Captain's Orders (Every Curvy Inch Book 3) Read online

  “Anyway,” Sarah cuts her off, “Vic, are you not lactose intolerant?”

  I slurp up the final sip. “I am, but fuck it, you only live once.”

  The girls still seem a bit anxious. They seem genuinely concerned about my mental health with Tyler on board.

  “Ladies, fuck Tyler. There’s like four thousand people on this ship. What’s the odds we’d bump into each other? That’s like one in four thousand, right?” I tell them, brushing him off like he means nothing to me.

  Charlotte frowns. “Yeah, I’m not sure that’s how it works.”

  We spend the next two hours sipping on cocktails and dancing to music playing through the portable speaker I packed. For supper, we all agreed on sushi, which was to die for, before heading back to our cabin to get ready for our night out.

  “I told you bitches we’d need these,” I tell my girlfriends, holding up four evening gowns designed by yours truly. The girls still think I’m insane to be dressing up on a holiday, but I always say you can never look too good.

  While Sarah and Charlotte do their make-up, Emily simply slips on her dress, ties her hair back and is ready to go. “Oh, hell no, Emily. You are not going out looking like that. Girl, you and I are single.”

  Emily shoots me an evil glare, but I’m not accepting no for an answer.

  “I’m not looking for a man,” she grunts as I apply foundation on her face.

  “Sweetie, you don’t need to look good for a man. This is for you,” I tell her. Reluctantly, she allows me to work my magic. By the time I’m done, even Emily cannot hide the grin that forms on her lips.

  We step into the club and all eyes are on us. Fuck, I love the attention. The four of us walk in a line, taking in the attention, when my focus shifts to a man wearing next to no clothes, walking around in insanely high heels—Jonathan.

  “Where the hell have you been?” I snap.

  “Girl, I met someone.” He can hardly contain his smile.

  I slap him against the arm. “You cow! Anyway, let me know before you pull another disappearing stunt like that.”

  Jonathan leans in on me. “I have something that will make you forgive me in an instant,” he says, clicking his fingers.

  My attention perks. “Oh, really? What?”

  “Look behind you,” he whispers.

  I turn around and find Marc Stephenson smiling at me, holding two drinks in his hands.

  It feels like I’d have to pick his jaw up from the floor as he runs his eyes down my body. “You look… wow!”

  “Thanks,” I say coyly and accept the cocktail he offers.

  As cute as Marc is, I have no intention of sleeping with the man. The plan is to network with one of the world’s biggest designers and hopefully get a foot in the door. I have dreamed of making beautiful evening and wedding gowns since I was a little girl dressing up my barbie dolls. So when Marc leans into me for a kiss, I pull away, using the cocktail to block my lips.

  “Easy, tiger. Let’s try keeping it professional, okay?”

  Marc begins apologizing when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around and find Tyler, dressed in a handsome black and white suit, towering over me. “Care for a dance, milady?”

  Tyler

  Even in the crowd of people dancing and drinking the night away, Victoria stands out like a peacock in a field of ravens. She hasn’t changed one bit since I last saw her. She’s as beautiful as I recall, and fuck me, I think she may even be sexier. When I met Victoria she was a curvy girl, hell, that’s one of the things that had me falling for her. She has curves in all the right places, curves that drive blood straight down to my throbbing cock.

  I see her talking to another man, about a head shorter than I am, and my nostrils flare up. I watch them for a few moments, but when he tries to kiss Victoria, I know I cannot stand back any longer. My jaw clenches up and my fists tighten at the sight of him trying to push himself on to her.

  I dart forward and whisper in her ear. “Care for a dance, milady?” As she turns around, I give the stumpy man in front of her an evil glare, demanding he leave us alone.

  Victoria sighs. “Seriously, Tyler? Are you stalking me now?”

  I pull her into me. “Victoria, I know you’re upset with me. I focused on my career, because I believed that was the best thing for me to do. But I want you to know that you have been on my mind since.”

