Page 63 of Dissolving Prejudice

“Fine, then I’ll just jump into the water.” I moved toward the rail of the boat when he snorted a laugh, and I turned to frown at him.

“What’s funny?”

“There’s no fucking way you’d get your hair wet after you washed it last night.”

He was right. I had a tight schedule of when I washed my hair, and it would be a cold day in hell before I’d break it. Hold on one second—

“How did you know I washed it last night?” When he kept quiet, I gasped. “You stalk me here, too? Don’t you have a shred of dignity, you impudent bastard?”

“Where do you even find these slurs?” He scratched his chin. “Do you have a book or something for that crap?”

“That’s beyond my point.” My temple throbbed with this madness. “Just answer my question.”

“Fine. I admit to being an impudent bastard who stalks you.” He then snorted before giving me a cocky smile. “But let’s stop pretending you don’t thrive on it, Llorón. You fucking love having me this desperate for your ass.”

My eyes widened at the same time my cheeks flared with heat, and so help me God, I was a mere inch from striking this man with all my might. “Ah!” I stomped my foot. “You drive me insane, Camilo. Fucking insane!”

“I love it when you purr my name, kitten. So sexy.”

Running my fingers through my hair, I tried hard not to punch him. And if all this crap wasn’t enough, Camilo was going full speed ahead with this piece of junk, and it felt more like we were jumping on the waves rather than sailing them. Water splashed everywhere, soaking my clothes and my fucking hair.

Looking over the blue ocean, I huffed. While we were far enough from the shore, we weren’t completely alone. There were quite a few people doing watersports, like parasailing or waterskiing.

“So what? You’re kidnapping me now?”

“Kidnapping you? Are you crazy?” He laughed. “I’m taking you on a date.”

“A date?”

He pointed with his thumb over his shoulder. “Didn’t you see the basket?”

Turning around, I sulked at the medium-sized straw basket that was secure at the back of the boat.

“We’re gonna have a nice picnic on the water.”

“You’re joking, right?”

“Fuck no. I even got your favorite cheese, Llorón. So stop whining, sit down, and relax.” He then smiled and pointed over the front deck. “On second thought, why don’t you get naked and lie there to catch a tan? I’d love to see that sexy ass of yours—”

“Oh, shut it,” I rasped and moved to sit in the back. He was being ridiculous, and so, as an act of protest, I’d decided to ignore him and pulled out my phone. There was no reception, yet it didn’t stop me from pretending to be busy with it for a good minute before I glanced back at him. He went as far as to wear the hotel staff’s uniform and somehow still managed to look hot. Well, he looked hot in everything.

Focus, Shay-Lee.

Suddenly, the engine stilled, and the boat stopped. Camilo got up, and I quickly averted my eyes from him so he wouldn’t notice I was staring. Walking toward me, he stopped at my feet and then crouched right before me. Still pretending to be busy with my phone, I raised one brow.

“Finally found your dream job, Camilo? A skipper in a Thailand resort? Classy. An upgrade from a common whore, if you ask me.”

I looked up from the screen to see him turning his head aside, the muscle in his jaw prominent. Did I go too far? But then, Camilo turned back to face me while planting both his hands on my thighs. His strong grip turned my skin hot, but I attempted to look unfazed.

“We’re two miles away from the shore, let alone everyone else. I think you can drop the act,” he said.

With my jaw clenched, I held his piercing stare. Under the bright sun, his eyes, which often looked pitch-black, had a deep chocolate color that made me want to keep staring at him forever. But I didn’t let his pretty face get to me, no matter how much I loved the way the sun painted his skin gold and highlighted his strong features.

“I want you to take me back. To the shore. I want to go back right now,” I said, voice hoarse.

Moving his hands up my thighs, he slid his fingers underneath the hem of my trunks. “Why? We’re finally alone.”

“I don’t want to be alone with you.” My throat dried up at the same time my temperature rose.