Chapter 5

Daisy

I hurry to the pool, trying to outrun the wish that I’d taken Mark up on his offer. Surely some laps will help clear my head of him. I find the pool easily enough and wander the edge, searching for where I’d like to sit.

“Miss, this seat is open,” a guy offers, waving to the lounge chair beside him. I give a small smile and politely decline, finding a chair several places down. Untying my sarong, I’m suddenly swarmed by a group of frat boys, each talking over the other, asking to get me a drink or join their group in the pool. I shake my head, maneuvering past them, and jump in the pool.

Laps don’t work at all, and the cool water does nothing to ease the strange heat that’s been plaguing me since Mark saved me from taking a nosedive over my suitcase. I retreat to the lounge chair, hoping to enjoy a nap in the shade, but as soon as I sit down, the frat bros return. One in particular is determined to get me to drink with him, waving a margarita in my face.

“Come on, lighten up and join me.” He’s already slurring and swaying.

I push the drink away. “No, thanks. You go ahead and enjoy it.”

“But this one’s especially for you,” he says, reaching for my hand to take the drink.

My hackles go up, glancing at his friends, who seem like jackals now, surrounding me so I can’t slip away without making a scene. Well, to hell with manners, since they don’t have any. I stand, grab my sarong, and push past one of the smaller ones, but another juts his arm out, stopping me.

“What’s the matter? Too good for us?”

Yes. “I don’t drink,” I say, desperate to get away peacefully. Where is security?

The one with the sketchy drink grabs me around the arm. His smile doesn’t meet his eyes, and his grip tightens when I try to jerk away.

The next thing I know, a big hand clamps around his wrist and yanks him off me. The frat boy yelps in pain as the hand squeezes. I follow the muscular arm up to see Mark, glaring at the guy, who’s foolishly squaring up to him despite being several inches shorter and nowhere near as fit.

“What the fuck, man?”

“You touched her,” he growls, his voice promising violence. I place a hand against Mark’s back and feel his muscles loosen.

Mark glances at me, warring with himself, then pries the glass from the guy’s hand and takes it to the bar, dragging the guy along with him. Stunned, I scurry beside him as he slams the glass on the counter.

“I think this guy might be adding something to the drinks,” Mark says. “You might want to test it.”

The guy shouts his innocence, but I nod vigorously. “He was desperate to get me to drink it,” I say, realizing I’m shaking.

The guy whimpers now, his hand bent back by Mark’s hold. The bartender waves over some security staff, but before they arrive, Mark twists his free hand in the guy’s Hawaiian shirt, drawing him close. He cowers under Mark’s menacing stare.

“Don’t let me fucking see you again,” he says, then points at me. “If you see her coming, you turn and run the other way. You never look at her again, understand?”

He slams him over to the security guards, who take the drink for testing, assuring the guy he’ll be free to go if nothing was added. The horrified look on his face tells me he won’t be free to go, and my stomach rolls over at what might have happened.

Strong hands rest gently on my shoulders, and I look up to see Mark’s concerned eyes on me. “Are you okay?”

“I am now,” I say, but my voice wavers.

He tucks me close and leads me to a quiet, shady spot. “What can I do?”

I shake my head. “You already did so much. How did you…?”

“I was in the conference room. I saw them following you.”

“What if they had been harmless?”

“Then I still would have let them know you’re mine.” His words shock me from my stupor, and heat engulfs my body. His possessiveness turns me on because I know it’s in my best interest and not to dominate me. Where I was shivering in fear a moment ago, I’m now shivering in want.

“Can you walk me back to my room?” I ask.

He instantly agrees and we make the short walk back to my suite. I key in the code, acutely aware of his presence behind me. The cool air of my room hits me when I open the door, but I don’t want to go in. Not without Mark, anyway.

“I’ve heard this ship has the world’s most amazing ice cream,” I say.

“I never say no to ice cream,” he says. “Do you want to go get some?”

“How about we order in? I’m done with people for the day. Not you,” I clarify, my face turning red. “In case it wasn’t obvious, I’m trying to invite you in.”

He laughs, letting me go in first. “I’m honored to accept.”

God, I love the way he talks. He’s so refined, which shouldn’t suit his rugged looks, but it works perfectly.

