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“All sorted with Joel. Heading back to the cabin. Come back to me.”
This cruise has been a whirlwind of emotions, but it’s also been a wake-up call. I’ve spent so long letting fear hold me back, worrying about what others might think or how things could go wrong.
But life’s too short for that. Dylan makes me happy, makes me feel alive in a way I never have before. And I’m done letting fear dictate my choices.
Chapter Twelve
Dylan
The morning sun streams through the curtains, painting Caress’s skin in a warm glow. I trace lazy patterns on her back, savoring these quiet moments before our last day on the Infinity Voyager begins. Her steady breathing and the gentle rocking of the ship lull me into a peaceful trance.
“Mm, morning,” Caress mumbles, nuzzling closer.
I plant a soft kiss on her forehead. “Morning, beautiful.”
She lifts her head, a mischievous glint in her eye. “You know, we could just stay here all day. Skip the farewell party entirely.”
The temptation to do exactly that nearly overwhelms me. But I know we can’t hide away forever, no matter how appealing the idea might be.
“As much as I’d love to,” I say, “we should probably make an appearance. After all, we have a lot to celebrate.”
Caress’s smile softens. “We do, don’t we?”
The past few days have been a whirlwind of emotion, from the initial tension of our fake relationship to the explosive revelation of our true feelings. Now, on the cusp of returning to the real world, I find myself both excited and nervous about what the future holds.
We drag ourselves out of bed and get ready for the day, stealing kisses and lingering touches as we move aroundeach other. It’s amazing how quickly we’ve fallen into this comfortable domesticity as if we’ve been doing this dance for years instead of days.
As we make our way to the Aqua Aura Pool Bar for the farewell brunch, I can’t help but marvel at how different things feel compared to our first night on the ship. The weight of pretense has lifted, replaced by a deep sense of contentment.
“Well, well. If it isn’t the happy couple.”
Trevor’s sneering voice cuts through the pleasant buzz of conversation around us. I feel Caress tense beside me, but before I can step in, she surprises me by squaring her shoulders and turning to face him.
“What do you want, Trevor?” Her voice is steady, none of the fear from our previous encounters present.
He leers at her, his gaze roaming over her body in a way that makes my blood boil. “Just wondering if you’ve come to your senses yet, baby. You know this little fling won’t last once you’re back on dry land.”
I open my mouth to retort, but Caress beats me to it.
“First of all,” she says, her tone sharp, “I’m not your ‘baby.’ Second, what Dylan and I have is none of your business. And third, the only thing I’ve come to my senses about is how much better off I am without you in my life.”
Pride swells in my chest as I watch her stand up to him. This is the Caress I’ve always known was there, strong and fierce and utterly captivating.
Trevor’s face contorts with anger. He takes a menacing step forward, towering over Caress. “You ungrateful little-”
I move to intervene, but once again, Caress surprises me. She doesn’t back down, instead matching his stance and lifting her chin defiantly.
“Go ahead, Trevor,” she says, her voice low and dangerous. “Man up or shut up.”
For a moment, tension crackles in the air between them. Then, almost imperceptibly, Trevor falters. His gaze flicks between Caress and me, uncertainty replacing his earlier bravado.
“You’re not worth it anyway,” he mutters, before turning tail and storming off.
As soon as he’s out of sight, I pull Caress into my arms. “God, you’re amazing,” I murmur into her hair. “I’m so proud of you for standing up to him like that.”
She melts into my embrace, a small tremor running through her body. “I couldn’t have done it without you,” she says. “You’ve helped me find my voice again.”
A throat clearing behind us makes us both jump. We turn to find Joel standing there, an unreadable expression on his face.
