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El woke before Fray the next morning. It wasn’t yet light outside which suited her just fine. The fewer people she ran into while leaving-er, making the walk of shame- from LaRue’s, the better. Quietly, she gathered her clothes and got dressed by the light of a small lamp in the bathroom.
Fray was still sleeping when she returned to ease down to the side of the bed. There, she indulged in the simple treat of watching him. Gently, El smoothed the back of her hand along the side of his face. For a moment, she imagined what it’d be like to treat herself to such a simple indulgence on a daily basis.
The sweet idea had El drawing back her hand in sudden awareness. Still, her hesitation was momentary. Her whisper soft strokes to the side of his face had resumed.
Daily. That word played on a mellow and beckoning loop inside her head. Was Fray ready for daily? Ellia wondered. Was she ready for daily? She’d been ready-more than ready-years ago. Even after it had all gone to hell between them, she’d wanted daily.
That had all been about fantasy, of course. In those musings, she’d been perfect. Scar free. Fray had said none of it mattered and yes she believed him. She loved him and wanted him always. Nothing would change that.
So why was the idea of daily giving her slight jolts of panic?
Because the idea of always was wrapped in fantasy, a quiet voice said. ‘Daily’ was the reality, it added.
Fray began to shift amid the tangle of pampering covers. El made a quick retreat from the bed. By the time he’d awakened fully, she was in the armchair near the bed and stepping into her shoes.
Pushing up in bed, Fray massaged his eyes and smiled once his vision focused. The intense gray-flecked stare was at once fixed on Ellia. His smile defined in tandem with his gaze drifting toward her shoes.
“I’d really love it if you came back to bed.”
El smiled but didn’t stray from the task of securing the straps of the chic needle-thin heels. “Some of us aren’t here on vacation, you know?”
“Some of you could be,” he countered while folding his arms across the exceptional chest he possessed. “Come back to bed.”
His voice, quiet, commanding and irresistible, forced El to smile and strongly consider compliance.
“Stop,” she somehow resisted.
“I will when you come back to bed with me. I’ll even help with getting you out of that dress again.” He inclined his head and took a moment for silent observation. “The shoes can stay.”
El pushed from the armchair, smoothing down the material of the dress as she stood. “We’re about to be all sorts of busy, Fray.”
“So you’ve said-the operative words being ‘about to be’. Give me some time with you before all that.”
A teasing light illuminated El’s dark face and she moved to the bed again. “Haven’t you had enough time with me already?”
Fray took advantage and grasped El’s wrist before she could retreat. “I’ll never have enough time with you.”
Ellia tensed and though the response was infinitesimal Fray felt it as though it’d been amplified. Ignoring her reaction, he pulled her down into the bed.
“Fray...I can’t,” El resisted-pitifully- with her words, but made no physical effort to insist on gaining her release. “I should get out of here before traffic gets heavy in the halls,” she sighed. “I really don’t need to run into LaRue on my way out and in my clothes from last night.”
Fray’s smile held a lethal yet sexy element as he looked down on El from where he held her against the mattress.
“You should advise LaRue and Vixen to keep their hands off what’s mine.” He said.
El’s resulting laughter curbed into a gasp soon after it began. She really did need to get going, but giving voice to more words of resistance was impossible once Fray dipped his head to launch a wicked suckle on her earlobe.
“Come with me,” his cavernous voice seemed more darkly ragged as he carried out the assault on El’s ear.
She shivered in the grips of pleasure. “I am with you...”
Fray grinned over her misunderstanding that she’d thought he was referring to the bed, and he raised his head. “Come with me to Ohio,” he clarified and saw instead of felt her tension. Again, he ignored it.
“Fray,” El seemed to be laboring to work up her verbal response while she was still ensnared in the sensual spell he’d weaved. “It’s not...just not a good time for me to get away so-so far.”
“Not even for a couple of days,” Fray trailed his thumb across the slight furrow he saw forming between her brows.
Her lashes stirred and she finally looked up at him. “I just can’t.”
