Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

I glanced up from the navigation chart at the sound of Sloan's cabin door opening. Sloan and I were supposed to spend the morning troubleshooting the filter system. But if the motor continued to have issues like it had yesterday, I wanted to have some alternate routes in mind.

Sloan and I had gone sailing in the past but never in rougher conditions like we'd faced yesterday. Through it all, Sloan had been calm and confident, in command. It was sexy as fuck. Watching her ride the waves as if she were on top of the world. As if she were free.

"Morning."

She groaned. "Morning."

"Feeling a little rum-punched," I teased, trying to focus on the chart instead of Sloan's bare legs.

"Har. Har." She squinted then sank down on the chair across from me. "That stuff was stronger than I realized."

I reached over to the galley, grabbing the plate I'd prepared for her. "Here." I set it on the table in front of her. I wondered what she remembered from last night, but I didn't ask.

I'd nearly kissed her. Several times. Fuck.

"Thank you. And thanks for last night."

I lifted a shoulder. "It's my job."

Her expression fell briefly, and I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth. I hadn't meant it like that. Yes, I was being paid to be here, but I wanted to take care of her. And not just because I was her bodyguard. Because I was her friend.

Right. Her friend. Even I didn't believe that.

I could never be just her friend. Sloan had always… I blew out a breath. I'd never imagined myself with anyone but her.

"This looks delicious." She surveyed the plate of toast, eggs, and bacon. "Thank you."

She took a few bites and groaned, dropping the fork to the plate. "Oh my god. This is so good, I could kiss you." She stilled. "I, um…"

I reached out to wipe a crumb from the corner of her mouth but then stopped myself. "I know." You have a boyfriend. I cleared my throat. "How's your side?"

A boyfriend who wasn't here, though I still didn't understand why. Maybe he couldn't be away for two months, but he could've joined her for part of it. I would've if we were together.

She touched her side gently. "A little better."

"I'm glad, but there's no rush. We can stay as long as you need."

She stood. "If we can get the fuel supply line sorted, I think we should push on."

"Okay," I said, trusting that she could make the best decision for herself. "But if we're heading out today, I don't want to leave much later than ten."

"Agreed."

Sloan washed up, and we headed below deck. We spent the rest of the morning removing the filter housing and replacing it with a new system. I didn't see any signs that it had been tampered with, and that was a relief. Sloan did most of the repair, while I assisted. She made it look easy even when I knew it wasn't, and I was in awe of her.

"Look at that." Sloan smiled, dusting off her hands. "It's nine thirty."

"Look at that." I smirked, wishing I could fix our relationship as easily as we had the filter system.

That said, for the first time since we'd left Miami, I felt hopeful. For the first time, we were united.

It wasn't long before we were casting off. Our voyage to Pittstown Point was mostly uneventful. I still had concerns about the fuel supply line, but the only way to test our current "solution," if you could call it that, was to run the motor for long periods of time. So that's what we'd done.

Sloan planned to have the boat evaluated once we reached Turks and Caicos. My guess was that there had been a leak in the filter housing or coalescer, but we wanted a mechanic to look at it for both our peace of mind.

I wasn't na?ve enough to consider it—or our relationship—fixed, but we'd encountered no issues since. And that was certainly an improvement. Our tentative friendship was also an improvement.

"We should reach Plana Cays today," I said after she'd emerged from the bathroom the following morning. Her hair was freshly braided, and the smell of sunshine and wild roses clung to her.

We'd spent the night at an anchorage that had been peaceful and isolated. Our only company had been the sharks that had shown up after dinner, swimming slow circles around the Athena for a few hours.

"I'm glad we decided to press on yesterday." She joined me at the table, tucking her leg beneath her. It had the effect of revealing more of her tanned, toned thigh, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek and glance away.

I'd already spoken with the staff at the Huxley Grand Turks and Caicos via satellite phone and confirmed our plans with the head security officer. Even though I'd hoped it was unnecessary, I'd requested round-the-clock surveillance on the Athena while it was docked. When it came to Sloan's safety, I wasn't taking any chances.

There'd been no new threats since she'd left London, but that didn't mean we could let down our guard. Not until the culprit was caught. And I was determined to give Sloan the peace of mind she seemed to have reclaimed on the water.

"This was a nice spot," Sloan said, surveying the anchorage.

"Very peaceful."

Last night had been clear, the sky full of stars. It was the first night since starting our trip that I'd slept deeply, secure in the knowledge of her safety. She looked better rested too, and, for that, I was grateful.

Sloan sighed wistfully and stood, wincing slightly as she did so. "It is, but I suppose all good things must come to an end."

