But the idea of sailing away, so compelling just a few days before, no longer seemed so bright and shiny, not if it meant leaving Lainey behind.
What if she came with him? She was a good sailor. She could be his first mate. They could sail by day and sleep together in the cabin below deck. There were all sorts of wonderful BDSM possibilities on a boat. A vision of her naked and bound with rope to the mast leaped into his brain, making his cock twitch.
Imagine having her all to himself, 24/7. His own sub girl, to use, to train, to own, to cherish…
But that was crazy, right? They’d known each other for a weekend. Could he really expect her to quit her job on the island and drop everything in her life to go sailing for a few months with a guy she’d only just met? That wasn’t fair of him to expect. Not to mention, it was probably insane. Just because their connection had been instant and deep, that didn’t mean it would last.
This was probably infatuation, an all-consuming flare of passion that would soon burn itself out.
“Am I falling in love?” he asked the seagull hovering nearby.
“There you are.”
The sound of Lainey’s voice made him whip around. Had she heard him talking to the bird?
She was wearing a short kimono robe closed with a sash around her slender waist. Her face was still sleep-smudged but she was smiling. If she’d heard him, she wasn’t letting on. “I woke up to an empty bed. When I called out, you didn’t reply. For a second, I thought you’d bailed on me.”
“Never,” he said, moving toward her to take her into his arms.
They kissed for a long moment. She tasted like toothpaste. He probably tasted like hard salami, but she didn’t seem to mind. Their kiss was ardent and deep, reawakening the lust that had fueled hours of lovemaking.
When they finally parted, his cock was throbbing and hard. His thought was to steer her back inside and to the bedroom, so they could pick up where they’d left off the night before.
But Lainey moved too quickly for him. She stepped over to the balcony and leaned her elbows on the ledge, just as he had done. “I love it at this hour. Everything so still and quiet, the air fresh and cool. As the sun comes up, the gray sky and gunmetal water turn to gold and lavender and brilliant blue.” She drew in a breath and let it out as a long, happy sigh.
“You’re very poetic,” Cooper observed. He moved to stand beside her, forcing his cock back under control. “Imagine living on an island, falling asleep each night to the lull of the waves. Or on a sailboat, waking up each morning to the wide-open sky and endless ocean.”
“It sounds pretty wonderful, actually,” Lainey replied, making his heart skip a beat. “I’m envious of the girls on the island—Abbie and the rest. Talk about paradise.”
“The island or their lifestyle?” Cooper asked, striving to keep his tone light.
“The island,” Lainey replied quickly. She glanced at him and then back at the water. “I could never be a staff slave. I’m not even sure I’m submissive.”
Cooper noticed the revision. Before this, she was “definitely not a sub,” so they were making progress. He put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer. She leaned into him, fitting perfectly against his body, as if they had been made for each other.
“It’s a journey,” he said quietly. “You don’t have to define yourself a particular way to take that journey, Lainey. You just have to have the desire and courage. I’d love to be the one to travel that road with you.”
She pulled away from him and looked up into his face, frowning. “I don’t understand. Aren’t you leaving in two days?” She wrapped her arms around herself and turned away, but not before he saw the pain in her eyes.
He reached for her, turning her gently back to face him. “No,” he said, his decision suddenly made. “I’m staying. On the island. At least for a while.”
“What?” Lainey stared at him, mouth falling open. “Really?” Her voice, normally low-pitched, had risen an octave. A big smile moved over her face, which seemed suddenly lit from within, as bright as the newly risen sun. “Wow, that’s great!”
Cooper let out the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. A crazy joy was filling his insides. He held on to the balcony ledge to keep from lifting into the air. “They’ve offered me a job, if I want it. I’m thinking maybe I could try it out.” He shrugged, striving for a nonchalant tone, doubting his success.
“Nothing too intense. Just holding classes about impact toy technique and bondage knots. Maybe some hands-on training for newbie Doms. That kind of thing.”