Chapter 7

Daisy

It wasn’t fate, good luck, or an angel that put Mark in my path. It was a bet.

How could anyone be so cruel? At least the assholes at the pool were upfront with their depravity.

How could I have been so fooled? He was just that perfect.

Even as I lay in bed sobbing, I keep thinking about the good things. What I thought were the good things. Was everything a lie to ensnare me? In the hall, I recognized the men who were congratulating him. My firm had done business with their company. I designed their logo.

Was everything a set up? But why? Oh, God, I gave everything to him, and with such abandon. How could I be so stupid?

The rest of the day goes by in a numb blur. The next day, I order room service and pick at it, not daring to go on the balcony in case he’s on his. A letter from him slips under my door, but I tear it up and flush the pieces. I retreat to the bed, angry at myself for burying my nose in the pillow he slept on just to inhale the scent of him. But not angry enough that I don’t sleep with my arms wrapped around it.

After the third day of Mark’s betrayal, I decide he’s not going to ruin this adventure for me. It’s time to get back to normal. As if my heart isn’t shredded.

I make it to the end of the hall before my good intentions wither up. Because Mark is waiting for the elevator. My body leans toward him, even after everything. As I stare at him, dumbfounded by the crash of feelings, he turns and notices me. Then makes a move toward me.

I turn and run for my room. I’m not ready for this. But I’m not match for his long, muscular legs, and he reaches the door before me.

“Just hear me out,” he says, blocking my door. “Please. Five minutes. Then I’ll leave you in peace.”

I gnaw on my lip. I can’t handle more lies, but if I give him a few minutes, then I’ll be free of him for the rest of the cruise. Though that thought makes my chest feel as if its caving in on itself, I set the timer on my phone and hold it up to him.

With a nod, he jumps in. “Yes, I took the bet. It was stupid, but I forgot all about it. It was you I was interested in from the start, and I would have done everything the same regardless.”

He pauses but I only glance at the timer. So far, I’m not impressed.

Running a frustrated hand through his hair, he continues. “You’re all I think about, Daisy. From the moment I first saw you.”

I realize I’m crying when he moves in slowly and swipes the tears from my cheeks. A passenger shifts past us, trying not to notice what’s going on. I shut off the timer and open my door, motioning for Mark to go in. I don’t need any more humiliation.

We face each other in the hall. “You made me feel stupid,” I say.

His face blanches. “Never feel that way. I’m the idiot.”

“Was it all a setup from the beginning?” I tell him I know his friends, know they work together.

“Ray came to me yesterday and spilled his guts about why they set it up. They got in over their heads with some shady business deals. They needed me to agree to something I was never going to agree to, and decided this was the way to go about it.”

“But you agreed to the bet,” I say. He reaches for my hand, but I pull away, waiting.

“It was after you blew me off and my pride was hurt. I swear I forgot about it the second I walked out of the bar. You’re the only thing that’s been on my mind since we met. Nothing matters to me but you.” He reaches for my hand a second time, and I let him take it. He squeezes my hand, his eyes full of the same pain I’ve been feeling. “Those guys are on their own. I’m not bailing them out, and I’m dissolving our partnership.”

I’m stunned. He’d do that for me? There’s no denying the determination in his voice.

“Are they really going to be in trouble?” I ask.

He shrugs. “Not my problem. I just want you to be okay. I hurt you, and I’m so damn sorry, Daisy.”

I let out a pent up sob and he wipes away more tears. “I want to believe you.”

“Tell me what to do,” he urges. “Anything.” He moves in closer, his eyes beseeching mine. “I’m in love with you. I love you so damn much.”

I suck in a breath, wanting to tell him I love him back. I can tell his pain is as real as mine, but I’m hesitant to just accept his apology as if nothing happened. If he truly loved me, would he have made the bet in the first place?

“I just need some time,” I whisper.

Mark drops my hand and takes a ragged breath. He steps back, finding the doorknob. I can feel his eyes searching for mine, but I know if I look, I’ll give in. After what feels like forever, he turns the knobs and leaves the room. But instead of feeling relief, all I feel is bereft.

Trying to distract myself, I grab my sketch pad and move toward the balcony doors. But instead of drawing, I find myself watching the ocean, my mind asking the same questions over and over again.

Should I forgive him? I want to.

Do I love him? Yes.

Did I just make the biggest mistake of my life? Possibly.

My heart rate kicks into high gear, and I have to breathe, reminding myself that a panic attack won’t help anybody in this situation. Just as I’m finally calming my body, I hear a knock at the door.

Rushing to it, I fling it open, hoping Mark is on the other side. Instead, I look down to find a pint of ice cream, pistachio with cherries, placed in front of my door. With a sob, I gather it close and make my way back inside to the loneliness of my couch and a girl’s best breakup friend.

