The Carrero Effect - Falling for the Boss (Billionaire CEO)

“Some little seafood place Marissa knows.” He tried to keep his tone even at saying her name. He usually avoided any use of the curse word and it felt like broken glass in his mouth.

“I want to get my haircut while we’re here … Do you think there are any hairdressers on the mainland?” Jake had the instant urge to tell her she didn’t need to change her hair, he liked it the way it was so he looked away toward Leila in hopes of hiding the frown on his face. He didn’t like the thought of her changing anything about how she was. You couldn’t improve on perfection.

“Leila will know … She comes here a lot.” Jake nodded toward his childhood friend, hoping to God Leila wouldn’t push Emma into some radical hairdo; he knew her only too well. She was wandering around wearing a top, and for the first time he noticed the other two were not. Completely topless and he suddenly felt pissed. If topless men could make Emma uneasy, then that sure as hell would do it too, he wanted to throw towels over both of them.

“You know Marissa well?” Her voice broke into his thoughts and he felt himself freeze. He had never expected this question to come from her and the last thing he wanted her to know was anything about his past with Marissa. How the hell she had even picked up on anything was beyond him, he sure as hell wasn’t putting out any signals where that harpy was concerned.

“Once.” He felt his pulse quicken and his head going into evasive mode. He didn’t want to dredge up the past and admit he had been too blind to realize his teen girlfriend and best mate had been fucking behind his back and sent him into a few years of booze, drugs, idiotic behavior, and woman. He didn’t want Emma knowing that part of him, or tying him to the bitch on deck. He wanted her to see him as he was now, the person he was with her anyway, the better version of himself. He found himself scowling Marissa’s way with his back to Emma, Marissa caught his eye and, licking her lips seductively, she squirmed toward him. Even from here he could pick up her fuck me signals and he just scowled back.

Not a chance, princess.

with me?” He threw back at Emma. He wanted to get as far away from the slut eyeing him up and away from the topic about her. He needed time alone to help his girl relax. Away from all this naked skin. He turned back to her open expression and had the instant urge to stroke her hair back from her face. His sunglasses did look good on her, a little

“Now?” She sounded apprehensive.

he couldn’t do that here, tense with a pair of eyes on the back of his head trying to undress him mentally. They needed

either. He was glad to see Leila wander off deck, knowing she too was out of that whole scene. They had had their young, wild, and reckless days and left them far behind. Daniel needed to catch up.

* * *

the water instantly lightened his mood, her being in here seemed to make her forget about being self-conscious or his naked torso and that made him happier. She smiled and relaxed as they swam and before long he started playfully splashing and pulling her with him. She tried to dunk him under, but he was faster and got her first every time. She seemed to be a pretty competent swimmer, so Jake decided to have a little fun with her before swimming ashore. He had pulled her under with him a few times, enjoying the fact that in the water he could touch her freely without feeling like

back her wet

requested were obviously working and

She begged, it only made him feel more playful. That

and pulled her back up against him hard. Nose to nose and it didn’t seem so right anymore. It was closer than he intended, her body skimming against him in ways that got an immediate hard reaction and he released her quickly. He wasn’t sure which part of her body had just rubbed up his

from her in an effort to get this under control and put distance between them. He hoped to God she could manage the half mile swim as holding onto her in any way right now would end in an impalement he didn’t want