Fray managed a nod and bit back the urge to insist. He hadn’t expected her to accept the invitation anyway yet he knew he wouldn’t stop making it. Their night at LaRue’s wasn’t a singular event. He’d planned the next couple of days very carefully. He wasn’t upset about her turning down a two day trip to Ohio. He wasn’t too upset about it.
Still...he had to wonder if her rejection of a two day getaway was indicative of a larger issue. It’d be an issue they’d have to confront if there was to be anything more-anything lasting between them. Their time together since his return, had been beyond blissful, but even he knew they’d been living in fantasy.
He wanted a life with Ellia Taylor. Sooner or later he’d have to know whether she was willing to make real room for him or only to accept him in sensual yet shallow doses of time.
“Are you game for two days nearby but away from the island?” He proposed. “You’ll be a boat ride away.”
El considered. Of course she’d love two days alone with Fray. A ferryboat ride to Charleston was close enough that she wouldn’t fear panicking over being alone with him outside of her comfort zone.
“I’ll beg if I have to,” Fray warned, following the path of his hand as it skimmed her waist. “You should know that’d require you coming out of your dress and spending several more hours here with me.”
“You’ve got such a talent for begging,” El slapped his hand for finding its way beneath her dress.
“It’s a gift.”
She laughed. “You’ve sold me. I’ll go. Two days in Charleston sounds like fun,” she offered a curious smile at the strange look he gave. “What?”
“How long will you need to pack and meet me down in the lobby at The Taylor?” He asked.
El puffed out her cheeks and studied the room’s high ceiling for a moment. “I have a few things to see to at the office. I should talk to Ted about the trip and make sure she’s got a handle on whatever could come up...three, three and a half hours, maybe?”
“Take four,” Fray gave a light tug to the small dangling earring she wore. “Pack light,” he added.
Despite her need to leave, El snuggled her butt into the mattress. “Any hints on what you’ve got in mind when we get there?”
“Sorry those are all the details I can dish. If you want more though...”
“I know, I know,” El gave a playful eye roll. “It requires me coming out of my dress.”
“Now don’t be so hasty,” Fray’s grin was a wolfish one. “All things don’t require that.” To emphasize, he dipped his head to treat her to a sweet yet sultry kiss that involved him using the tip of his tongue to deliberately outline her mouth. Meanwhile, his hand covered her breast to work her nipple into a hard bud beneath the fabric of her dress. Suddenly, he let her up for air, smiling at her disappointed moan.
“I’ll see you later. Go now before I change my mind,” he said.
Fray withheld his assistance while El pushed her way up. For support, she braced a hand to his thigh and connected with more than his thigh. A whispered curse and apology followed which Fray fully appreciated. It was a pleasure to watch her overcome the effects of his touch.
Ellia finger-combed her hair into place and pushed shakily to her feet. She made her way from the room in a slow, relatively steady stride. She dared not risk a look back, lest there would be no going anywhere.
***
Unforeseen events in their daily routines had Fray and El meeting closer to sunset that evening. There were no complaints. The day had been glorious weather-wise which made for brilliant early evening skies that were flooded with a wealth of colors.
El arrived in The Taylor lobby wearing an honest to goodness happy smile. She was looking forward to the next two days. A ferryboat ride into Charleston would be a nice way to kick them off. Once she was in the lobby, she headed for the front desk. She spent all of ten minutes small-talking the staff there before Fray showed. Later, she’d tell herself that she shouldn’t have been nearly as surprised as she’d been to feel his hands circling her waist.
One glance at the dreamy, awe-filled looks from her female desk staff should’ve been a strong enough hint that there was something sexy and male in the vicinity.
“Ready?” Fray asked when El turned in his arms. His smile reflected immense approval when she nudged the overnight bag with the toe of her shoe.
El watched as Fray sent barely a glance across his shoulder. An instant later, she noticed a man standing at ease a few feet away spring into movement.
“Allow me, ma’am,” he said to El and took her bag.
