Thousands (Dollar 4)

In my profession—the career of making toys for the mega rich and constantly having to come up with new and unique additions to best some other wealthy bastard’s plaything—I experimented on the Phantom.

This yacht was the first to have it. It had been the showpiece to earn more business than I could handle. And a luxury I hadn’t seen since I built the fucking thing.

“Oh, cool.” Pim pointed at a jet ski that I’d completely forgotten, resting beneath a clear tarpaulin.

Unwanted millionaire toys all gathering dust.

What if this other toy didn’t start? What if dragging her down here was an utter mistake and she missed out on the dolphins while I screwed around with something I should never have purchased in the first place?

My heart sped up with worry as we reached the end of the long yacht and paused. My hand landed on the doorknob of a special airlock. The large circular dial operated hundreds of little seals and locking mechanisms, completely unneeded unless someone tried to creep aboard this way or we sprung a leak.

“Ready?”

Pim joined me, her body so small beside mine. “What’s in there?”

“You’re about to find out.”

She crossed her arms as if hugging herself would offer some form of protection. “Okay…”

Forcing myself to look away and ignore my own self-consciousness, I unwound the dial, unlocked the final seal with my key, and pushed the thick barricade open.

The sound of air rushing into the sealed chamber made a noise like a thundering tornado, only to end a fraction of a second later.

Pim shook her head in awe. “My ears just popped.”

“That’s because this place has its own circulation. It’s completely cut off from the rest of the ship.”

“Why?”

“For safety.”

She pursed her lips as I stepped aside, letting her pass.

The room we stood in was cylindrical and held hooks and shelves for fresh towels, dressing gowns, and an array of bright swimming gear. Snorkels and masks, dive equipment, bikinis and shorts.

No expense was spared.

And nothing had been touched.

I hoped she wouldn’t notice the child-size swimming gear or the still-in-their boxes inflatable lilos and rubber rings.

The silver walls held no windows or portals. The only way in and out were two doors—the one we came through and another at the end of the tube-like room.

“What is this place?” Pim moved forward in awe.

I turned and closed the door, wincing a little as the seals clicked into place, cutting us off from the rest of the yacht.

The new air pressure pushed down on us—warm and muggy, inviting us to explore the world where such a breeze came from.

“It’s a changing room.”

“If it’s just a changing room why the bombproof door?” She turned to face me, eyebrows high.

“The room we’re about to enter is special. It’s secure, but in the case of an emergency, it could flood. The door is to prevent us from sinking if that happens.”

She gulped. “Having a room that floods doesn’t sound like the brightest idea when you live on the ocean.”

I chuckled. “You might change your mind when you see what’s in there.”

“What is in there?”

“So impatient.” Flashing her a smile, I moved toward the racks of bikinis and selected an emerald satin criss-cross thing. I tossed it to her. “Here, put this on.”

She caught it mid-air. “Why?”

“Stop asking so many questions. Do you want to see the dolphins or not?”

“Yes.”

“Well, then. Obey me and put the bikini on.”

“But…” She fingered the brightly coloured Lycra. “There aren’t any curtains or doors.”

I swallowed my laugh. “You’re saying you’re shy all of a sudden? The girl who is more comfortable naked than clothed?”

She threw me a dirty look, her fingers straying to the slouchy t-shirt barely clinging to her shoulders. “I’m saying I’m trying to make this easier on you.”

“On me?” I stabbed my chest with my finger. “How is a changing room going to help me?”

She rolled her eyes as if I was being deliberately obtuse. Which I couldn’t deny, I was.

I hadn’t come here with the intention of perving at her while she changed in front of me. But now, faced with the opportunity of seeing her naked and being allowed to stare but not touch made me rock fucking hard and utterly unable to stop.

I really should’ve thought this through.

I should’ve ordered her to change before coming into this tight chamber.

I should’ve commanded her to wear a parka and ski boots instead of throwing scraps of material at her and telling her to strip.

Fuck, just the thought of her stripping made my cock leap for attention.

Her attention.

Bad, bad idea.

I wouldn’t be able to look without touching. I’d need to feel her so much, my heart would probably stop if I didn’t.

“Shit.” I gulped, backing up a step. “I’ll—I’ll turn around.” Grabbing a pair of black swimming shorts, I went as far as I could and faced away.