  She takes a few moments to contemplate my words. “Do you still think it was the best thing to do? Leave me to work on a ship?”

  “I do,” I breathe.

  She rolls her eyes, annoyed, and turns away, when I grab on to her arm. “I think it was a good idea to pursue my career, but that does not mean I’ve been able to get you out of my mind. Victoria, you’re all I think about.”

  Victoria takes a few moments, holding her head high and proud. Her fierce hazel eyes are wide and I see the craving in the redness of her cheeks. I can’t help but take a few moments to glance down her body, admiring the way the fabric presses against her every curve. I want nothing more than to reach out and rub my hands against every inch of her.

  “Tyler,” she sighs, “I… I don’t think it’s a good idea to be speaking with you. I have to go—”

  She turns around, and I pull her back into me, pressing my body into hers. Fuck, every part of me aches to grab on to her ass, to lift her up to my waist and claim what belongs to me.

  “Babe, I let you go once before, but hell will freeze over before I make that mistake again. You may not be ready to admit it yet, but you’re mine. Always have been and always will be.” With that, I plant a kiss on her forehead before walking off.

  I first met Victoria four years back and from the moment I laid my eyes on her I knew she was mine. I had heard so many stories about her, about how her skirts were way too short, or that she was a spoilt rich girl. Thank God I don’t give a fuck about what people say or I would have missed on the opportunity of knowing the most beautiful, kindest, and smartest girl I know.

  Our relationship was nothing short of fucking magical, and I’m not just talking about the sex. She made me feel things I never believed possible.

  When I got my captain’s license, Victoria hated the idea of me not being around. She told me she couldn’t stand the idea of me being away and that we should end things. I let her get away once, and I was a fucking fool to walk away from the best thing that had happened to me.

  Now, after seeing her again, she’s awoken something I thought had died. I’m madly and utterly in love with Victoria, and I’ll be damned if I let her go this time. I have no idea how I’m going to make this work, but I’ve managed to figure out everything else in my life. No, sweetheart, this time I’m here to stay.

  I step out of the club and call Marty. “Buddy, I need to ask you a huge favor, please?”

  “Yeah? What’s up?” he responds through the muffled walkie talkie.

  “I need you to come down to the club and keep an eye on someone. You will notice her immediately. She’s wearing a black dress, has long, silky black hair and a curvaceous body.”

  He takes a few moments to consider my request. “Will do, sir,” he says, and I already know he will grill me for details later. “Anything I need to look out for in particular?”

  “Yeah. Make sure no man gets too close to her.”

  Marty, the ship’s crew captain, is second in charge and also my right-hand man. God knows where I’d be if it wasn’t for the advice he gives me.

  I never let people into my life, believing that my problems are meant to be solved by myself. But with Marty, I don’t even need to tell him when something’s up, he can just tell. I’m good at giving orders, but asking for help is a different ballgame.

  Knowing she’s in good hands, I walk back to my cabin and begin planning for the day ahead tomorrow to see how I can get through as much as possible to have enough time to seek out my queen.

  Baby, your fate is sealed. Victoria was, is, and always will be mine.

  Chapter
Three

  Victoria

  I crawl out of bed and rub my temples. “Dear God, Sarah, please stop screaming.” I need an ice-cold strawberry milkshake, the only thing that will cure this hangover.

  After making a poor attempt at making myself look presentable with a baggy T-shirt and a comfy pair of shorts, I phone up the spa and book a massage for 11:00. I slip on a pair of shades and head out in search of my hangover cure.

  I wonder if the girls heard the crazy sex-dream I had about Tyler last night. I dreamed I was in his cabin and lost all control and gave in to his touch. We spent the night making mad, passionate love. By the time I woke up, I was dripping in a pool of sweat with heat flushed between my legs.

