Page 22

Chapter 22

HMS King George V

Dante

“What are you singing?” Haley leans against the doorframe to the galley. “It feels like a year since I baked cupcakes for Emily.”

“Sassy! Just the person I always want to see. Come here... I was singing? I didn’t even realize I was.” I put the knife down and pull her into my arms. I kiss the top of her head and then hold her away from me. I study her face. There’s no residual red puffiness caused by tears. If anything, her lips look puffy. I run my thumb over her lip. She sucks my thumb into her mouth.

“Yummy, onions. There’s something I never thought I would say.” Haley runs her fingers through my hair.

I swing around and pick up an onion. “Oh, this is the base of everything good. Well, everything besides you. Damn, seeing you here... I had a lot of wet dreams of you and me and this kitchen counter.”

She laughs.

“That’s no laughing matter, Sassy. How did your talk with Sam go?”

“My talk?”

Now I’m feeling like my sister back in high school when she was trying to get all the tea about my friends out of me. I’d gone to the all-boys Catholic school, the one where all the boys she was crushing on went, while she was going to public school. Something else my SOB uncle decided had to happen.

I started the hard conversation; I might as well finish it. “You were in the wheelhouse talking to Sam.” It hits me that I have to tell her that I told him. Because it’s going to come out. And when it does, it will be better from me.

“He knew. At first... at first I was terrified. But then, once I realized it was Sam and not some scary guy, I relaxed. I’d figured he knew about Calvin, at least.”

“Yeah, that goodbye kiss last night didn’t leave any doubts, did it? But he knew.” I say it as a statement. I raise my eyebrows at her, telling her without telling her that it was me who spilled the beans.

“How can you be so... Dante? I told you not to say anything.”

“Yes, and I should say I’m sorry, but I’m not. Did it make the talk easier?”

“Dante.” She stares at the cabinet above my head. “I mean, yes. But I said not to.”

“Are you mad?”

“I’m not mad. I’m upset. I told you not to, and you did.”

“Right. Have you ever had more than one boyfriend before?”

“No. You know I haven’t.”

“Well, you need to keep everything out in the open. It’s the only way. If you start to have secrets with one person, that’s how things implode.”

“Have you have you had more than one girlfriend?”

“I’ve had more than one partner before, yes, Sassy. But that was a long time ago. They’re still together. I’m not big on social media, but the last time I checked, they were.”

“Oh.”

“Does that bother you?”

“I mean, no. But yes.”

I give her a kiss on her ear. “That’s the only correct answer, Sassy. But right now, for the record, I love you. And I’ll try not to go and do anything drastic again. But no promises, because drastic is my middle name.”

“I thought it was Saffron?”

“I’m like the King of England. I’ve got lots of middle names. Some you can even say in public.” The wind changes direction, and I can smell the grill from the back deck.

“What are you making? It smells fantastic.”

“Baked pasta with jar sauce, but I’ve got canned tomatoes. Next time, it will be even better. I’m going to make onion soup for dinner. And something even better. Lift that lid over there.” I point at the large bowl.

She lifts it and jumps. It’s exactly what I thought she would do. “Bread? You’re making bread?

“Oh, something even better than bread.”

“What’s better than bread? It’s round and—” Her eyes dilate. “Pizza?”

“Pizza, yes. If that’s okay with you?”

She jumps into my arms. “You are a god among men.” She kisses my neck.

“Good. I’m glad to know I can cook my way out of trouble.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her. “Don’t get too excited—this isn’t going to be New York City street slices. More upscale, I’m afraid. But it will be good. I found wax-sealed Gouda and Parmesan, along with some vacuum-sealed Cheddar.”

“I don’t care. Bread, cheese, sauce. It’s like Christmas. How can I ever thank you?”

I cock my head. “Give me five minutes and I can think of a way.”

“Dante? What about the food on the grill?”

“Zane’s watching it while he washes off the back of the boat. And by watching it, I mean he lifts the damn cover every few minutes and breathes all over it as he huffs it. He won’t let it burn.”

“You were really thinking about me back here on your counter?”

“What, Sassy? When I fantasized about you on my counter, it was long before I ever touched you. Back in the before.”

“No... you didn’t like me before the crash. Come on?”

“I did. And don’t question my emotions, Sassy. I know exactly how I felt and when I felt it.”

