Chapter 4

Mark

I figured I’d be over Daisy the moment she was out of sight, but she refused to leave my thoughts. I don’t remember the last time I had a sleepless night, not even when a huge deal was on the line. But Daisy kept me tossing and turning.

That’s how I found myself knocking on her door and inviting her to breakfast.

Shockingly, she accepted, and I’m all but prowling the suite with anticipation. She’s got me completely under a spell, and I half hope by getting to know her, my sudden obsession will fade.

Daisy’s knock has me jumping to swing the door open. She looks stunning in a beige linen dress that accentuates her slender shoulders and lush curves. Her hair is in a high ponytail and her cheeks glow with natural color.

I offer my arm and with a roll of those toffee hued eyes, she accepts, placing her hand in the crook of my elbow.

“Aren’t you a gentleman?” she teases.

I pause, turning so I’m looking into her eyes as I say in a gruff voice, “Not always.”

She gasps, and the affect pushes out her breasts, causing them to graze my chest we’re standing so close to one another. Her breath quickens, and my cock twitches, coming to attention. I take a step back while sucking air in through my nose and exhaling, trying to keep my mind on anything but throwing Daisy over my shoulder and showing her how ungentlemanly I can be.

Silently, we begin walking again, but the tension is taut as we head into the Voyager Breakfast Buffet and take in the packed dining area. The buffet is about as long as a football field, and we both start piling food onto our plates. Our hands bump as we reach for the tongs in the bacon tray, and she giggles softly. I heap a hearty portion onto her plate, pleased when she nods appreciatively. The same thing happens when we get to the pastry section, both of us going straight for the pain au chocolate.

“I don’t think I’ll need to eat for the rest of the cruise,” she says as I head to one of the few secluded tables. She nods to the more crowded area near the windows. “Don’t you want the view?”

I take her in from her silvery blonde hair to her smooth, creamy legs, ending at her pink toenails before smiling up at her. “I have the best view right here.”

She arches an eyebrow, and I laugh. She thinks I’m giving her a line; if only she knew what influence her presence had over me. The sound of my sudden laughter relaxes her, and she slides into the booth. I pause but then slide in next to her, wanting to be as close as possible. I should keep my distance while keeping an eye on the time, but meeting with the guys is the furthest thing from my mind.

“So, what is it that you do?” I ask, wanting to know every detail about her. I’m beginning to think I could never get enough of her.

“I’ve been working for a design company for about six months now,” she says.

The server comes around to get our drink order, and we both ask for black coffee, then smile at each other as if we share a secret.

“I can’t stand the stuff,” I admit. “Just need the jolt of caffeine.”

“Me too.” Her smile grows wider, and I urge her to tell me about her job.

Her reserve melts away and she grows animated. She clearly loves her job and works hard to excel at it, something I can relate to. People always assume that everything’s been handed to me. The truth is the opposite. With my exacting father, I always had to be better than others. Some might have cracked under that pressure, but I thrived. The way Daisy talks about fighting to get her portfolio seen, even though she had no real experience after college, sounds exactly like something I would have done.

“I was the same way,” I say, telling her how I started out working the lowest jobs in my family’s company and only getting promoted on merit. “It was grueling but worth it.”

She nods, those deep brown eyes shining. “I bet people respect you more, too.”

“That’s important to me, but it’s more important to respect myself.”

I can’t stop watching every move she makes. My own breakfast is being ignored as I reach over to brush a crumb from the corner of her lip. Her tongue darts out, grazing my thumb, and her eyes widen, as if she didn’t mean to do what she just did. I take my thumb and place it in my mouth, tasing just that little bit of her. She blushes and her next words come out rushed.

“When it feels like my eyes will dry up from working so late, it’s all worth it when I get that sense of accomplishment for getting everything just the way I want. It’s like a rush.”

“It absolutely is,” I say. “I like how confident you are.”

Daisy’s blush deepens. “I’m really only confident about my work.” She leans closer, lowering her voice. “I was actually worried about coming here alone.”

“On the cruise? That seems like a valid thing to be worried about.”

“Not just the cruise,” she laughs. “The breakfast buffet. And the bar last night.”

“But you did it anyway— well, not the buffet, but I’m glad you decided to come with me.”

“I’m glad you asked,” she says.

Damn, what is this woman doing to me? I drape my arm on the booth behind her and tease my fingers through her hair. Her eyelids flutter, loving my touch. I turn my body so it’s angled toward her, and she slowly moves her hand onto my thigh. I suck in a breath, my length hardening beneath my jeans.

Daisy notices, her eyes widening. Her hand creeps forward, and I about blow thinking of those fingers touching me, stroking me. She pauses, uncertainty crossing her features, and I capture her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm.

I lean in close, “Don’t worry, little flower, there’ll be time for you to touch me whenever and however you want.”

Daisy blushes and bites her lip, curling her fingers around mine.

Fuck . I clear my throat and change the subject before I decide I don’t care if everyone sees me take my flower for the first time.

“Where are you from?” I ask.

She looks surprised at the change of subject but then answers, “Seattle. Born and raised, not a transplant.”

“Me too,” I tell her. “Okay, on three, let’s say our favorite place.” I count us down and say Kerry Park as she says Pike Place Market in the same breath.

