Billionaire At Sea

24

Damian

Dinner was served buffet style again. There were huge platters of Alaskan King crab legs, walleye, butterfly shrimp, and BBQ ribs. For the sides, the girls had made an assortment of hearty selections, including lobster mac-n-cheese, au gratin potatoes, and green beans with bacon.

“If we keep eating this way, I’m going to be too tired to party,” said Thane, filling his plate.

“No s**t,” said Reed, who stood between us. “I can’t remember the last time I ate this well.”

“Sinclair isn’t much of a cook?” Thane asked.

“She’s an excellent cook. It’s just that she doesn’t like doing it. So, we eat out a lot,” Reed answered.

“Sera’s a great cook and enjoys it,” said Thane. “I’m a lucky man.”

“Sounds like you’re both pretty lucky. How did you meet your wives?” I asked them. Listening to the two of them talk about their wives reminded me that it was possible to have a successful marriage.

“It’s a long story,” said Reed, smiling.

“But one that’s very interesting,” said Thane. “Sinclair was dating his brother.”

My eyebrow shot up.

“They weren’t really dating. Jesse’s gay,” explained Reed. “For some reason, he decided that he needed a date for my parents’ anniversary party. A female one. Anyway, through a series of unfortunate events, we hooked up and eventually fell in love.”

“Unfortunate events?” I repeated, wanting to hear more.

“Exactly what he said. Unfortunate events,” said Thane. “The kind that ends up on the news.”

“Now that sounds fascinating,” I said, thoroughly intrigued now. “What in the hell happened?”

“It’s a long story. If you’re interested, I’ll tell you about it. I just have to be sitting down,” he joked.

“That bad, huh?” I said, chuckling.

He chuckled. “Yeah. ‘You can’t write this s**t’ type of bad.”

“Okay then. What about you, Thane?”

“I met my wife at work. Coincidentally, she also had a lot of baggage before moving to California.”

“Baggage that almost got her killed, too,” said Reed.

I looked at both of them in disbelief. “This is getting more interesting by the minute. How do you two know Ransom?”

“Our wives used to work with Tiffany. His fiancée,” said Reed. “Actually, so did Thane. Until he married Sera.”

“You were a hair stylist?” I asked, not picturing it. Thane was rugged, muscular, and hard looking. I couldn’t imagine him standing behind someone and asking if they wanted high or low lights.

“No. I just owned the place,” he replied. “Sera runs it now, since I’m too busy with my gym.”

“Oh, you own a gym?” I said, thinking that made more sense.

“Yeah,” he replied.

“Thane used to be a fighter,” said Reed.

“What kind?” I asked.

“MMA,” Thane replied. “That was a few years ago. Now, I just train others interested in the sport.”

“Good to know. We might need your help if Simon gets out of hand later,” I joked.

“Yeah, he gets worse when he drinks, too,” said Reed.

“Great,” I said, noticing that Simon was barely eating anything. The fact that he was snorting coke also meant that he probably wouldn’t be passing out anytime soon, either.

We took our food to a table and I got to know Ransom’s friends a little better. By the time I was finished clearing my plate, I had a lot of respect for Thane and Reed.

“I’d love to meet your wives someday,” I said, getting ready to leave. “They’re obviously fascinating women.”

“We’ll have to get together the next time you’re in California,” said Reed.

“Most definitely,” said Thane.

“I’m looking forward to it.” I looked at my watch. It was time to check in with Mia. “I’ve got to go and take care of a few things. Help yourselves to more food or beer. I’ll be back in an hour or so.”

They both thanked me.

I checked in with Ransom, to let him know I had some things to take care of.

“No problem. If you run into Mia or Ridley, tell them we’re thoroughly impressed with the food,” he said, sitting back in his chair. “I’m stuffed but I can’t seem to stop eating.”

“I have a feeling I’ll be bumping into one of them,” I said, imagining Mia naked and underneath me as we bumped uglies. Slightly tipsy, I laughed at my mind’s play on words.