“Oh.” Her mouth stays in a little round circle. “So, you had a wet dream about sitting on your counter here?” She lays her hand flat on the steel surface next to my onions.

“No.”

“Oh?”

“Over here.” I pat the section of counter that’s in full view of the corridor.

“There?”

“Yes. So what should I do about it?” I’m not going to tell her now that the dream was about me eating her out on the counter. After last night, I want her hot mouth around my cock again.

She takes a step closer and puts her hands on my waist, like she could lift me up there herself.

I smile and, with a quick twist, have her sitting on the counter. And with a quick tug, I have her shorts hanging from one ankle. A quick pull and I have her T-shirt off, revealing a different translucent bra. I suck one nipple through the thin fabric and then the other, leaving them hard and pebbled. “Fuck, Sassy. I do like your new wardrobe.”

I kiss down her belly as she leans back on her arms. She’s lost weight since we’ve been on the island, and I don’t like it. What I do like is her matching panties. I slide them to the side and fuck, she’s wet. “Did Captain give me a head start? I’ll have to thank him later.”

“Dante.” She’s scolding me, but that’s okay. I like her teacher’s voice. Sam isn’t ready for me and my mouth, not yet. Hell, most people never are. But not Sassy. Damn, this girl drives me wild.

I give a little pull, bringing her ass to the edge of the counter. And I feast on her clit. She’s moaning within seconds. I’ve definitely been given a warm engine. I push one, then two fingers into her. It’s the fastest I’ve ever seen her come. She slaps her hands on the steel counter, and it rings. Her elbows clatter on the counter, and I reach up and grab her head. This damn table has caused one concussion already; we don’t need it to be two.

Her body shakes with little convulsions as I continue to thrust into her. “Dante, please.”

I lift my mouth. “That’s my aim, Sassy. Always to please you.” She slides from the counter, and it leaves a trail. Fuck, it’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.

“Your turn. Get up there, Chef.”

“Yes, anything for my Sassy.” I’ve got my pants and T-shirt pulled off. It’s weird to be in the kitchen without my chef’s jacket, but it’s far too warm for my uniform. My hard dick is ready for her mouth. “Do you want some chocolate sauce? I found some in the crew mess. Unopened even.”

“You’re sweet enough for me, Dante.” She swallows me down, and when I bottom out at the back of her throat, I make a noise I’ve never heard before.

“Fuck, Sassy.” I’ve never had someone take me on like she does. It’s unreal. My hand goes for her hair. It’s silky and smooth—running my fingers through it makes me harder. I’m over the moon for her. “I fucking love you.”

She works the base of my cock with one hand and plays with my balls in the other. When she runs her tongue along the underside of my dick while sucking even harder, I’m lost. “Shit, damn. This is too good. Sassy, I’m going to come in your mouth if you don’t slow down.”

Instead of popping off, she sucks harder. My eyes close, and stars shoot around my head. I’m pulling at her hair to get me out of her mouth, but she’s tugging harder the other way. The tension I feel while pulling on her hair turns me on. Fuck, it’s her hair, her head, not even my own, but I know how she likes it and that makes me harder.

She lightly puts pressure on my nuts, and I’m gone. Hot streams flood Sassy’s mouth. I’m half done, rockets bursting behind my eyes, when I remember to look at my girl taking my come. She swallows it down. And my cock pops out of her mouth.

“Fucking hell.” Sam’s standing in the doorway to the galley. His eyes are wide.

The color drains out of Sassy’s face. She opens her mouth, but I put a hand on her shoulder. If he even raises his voice half a decibel, we are going to be having more than words. I give Sassy my hand, raising her to her feet. “Sam.” I match his tone.

“How the hell is your damn cock that big?”

I laugh and look Sassy in the eyes. “Guess you have another guy who’s jealous of my cock.”

“Not jealous, just worried about Haley’s internal organs. Throat, stomach, hell, maybe even her upper intestines.”

Haley turns away from him with a smirk on her puffy lips, but the start of an embarrassed glow rises up her neck. She pulls up her shorts, and tucks in her shirt. I shrug and hop down from the counter.

Sam regains some composure. “Zane took the food off the grill like you told him to.”

“Perfect. I’m sure Sassy would like something else to eat.” I wink at Sam. “We’ll be right there.” Sam stares at me, not moving. “Give us a minute, Sam. We’ll be right there.”