“What’s that look?” Fray queried, eyeing the frown she gave with a knowing stare.
“Don’t recognize him,” El gave a quick shake of her head. “I recognize all my employees.”
“That’s because he’s not one of yours, but one of mine. He’s our ride to the boat.”
“Well aren’t you thoughtful?” El joined in when Fray laughed at her overenthusiastic comment that came complete with an enhanced Southern drawl. “Sorry you went to all that trouble, though. The ferry isn’t that far of a walk.”
“I see,” Fray took a long moment to give her an appreciative sizing up. “And you plan to make that hike in those heels, huh?”
“These?” El looked toward the peekaboo pumps she wore with a form flattering pair of skinny wine colored denims. “I could sprint to the ferry in these.”
Fray kept his expression unreadable. “We’ll see,” he patted her waist. “Right now, I need to get you out of here before someone calls you back to work.”
“There’s absolutely no chance of that happening. Ted’s the only one I’ll take a call from and I already told her to call at her own risk.”
Fray gave another pat to El’s waist. “Good girl,” he said and led her out into the breezy evening.
The man who had taken the bags, stood next to an open rear door along the passenger side of a dark Town car.
“Totally unnecessary,” El sang the words and pointed down the wide promenade to where the ferry was docked.
“Right,” was Fray’s only response before guiding her to the car and letting her precede him into its dark interior.
“So will I have to wonder about someone calling you back to work before our two days are up?” El was asking once they were both settled on rich suede seats.
“I’ve got two partners, remember?” Fray fixed her with a sly, sidelong look. “What about you?”
El rested her head against the seat back. “What about me?”
“Ever consider bringing on extra folks to take the load off?”
“I’d probably do that if I didn’t love being overworked so much,” She gave him a sobering look. “All that time... trying to build Exodus it...I don’t know. I guess it kept me sane for a long time.”
“And what about now?” Fray’s tone seemed quieter, more probing. “You think you still need it? To keep you sane?”
El studied the passing tinted scenery beyond the car window without really seeing it. “I don’t think I’m as much in danger of losing my mind as I was before,” she shrugged. “Guess I’m still not sure how I feel about passing the reins on to someone else. Fray?” She shifted a little on the seat. “We should be stopped by now, shouldn’t we?”
“We’ll be there soon,” Fray’s response was absent. He seemed more interested in bumping the end of her braided ponytail against his fist.
“What’d you do?” El’s smile was one of budding realization.
“Something fun. I hope you won’t hold it against me?”
El appeared to be thinking deeply for a moment before she shrugged. What the hell difference did it make at this point? Besides, all she wanted was to spend time with him anyway, right? It was all she’d thought about all day.
Sighing again, she closed her eyes. “I don’t think I’m in the mood to hold anything against anyone...”
Fray’s expression then was one of playful disappointment. “Well I hope that’s not completely true?”
Before El could supply a comeback, the car was pulling to a stop. She rolled her eyes. “Did you have the driver circle the island a few times to give you the chance to use that line?”
“Sorry babe, a gentleman never tells,” he reached across to open her door. “Stay put.”
Fray left the car from his side while El did as she’d been asked. She didn’t need to rush from the car to investigate the surroundings to know they’d left the promenade. There was an intriguing calm to the environment. It was as though the bustle and conversation provided by the tourists had suddenly vanished.
Fray appeared at the open car door then and reached inside to offer his hand to El. She wasted no time accepting and scooting from the car eager to see if her suspicions proved correct.
“I knew it!” She gaped. “We’re-” She looked around. “We’re on the other side of the island.”
“The lady’s correct.”
“But why?”
“Why?” Fray gave a look of utter and phony bewilderment. “For you to give me my two days.”
“But where-?” She blinked, frowned at what she saw in the distance. Staggered, she gripped Fray’s arm and asked-tried to ask- the question frantically jumping around inside her head.
“It’s not the ferry,” Fray took charge of the discussion. “I didn’t think we’d have much privacy there.”
“That’s a yacht.”
“Still a boat,” Fray chimed his smile fully devilish.