“Kerry Park is my second favorite,” she tells me. “I love painting the skyline.”

“The market is my second favorite place, too,” I say.

When was the last time I had so much in common with anyone? We talk about all the places we frequent, and I’m surprised we haven’t crossed paths. There’s no way I wouldn’t have noticed her before. There’s something about her that makes me feel alive the way nothing else can. Not a tough workout, not breaking a record on timed runs, not booking a lucrative client. Daisy is sweet, soft spoken but passionate. Not to mention, beautiful. No, there’s no way she would have flown under my radar.

“It’s crazy that we go to all the same places and only met on our way to Mexico.”

“And we’re neighbors on this giant ship,” she adds.

“Yeah, neighbors,” I let the word hang between us, knowing she’s more than just that.

“I’m glad I finally met you. You’re something special. I don’t think I’ve ever connected with someone like this.”

She gives me a long look, as if assessing my sincerity. I don’t have to fake anything, and let my true feelings show for once.

“I feel the same way,” she says, so quiet I barely hear. “The thing is, that’s not normal for me. If you were anyone else, I’d still be in my cabin right now, ordering room service.”

Her brow is furrowed as if she wants to say more, and I wait patiently. I have all the time in the world for my little flower to open up. With a soft sigh, she continues.

“My mom has a talent for picking some real winners. My childhood was a constant stream of losers. As a result, I have trust issues around men. But for some reason, my creep radar isn’t pinging all over the place with you.”

She’s being so earnest that my chest tightens. I tighten my fists, imagining the men who made Daisy’s childhood a nightmare. I want to strip her of those memories so she doesn’t have to think of them ever again. Instead, we’ll make new memories.

I change the subject once again. “Would you want to join me for a swim in the infinity pool?”

She presses her lips together. Have I pushed too far? She’s just so perfect I can’t help myself. Daisy turns over her phone to check the time.

“Didn’t you say you had a meeting at noon?”

A glance at my watch shows me that we’ve been sitting here chatting for several hours.

“Damn, you’re right. I completely forgot about it.” I give her a teasing glare. “You’re dangerous, Daisy. I never forget strategy meetings.”

“Well, maybe a rain check, then,” she says, disappointment in her eyes.

I’d do anything to erase it, but at the same time, the guys will never let me live it down if I cancel the meeting.

“How about I swing by your cabin later and we explore the ship? Name the time.”

“Oh, okay,” she says. “Sure. Maybe just after dinner time?”

“Or we could go to dinner together,” I say, pushing my luck again.

She doesn’t answer, getting up to leave. I offer to walk her back to her suite and hold out my hand instead of my arm this time. With a slight smile on her flustered face, she threads her fingers through mine and falls into step beside me. Arriving at her room, I’m loathe to let her go.

“I really enjoyed talking to you,” I tell her, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

Her cheek is velvety smooth and her eyes widen, darkening as she looks up at me. I’m struck by their depths, as if I could dive into the rich hues of toffee, chocolate, and chestnut. The front of my pants is unbearably uncomfortable, and I take a step forward, crowding her against her door. I pause, waiting for permission or rejection, and it comes in the form of her hand curling into my shirt and pulling me closer. Our bodies touch, my hardened length pressing against her soft belly. She gasps, eyes fluttering down and then back up, her lips slightly parted.

I brace my arm against the door as the other drifts from her waist up her ribs to tease the underside of her perky breast.

“Mark,” she moans.

“Fuck, Daisy,” I grind out and press into her harder, barely keeping my control. My mouth finds her neck, giving her a soft nibble, and I feel her legs clench together.

I nuzzle her neck and press soft kisses up to the shell of her ear. Her breathing is ragged, and both hands grip my shirt, hanging on.

“I bet your pussy’s dripping for me, isn’t it, little flower?” She gives a soft cry as I latch onto her neck and suck.

I don’t know how long we would have stayed like that, or if we would have made it into the suite, when an alarm dings from the phone in my pocket.

Daisy jumps, loosening her hold on me, and the mood is broken. For now. It won’t be long before I’m savoring my girl as she should be savored. I pull back and give her a small smile.

“We’ll talk later, right?” I want to demand it, make sure she can’t pull away from me again, but she nods, and I let out a relieved sigh.

I force myself to walk away, heading to the meeting room that overlooks one of the pools. Once there, I can’t concentrate, going over everything she shared with me and the feel of her in my arms. By the third time Ray has to repeat what he’s said, I know I’m in too deep. But as fast as it’s happened, I don’t want to take a few steps back.

Instead of paying attention to our upcoming presentation, my eyes keep trailing to the pool, wishing I’d bailed and gone swimming with Daisy instead. On one of my glances at the inviting water, I see a familiar, petite figure passing by the windows. I sit up straight, all attention focused on Daisy in a blue bikini, her slender waist wrapped in a short white sarong that hugs every curve. The sight of her long legs almost has me drooling.

Something strange passes through me as I follow her journey toward the pool. Other men’s heads turn as she passes, and I realize it’s jealousy. Did I expect her to sit in her cabin and wait for me? No, but I want to be by her side, shielding her from those stares, keeping her close. It hits me like a brick. She’s mine. And I don’t share.

The guys snicker, noticing my line of sight. I ignore their gibes and stand up, snapping my laptop shut. This meeting’s over. I have better things to do.