  I knew I should have avoided looking into those sexy green eyes of his last night at the club—my kryptonite. I vividly recall the butterflies fluttering inside my stomach as he pulled me into him and I know I need to kill… whatever that was… before it’s too late and I give in to the ache I feel between my legs whenever he’s around me. I need to kill it quickly because I know it’s better being alone than risking the pain of losing the only man I’ve ever loved… again.

  I find a seat at the bar and order my milkshake to go when I notice a handsome man smiling at me from two seats down. From his suit and the obnoxious crocodile skin shoes he wears, I can tell the man has money.

  He sneaks me a playful grin and bites on his bottom lip suggestively. I shake my head in response, a courteous way of saying I’m not interested. Not because I don’t find him attractive, but because he’s sitting next to a stunning girl and pretends as though she does not exist.

  Fucking rich, entitled bastard.

  Moments later the bartender puts out a shot of tequila in front of me, telling me it’s from him.

  A shot of tequila? Great, so on top of being an asshole, you’re a cheapskate as well?

  I push the shot aside and lean over the counter, whispering into the bartender’s ear, “You see that beautiful lady sitting next to the prick that bought me this shot?”

  The bartender glances over and the man smiles at us. “Yeah?”

  “I want you to make her the fanciest cocktail you have and slip this napkin under her drink.” I write, Here’s to the most beautiful girl in the room on the napkin and hand it to the bartender. “Oh, and please throw that shot out, won’t you? Thanks, love.” I smile at the bartender and head off for my massage.

  “Sorry, I need the bathroom before we get started,” I tell the masseur, knowing that if I don’t get to the bathroom before this massage starts, I’ll be pinching for the next hour.

  “Straight down that passage, the second door to your left,” she tells me.

  I tighten the towel draped around my body and make my way down the passage. After finding relief, I head back for my massage, but I nearly drop my towel as I step out of the bathroom.

  Fuck, I just cannot escape the man.

  He takes a few moments to run his eyes down my body, and I imagine all the thoughts running through his head. I wonder if he remembers what I look like underneath this towel.

  He speaks. “Just the woman I’m looking for,” he says, and I wonder if that sexy husky undertone was intentional. He knows that sexy growl is enough to make me spread my legs right here.

  Not today, Satan. Not this time. “Sorry, Tyler, I can’t chat right now. I have a massage to get to,” I tell him and push past him. He stands in front of me, blocking my way. Slowly, I look up until my gaze meets his. His gaze is intense and he closes in on me until I feel the warmth of his breath on my skin.

  I take deep breaths in and out, trying to appear in control, but the man has me sweating and he hasn’t even touched me as yet. I fucking hate that he has such a hold over me. The scent of his cologne hits me and practically has me crumbling at the knees. I can tell he still wears the same cologne. God, I’ve avoided perfume stores for four years, not expecting that scent would still find me.

  Without saying another word, Tyler pulls on my hand, dragging me down the passage and into the disabled bathroom.

  “Tyler—” I try telling him off, but before I get the chance, Tyler smacks his lips against mine. As much as I try to fight back the temptation, the warmth of his breath against my lips is too much for me and I wrap my arm around his neck as I meet his kiss.

  Tyler devours me, thrusting in and out of my mouth, setting my entire body on fire.

  “Oh, fuck,” I whimper as he breaks away from my lips and presses me against the bathroom door. He rips the towel off me and has a possessiveness in his eyes as he takes a closer look at my naked body.

  “Fuck, I missed this,” he growls and leans in to kiss me again. His hands cup under my breasts, squeezing each one in his hand as his tongue continues ravishing me. He runs his hands down my soft belly, unapologetically caressing my every curvy inch. I recall him being the only man not afraid to touch me, not afraid to work his hands wherever he saw fit—fuck, that’s one of the things I loved most about him.

  I grin, biting on my lips as Tyler moves to my neck. He sucks on the spot he knows is a trigger for me. It takes every ounce of self-restraint to not moan for all on this ship to hear. His tongue sparks a heat that travels down to my core.

  His hands run down my body, igniting a fire within when he cups his hand against the sensitivity between my legs.