El gaped once more. Boat was an understatement. The silver and white vessel awaited them in the quiet cove beyond her private oasis past the cliffs. It was well over 100ft, if it was an inch.
“That’s a yacht,” El thought the obvious bared repeating. “You didn’t say we’d be staying on a yacht.”
“What? You don’t like them?”
“That’s not it I-I just didn’t pack to spend time in the water.”
“Not a problem. We don’t have to go in the water, Ellie.”
“I know that I-” El rested against the side of the car and took a moment before she continued. “I didn’t plan on spending so much time...out in the...”
Fray didn’t press for completion. He understood her hesitation. “Well you didn’t pack for the water. Did you at least bring sneakers?”
“No,” the question made her smile. “But I’ll have you know I’ve walked these cliffs a thousand times.”
“Humor me.”
Before she understood what he meant, Fray had taken El off her feet and into his arms.
“Those shoes are way too nice to risk on these rocks and I’d hate for anything to happen to them before I have time to fully appreciate them.”
With that said, Fray began to head down the makeshift steps leading to where the yacht was docked.
“You had all this planned, didn’t you?” El slid a finger along his jaw and made him look her way. “For how long?”
“A while.”
Her expression took on a sly element of its own. “You already knew I wouldn’t go with you to Ohio.”
“I knew.” He cocked his head in a consenting fashion. “I knew and I get that Ellie. Doesn’t mean I can’t stop asking.”
The yacht came further into view and stifled whatever response El may’ve had. Of course, the ‘boat’ was even more immense than it’d appeared from the vantage point above the cliffs.
Once they were aboard, Fray spent a few moments greeting the crew. He introduced El, who felt extremely foolish given that she was still being carried. Fray however, seemed quite comfortable with the situation. He left the crew to its business while he went on to play out his self-appointed role as tour guide.
The yacht was as spacious inside as it appeared from the exterior. There were several dining and lounge areas throughout the vessel. Lining the deck was an abundance of glossy wood and marble as well as lush cushions for the array of lounges. An unobstructed and breathtaking view greeted them at every angle.
Myriad colors flooded the sky that evening to serve up a broad scope of stunning, natural artistry. As for the interior design, most of the areas gleamed with deep hardwoods. Others pampered the feet with plush carpeting in warm tones of brown, gray, and burgundy that soothed and mellowed. It was no stretch to say the place was a veritable floating palace. El wanted nothing more than to find a place to luxuriate then and there.
Fray seemed to be reading her mind, for the grand tour ended right where it began-up on the main deck. Though the sun hung much lower in the sky, there was still more to be enjoyed of its descent.
The crew had prepared for the guests’ return. A low pine table sat between two wide lounges and had been stocked with a large bucket. Inside, a bottle of wine chilled along with several skinnier bottles of an imported beer.
In addition to the generous supply of drink, there was a cheese platter holding a diverse offering of flavors. There was an assortment of styles- from cubed to sliced to whipped. Crackers and fruit rounded out the light refreshment.
“Dig in,” Fray instructed while placing El to one of the lounges. “We’ve got three hours ‘til dinner.”
El needed no instructing on that score and was reaching for a saucer soon after Fray put her down. “What’d I do to deserve such a treat?” She asked, around the plump raspberry she’d already popped into her mouth.
“You didn’t do anything, except be who you are.” Fray opted for one of his favorite brews. “You’re a woman a man would try to move heaven and earth for if it would make you happy.” He swigged down a healthy serving of the beer.
“You’d never ask him to do such a thing which would make him want to do it even more,” Fray went on and tipped his bottle in her direction. “This, even though you consistently reject his offers for all expense paid trips to Ohio.”
El smiled. She could tell he’d meant the last as a tease, but she didn’t want to let it go at that. “Fray,” she set down the saucer she’d filled with fruit and cheese, and turned to face him on the lounge. “I’m sorry. Very. It’s not that I don’t want to go, I-I want to know where and how you live, only...”
“This is your comfort zone and you’re not ready to leave it. I get that.”
