“That’s a last resort, though,” Ella said quickly, perhaps sensing Caelan’s feelings, irrational though they were. “I’d rather see her finish out her week with you, if it’s possible. First, gather your facts. If she’s as into you as you’re into her, and I’m suspecting that she is, then why can’t the two of you move forward in a non-professional capacity? That is, like two regular people who have a shared love of BDSM and want to delve into it together?”
Caelan stared at them both in confusion. “You’d let me do that? What about my job as a trainer?”
“You can still be a Desire Island trainer. Or not, if that doesn’t work for you. You bring a lot to this place, Caelan. You’re our on-call doctor, and the questionnaire you designed has been very successful in allowing us to better tailor our training programs to the individual. Our reputation is growing in the community, in no small part thanks to your expertise and dedication. Life is way, way too short to put professionalism over the possibility of love.”
Love.
Caelan had never been in love before. He’d been in lust lots of times. He’d confused fondness and familiarity for love a time or two. But he’d never experienced the all-consuming passion of a genuine romance. He’d almost come to believe true love didn’t exist, at least not for him.
Until now.
Ella rose from her seat and walked around the desk. She put her hand on Caelan’s shoulder as she looked into his face. “It could just be an infatuation. But it could be the start of something more. You have our blessing, Caelan. Take a chance. What have you got to lose?”
Chapter 10
“I thought I might find you two out here.”
Skylar had been leaning back on her elbows, hypnotized by the cresting waves and the vast, impossibly blue ocean melting into the horizon. She whipped her head in the direction of Master Caelan’s deep voice.
Abbie, who had been dozing beside her, shifted from her stomach to her knees in one fluid movement, no sign she’d been half-asleep the moment before. Following her lead, Skylar, too, moved from her back to her knees, though without the fluid grace of her more experienced new friend.
“Good afternoon, Master Caelan,” Abbie said in a respectful tone.
“Hey, girls,” he said, smiling down at them both, though he looked rather tense and uncomfortable. Dressed now in black shorts and a faded red T-shirt, he held a picnic basket in his hand. Addressing Abbie directly, he added, “Thanks for taking care of Skylar while I, uh, took care of some issues. You can go on in and get ready for lunch. Skylar and I will be having our lunch here on the beach. We need to talk over some things. I’ll use your towel, if that’s okay.”
Abbie shot Skylar a surreptitious eyebrow raise that telegraphed, “This is an interesting turn of events,” her mouth quirking into a quick smile as she gave Skylar’s hand a comforting squeeze. “Yes, Sir. ” Abbie rose gracefully from her knees.
“Thanks, Abbie,” he replied.
As Abbie walked toward the building, Master Caelan sat down beside Skylar. “I need to talk to you. Not as trainer to trainee, but just as two people who need to figure some things out.”
Skylar wasn’t sure if that was an ominous or a good thing. She rolled to a sitting position and sat cross-legged beside him. Just his presence aroused her, making her nipples harden and her heart quicken.
At the same time, she was nervous, uncertain what had happened between them in the water room or where she now stood. She was dying to blurt out what was on her mind. “Am I in trouble? Are you feeling what I’m feeling? Kiss me before I go insane!” She managed to keep her mouth shut, however, and wait for him to take the lead.
He set the basket down between them and opened the lid. “Henry packed us a lunch. I hope you like roast beef on rye?”
“I do, Sir. Thanks.”
Master Caelan removed a small plastic-coated tablecloth from the basket. He shook it out and set it just in front of them on the sand. Then he brought out two sandwiches wrapped in old-fashioned wax paper, along with two bottles of chilled water, a container of pickles and another of potato salad, two plastic forks and a handful of paper napkins.
“Wow, he packed us a feast,” Skylar said. She hadn’t realized she was hungry until she unwrapped her sandwich and took a bite. “Yum. That’s delicious.” She brought a hand to her mouth, suddenly worried she’d been too informal. “Oops. I’m sorry, Sir. Was it okay to speak? I forgot to get permission.”
Master Caelan smiled, shaking his head. “No, that’s fine. Let’s suspend the formalities for a moment.”
“Am I in trouble, Sir?” she blurted.