I'd always hated that expression. Probably because I didn't want it to be true.

I closed my laptop and stowed it away. I was concerned about Sloan's side, but she'd assured me she was fine. And the arnica and ice seemed to have done their job. Her skin was still bruised, but her pain had lessened.

"Ready when you are." I followed her up to the deck.

I raised the anchor, and then we motored out. The first few hours were spent beating directly into the wind, much like the past few days. We were once again reduced to tacking—zigzagging across the water.

"If this continues," I said to Sloan. "We won't even need GPS. All we'll have to do is navigate directly into the wind each day, and we'll reach our destination."

She laughed, though she didn't seem at all daunted by the challenging conditions. If anything, she seemed to relish them.

"Not ideal," she finally admitted. "But better than our trip to Clarence Town."

"True."

Around lunch time, we raised the sails and turned south. That made a huge difference—it was as if the Athena had let out a sigh of contentment. I patted her side as she proceeded to slice through the water.

Sloan smiled and tilted her head back to soak in the sun. "That's more like it. Athena's happy, and the sunshine will top off our battery bank."

I nodded, scanning the horizon. No cargo ships. No other sailors. It was as if we had this part of the world all to ourselves.

It was both peaceful and strange to sail for hours on end without seeing any signs of human life. It almost felt as if we were the last two people on earth.

"It's desolate out here," Sloan said, echoing my thoughts. "Beautiful, but even more remote than I'd expected."

"What type of route do you typically sail for your annual trip?"

"It varies. I'm usually gone for three, four weeks, tops, so I stick to trips that allow for more island-hopping. I've done the Greek Islands, the Grenadines, the South Pacific."

"Always alone?" The fact that her boyfriend wasn't here still niggled, but I didn't want to ask about him. I didn't want to think about him.

She nodded. "Until this year anyway."

"Damn." I rubbed a hand over my mouth. "I didn't realize…"

"How experienced I am?" she joked, waggling her eyebrows in a suggestive way.

I laughed, but her comment had me thinking of the first time we'd slept together. About her lack of experience at the time, at least when it came to sex.

"Are you sure?" I asked, hovering above her, my cock hard and seeking her core.

This woman was going to be the death of me.

As much as I'd tried to deny it, I wanted her. I wanted her, and it was wrong. But I couldn't help myself.

The more I got to know Sloan, the more she'd burrowed beneath my skin, the easier it was to forget that she was my sister's best friend who was off-limits.

Sloan nodded, her pupils blown wide with desire. "I want this, Jackson. I want you."

She locked her hands behind my neck, pulling me down for a kiss. She wrapped her legs around my waist, tugging me closer.

I writhed against her, my cock sliding through her wet heat. "God, hayati . You feel so good."

"Yes," she moaned. "Yes, Jackson." She dug her heels into my back, edging me closer.

I slid inside her, hissing at the tight grip of her pussy. Fuck me, she felt good. So good.

She winced a little but then seemed to relax, taking me in fully.

"You okay?" I asked, brushing her hair away from her face.

"You're just…really big."

"You sure know how to stroke a guy's ego. Here." I rolled us so she was on top. "You control our pace. You control how deep I am. Take as little or as much of me as you want."

She placed her palms on my chest. "I want all of you."

"You have me," I groaned, watching in awe as she slid all the way down.

"You know," Sloan said, jolting me from my memory. "At first, I wasn't happy about giving up my solitude on this trip." Her expression was contemplative, and then she dipped her head. "But I'm glad you're here."

I tried to gauge her expression behind her sunglasses. "I'm glad I'm here too," I said, surprised by her admission.

I wasn't sure she'd feel that way if she knew I'd been taking a mental walk down memory lane. But I appreciated her saying it.

"I mean, it's nice to know I have something to feed the sharks if they decide to circle again," she joked.

"Ha-ha." I laughed, though it was without humor. "I'm too tough to be tasty."

She gripped my bicep, her touch like a brand. "I beg to differ." She seemed to realize what she'd said belatedly, her eyes going wide.

I shuddered. "Was this your plan all along? Agree to bring me on board only to cast me out as shark bait?"

"You're only just now realizing that?" Her answering smile was wicked and fucking sexy.

This was the Sloan I knew and loved. The woman I'd fallen in love with all those years ago. I could remember another time she'd smiled at me like that.

"Put this on," Sloan said, handing me a sleep mask. It was navy and silky, but it was the middle of the day.

"Why?" I asked, immediately suspicious.

Greer was out of town for the week—staying with Logan and his family for spring break. I hated that I was lying to my sister, and I knew Sloan hated it. I didn't blame her—she was in an impossible situation.

