Page 29 of The Admiral's Daughter

It’s clear what we were doing. Cleo knows what’s just happened.

I suck in a breath and wait. Cleo looks between us for a moment longer before giving me a small smile. She steps into the closest shower and draws the curtain.

Ruby hasn’t noticed anything is wrong. She just gives me a slap on the arse and moves away to dry herself.

My legs feel weak. My skin feels too tight. I can’t move, can’t look away from the curtain Cleo just disappeared behind.

I stand there, feeling like the floor has just been pulled from under my feet. In all my years, I’ve never been ashamed of sleeping with someone. I’m ashamed now. Not because of Ruby. No, she was perfect and clear about what she wanted.

I’m ashamed of myself. Of coming to the image of Cleo. Of using Ruby to get another woman out of my head. Of Cleo catching me post-orgasm. Of the fact I wanted her to look upset that it wasn’t her I was fucking. I wanted her to care. To feel something.

But she just smiled and walked away.

I’m a mess.

10

Cleo

Well, it seems Riveris over whatever she was going through last night. And I’m beginning to think I imagined the moment we shared outside my cabin door.

The fact River found another woman to get underneath her doesn’t surprise me, but I thought she had some sort of crew code. As in, she doesn’t fuck her crewmates.

Whatever. My days of worrying about horny sailors are over. I have a job to do. Awkwardly, a job that is supposed to start with an interview with River.

Looks like I need to suck it up and take the high road. Not that it’s my place to do anything else. She owes me nothing, yet I can’t deny there was a millisecond of jealousy which zipped through my chest when I saw River step outof the cubicle with a very good-looking and well-endowed woman.

Today is a new day. I will get the interview with River done and move on. I’ve got a list as long as my arm to get through.

My mission isn’t to just interview the crew, but to live their lives—the best I can without any training, that is. I’ve set up a day in the ship’s galley. I’m a terrible cook, so I hope they don’t expect too much.

WO Benson has agreed to let me join a PT session this afternoon. My fitness level is pretty good for my age, but I’m expecting to be sweating my arse off within a few minutes.

“Cleo!”

I turn from the entrance to the dining hall to find River marching my way. She looks pissed.

“River, hey. Ready to do your interview?”

“We need to talk.”

Her stance is defensive, and her features are cold.

“That’s what generally happens in an interview,” I joke, hoping to dispel some of the tension.

“Follow me.”

She turns on her heel and stomps off. Now, I’m not the type of woman to look kindly upon someone behavinglike that. Ordering me around is a surefire way to piss me off, but damn, River is sexy as hell in a strop.

She’s turning into a kink for me.

Sucking a breath in through my nose, I steel myself. I’ve no idea what’s wrong with her, but she clearly feels I’ve wronged her somehow. So much for starting on a clean slate. That didn’t last long.

River heads to my cabin. I curse myself for all the clothes strewn across my bed. I’m usually a lot more organised and tidy.

She stands outside my door with both hands tight across her chest and her eyes on the ground. With other sailors working, the passageway is a busy highway. So, as much as I’d love to play the waiting game with her before I allow her access to my private quarters, I don’t want anyone listening in or forming their own opinion. That’s just fodder for the rumour mill.

Walking through the door, I leave it open for her. She hovers for a moment before stepping inside. The click of the lock is the only sound that breaks the silence.