“Yeah, I do,” he croaked. Soren cleared his throat. “I hoped it wouldn’t be too bad since we’re docked. I guess I was wrong.”
“Are you feeling any better?”
He shook his head. “Not really.” His stomach was more than a bit queasy.
“Well, you know the cure for that. You’re going to have to get back on dry land.”
“Sorry for wrecking your night.”
She smiled. “There is nothing to apologize for. It’s not as if you planned to get sick.
We just know for next time we’ll have to go somewhere else.”
“So I haven’t turned you off by puking my guts up?”
Treasure chuckled. “Lucky for you I’m not one of those people who get sick when they see someone else doing it. And I don’t suffer from seasickness. No, I definitely want to see you again. But right now, I think we need to get you dressed and off the yacht before you feel much worse.”
He gave her a sheepish look. “I hate to say it, but I think you’re right. This wasn’t exactly how I wanted to see our date end.”
“We’ll do better next time.”
“When?” Soren felt his stomach working up for another bout over the toilet. He had to get out of there before that happened.
Treasure gave his forehead one last wipe before she put the damp washcloth on the side of the sink. She looked back at him. “Well, for the next few days I’m busy with appointments and viewings, so closer to the end of the week. I’ll wait until you have possession of your penthouse and I’ll come over with a housewarming present.”
Soren swallowed, still fighting his traitorous stomach. Even though it would only give his family’s lawyer four days, he would have no problem closing on the penthouse by then. His family paid him very well, and they were his top clients. With the mating urge riding him it would seem like forever. The longer he waited to claim her, and the more time he spent away from her, the worse it would be. He expected he’d be able to at least see Treasure every day until he felt comfortable telling her about him being a werewolf. And he’d thought it would be a lot sooner than four days. But he was stuck.
He didn’t want Treasure to think he was some kind of stalker, needing to be with her every day. By the end of the four days, his control would be holding on by a thread. He hoped he’d be able to hold back long enough to tell her everything before he couldn’t stop himself from claiming her.
He nodded. “All right. Come to my penthouse on Friday, any time you want. I’ll be there.”
Treasure smiled. “It’s a date. Now let’s get you out of here. You’re definitely not looking any better.”
Soren followed her out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. He collected his clothes as Treasure went to the dresser and pulled out a pair of capri pants and a t-shirt.
After he put on his jeans, he had to sit down on the end of the bed as he fought the urge to get sick again. Now dressed, she must have noticed his distress, because she picked up his shirt where it lay next to him and helped him put it on. Next she took hold of his hands and helped him stand.
With his fingers linked with Treasure’s, Soren allowed her to lead him back to the main cabin and then up the small flight of stairs to the deck above. He made sure he kept his gaze off the water and horizon, concentrating on his feet instead. Once on the dock, he breathed a little easier.
At the marina’s parking lot, Treasure stopped under one of the tall lights and looked at him closely. “You’re already looking a bit better, but I think a walk is in order before you get into your car.”
He took a deep breath, feeling some of the queasiness recede a little. “I think you’re right.”
They held hands as they walked out of the parking lot. Even though it was dark, they headed for one of the small parks next to the marina. Not that the darkness bothered him. Being a werewolf, he was able to see as if it were daylight. They only saw a few other people who seemed to be enjoying the summer air. At least it still wasn’t humid. The heat wave they’d had for the last few days had abated with the rain they’d gotten the day before.
By the time Treasure and he had done a short circuit around the park, Soren felt like himself again. And the mating urge once more rode him hard. Even though Treasure had brought him to release with her mouth, it really hadn’t done anything to relieve him. If anything, oral sex made it worse, and would be even more so if he came that way again. Since he wouldn’t be seeing Treasure for four days, it definitely meant he couldn’t become intimate with her like that again. It would only push the limits of his control.
Back at the parking lot, Soren pulled Treasure into a hug and kissed the top of her head. She fit nicely in his arms. After a few seconds, he released her with a sigh. “I guess I’ll see you on Friday then.”
She nodded. “Yes, but you can call me before that if you want. I might be too busy to see you, but I can still fit in a phone call. My cell phone number is on the business card I stapled to your copy of the offer.”
“I’ll do that.” He kissed her forehead. “Talk to you later.”
Hating having to leave his soon-to-be mate behind, Soren got into his car and drove away. Friday would seem a long time in coming.
After Soren’s car disappeared down the street, Treasure turned and headed back to the yacht. She hated to see him go, but it wouldn’t have been fair to let him suffer any more than he had. She winced inwardly when she thought about how sick Soren had been. Maybe she should have told him where she was staying while they were still at the restaurant once she’d invited him over. It might have saved him a bout of seasickness. But the thought that he would suffer from it had never crossed her mind.
The few friends and family she had over didn’t get seasick.
Treasure stepped onto the yacht and went below deck. She headed straight for the wet bar, put some ice in a glass and poured a shot of rum into it before she added some cola. With drink in hand, she went and sat on the couch and switched on the large LCD TV. It wasn’t all that late, and she wasn’t tired.
Thoughts of what she’d shared with Soren, before he’d gotten sick, kept flashing through her head. She really liked him. A lot. And the way he touched her, kissed her, she would have had no problem asking him to stay the night with her. Not only was he a nice guy who she wanted to get to know better, but he also rocked in bed.
Treasure took a sip of her drink and sighed. She could see herself easily falling for Soren. So far she couldn’t find anything wrong with him. And that he didn’t mind waiting until Friday to see her, because of her busy schedule, it just put him in better standing. Maybe he would be the one who stuck around for a while. She knew she wanted him to.
Soren closed his bedroom door behind him and blew out a breath. After he’d arrived at his parents’ mansion he’d told them the good news about having bought his very own penthouse. Much to his surprise, they hadn’t seemed all that thrilled with the idea of him moving out, especially his mother. It had been hard seeing the tears she’d held back, making her eyes glassy, as he’d told them about his new place. Shit, he was nine hundred years old. His mom had to expect he’d eventually move out. But he had a feeling he knew why she’d been so emotional. He was her youngest—his two older sisters were already mated and lived in their own homes—and only son. His mother was going to have a hard time letting him go. He couldn’t imagine how she’d take the news that he’d found his mate.
As he walked toward his bed, his cell phone rang. Soren pulled it out of his pocket and looked at the display. It wasn’t Treasure calling, it was his friend, Kian.
He flipped open his cell, and said, “Hello, Kian. I thought you’d be too busy spending time with your mate to call me.”