“Just how many scenarios are you prepared for?” Aurora asked incredulously.
Khaleel laughed out loud. “Take your pick of whichever suit you think is best for you,” he said. “Then you can eat and sunbathe and we can both enjoy this beautiful day.”
Aurora took the pile of bathing suits from the crew member and looked them over for a moment; they were all two-pieces, some skimpier than others, and after a moment’s reflection she decided on one of the black ones, for the fact that it seemed to offer the most coverage.
Khaleel pointed out a changing cabin off to the side of the shaded area on deck, and Aurora went into it, stripping off the sopping wet clothes and taking the tags off of the bathing suit before slipping it on. Checking out her reflection in the mirror, she had to admit that it looked good on her.
She emerged from the changing cabin and struck a pose for Khaleel. “I thought I chose well,” she said, tilting her head slightly to the side.
Khaleel stared at her for a long moment, and Aurora felt the blood rushing into her face, even with the little thrill that accompanied it at the Sheikh’s reaction. “You chose very well,” he said.
Aurora looked around and felt a flicker of mischief. She took a few more steps towards Khaleel and then stopped. He moved towards her, almost like it was like a dance, and Aurora watched carefully, doing her best to look as casual and innocent as possible, as they moved closer to each other. She shifted her movements to bring herself closer to the edge of the pool, and Khaleel, unthinking—just as Aurora wanted him—followed her lead.
“You are all about being prepared, right?”
Khaleel frowned slightly in confusion. “Yes, I am. Why?”
Aurora reached out and shoved Khaleel’s shoulders, pushing him onto the ledge at the edge of the pool. The Sheikh yelled in shock, his face falling into dismayed lines. He stumbled and then fell backwards, tumbling into the water. Aurora laughed hysterically, delighted at her own stratagem as he quickly resurfaced.
“Okay,” he said, spitting out water and laughing. “I deserved that.” He swam to the ladder on the other side of the pool, cutting through the water with all the skill of an athlete, and then climbed out.
“You had to expect that I’d get my revenge,” Aurora called out to him.
He grinned and half-ran around the perimeter of the pool to where she stood. Aurora’s heart beat faster in her chest, and for a moment she was certain that he would throw her in.
“Boo!” Khaleel said, his hands closing on her waist.
Aurora yelped, and then—as it became clear that he was just joking—she laughed, shaking her head.
“I’ll get you back later,” Khaleel told her, still smiling. “When you least expect it.”
“Why not call it a truce?” Aurora raised an eyebrow as she made the suggestion. “You dunked me, I dunked you; we’re even.”
“You dunked me on my own yacht,” Khaleel countered. “Infinitely more embarrassing.”
“You at least are dressed in a bathing suit,” Aurora pointed out.
Khaleel gave her a mock-severe look but then released his light hold on her waist, nodding his agreement and smiling. “Okay, I’ll agree. Truce.” He extended his hand towards her and Aurora shook it, fighting back the urge to laugh. “Now, let’s get some food—I think we’ve both earned it, don’t you?”
“Sounds good to me,” Aurora said, nodding. She felt ever so slightly self-conscious in the bathing suit she’d accepted from Khaleel, though she wasn’t sure why; the suit wasn’t any more revealing than anything else she’d ever worn to the beach, and in some respects it was almost demure. Perhaps it was the fact that the Sheikh kept glancing at her as they loaded up plates with food from the buffet, and then waited at the bar for Chris to make their drinks.
“Tell me about yourself, Aurora,” Khaleel said as they sat down by the pool.
Aurora shrugged. “I told you about myself already,” she said. “I don’t know what else you want me to say.”
“You have your degree,” Khaleel said. “I know that. And I know you either don’t have a job right now, or you were planning on not having one soon—that’s the only reason I can think of for you to stow away. You said you needed to get away.”
Aurora shrugged. “I was in medical school until a few months ago,” she said. “I dropped out when I realized that I only went in because my parents expected it of me.” Aurora ate a bite of a vegetable salad and considered. “My mom’s a gynecologist, and my dad’s a trauma surgeon.”
“Very respectable jobs,” Khaleel said, inclining his head towards her.
“They always thought that my best chance of being happy and secure would be to become a doctor too,” Aurora explained. “I just remember