“You do?”
“I do.” He reached for her hand, squeezed. “I know how much of a struggle it had to be for you to even want to make a real life for yourself after what happened and especially here of all places.” His arresting stare scanned the evening environment before returning to her face.
“You’re in your element here. You’re strong here.”
El’s gaze faltered momentarily. “Are you saying I wouldn’t be strong anywhere else?”
“Never.” Fray’s reply came without hesitation. “I think if you weren’t here, that’d only mean there wouldn’t be an Exodus on New Island but in some other corner of the world. I believe that with everything in me, Ellie. I only wonder if you do.”
He didn’t wait for her response, instead he indulged in a swig from his bottle while returning his attention to the view. The sun was winking out far across the horizon. The last beams of daylight cast the environment beneath a spellbinding golden haze.
“Personally, I’m glad you settled on this place. The view’s excellent,” he sighed and closed his eyes.
El studied Fray for a moment and then tossed a blueberry against his striking profile. Quiet laughter emerged while the excellent view was thoroughly appreciated.
***
Dinner was to be served in two hours, so El used the break to explore more of the yacht before she headed to her cabin. Fray told her where to find it and that her bags had already been placed there. There wasn’t much to do in the way of getting settled. She had, after all, followed Fray’s instructions to pack light. There was still a while yet before they needed to meet for dinner, so she decided to treat herself to a little time in the incredible private bathroom suite.
The place was a jaw-dropper of the highest caliber, fully equipped to include its own sauna and Jacuzzi. Chocolate tiles spanned the walls and floors. El discovered to her delight; when she’d first investigated the spot, that the floor tiles were heated. She undressed, figuring she had time for a shower and was about to prance naked into the suite when the cabin door opened.
Fray walked in as though he belonged there. Well...he did. The charter was, for all intents and purposes, his. It took her several seconds to understand why he was merely standing there wearing an overly appreciative smile.
Lashes fluttering madly, El reached for the first thing she could find. She used a cashmere blanket to cover herself.
“Please not on my account,” Fray raised a staying hand.
“What are you doing here?” Her voice was a choked whisper.
Coolly, Fray went about undressing. Pulling off his shirt, he kicked off the leather sandals that peeked beneath the wide legs of his loose fitting jeans.
“Thought I’d take a shower before dinner,” he treated himself to a second appraisal of her bare-mostly bare-form. “Looks like you had the same idea.”
“But what are you doing here, Fray?”
He turned to face her fully, thumbs hooked in the empty belt loops on his jeans. “It’s my cabin,” he said.
El only slightly bristled. “You said it was mine.”
“So it is and mine too.”
“Fray.”
“Yes?”
“We can’t uh-we...”
“Yes?”
“Why do we need to share?” She gave a weak wave in the direction of the door. “It looks like there’re at least four cabins here.”
“There’re six, but we don’t need all that room, do we?” He moved closer to her as he posed the question.
“I just mean it um-it’s probably for the best-” El managed to get the last word out just as Fray invaded her personal space to block the rest of the cabin from view.
“We don’t, do we Ellie?” He tugged her free of the blanket.
They didn’t. He was right and yet... the idea of sharing the cabin with him this way felt strangely... realistic. The sensation wasn’t bad by any stretch, but El silently admitted that it did wreak some effect on her nerves. So much so, she couldn’t articulate to Fray why she was so on edge about having him there.
“So can I get undressed now?”
El couldn’t get her vocal chords to cooperate.
“Maybe you’d like to do it?” Fray lifted her high and fixed her with a challenging stare.
His look merged into one of playful expectation which caused El to smile.
“There isn’t much left to do,” she said. “Your shirt’s gone and I can’t exactly handle the rest from... up here.”
Fray gave a slow nod. “I see your point. Is there anything you think you can handle from up here?”
“Let’s see...” Drawing a finger down his cheek, El propped his chin on her nail and kissed him. The gesture was sweetly provocative before Fray sent it into full blown lust. It was a move El had no argument with. She’d already wrapped herself around him like a vine.