I order pistachio with cherries and Mark gets coconut caramel swirl. The flavors seem unlimited, and we tease each other that we can always order seconds if we’re unsatisfied.

We’re not. The cold, creamy goodness makes me almost forget what might have happened if it weren’t for Mark, but as a thank you, I hold out a spoonful of my flavor.

“For what you did. And also because it’s freaking delicious.”

He returns the favor, shrugging off my thanks. His eyes drop to my lips as I open my mouth for his offered spoon. Despite the ice cream and cool cabin, I’m burning up again. I know my nipples are making their presence known because I’m still only wearing my bikini and sarong. But I find that I like the way his eyes drift lower, lingering on my breasts.

I like it a lot.

He reaches over and rubs a drop of ice cream off my lower lip. My lips part as he pauses, waiting to see what I do. Instead of jumping up and running for the door, I lean in those extra inches. I want to see what comes next.

His lips touch mine, sending a jolt through me. What could have been just a peck becomes deeper as I run my hand up his hard chest, gripping his shirt. When his tongue parts my lips, I sigh and open to him.

My first kiss. It’s better than the ice cream, much more addicting. I moan softly, and he slides his hand around my waist to pull me to him. His touch has me melting. We were sitting on the two armchairs in my suite, pulled close together around a tiny round table. But now I’m somehow draped across his lap.

“You taste great,” he murmurs, sweeping my hair behind my shoulder, then tangling his fingers in it to tug my head back.

“You too,” I say, wriggling to get closer.

With a quiet laugh, he drags me fully onto his chair so that I’m straddling him. I ease down and gasp at the feel of his hard bulge, but it feels oh, so good as I settle in. His kisses get more fevered, and I couldn’t possibly get any hotter without combusting.

Is this even me?

It is, but with the magic of meeting this man I feel so comfortable with. “Is this crazy?” I say.

“No, this isn’t crazy” he replies, moving his hand up my waist to start tugging on my bikini top string.

My top falls loose and his hand moves slowly to brush against my breast. His thumb strokes over my nipple and I grip his shoulders, my head falling back at the way he’s making me feel. I’m grinding against the stiff rod pressing on my most tender spot, close to going wild.

But I’m not wild. I’ve never done this.

I pull away, dizzy from the lack of contact with his mouth. “Mark,” I say, clutching his shoulders. “I’ve never… this is my first…”

He freezes, his hands clenching against my sides. The big bulge between my thighs pulses, but he doesn’t move. “Keep going,” I whisper.

“Are you sure? Because once you’re mine,” he captures my mouth in a bruising kiss before continuing, “you’re mine.”

“Does that mean you’re mine, too?” I ask, emboldened by the warm feeling blooming in my chest. Is this love? All I know is that I want to be wild with this man. I don’t see a reason to wait.

He cups my face, a smile on his that should stop my heart but only makes it pound harder. “Since we met I’ve been yours. Oh Daisy, I can’t wait to show you how good I can make you feel.”

I shiver with anticipation as he kisses me again. His hands roam freely now, and he whips my top all the way off, leaning back to admire my body. For once I’m happy to be on display.

He pulls me up to lick each nipple, a rumble rising in his throat as he teases them to tight peaks. “You’re so gorgeous, my little flower.”

I giggle, loving the nickname. I’m loving all of this and have never felt so free. I grind against him. “You make me want to be different,” I admit.

“I like you just the way you are.”

I get choked up, wondering how I got so lucky. Did an angel arrange this cruise for me and put Mark next door?

I stop wondering when he stands, lifting me with him. A moment later, we’re on the bed together, staring into one another’s eyes. He drags me to him, his kisses making me wrap my leg over his hip. One hand snakes down to untie my sarong and push the fabric aside. Lying me on my back, he begins kissing his way down my body, sending shockwaves to my core. I’m trembling when he reaches the edge of my bikini bottom.

With a wicked gleam in his blue eyes, he pulls them down with his teeth. The satiny bedspread crinkles beneath me as he nudges my legs apart, kissing his way back up after tossing the bottoms aside. I stare at the small chandelier above my head, lost in the new sensations. Until he kisses me there.

My head shoots up and I reach for his hair. He chuckles, looking up. The wisp of his breath is enough to have me clawing at him, but he soon puts his lips back on my swollen bud.

“I love how slippery and wet you are for me,” he says, sliding his tongue up and down. “How does this feel?”

