Page 22 of Power
“It’s a sixty-foot Princess Skybridge,” he said.
“She’s a beauty.”
After Luciano helped her aboard the Omega, she removed her shoes, and waited on the sofa in the stern while he flipped on the blower, checked the engine compartment for bilge water, and disconnected the shore power. Once he’d fired up the engines, he and Stuart untied the ropes securing the yacht to the slip.
“Enjoy your evening, ma’am, Mr. Santini,” Stuart said before walking back down the pier.
Luciano opened the door to the interior and Simone stepped inside.
“This is fancy.”
He led her to the bridge, waited for her to climb into the plush leather co-captain’s chair before he sat in his. “Time for fun, Ms. Redding.”
He steered the yacht out of the marina, then through the No Wake zone. Once on the Potomac River, he increased the speed and the yacht glided effortlessly over the water. If there was anything that helped calm his tormented soul, it was boating. As he glanced over at his dinner companion, guilt slithered around his soul. He shouldn’t be having fun, ever. He should be hunting down the monster who shredded his life.
As if sensing his struggles, she appeared by his side. “Call me Simone,” she murmured, plucking him from his maddening thoughts.
In the darkness, his gaze found hers. She looked so much more relaxed on the water. Like she could leave her own demons on shore and drift happily downstream.
“I didn’t learn anything about you,” she whispered. “Not one damn thing.”
“That’s because there’s nothing to learn,” he lied.
She smiled. “I know who your friends are, so I’m sure you’re up to something evil. I gotta say, though, you wear it very, very well.”
“No one wears evil like I do,” he said with a smile.
They passed a Carrera Cruise ship and then another. This part of the Potomac was a hot spot for evening boating, especially in the fall when the nights turned crisp. He captained the yacht until he found his favorite spot on the river. An alcove tucked out of the way. And he dropped anchor.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
She slipped her hand under his sport coat and caressed his back, then dropped her hand to his ass and squeezed. “I’m starving. Absolutely starving.”
The sultry look in her eyes was his green light. Then, she reached over and ran her hand over his crotch. “Are you hungry?”
“Yes,” he replied. “I’m fucking famished.”
SIMONE
Simone could not regulateher breathing. Desire thrummed through her at a frenetic pace. From the intensity in Luciano’s eyes to the way his designer duds hugged his perfectly sculpted body, she was primed for a release. It would take very little effort to push her over the edge.
But it was more than a physical attraction. He was the epitome of power. There was a strength in the way he carried himself, the way he spoke, and how he commanded the space. He demanded respect simply by existing. She’d never been around anyone like him. It was a heady combination that left her hungry for more.
He wrapped his hand around her arm, guided her from the bridge to the cabin. She admired the exquisite sofas, chairs, and artwork. She was floating, like she was having an out of body experience. Being on his private yacht didn’t feel real. Was this a trap? Did he bring her here to force her to tell him who’d hired her?
Her insides were throbbing, and she shoved out any thoughts about her job, about her being a watcher, about his alleged white-collar crimes. In this moment, all that mattered was his mouth on hers, his body on hers, his cock inside her. That was it. She didn’t care about anything else except this Adonis of a man standing inches away.
With a strong hand around her waist, he guided her down the stairs and into his private quarters at the end of the hallway, furnished with a beautifully appointed king-sized bed.
“My stateroom,” was all he had to say.
She could tell him no, but that was the last thing she wanted to utter. Alone with Luciano Santini seemed like a bad decision she’d regret later. Now, it was absolutely necessary, like breathing. Shehadto have him. For her, there was no other option.
Standing behind her, he slowly unzipped her jumpsuit. When he pressed his lips to her skin and kissed her shoulder, a shiver of excitement raced down her back.
“Yes,” she whispered dropping the clothes off her shoulders.
Once again, she’d skipped the bra and panties.