At least we were no longer lying about my job. I'd told my family that I was leaving the Navy, though I hadn't shared the circumstances that had led to it. I was still so ashamed that I'd been discharged. I couldn't bear the thought of disappointing my mom.

I was still looking for another job, but for now, the club paid well, even if the hours sucked. Still, it allowed me to spend time with Sloan, especially on days like today, when the club was closed. I was surprised Sloan didn't have plans. She'd quit working at the restaurant and started a paid internship at a luxury hotel. Between that and a full class load, she was busy.

"Please." She batted her eyes.

I narrowed my eyes at her. We were standing in the kitchen of her apartment, and I didn't get the feeling she was trying to blindfold me for sex. Not that I would've been opposed, but my heart was fully at her mercy. I didn't know how much more I could take.

I stepped closer, taking the sleep mask and then turning her so her back was to me. "Maybe you should wear the sleep mask," I rasped in her ear.

She shivered, and I cascaded my hands down her arms. But then she straightened and seemed to shake herself out of it. She turned to face me, and I was so distracted by the feel of her lips on mine that I barely noticed her slipping the sleep mask from my hand.

"Nope." She smiled against my lips before leaning back. "I need you to wear it. I have a surprise for you."

"What kind of surprise?" I waggled my eyebrows.

She rolled her eyes. "Yes, there will be sex involved, but we have to get to our destination first."

"Which would be…"

She shook her head. "You can put it on now or when we get in the car."

I narrowed my eyes. "I don't like surprises."

I meant it. Surprises as a SEAL were deadly. And my training was so ingrained in me that the idea of covering my eyes and leaving the apartment went against the very fiber of my being.

She looped her arms around my neck. "I know. But you like me, right?"

"Mm-hmm." I nuzzled her neck.

I more than liked Sloan. I loved her, but I couldn't tell her that. Not when we were still keeping our relationship a secret from my sister and I had no idea what the future held.

I hated that we had to sneak around, but the idea of hurting my sister nearly killed me.

And I knew what would happen if we told her. When Greer had found out about my relationship with her former best friend, she hadn't talked to me for weeks. And they hadn't been nearly as close as Sloan and Greer were. Telling Greer would only end in heartbreak for everyone.

"And you trust me," Sloan said.

"Yes." I peeled her shirt aside, kissing every inch of available skin I could reach.

She moaned. But then she pushed me away. "Stop trying to distract me."

"But it's so much fun." I smirked.

"Jackson," she huffed.

"All right. All right." I slid the sleep mask over my eyes. "Happy now?"

It was dark, and I didn't like giving up my sense of sight. But I had to trust Sloan, and I did. Besides, my curiosity was definitely piqued about whatever she had planned.

With my vision darkened, my other senses were heightened. I heard a loud zipper. The jangle of her keys as she locked the door behind us. Felt the warmth of her skin as she slid her hand in mine.

I'd had to step up into our ride, which meant it wasn't your typical taxi. And the seats were a soft, buttery leather. Where was she taking me, and how could she afford this?

After nearly an hour car ride that had left me grumpy and still clueless as to our destination, we stopped. Sloan thanked the driver before helping me out of the car. The noise of the city seemed magnified, and was that…a ship's horn?

I itched to remove my blindfold. I hated not being able to scan my surroundings, to make sure Sloan was safe. But I was trying to be patient—for her. Because whatever this surprise was, she'd clearly gone to great lengths—and perhaps considerable expense—to make it happen. For me.

"Here we are," she said, finally sliding the sleep mask from my face. "Surprise!"

I squinted against the bright morning sun. A row of sailboats bobbed in front of us, glass skyscrapers rising dramatically behind them.

"We're having lunch by the water?" I asked.

"Nope." She grinned. "We're going sailing."

"In one of these?" I encompassed the boats with a sweeping gesture, my excitement growing. I loved sailing, and Sloan and I had been talking about going together. But it had always seemed like something that was out of reach. We either couldn't find the time or the price of renting a sailboat for a weekend was astronomical.

"Come on." She tugged my hand, leading me past the row of sailboats used for tourist charters and over to a locked gate.

I surveyed the area, only a few people out. The boats were very expensive. What was she…

She unlocked the gate and pushed it open. I stood there a moment, gaping at her. I followed, trying to put together the pieces of a puzzle that weren't fitting.

Sloan stopped before a gorgeous sailboat that had to cost six figures. Easily. If not more.

"Come on." She smirked. "You can check out the cabin while I get us ready to cast off."

I grabbed her arm, holding her loosely. "Cast off? Sloan, whose boat is this?"

I didn't know what answer I was expecting—or even hoping for—but it certainly wasn't the one she gave. "It belongs to my grandfather."

