Page 10 of The Billionaire’s Siren (S.E. Smith Signature Romance: Heart & Soul #1)
Six
The yacht grew larger with every second, sleek and regal as it waited on the water like a crown jewel of the Aegean.
Dani sat in the stern of the Axopar, her head tilted back, the wind teasing the ends of her scarf and the hem of her skirt.
Alexandros sat next to her, one arm lazily draped around her waist, his hand warm and solid against her hip.
He hadn’t asked—he’d just pulled her back against him as the boat cut across the bay—and to her own surprise; she hadn’t resisted.
In fact, she hadn’t wanted to. Which is what really surprised her.
His touch felt different from when Carlos touched her—or at least the way she reacted to him wasn’t the same.
She felt nothing but friendship with the naughty Spaniard who loved to tease and flirt with any woman close by.
With Alexandros, something primal stirred in her.
His scent, his touch, his smile—everything about him pulled her in, made her want to melt into him.
He's like the sun and water, she thought with a sigh of contentment.
Her nervousness wasn’t because of him. Not exactly.
It was the way her feelings kept expanding in directions she hadn’t expected—and definitely didn’t feel ready for.
There was something terrifying in the ease of it all.
The way she leaned back against his chest without hesitation. The way she felt… safe.
The sun dipped low on the horizon, streaking the sky with honey-gold and dusky rose—like a Byzantine fresco kissed by the gods.
Its reflection shimmered across the waves like scattered diamonds.
Onshore, whitewashed buildings hugged the curves of the hills, their terracotta roofs glowing in the last light.
The scent of sea spray, sun-warmed salt, and Alexandros’s cologne wrapped around her like a dream she wasn’t ready to wake from.
She sighed, letting herself relax a little more, her muscles loosening as the wind threaded through the gauzy scarf tied around her hair.
Alexandros leaned in slightly. “What are you thinking?”
“This,” she murmured, her voice soft with wonder. She lifted one hand and gestured toward the sky, the water, the world around them. “Just… how lucky I am. To be here. To be alive. To be living like this. In this time and place.”
She could feel his curious smile against her shoulder.
“Not just lucky to be on a boat with a ridiculously handsome billionaire who finds you fascinating?” he teased, his voice low and warm in her ear.
She chuckled, but didn’t turn around. “That’s just a bonus, or a liability—depending on how you look at it.”
“Oh? I think I would prefer it to be a bonus.”
“I’m sure,” she said, grinning now, “I’m not denying you’re easy on the eyes. But I meant what I said. I’m lucky to be a woman—right now, in this time. I don’t take that for granted.”
There was a pause. “What do you mean?”
She shifted slightly so she could glance up at him over her shoulder. “If I’d been born even twenty years earlier, I don’t think I could’ve done half of what I’ve done. Marine engine repair? That was a boys’ club for a long time—and still kind of is.”
His brow furrowed. “I never thought about that. That what you do might be difficult… from a female point of view.”
She chuckled. “Exactly. Most guys don’t think about it—and I prefer it that way. I don’t want special treatment—I just want to be allowed to do what I love without having to prove I belong every damn day.”
“Is it still difficult?” he asked.
“Sometimes.” Her smile turned wry. “Case in point—jerks like Vito who think I’m part of the perks package.”
His arm tightened slightly. “I owe you an apology for that. I allowed Vito the use of the yacht as a favor to his stepsister, Gina. That was a mistake. One I won’t repeat.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Was that before or after your ‘discussion’ with him?”
“After,” he said, the corner of his mouth twitching. “Though I suppose the timing is debatable.”
Dani laughed. “Is that why he not only paid my bill but tripled it?”
Alexandros shrugged with exaggerated innocence. “Maybe.”
She nudged his leg with her bare foot. “You’re terrible—but I won’t turn down the money.”
“You said that being here was also a liability. How so?”
“Because you’re dangerous, and I try to limit my danger content,” she quipped.
“And how am I dangerous?” he inquired, his warm breath caressing her exposed neck and sending goosebumps across her skin.
“You’re a temporary lapse in judgment,” she replied, her gaze flicking away. “Like skipping the frying pan and diving straight into the bonfire.”
“So… you feel this chemistry, as well,” he said, his voice laced with satisfaction.
Oh yes, I feel it. But acting on it is another thing, she thought with fierce determination.
She knew what he wanted—her, messy sheets, a night, maybe two if she was lucky, followed by a nice parting gift and a promise to call that never comes.