“Great,” I gasp through gritted teeth.

“I could eat your hot little pussy all day, Daisy,” he says as I squirm. “It’s better than any ice cream.”

My hips start to rise as his tongue circles, then plunges inside me. I squeak, clamping my legs around his head. “Oh, yes…”

“Keep going? Or would you rather I make you come right now?”

I shake my head, not sure if I can hang on much longer, but how can this get better? I realize how wrong I am when he inserts a finger into my pussy, pushing deep. I moan and move my hips faster, need burning inside of me. He pushes another finger in and groans.

“You make me wild, Daisy,” he says, echoing my earlier thoughts. “I need to be inside this tight little hole of yours. I need to make you mine.”

“I want to be yours,” I say. This is real, and was meant to be, I’m sure of it. Something this perfect couldn’t be a coincidence.

He keeps teasing me with his fingers and tongue until I’m panting and writhing. Then he latches onto my clit, giving a hard suck, while his fingers find that magic spot inside me again. I’m soaring as my climax peaks and then shattering into a thousand tiny pieces. It feels like I rose a foot off the bed as the sensations took over my body, but Mark’s hands hold me as I start to come back to earth.

As I lay there, spent and weak, he rises to take off his jeans. I stare in awe at his huge cock, purple and veiny and throbbing for me. I reach out for it, and he laughs as he climbs over me. The laugh turns to a choked grunt as I wrap my fingers around the velvety steel. My heart pounds, thinking he’s going to put this massive thing where he’d just been licking.

He notices my trepidation and kisses me tenderly until I’m limp in his arms. His cock pulses against my belly but instead of entering me, his mouth finds its way to first one breast then the other, sucking and biting until I’m writhing under him once again.

“Mark,” I gasp.

He blows cold air across my nipple, and I grip his hair, forcing him to stay right where he’s at.

“You like that, little flower?”

I’m too wound up to reply, except to utter a quick shout as he licks and laves my other nipple, my body needing his cock to enter me now.

“I need you inside me,” I beg.

He rises, rubbing the dripping tip of his cock against my needy opening. I lift my hips, straining for him to take me.

His eyes catch mine as he asks, “Are you ready for me to fuck your sweet little virgin pussy for the first time?”

I moan as he keeps drawing out the blissful torture. I nod and gather my inhibitions to fling them away from me forever. “Yes, fuck me, please.”

His eyes go wide, and he grins. “I like this naughty side of you. But it’s only for me, got it?”

Before I can agree, he pushes inside me slowly until he finds my barrier. Moving his hand between us, Mark flicks my clit, swallowing my gasp of surprise with his mouth. He plunders me as his fingers swirl and rub. Then with a pinch of his fingers on my sensitive nub, he sheathes himself fully inside me.

Breathing through both the pain and pleasure, Mark holds himself still until I wrap my legs around him, tugging on his hair, and urging him with my hips.

“You want me to make you come again?” he teases, easing out of me, his eyes never leaving mine. “Don’t worry, making my little flower scream is my new favorite thing.”

Did I scream before? I didn’t even notice. I laugh with abandon, then moan as he drives deep, harder this time. I nod, wanting more. And he gives it, until I’m scratching his shoulders and begging for release.

“I’m going to come inside you, little flower,” he growls. “Get ready.”

His fingers find their way between our sweaty bodies, and he strokes that sensitive nub one more time. Now I notice the scream that tears from my throat. Moments after my second ever orgasm rocks my body, he pumps hard and fast inside me, his cum soaking my inner walls. He roars, muffling his voice against my shoulder, until he collapses beside me and we lie in a heap of limbs together.

“Holy fuck,” he mumbles.

I agree but have no strength to say it.

Our heartbeats slowly settle back to normal and he rolls to the side, getting his arm under my head as a pillow before kissing me soundly.

“Was it too much?” Mark asks.

“No. In fact…” I cuddle up next to him, wiggling my body as close as I can possibly get. He laughs and lightly slaps my ass then rubs his hand over the sting.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you,” he admits.

“But you’ll keep trying, right?”

He laughs again, and I’m so happy I feel as if I’m glowing. I finally found a man worth coming out of my shell for, and I don’t intend on going back in, as long as Mark stays by my side.

I snuggle closer, unsure how to tell him how I feel, so I decide to show him instead.