“What was that?” The concern in my voice dissolves with my breathlessness.
He drops his forehead to my shoulder. “Ignore it.”
Another bark, then another followed by a thump on the backside of the boat. “It sounds like a seal?”
He sighs long and hard, then pulls back to look down at me. “It’s Morpheus.”
My eyes pop wide. “What is Morpheus?”
He drops a kiss to the tip of my nose. “I’ll show you, but we’re coming back to this afterwards.” He rolls off me just as another bark comes from the back of the boat. “I hear you! Shut the fuck up now!”
I scramble to throw on one of Aden’s T-shirts and he tosses me a pair of boxers that I have to roll up a few times to keep them from falling down my legs. He puts on a pair of swim trunks and with a little maneuvering and effort, laces them up over his erection. I pat my heated cheeks, hoping they’ll die down and that the effect of seeing Aden aroused after a day of sex would wear off. We move through the small cabin and out to the back of the boat.
“It’s a little early for a wake-up call, man.”
I peek around Aden’s big back to see a dark gray sea lion the size of a small couch perched on the back deck. “Oh my gosh, Aden . . . he’s huge,” I whisper to keep from spooking the animal. He has to weigh five hundred pounds and his teeth are as long as my fingers.
“Huge pain in the ass.” He pops open the live bait box and reaches in to grab a handful of sardines, then tosses them to the animal. “There. Happy?”
Morpheus swallows them whole and barks for more, which makes Aden chuckle.
“This isn’t SeaWorld.” He tosses him a few more. “And you’re being rude.” Aden nods toward me. “Can’t you see I have company?”
It’s almost as if the sea lion understands him because his big black eyes track to me.
“Here.” Aden hands me a live sardine and I hold it tight to keep it from slipping from my fingers. “Toss it in the air. He’ll catch it.”
I do and sure enough he catches it on the fly. “Wow, he’s good.”
“Last one.” Aden hands it to me and I do the same, watching how quickly the animal moves to get the fish. “Now go!”
Morpheus grunts and barks one more time before lumbering his big body down the dock where he stops at Jenkins’s boat. He barks.
“Oh no . . . Aden.” The animal barks again and again and I feel each one like a blow to the chest. “That’s so sad.”
He turns to head back inside the cabin and I meet him in the kitchen where he’s washing his hands. “He’ll get over it.” He dries his hands on a towel and moves aside so I can wash mine. “In time, everyone will.”
I tilt my head to peek up at him. His jaw is hard and his gaze is cast out toward the bay. “Including you?”
“Yeah.” He squints out the small window. “Jenkins wasn’t a young man, he—” Aden clears his throat. “There are worse ways to go.”
“I’m sure there are.” I move to a stool across from him feeling his need for space.
“Thanks for being here.”
The seriousness of his voice calls my eyes to his. He doesn’t look away and I watch as genuine appreciation shines back at me.
His lips tick with a tiny grin that has my belly fluttering. “If we don’t get outside and in public I’ll end up holding you hostage in my bed.”
My belly flips at the promise behind his words. “What do you suggest?”
“Let’s take the boat across the bay for breakfast.”
“All I have is what I had on last night. I don’t even have a hairbrush.” I tug on the T-shirt I’m wearing self-consciously.
He comes around the counter and turns my stool before pushing his thick thigh between my knees and cupping my face. His dark eyes trace the line of my jaw, my eyes, then slide down to my lips. “Flushed cheeks, eyes always bright but they’re shining now, thick dark pink lips from being sucked and bitten, freckles . . . never seen a woman wear the morning-after look as well as you.” He licks his lower lip and I’m practically panting. “Matter of fact, lookin’ at you now . . .” He slides his hand up my thigh to my ass and pulls my leg up so I’m forced to lean back against the bar. “I changed my mind about leaving.”
“I thought, you said . . .” I squirm in my seat as he kisses my neck all while grinding between my legs. “Public.”
“Yeah, we need to get in public fast.”
“I’ll get dressed.” My thighs ache to clamp down around his waist as he pulls from between his legs, flashing me a smile that almost knocks me off my seat.
“Good idea.”
He steps back and when I move he slaps me on the ass and groans.
So maybe I don’t have the wardrobe of a fashionista on hand, but the way Aden looks at me in his T-shirt and boxers makes me feel like I’m wearing designer clothes. I keep Aden’s shirt on, loving the way it smells like his cologne, but put on my shorts. I use Aden’s toothbrush, wash my face, and pull my hair back in a ponytail. The boat’s engine fires to life as I’m coming out of the bathroom and decide to quickly make Aden’s bed before joining him at the wheel.
“Aden!”
The sound of an unfamiliar voice calling Aden’s name pulls me to the window.
Aden jerks his head around to the dock with a surprised “No fuckin’ way!”
A man with white hair climbs aboard and gives Aden a back-thumping hug. I can’t see his face with Aden’s big body blocking the view.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
I step outside, not wanting to be rude, and wait to be introduced. Aden must feel me close because he turns to me just as the man says, “After you told me about Jenkins I came right down. Here to pay my respects.” The man startles when he sees me and narrows his eyes.
Aden runs a hand over his hair. “Fuck, man . . . I don’t remember calling. Sorry ’bout that.”
My stomach plummets when it hits me who this guy is.
“You were pretty fucked up. Thought maybe you’d accidentally drowned.”
“Nah . . . I’m good.”
Blood drains from my face.
The sky spins.
I dig my feet into the deck to keep from falling over.
“Uncle Cal, you remember Celia?”
This is happening. This is really happening.
Passing myself off as Celia to everyone else seemed easy enough, but judging by the way Cal’s staring at me through tight slits I doubt Aden’s uncle will be as easy to fool.
“Yeah, I remember Celia.” He makes no move to come closer, to give me a hug or even shake my hand, but instead stands there thickening the air between us until I choke on it.
I cough to clear my throat. “It’s nice to see you again.”
His eyes move from mine to study me in Aden’s shirt. His lip curls in disgust.
“Cal. Don’t look at her like that.” Aden throws an arm over my shoulder, pulling me in close. “Whatever you think this looks like . . .” There’s a smile in his voice, but I can’t see it because my eyes are glued to the floor as my cheeks ignite. “You’re probably right.”
“Jesus, Aden.” Cal grumbles under his breath.