[Featured on @adultfiction, @NA, @teenfiction, @Contemporarylit]
"He takes a step closer to me, close enough that I can feel the warmth radiating off his body as my heart races. "Just say no if you want me to stop," he mumbles in a husky voice, as h...
"Isn't this your dad's yacht?" I ask as we stop at the end of the long dock along the waterfront.
"It was, but he gave it to me recently. He got a new one, I guess as a retirement gift to himself," she laughs and points to the ship docked right next to hers. My eyes widen at the giant beast. Leave it to Mr. Larsen to get himself a nine hundred thousand dollar gift. "He's quite happy with it," she whispers and nods towards the side of his boat. Printed on the side is its name.
S.S. Vanessa
She looks at it with a distant, longing expression on her face. "That's sweet," I murmur and gently rest my hand on her back.
"Hello Ms. Larsen," a voice greets us.
"Hi Michael, thank you for coming on such short notice," Elizabeth smiles politely at her family's usual captain.
"No worries," he says kindly. He glances over and notices me. "Ah, hello Mr. Hayle. None of your antics this evening, I hope?"
I feel heat rush to my face. Michael has definitely seen me at some of my worst moments when we partied on the Larsen's ship. "Err no, definitely not."
He chuckles. "Excellent. Please hop aboard."
Elizabeth and I take a seat on the wrap around sofa on the ship's deck. She turns on the firepit, illuminating the deck with the flickering flames. The smell of the ocean and the feel of the cool evening air is very calming. She slightly leans against me as we stare out towards the ocean. The sun has just begun to set, leaving the sky a fiery orange and soft yellow along the horizon.
"My dad brought your mom onto this ship on a not-a-date-date one time apparently," she murmurs. "When she was like, eighteen and he was twenty one."
I raise an eyebrow. "Really? That explains...a lot." Mom used to make some odd offhand comments whenever our inner friend circle were invited to hang out on this yacht.
Michael quietly clears his throat as he comes out onto the deck. "Sorry to interrupt, I just came to let you know I have anchored the boat. I believe it is quite a nice spot, unobstructed view of the sunset, and a lovely view of the city," he says in his calm voice. "Though I couldn't help but overhear your conversation."
"You were steering that night?" Elizabeth asks.
"Indeed," he chuckles. "It's been over three decades but I remember that night. Mr. Larsen had called me last minute, asking me to come steer the ship for a date - quite similar to you tonight. I met your mother for the first time that evening Mr. Hayle, such a kind and caring heart, she hasn't changed one bit."
"Sounds like mom," I smile.
He turns to Elizabeth. "Your father was trying very hard to impress Ms. Sato," he shakes his head and laughs softly. "He had our staff set up a lovely little dining area on the deck."
"Sounds like dad," Liz laughs. "I'm glad our parents ended up with the people they did though."
"Oh yes," he nods. "I had the pleasure of getting to see your families bloom, everyone seemed to turn out very well and happy. Such a shame about your mother Ms. Larsen." He gives Liz a sympathetic smile and soft touch on the shoulder.
"Thank you Michael," she says quietly.
"Ah, anyways," he clears his throat, "I will be in my cabin. Please let me know when you're ready to head back." He gives us a nod and heads inside.
She eyes me curiously. "She's never really told you much huh? My dad told me a lot about them. They went through a lot, he told me to learn from his mistakes."
I furrow my brows. "Not really. Things got so bad they didn't speak for over a decade after the accident."
Elizabeth grimaces a bit. "Yeah ok, fair enough."
"She did say that we remind her of her and your dad," I recall the talk I had with mom months ago. "Something about our relationships both being impulsive and unstable." I suppose it makes sense, we have their respective genes after all.
"We weren't always like that," she murmurs and gently rests her head against my shoulder. She's warm and the scent of her perfume is faint but sweet.
"Yeah...it's been a long time since then though." We sit in silence for a while. Feeling the gentle rocking of the boat, staring up at the twinkling stars and midnight blue sky.
"Hell, I wasn't always like this." She sits up and turns to me. "You remember...don't you?" Her voice is quiet and hesitant.
"Yeah, I do," I say softly. Elizabeth, at one point, was one of the sweetest people I knew. Kind, generous, funny, and compassionate - people would always say she was a replica of her mom. Makes me feel like an even bigger piece of shit for taking advantage of her during those years.
"This field changes people. You of all people should know that," she mumbles. Even in the dim lighting coming from inside the ship, I can see her deep brown eyes are glassy. "I was never cut out for business. Dad told me I had to toughen up, and I knew I had to appear powerful so no one would underestimate me. I guess I just turned into a bitch in the process," she chuckles dryly.
I guess I had been so preoccupied with myself, so egocentric, that I hadn't even noticed her gradual shift, until one day, she was suddenly the Elizabeth I know now.She rests against my side again, and I wrap my arm gently around her waist. "I understand Liz. Business is a rough world sometimes, but I'm so proud of you for making it to where you are now. Look, you've been the CEO of a huge company for half a year now. Your mom would be so proud."
"Thanks Pax," she says, barely above a whisper, "and thanks for spending the day with me."
I had nearly forgotten this was part of an agreement. "My pleasure," I mumble, "seriously. I've missed the old days." Back when things were simple. A bit wild, but still much more simple than they are now.
She turns and looks up at me. The moonlight reflects in her deep chestnut eyes, making them look impossibly bright and mesmerizing. My mind tunes out the quiet splashing of water against the boat, and all I can hear is the pounding of my heart as we begin leaning in closer.
Our lips connect and my body floods with emotions, so many emotions. Which ones? I couldn't tell you, my mind focuses on nothing but her. I quickly pull her onto my lap. She grips onto me tightly, in the exact same way she's always done. Her left arm wraps around my shoulders, while her right hand grips my hair.
I run my hand through her long and soft dark hair, and hold her flushed cheek. The familiarity of all of it is nearly overwhelming. I run my hands up her thighs and slip her dress off over her head. The moonlight makes her pale skin look tantalizingly soft. She quickly tugs my clothes off too, leaving our feverish, fervent bodies pressed together without any barriers. I feel her quick heartbeat and erratic breathing against my chest.
"Ready?" I mumble hoarsely against her neck. She quickly nods and I grip her waist.
Our gasps and sighs echo across the deck, muffled by the waves beneath us.
