His eyes found me then, pinning me to where I stood.
I managed a shrug, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Hey, this is part of the deal, right?” I offered what little smile I had energy left to give.
“We’ll get you off this boat soon,” he promised, nodding toward the shore. “There are far more beautiful things waiting for you on shore.”
“I captured some pretty beautiful things tonight.”
The words came from me in a rushed whisper, and as soon as I’d said them, I couldn’t believe I had. Theo’s eyes snapped to mine, and I clamped my mouth shut for fear of saying something else equally as stupid.
Theo tilted his head, frowning, his eyes glazed a bit from the alcohol. He smirked as he took a step toward me, and then another, until he was so close the lapels of his jacket touched my chest. His eyes cast down on me like I was there for no other purpose than for him to stare at, and he took his time, gaze roaming over every inch of me until I heated like a boiling pot of water.
His body jolted suddenly, crashing into mine as Audrey threw her arms around him from behind. I was pinned between the railing and his warm body for no longer than a split second, but it was enough to scar me, to brand me like a hot iron against fresh, bare skin. He stepped away just as quickly, holding out his hands as if to steady me.
“Theo,” Audrey said, dragging out the vowels of his name as she hung on his arm. “Nicolette and I want to see the owner’s suite.”
Nicolette giggled as she slid up on his other side, wrapping her arms around his middle. “Yes, show us the view from your bed, Theo.”
They cackled in unison, hands groping, longing moans slipping from between their lips. Theo’s eyes were still on me, and I let him hold my gaze until Nicolette dragged her tongue up his neck and sucked the lobe of his ear between her teeth.
I tore my eyes away then, swallowing and looking down at my camera as I waited for them to leave. And they did, by way of the women dragging Theo backward, and him watching me the entire way, until they stumbled into one of the deck chairs. That seemed to shock him back to reality, and he shook his head, turning and throwing his arms around each of the women with a comment that made them both laugh and lean into his sides. He guided them inside and up the stairs, and I stood in the same spot against the railing until the lights flicked on in the owner’s suite above.
That silhouette of a man that I’d seen the night before was different tonight — his arms being stretched over head, shirt peeled off, his lips colliding with one woman and then the other. I watched the scene unfold like a voyeur until Theo stumbled backward and hit what I assumed was a button, because in the next second, the curtains suddenly began to draw, hiding the suite from prying eyes.
I hadn’t even caught my breath, hadn’t had time to question what the hell was wrong with me or what the hell had just happened before Joel stumbled out onto the deck, rushing to me and pinning me against the railing much like Theo had just moments before.
“Babyyy,” he said, his breath sour and beer-drenched on my neck. His hands were groping me in the next instant and I pushed them away, squirming out from his touch.
“You’re drunk.”
For a moment, Joel seemed upset at the comment, but then he smiled lazily, pulling me into his arms and pressing a long kiss to my tightly closed lips. “I am. We went below deck once we were relieved for the night. Eric had some goooood stuff,” he said, drawing out the word. He frowned then, framing my face with his hands. “I missed you.”
His dark eyes searched mine, and I blew out a long breath, relieving the tension that had my muscles tied in knots. I had no reason to snap at him. I didn’t mind that he’d had some drinks after working for so long. If I were the drinking kind, I was sure I’d want to do the same.
“It’s been a long day,” I finally said.
Joel nodded in understanding. Only he knew the way a full evening of being around strangers drained me, and with another kiss — one I accepted more willingly this time — he tucked me under his arm. “Nothing a good cuddle sesh can’t fix.”
I smiled, letting him guide me inside, my breath finally evening out the farther we got from Theo and his guests. When we were safely inside our own cabin, we both undressed, took a quick shower together, and climbed into bed. I was relieved yet again when Joel didn’t try to have sex with me. I just wasn’t in the mood — not after all that had happened. And he must have sensed it, because he just pulled my back to his chest, curling his legs with mine and wrapping his arms tightly around me.
He was snoring softly in my ear less than two minutes later.
But as exhausted as I was, I didn’t sleep a wink.
I stayed in the cabin the next day.
Kissing Joel on his way out the door, I settled into bed and grabbed my book, reading until I was sick of words on a page. Then, I turned on the television in our room, thankful that by Theo’s insistence of me staying on the yacht and thus us being in a stateroom, we had that luxury. I watched three movies in a row before I left the bed only long enough to get myself food. Then, I was right back in the cabin.
Joel didn’t question me — not when he came in to check on me just before dinner, and not when he asked if I wanted to join him and the rest of the crew below deck once they were off duty. He knew me better than anyone, and he didn’t need to hear me say it to understand that the day before had drained me — physically and mentally — and the only way to refill my tank was to be alone.
Blessedly, being in my cabin all day meant I escaped Theo’s guests for their second day onboard. Joel told me before he went below deck that they departed after dinner, and then we pulled away from the dock, away from Saint-Tropez, on our way to Nice.
I slept hard that night — which I was thankful for, since I didn’t sleep at all the night before — and I woke the next morning abruptly to the crew bustling around docking us once again. Joel had already gone from our room, and I wondered how he survived like that — working all day every day, drinking all night every night, and somehow waking up before the sun to do it all again.
When I finally peeled myself out of bed, there was a sheet of cream card stock neatly folded on the floor of our room, as if it had been slipped under the door.
Meet me on the main deck. 8 a.m. sharp. Bring your camera.
There was no name under the neatly scripted ink, but it was easy enough to determine who it was from. I sighed, wishing upon wishes that there wouldn’t be another group of people for me to cater to yet again. I had barely recovered from the first time, and still had visions I was trying to erase from my mind.
Still, it was part of the deal, part of my free ride.
I shook my head, wondering where I would be now, had I not taken Theo’s offer. I wouldn’t have had as cushy of a bed, that much was certain. And I likely wouldn’t have seen such stunning sights even in these first few days.
But at least I’d have been alone.
It was already seven forty-five, so I dressed quickly, grabbing my camera and bringing my small backpack with extra memory cards and lenses just in case. I found Theo lounging in one of the chairs by the bar, his ankle crossed over knee, The Wall Street Journal newspaper spread out between his hands and a tall glass of orange juice on the bar in front of him.