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I couldn’t believe how many stars were visible; it was such a clear night.

“It’s so beautiful,” I murmured.

Cal pulled me towards him, our lips meeting with urgency as his mouth explored mine. I pulled his hair as he tugged me onto his lap. We kissed with raw passion, his lips biting mine as I moaned with desire. He pulled me further down onto him; the blanket covering us. Waves lapped the boat as it rocked, created the most wonderful moment. He pulled away from me and I groaned.

“I think it’s time for a dance.”

I frowned at him with a perplexed smile. “What? Here? But…”

He lifted me to my feet. He turned, holding out his hand, which I took as I laughed to myself.

At that point the lights on the yacht went out, and I gasped, moving closer to Cal, who muttered against my neck. “It’s okay.”

I stared up at him, beaming. I stood in the dark beneath the stars, on a yacht, in a dress and bare feet, whilst Cal held me in his arms. He swayed with me to invisible music and tears pricked my eyes.

I sniffed, and he tipped my head back to look at him.

“I worship you, you know that? Nothing will ever tear us apart again,” his voice was strong yet sweet, his lips brushing against mine.

“I adore you, too.Somuch.”

Our mouths met as we danced under the stars.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

GRETCHEN

I woke up the next morning naked in Cal’s arms.

I looked up at him and watched as his lips moved with each breath, his chest rising and falling slowly.

He looked as content as I felt.

I peeled myself away from the warmth of the bed and made my way to the bathroom. I stared at myself in the mirror, realising that my make-up from last night was still on. Much of it was on the pillow, too.

I ran the water in the shower and waited until the temperature was hot enough to step into. I stepped into the steam as it covered my body, running my hands over my face and my hair as I hummed to myself. I washed my hair, massaging the conditioner in before I rinsed it out.

I shivered when I remembered what Cal did for me last night. My smile was so wide, I thought my face would burst with happiness.

I didn’t hear the footsteps that came into the bathroom and jumped out of my skin when I heard a deep voice.

“Well, you must be the reason he isn’t answering any of my calls.”

I gasped as I grabbed my towel from the top of the shower, my hands twisted at the taps to stop the water. Through the steam I saw a muscular man towering in the doorway, his eyes running over my body as he watched me with a lazy grin on his face. I gulped, wrapping the surrounding towel in horror.

Who the hell is this?!

Why is he staring at me like I am his breakfast?

“What the fuck are you doing in my house?!” Cal growled, relief washing over me like a tidal wave when I heard his voice.

The man continued to assault me with his eyes, as his hand moved to his belt.

Oh, God.

His depraved thoughts didn’t need to be said. The leer he gave me spoke volumes.

“See, I was just telling this young lady here now I understand why you haven’t returned my calls,” his voice was thick with a New York accent and panic took over. My entire body shook in response to the situation.