21

Sandy's POV

The night was serene, just as the cool waves crashed against each other around me. The cool air from the ocean made me feel calm with little goosebumps from the cold. The full moon in the sky illuminated the surface of the ocean, giving the night a glow. The serenity pulled me into deep thoughts until I was distracted by a heavy warmth around my body and an exhale from behind me. I looked down and saw a thick blanket around my body, making me smile.

"What are you doing out here alone?" Anthony said and I went stiff when he caged me with his hands resting on the wooden bow of the yacht. 

"I came here to think," I replied, and his arms went around my waist, stunning me as I was certain that there were no paparazzi around.

I gulped and tried to will my heart to stop pounding, so it wouldn't embarrass me. The last thing I wanted was to make Anthony feel that what he does, affected me in more ways than one.

"What are you thinking about?" He whispered and rested his chin on my shoulder.

I scanned the glistening ocean surface before sighing heavily. 

"Were you ever going to settle down?"

I felt his muscles tense on my back and around my waist, making me believe the question should have stayed in my head. 

"I don't understand," he said.

"Were you ever going to stop womanizing? The partying and all that?" I asked again and he lifted his chin from my shoulder. "Were you ever going to find a nice girl to settle down with?"

"I've said before that I don't believe in marriage or love. I feel like it's a waste of time being tied down to someone who you may not even stay the rest of your life with. I feel free when I'm just hooking up here and there, knowing I don't have promises to keep and vice versa. I feel free knowing that I don't have to not stress myself thinking about someone else; if they've eaten, if they're well, or how much they love me and if they're cheating on me. I prefer fucking each other and going our ways."

He stayed silent for some seconds, and I could feel the weight of his thoughts through his silence.

"If my parents weren't so obsessed with my life, I would not have been troubling you with this relationship and fake marriage. But I have to prove to my parents that I love this company and want the best for it, even though I am doing something I hate."

I slowly turned around and leaned against the bow. I met his eyes and smiled softly at him, which he returned for some seconds before frowning.

"I'm sorry for bringing you into this too, despite knowing how your parents turned out with their marriage and how it ended for them." He paused to take my hands in his. "Even though marriage is something I don't see myself doing. But with you; I feel like it's going to be great. You understand me well and know why I'm doing this. So, we're safe."

I smiled with a blush on my cheeks. "I guess but what if things don't end well for us? I mean, marriage is a huge step, and anything can happen."

"Anything like what?"

I didn't want to say what I wanted to say but to plant in his head that I didn't want anything more, I had to.

"What if we… What if one of us ends up getting attached? No offense, but this deal between us involves a lot and—"

Anthony chuckled and cupped my cheeks. He squeezed them and playfully shook my head a bit.

"We are best friends; we like each other as every other good best friend does. So, I'm sure we won't want to hurt our relationship and trust by falling for each other. Don't let your heart fool you, darling. The last thing I want is us getting attached and ruining our relationship, okay?"

He pulled me into his arms, and I circled mine around his waist. My heart felt like it shattered after hearing his response. I was expecting that he would find nothing wrong with us becoming more than our deal but Anthony was strong against falling in love or having me in any way. I hated how desperate I was because of him, and I hated how it was hard for me to fall out of love with him.

"Come on, let's go to bed. It's getting late. Remember we have a club to go to and this will be just another date for the public's opinion," he said and moved away. 

I let him take my hand and pull me with him into the yacht. He led me into the room and switched on the lights before releasing my hand. I swallowed when I realized that we would be sharing a bed with him, even though it won't be the first time.

I watched him move to the bed and lay on it with a heavy sigh. He looked at me and patted the other side. I nodded and made my way to the bed. It wasn't as big as his bed or my bed, which made me feel anxious as there was a possibility that there will be bodily contact. I pulled back the blanket and sat on the bed then laid down. 

I backed him and the lights went out. I began to hear the sound of my heart beating and I was suddenly sweaty. I readjusted on the bed and peeled off the blanket he had wrapped around my body and tossed it on the floor. I exhaled and held my breath when I felt movement behind me. Five seconds went by and before I knew it, Anthony placed his arm around my waist. He came closer, making me feel his warm body on my back and lower back.

"What are you doing?" I asked and he chuckled.

"I'm cold. Just let me hold you until I fall asleep," he whispered against the exposed back of my neck.

I nodded in response and felt a tingle between my legs when his hand went under my shirt and rested on my stomach. I bit my lip and pressed my thighs together as I felt his fingers slowly make shapes. 

"Why are you always so warm when I touch you?" He whispered and moved his hand to my ribs.

I almost jumped but stayed calm. I just prayed he didn't feel my heartbeat.

"Since when did I become your blankie?" I asked and he laughed.

Anthony said nothing and simply pressed his cold lips on the back of my neck. My eyes became wide at that, and I was almost tempted to straddle him and make him understand that what he was doing affected me.

"You'll always be my blanket," he whispered. "Good night, babe."

I swallowed. "Good night."