She didn't meet my eyes when she said it. And all I could think was, who are you?

Our GPS signaled, indicating our destination was near. I glanced away from Sloan to scan the horizon, squinting at something in the distance as a strip of land came into view. A sliver of golden sand bisecting blue skies and bluer waters. It was…

"Paradise," Sloan sighed, taking the word right out of my mouth. "It's so beautiful." Her tone was full of awe.

"Pristine," I said, amazed at the miles of white, sandy beach. The water was crystal clear, and there were no people or boats in sight.

"How are there not more people here? Enjoying this unspoiled beauty?"

I lifted a shoulder. "I don't know, but I'm certainly not going to complain." I was in one of the most beautiful places on earth with the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen.

Because I was being paid to be here.

I straightened. Right. This was my job. Not a vacation. She was my client. We were friends—or, at least, we were trying to be. And I didn't want to lose the progress we'd made.

"Let's head over there to anchor," Sloan said.

"Aye-aye, Captain."

She grinned, cutting the engine so we slowly drifted toward the island. "Captain, huh?"

Once we were in a more sheltered area, we worked together to lower the anchor. She'd been more playful today, less serious. Less withdrawn. It was nice.

"I figured you preferred it to Ms. Mackenzie," I teased. I'd stopped calling her that days ago.

"Oh, definitely. But you know you can call me Sloan."

"Nope. I like Captain. It suits you."

She smiled, and the sight went straight to my chest. Fuck.

For so long, I'd been convinced she'd never look at me that way again. As if…

She tilted her head. "What?"

"I should check the anchor," I said.

Before I could respond, she headed over to the stern. She stripped out of her clothes, and I stood there, gaping at her. She wore a bright coral bikini that left little to the imagination.

Holy…fuck. I'd had principals who were celebrities. Models, even. But no one had ever affected me like Sloan.

"What are you doing?" I asked, watching as she grabbed a snorkel and a pair of fins and dove into the water.

"Sloan!" I rushed to the edge and peered over. She was treading water, smiling up at me.

"The water's perfect." She used her goggles to peer beneath the surface, even though I could see clearly to the bottom from the boat. "Jackson!" She surfaced. "You have to see this—it's amazing. Fish and coral and—" She gasped. "A manta ray."

"Someone should stay on the boat," I grumbled. "Keep an eye on things."

She spun around in the water. "There's no one here. We have this entire deserted island paradise to ourselves. When will this ever happen again?"

Likely never.

I was still in disbelief that this was my current reality.

Still, I was supposed to be protecting Sloan. Not allowing myself to be distracted by the coral reef and her bare skin. Not when it made me want to cross lines I shouldn't.

When I continued to hesitate, Sloan said, "As your captain, I order you to join me." Then she hastily added, "If you want to, that is," with a smile.

Of course I wanted to. When it came to Sloan, it had never been a question of want.

I glanced around once more, satisfied we were completely alone. Safe from outside threats apart from those posed by mother nature. I stripped out of my shirt, gratified when Sloan couldn't take her eyes off me. I could feel her gaze lingering on my skin, and the fact that I'd stolen her attention from the reef felt like a prize of its own.

I grabbed some goggles and checked our position and the forecast once more before jumping in. Sloan squealed—splashing water at me as soon as I'd surfaced.

"You scared away all the fish with your cannonball," she teased, and I slicked water away from my face.

"Hopefully all the sharks too," I joked, though we both knew they could show up at any time. If we were lucky, we'd only see the more harmless kinds—lemon, nurse—if any.

I peered beneath the water with my goggles, amazed by the colors and vibrancy of the reef and all its beautiful creatures. Sunlight filtered through the surface, spearing the water with its rays. A school of dark black fish with brilliant cobalt fins and tails darted by.

"Look over here!" Sloan called, and I swam closer, smiling at her excitement. It was almost more fun to watch her than the show beneath the water.

She grabbed my hand and pointed in the distance where a sea turtle swam among the reef. I smiled, unable to focus on anything beyond the fact that she was touching me. Holding my hand. We swam for a while, pointing out various things to each other and reveling in our discoveries.

I tried to capture the moment in my mind, the feeling of being with Sloan. I didn't want this to end. Not just today, or even the trip, but my time with her.

Sloan had made it very clear she didn't want to revisit the past, but being with her called so many memories to mind. So many good memories, even ones I'd long forgotten or suppressed.

And now, we were creating new memories together. Exploring new places. Revealing new facets to each other.

When I was younger, for a long time, I'd thought being discharged from the SEALs was the biggest mistake of my life. But seeing her now, I knew what had happened with Sloan was my biggest regret. I should've never let her go.