The Devil's CrownPart Two - Monica James Page 0,87

can think is that I want more. After what happened with Santo, I never thought I’d feel this way again. But being with Alek, touching and not shying away, feels like I’m taking back my life.

Piece by piece.

I’m still a work in progress, but I’m ready.

Our faces are inches apart as I pull away slowly. I’m lost to him—entirely. I will never stop wanting him, loving him. I was naïve to think I could walk away from this. Alek is a part of me. Now and forever.

“Be safe…красавица.”

Closing my eyes, I savor the way my nickname rolls from his tongue. How I’ve missed hearing it.

“Always,” I whisper, opening my eyes.

Alek examines me closely, and I’m sure he’s confused about what’s going on. My hot/cold behavior is frustrating. My emotions are all over the place.

Breaking away, I make my way down the stairs toward the platform. Alek slows the yacht down. I take off my sunglasses, sarong, and sandals and dive into the crystal blue water. The temperature is pleasant. I swim toward Rodrigo’s yacht, filling my lungs as I come up for air.

He stands on the platform, offering his hand, which I accept as I approach him. He helps me up, and by no accident does he pull me toward his chest. When we collide, he laughs while I tamp down my need to knee him in the balls for touching me.

I have to remember I’m here with a purpose.

“Thanks.” I chuckle, discreetly shifting out of his hold.

“American?” he says, surprised.

“Yes, don’t hold it against me,” I tease while unfastening my wet hair.

Rodrigo laughs, watching as I wring out my locks. “Come, let me get you a towel.”

Following him, he leads me into the living space and passes me a beach towel.

Drying myself off, I subtly take a look around for anything suspicious. Nothing catches my eye. He takes the wet towel from me and tosses it into the corner of the room.

“How do you take your coffee?” Rodrigo asks, walking over the pot of already made coffee.

“Black.”

He nods and reaches for a clean mug. He pours me a cup as I take a seat at the breakfast bar. “Thank you,” I say as he slides it across to me.

Cupping the mug, I inhale the coffee, which smells wonderful.

Rodrigo openly ogles me, which makes me feel uncomfortable, but this was part of the plan. I just need to focus.

“Have you been at sea for long?” I innocently ask, sipping my coffee.

Rodrigo leans up against the counter opposite me. “For about a month,” he reveals. “I’ve worked with boats my entire life, and about a year ago, I had enough money to buy this yacht. Maria and I are drifters, calling the ocean our home.”

“Where did you two meet?” I honestly don’t care and hope he gives me the short version, but I need to know everything I can about them.

“She was waitressing in Portugal where we’re both from,” he replies in a faraway voice as if reliving the memory. “It was love at first sight. Well, for me anyway. But she eventually came around.

“We both wanted adventure, something bigger than what Portugal could offer, which is why we sail with no destination in mind. Wherever the wind takes us, so to speak, is where we go. We’re able to see so many different places this way.”

They’re go-getters—so far, no alarm bells.

“What about you? How did an American end up”—he spreads his arms out wide—“here?”

“I was working in Italy and met Olek,” I say, deciding to use how I met Frank as my backstory. “It wasn’t love at first sight. But Olek and I…we work.”

“So, you’re…together?” he asks, drawing his pointer fingers together.

Shrugging, I sip my coffee before replying, “We’re something.”

Rodrigo smirks, my aloof response appearing to appease him for now. I need to change the subject. “Where are we headed? The last port we were at was Latvia.”

Rodrigo whistles. “You’re a long way from there. We’re in the middle of the Baltic Sea. The nearest port isn’t known by many.”

Okay, now alarm bells begin to sound.

“It’s not listed on the conventional navigational charts. It’s a secret, one which I was lucky enough to discover while working on the boats of the rich and powerful. Maria and I stayed on the island. It’s small, but it’s paradise. Untouched. I think you and Olek will love it.”

No, I do not agree. I think Olek and I will hate it.

However, keeping my cool, I grin and act coy. “I hate to admit this,