page 84 of My Lucky Star
Chapter 30
Cem
WHEN THE LIGHTS OFIstanbul faded and darkness engulfed our car, I sighed with relief. Convincing Emir to stay back had taken every ounce of my charm (and restraint) but he’d finally agreed to let us drive to Bursa without him. I’d slipped Tarik, my driver, the new address and he’d simply nodded. He knew where his paycheck came from.
“What’s in Bursa?” Aria asked, fiddling with the hem of her shirt. She’d dressed in a pair of jean shorts and a loose tee, exactly as I remembered her from our first meeting, fresh and sexy in that half-accidental way. Except, now I’d seen under that shirt, and no amount of loose-fitting cotton could distract me from the curve of her chest. I knew what was underneath, and I was desperate for more.
“We’re not going to Bursa. I’m taking you to my boat and Tarik won’t tell a soul, right?”
Tarik recognized his name and gave me a quick glance, most likely wondering what I was on about. He didn’t speak much English, which was probably for the best. I’d already sworn him to secrecy.
I laced my fingers with Aria’s, tightening my fist. I wanted to steal her away, if only for two nights. I craved more time with her, on my own terms. Surely it made no difference to Emir where we went, as long as we didn’t stay in my house and kept out of sight. Especially if he didn’t know about it.
My boat wasn’t huge, but it was well equipped. Most importantly, it was moored at a small marina by the Black Sea, well outside of the city. My father had planned on taking it on a longer cruise during the summer. Maybe he still was. But he’d never been that outdoorsy and being ill, he’d most likely opt for a cruise ship with food and entertainment. I wasn’t big on sailing, either, but I wanted to take Aria to somewhere that was mine. My lair. Not a random hotel Emir had picked for maximum privacy.
The paparazzi knew the location of the boat, which is why Emir would have never suggested it, but as we arrived at the dark and quiet marina, I felt good about my decision. I trusted Tarik and I hadn’t noticed anyone following us.
“Where are we?” Aria asked as we unloaded our bags on the footpath near the dock.
I gestured at the dark ocean. “Behold, the Sea of Amazing.”
Her eyes lit up. “Are we going sailing?”
“No, sorry. I think that might be too noticeable, but we can hide on the boat, here in the marina. Tarik will bring us some supplies.”
Aria’s face brightened. “I love that! Much better than a hotel.”
My chest glowed from her approval, as I led her down the dock to my solar-powered, long-range cruiser. Its fifty-foot frame was dwarfed by a Russian oligarch’s yacht. I’d always hated the floating money bag, but now it almost worked as a privacy screen, hiding my boat in its shadow.
Tarik had driven away to buy us food. I hoped he wouldn’t attract any attention –or call Emir.
“It’s a yacht!” Aria stared at the boat in reverence.
I had to double-check she wasn’t looking at the oligarch’s vessel. “Nope. That one’s a yacht.” I pointed at the monstrosity.
Aria glanced at it, then turned back to my boat. “Is it really yours?”
I lowered my voice. “No, we’re going to break in. How good are you with locks?”
The fleeting shock on her face was so rewarding I didn’t regret my stupid joke, not even after she punched me in the arm. My insides hummed and a stupid grin hung on my face. I knew she could take it as well as she could dish it out. Like hanging out with a friend, being myself. The thought startled me. Had I really never been myself with a woman before?
I helped Aria onboard and lifted our bags on the deck, producing the key from my jeans pocket. As I opened the door, countless fragmented memories flooded my mind. This is where I’d brought my dates. I remembered the cocktail of emotions on the doorstep – the awkwardness, expectations, desire, the pinch of shame.
This time felt different, though. The desire was there, stronger than ever, but I didn’t feel like I was doing anything wrong. I wasn’t playing a game of saying-the-right-thing-to-get-her-naked. I didn’t have an exit strategy. I only wanted to get her inside and keep her.
I smiled when I noticed Aria removing her sneakers at the doorway.
To be safe, I didn’t turn on any lights and we relied on the distant glow of the marina and the full moon to fumble our way inside.
The interior had been cleaned since the last party. A faint scent of lemon lingered in the air. Must have been my mother. I spotted one of her romance novels on the coffee table. Aria picked it up, tilted it toward the light and smiled at the passionately embracing couple on the cover.
“It’s not mine.”
“There’s no shame in reading romance.”