As the sun goes down, I wander outside onto my balcony, hoping fresh air will clear the thoughts from my head. I settle into the comfy chair and rest my head against its back with a heavy sigh.

A noise next door has me jerking my head toward Mark’s balcony. Though the sun has almost set, there is enough light to see him sitting, hunched over, with his head in hands.

I stand, hating the defeat in his shoulders and realize that I don’t want him to be hurting anymore. I don’t want either of us to be. And I also don’t want him out of my life.

I step to the railing that separates our balconies.

“Mark,” I say softly. His head whips up, and he stands, sending his chair crashing behind him.

“Daisy?” he whispers my name hoarsely, taking a tentative step closer.

“I ‘ve thought of something you can do,” I tell him.

“Name it.”

I offer him a small smile. “You need to be a little bit closer.”

The words have barely left me when I step back, shocked, as Mark vaults over the balcony railing, landing in front of me.

“I’ll do anything,” he promises.

“Kiss me.” I run my hand up his chest, offering a tentative smile.

His lips crash onto mine, with all the hunger that’s been hidden under the pain. “I missed you,” I say, gripping his shirt.

He murmurs an agreement as his tongue sweeps into my mouth. I melt against him, breathing him in. Now I don’t have to rely on the pillow I kept, the one with his scent. Now he’s right here, where he belongs.

His hands move under my top and I press closer to him. Shivering at his touch, I feel his smile against my lips and joy surges through me. He murmurs my name as we move closer to the bed, falling into it with a laugh.

“Touch me,” I beg. “It feels like forever.”

“We’ll never be apart again.”

I nod, eagerly pulling his shirt over his head so I can run my fingers over his hard muscles. I want him so badly I’m shaking. When his hand slides between my thighs, I moan and nip at his shoulder.

“Are you ready to ride me, little flower?” Mark growls in my ear as he flips us so I’m straddling his waist.

Eagerly, I tug down my shorts and then pop the button on his jeans, jerking the denim apart instead of taking the time to lower the zipper.

His cock springs free and I take in his length, the thought of it inside me making my pussy wet with need. I stroke the silky shaft, and he growls and yanks me down for a kiss. With his hands firmly on my backside, he moves me up and down against his big cock, teasing me until I’m digging my nails into his arms.

“You have the cutest little ass,” he says, lightly smacking one cheek. Then his index finger slips down the back of me, swiping through a place I’ve never been touched before. I jerk and moan at the same time as he teases me, working me into a frenzy.

I can’t take the glorious torture of his shaft rubbing against me any longer and I straighten up, straddling him. He reaches for my breasts and my eyes close as he gently tweaks my nipples.

“You have the cutest tits, too,” he says. “Bounce them for me, my flower.”

I laugh as I jiggle, but it’s cut off with a moan as he finds my clit and circles it until I’m gasping for air.

“I need your cream on my face,” he demands, and before I know what’s happening, he’s hauling my body forward until I’m practically sitting on his face and he’s lapping at my clit. I give a garbled scream and grab fistfuls of his hair, my hips moving of their own accord. Mark moans, and the vibrations increase the pleasure he’s giving. I move desperately, unable to catch a full breath as he latches onto my clit and gives a hard suck.

I scream his name, my body letting loose and leaving the earth. Soon his fingers ease inside me as I come back to my senses, and their presence works me up again.

“Yes,” I say. “Please.”

“God, I love how wet your pussy gets for me.”

He pulls his dripping fingers out of my pussy and brings them to his mouth, sucking off my juices and sending a thrill through my body.

“Now you’re ready,” he says, lowering me toward his engorged length. “And I’m ready to be inside this tight little hole.”

He helps guide his cock to my opening.

My heart is put back together as he sheathes himself inside me, gripping my hips as I begin my wild ride. As we gain momentum and I feel that delicious pressure building again, I lean close to him, our mouths inches apart.

“I love you, Mark. I love you.”

His hand wraps around the back of my head and his mouth claims mine, muffling the sounds of my release. As soon as my spasms start to subside, he takes control, pounding me onto his cock hard and fast. He makes me come again, his eyes locked with mine, determined to hold back until he gives me every ounce of pleasure possible.

I rise up, bracing myself on his shoulders as I bounce up and down, needing to watch as he lets go and spills his seed inside me. He roars out my name, telling me he loves me as he drives deep a final time. With a pounding heart, I hold on tight until he slows.

His arms collapse from my hips and he goes limp, breathing as hard as I am. I melt against his chest, and he embraces me, kissing my neck as we recover.

“I hope you didn’t have plans for today,” he says.

I roll off and he turns to face me, moving some hair out of my face and tracing the line of my jaw.

“I just made plans,” I tell him, grinning. “They’re all right here. With you.”

His eyes are full of happiness and love, the same emotions pouring out of mine. He kisses me softly and pulls me close so that I can feel his pounding heart next to mine.

“Good,” he says. “This is the only place I want to be.”