Or worse.
She pushed down the memories of betrayal. There was nothing like seeing the man she thought she loved wrapped in the embrace of another woman.
Or two, or three.
A gentle silence stretched between them, filled with the rush of the wind and the rhythmic chop of waves beneath the hull. His arm stayed around her, steady and warm, and she didn’t move away. Couldn’t.
It felt too good to be held like this—without expectations, without pressure. Just… held.
She tilted her head, letting it rest against his shoulder—not for long, but long enough to pretend, just for a breath, that it was okay to want this. The distant lights of the yacht glowed like fireflies ahead, drawing closer with every second.
And somewhere inside her, another piece of resistance slipped loose.
That scared her.
Not because she didn’t trust him—but because she didn’t trust herself. Not when everything inside her was starting to ache for more.
She’d survived by staying one step ahead, by never getting too comfortable, too attached, too trusting. But here she was, tucked into a man she had met for the first time last night. Who made her laugh—and whose arms made her feel like they were supposed to be wrapped around her.
If she let herself believe in love again—even for a moment—then losing it wouldn’t just break her. It would mean she’d handed over the pieces herself.
Her fingers curled slightly on her lap.
Careful, Dani.
Don’t fall too fast.
Don’t fall at all.
But the voice in her head was already quieter than it should’ve been. And the worst part? Some traitorous part of her already wanted to stay.
Not just tonight. Longer.
The moment the Axopar pulled alongside the yacht, Alexandros stood and extended his hand.
The lights from the deck cast a soft golden glow across the water, catching the shifting colors of dusk still clinging to the horizon.
Dani looked up at him, her eyes unreadable—but she didn’t hesitate.
Her fingers slid into his, small and warm, her trust disarming in a way nothing else could have been.
He helped her up, keeping her close as they stepped onto the yacht’s polished deck. The subtle sway beneath their feet felt like the sea itself was holding its breath.
When they entered the main salon, he saw the exact moment Dani noticed the table.
It wasn’t elaborate—just a crisp white cloth, two elegant place settings, and a candle flickering inside a hurricane lamp. But it was intimate. Thoughtful. Intentional.
Her lips curved, the corners of her mouth quirking with quiet amusement. Her gaze moved to his as one eyebrow arched in silent question.
Her fingers trailed across the cloth—slow, light, like a lover’s touch.
His body responded instantly.
Desire flared hot and fast, uncoiling in his gut and racing through his veins.
He wanted her. Craved her. Not just the way she moved or looked—but the way she felt.
Her laughter. Her strength. Her intelligence.
Her fire. He wanted to discover every layer, to strip her bare in every sense and find out what made Danika Collins burn.
A flicker of heat crossed her face as her gaze caught his.
She stilled.
Alexandros didn’t move, barely breathed, knowing she saw it—the reflection of that hunger in his eyes. He didn’t hide the evidence of his arousal pressing against the front of his slacks.
Her gaze dipped, lingered, then flicked back up to meet his—steady, curious… and something more. Unspoken. Waiting.
She turned and walked to the rail, resting her palms against the polished wood as she looked out across the sea. Her silhouette was painted in the dim golden light, a halo of warmth from the salon spilling onto the deck.
“Would you like something to drink?” he asked, his voice husky with restraint.
She glanced over her shoulder, a soft smile playing on her lips. “Just water. Non-sparkle.”
He tilted his head. “Non-sparkle?”
“I’m not much of a drinker, and I hate the carbonated stuff,” she said with a shrug. “I never acquired a taste for wine.”
He retrieved a bottle of chilled spring water from the bar and poured it into a crystal glass before offering it to her. As she took it, her fingers brushed his again—another electric jolt.
He set his own wine down, exhaled sharply, and reached for the scarf tied around her hair.
She turned to face him, curiosity sparking in her eyes.
He moved slowly.
Gently.
Unwrapping her like a gift he wasn’t sure he deserved.
The scarf came away first, slipping from her hair like silk through his fingers.
Her lips parted when he found the pins hidden beneath and removed them one by one, each removal a dance of seduction.
Her hair tumbled down in a cascade of auburn waves, catching the candlelight and stealing his breath.
“ Exóplaísi? ,” he whispered. Enchanting.
She blinked up at him, but said nothing as he took her glass and set it aside. His hand slid along the curve of her waist, drawing her closer. Her breath hitched, and he felt the tension in her—not resistance, but anticipation.
He paused.