  Unable to control myself any longer, I melt against him. My knees feel like jelly, as if they are about to cave in any moment, but his large, six foot three, two-hundred-pound frame holds me up effortlessly.

  I know he feels it—how fucking wet I am. His hand glides against my pussy as he works his fingers between my folds. Tyler lowers his head so that his eyes are on level with mine and begins rubbing on my sensitive nub. He stares intensely into my eyes, knowing he has complete control over me. I look back at him, but as the pressure of his thick fingers increases, I lose control and my vision grows blurry.

  When he slips a finger inside me, I know I’m going to shatter. I pant heavily as heat fills my body and my orgasm crashes over me. I moan out loud, but Tyler wraps his lips over mine so that the sound of my orgasm escapes into his mouth.

  Not even Tyler’s mouth can block out my sounds of ecstasy as I explode, with my pelvis gyrating against his hand.

  My body trembles and I fall forward, knowing that Tyler’s got me, that he will break my fall, catch me in those muscled arms of his.

  Tyler allows me a few moments to recover from my orgasm and wipes me dry with paper towels from the bathroom before wrapping the towel back around me.

  He plants a kiss on my lips. “I want you to go straight to the massage room. I don’t want you walking around with just a towel.”

  He opens the bathroom stall and one of his staff is standing there. His eyes grow large at the sight of me walking out behind him, but he quickly looks away after Tyler shoots him a warning glare.

  “Hey, I went looking for you,” the masseur tells me.

  Tyler still has my hand in his. “I just had to help her with something. I trust you’ll take good care of her, won’t you, Emma?” he says after scanning the name on her tag.

  “Of course, sir.”

  In that bathroom, I did not have any doubt in my mind that Tyler would catch me when my knees cave in.

  But I don’t think he realizes just how hard he has me falling.

  Fuck, Victoria, get your shit together. You cannot let him in, not again.

  Tyler

  I walk away from the spa, pulling my hand to my nose to take in another whiff of her scent. A huge grin is plastered on my face as I smile and strike up random conversations with the guests on the ship.

  “Hi, boss. You well?” Marco, the hotel manager, asks me in passing.

  “Never been better, Marco. Keep up the good work, yeah?”

  He smiles and gets back to work. I love my staff. I bend over backwards to make sure they’re happy because I know when my staff’s happy, the guests are happy too, and we end up with a five
-star rating.

  I feel a tap on my shoulder. It’s Marty staring at me with furrowed brows. “You ready to tell me what has you smiling so much?”

  “I think we both know the answer to that question,” I tell him and he follows me into my cabin.

  “Who is she?”

  My cheekbones hurt from all the smiling. “She… she’s the one that got away.”

  Marty holds a straight face. “Tyler, just be careful, man. Make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.”

  “I get you, man. But I cannot keep living in the past. I think it’s time to put the past behind me and focus on what’s in front of me.”

  I met Marty back in boarding school, where my mom sent me after I tried confiding in her that my fuck-up of a step-dad molested me.

  She didn’t even let me finish my story before she started screaming at me, refusing to listen to anything else I had to say. She told me I was nothing but a shit stirrer and that I was just trying to fuck up her stupid marriage. Marty has a similar story, coming from an abandoned home. Marty left Canada to study in the States, but I was super amped to find that we would be working together and have been best friends since.

  I know he comes from a good place and that he’s only looking out for me, but I haven’t been able to get Victoria out of my mind in four years. She’s not just the one that got away, Victoria is the only woman I’ll love for as long as I live.

  I tried dating other girls, but it never worked because I kept trying to compare them to Victoria. It was never fair on those girls. When you keep comparing people to perfection, they’re bound to fall short.

  The fact that she is in my ship, back with me, is all the sign I need to know I’m not making a mistake by going after her. The last time she cut me off, I should have fought for her. I should have told her that hell will freeze over before I risk losing her. But I let her go and have been living with regret since.