Fray took advantage of the position to free himself of his denims and boxers.
“Now you’ve left me with nothing else to handle,” El faked mild disappointment.
“I can still think of a few things,” He turned for the bathroom. “They should be handled from the shower, though.”
The sound of Ellia’s laughter followed them there.
~~~
They were 20 minutes late for dinner and would’ve most likely skipped the meal altogether. The aroma however, wafted through the vents and taunted their stomachs with vicious jabs.
“I think it’s being out in the middle of the ocean that’s got me so hungry.” El theorized while slathering her baguette generously with butter.
Fray chuckled while cutting into the T-Bone placed majestically in the center of the platter. The massive slab of beef was surrounded by a colorful halo of steamed veggies.
“We aren’t that far out,” he said. “Just far enough to make it seem like a real getaway.”
El looked out from where they were seated side by side with sturdy wooden mini-tables supporting their steak dinners and chilled beer and wine. From a cushioned seat along the starboard deck, they enjoyed more of the sky which was heavily sprinkled with starlight.
“Thank you Fray,” her voice held a dreamy tinge. “For doing this. I haven’t been on a yacht since the last time I got together with Moy and Seel in some faraway place.”
“And this time it was right in your own backyard.”
They ate in silence for a long while before Fray followed up his first observation with another.
“I surprised you before with sharing the cabin,” he said.
“A little,” she saw no point in denying the obvious.
“More than a little, I’m guessing.”
“It surprised me.”
“Would you like to know why I did it?”
El’s smile was answer enough. “I can guess pretty well.”
Fray shrugged, seeing no point in denying the obvious either. “That part’s a given, El. I want you even when I’m not with you, but I wanted this trip for other reasons too.”
Her expression beckoned him to continue.
“That um...that first night when we... All I wanted- well, all I wanted after having you- was to wake up next to you.”
“Fray,” El reached for his hand and forbid herself to get teary-eyed when he kissed the back of hers.
“Aunt Bin and Uncle Fiske were gonna be away for weeks,” he continued, as his fierce expression darkened with hints of malice. “It wasn’t like my dad was gonna miss tucking me in and yours...yours was used to you spending time at Bin’s or with your cousins. We were free. Free to be together that night, that morning...”
“But it never happened.” El said.
Fray’s darkened expression seemed to grow darker. “It never happened and a day hasn’t gone by Ellie, that I haven’t wondered what that would be like- to wake up next to you.”
Ellia felt her lips part over his admission. Hadn’t she started the day wondering exactly the same?
“More than that,” Fray went on. “To get up, start our day together, have breakfast in the kitchen like a regular couple. That was my plan that night and then...”
“Reality happened.”
Her words had him nodding. “Not the reality I’d planned for us-not nearly the reality.”
El gave a sad smile. “We rarely get the reality we plan.”
“I understand that,” Fray studied the fist he’d clenched. “Maybe I could’ve accepted that- maybe- if the plan had gone awry by our own hands, but it didn’t happen that way. We were at the mercy of someone else’s plans and it’s always been that way. This,” he gestured toward their environment. “This was to be our chance- my chance.”
Fray shifted El a lopsided grin that roused her smile.
“Will you forgive my selfishness?” He asked.
El nudged his shoulder. “I guess so.”
Fray; still holding her hand, gave it another squeeze. “I know you need time with this El. I just hope there’s a way for you to save time for me.”
“You mean time spent away from my own comfort zone.” She probed.
“I don’t care about that,” he pressed her hand to his mouth. “I only want the comfort zone to include me. I want you back, El. All the way back. I don’t plan on stopping until that happens. You need to understand that.”
“And what happens if my comfort zone has to include this place,” her voice harbored a vague tremble when she observed the night sky.
Fray pushed back the table and turned fully on the long seat. He cupped her face, kissed the tip of her nose.
“As long as I’m with you, I don’t give a damn where we are.”
He kissed her and a long while passed before they returned to their meal beneath the stars.