“What’s so funny?” asked Ransom.

I waved my hand. “Nothing. Help yourselves to anything you want. I’ll be back.”

“Will do. Thanks again,” he said raising his bottle of beer. “You’re an awesome host.”

“Only when I want to be and you’re worth it,” I said.

“I appreciate it, bro,” he said and took a drink of beer.

On my way out, I pulled Marshall aside, and told him that I was going to be unavailable for the next hour.

“Why?” he asked bluntly.

“I’ve got some business to take care of. If you need anything, send me a text,” I said.

“Sure.”

Running a hand through my hair, I left the dining room and hurried to Mia’s cabin. I knocked on the door rapidly and waited for her to answer. It seemed like it took forever for Mia to open it. When she did, I found it was worth the wait.

“Hello there,” I murmured, staring at her lustfully. She’d changed out of her uniform and was wearing nothing but a small, white robe.

“Hello,” she said, smiling at me. “I wasn’t sure you were coming.”

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. “Oh, I’m coming, alright. Right after you, do.”

Mia smiled.

Mia

Damian was good on his word. Pulling off my robe, he picked me up, carried me to the bed, and had his tongue between my legs before my head hit the pillow. After making me come, he made love to me with a fervor that left my head spinning. As he was throwing away the condom, I asked if he’d used one in the supply room.

“Of course,” he said, turning back to me. “I know you’re not looking to have kids right now and Lord knows, I’m not. I’ve already got one who thinks I’m a jerk.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t think you’re a jerk,” I said, watching as Damian began to dress.

“He hates me for leaving his mother. I don’t exactly blame him.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” I said, wondering if he still loved her. The thought made my stomach sour.

“He’s just a kid. He doesn’t understand. All he knows is that his parents were together and now they’re not,” Damian replied.

“I’m sure he must have known that you two fought a lot.”

“We tried keeping it from him… but, I’m sure he was aware that we weren’t getting along.”

Kids were always aware. Their parents were the most important people in their lives, I thought, thinking of my own.

“You don’t regret leaving Marissa, do you?”

He looked at me like I’d said the most absurd thing in the world. “No. Not at all. I only regret not being a better father for him. I should have been around more.”

“You were busy earning a living,” I said, thinking about his baseball career. “It’s not like you were screwing around.”

“Yes, but… I didn’t try hard enough to keep him close. Hell, maybe I should have hired a traveling nanny.”

“You did your best under the circumstances,” I said, not knowing what else to say. Maybe he could have tried harder. I had no idea. “Just think, though… you have a second chance to make things up to him. Don’t wreck it.”

He smiled at me. “Mia, I can tell you’re the type of person who’s always trying to build others up but without sugar-coating things. I have the utmost respect for you.”

“And I have the utmost respect for you,” I said, feeling suddenly as if he was about to break it off with me.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen after this weekend, but I want you to know that I haven’t felt this way in a long time. Seriously.”

I relaxed. “And how is that?”

He grinned wickedly. “Like I’m a teenager again. All I want to do is stay here and mess around with you all night.”

I smiled back. “I wish you could, too.”

His phone began to vibrate. “It’s Marshall.” He read the text and grunted. “Looks like the entertainment has arrived.”

I frowned. “How exciting,” I said dryly.

Damian looked at me, an amused expression on his face. “You have nothing to be jealous about.”

“I’m not jealous,” I said, the lie sounding ridiculous on my tongue.

“Not even a little?” he teased, crawling over to me.

“Maybe a teeny bit,” I replied, as he cupped my breasts and kissed them.

“No matter what those girls look like, nobody has breasts like yours. Yours are perfect,” he said, weighing them in his hands. “And sexy enough to get me hard again.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “You’re getting hard again? What are you on, Viagra?”

“I’m on Mia,” he said, unzipping his shorts again. “And plan on being in her again real soon.”