EPISODE 18
ALTHEA
The yacht shimmered under the sun like it knew exactly what it was worth.
White.
Polished.
Luxurious in a way that didn’t ask for attention—it commanded it.
The ocean stretched endlessly behind it, deep blue meeting the sky, waves glinting like scattered diamonds.
And then there was us.
Or rather— what we looked like stepping toward it.
Mira let out a low whistle beside me.
“Yeah… this is where things get interesting.”
I exhaled slowly, adjusting the thin strap on my shoulder.
My outfit suddenly felt… louder than I intended.
A soft burnt-orange bikini, the fabric smooth against my skin, hugging just right—not too revealing, but enough to make a statement.
The top was structured, lifting subtly, the bottoms sitting high on my hips, emphasizing curves I usually didn’t think about.
Over it, I wore a sheer white cover-up, loose and airy, stopping mid-thigh, catching the breeze every time I moved.
My hair was up—messy, intentional, strands falling just enough to frame my face.
Simple.
But not invisible.
“Girl,” Mira said, turning fully to look at me now, her eyes dragging from head to toe.
“You’re not even trying, and it’s annoying.”
I laughed softly.
“I am trying.”
“Then try less next time,” she said dryly.
I looked at her, taking in her outfit.
A deep emerald green bikini, bold and striking against her skin, with gold chain details at the hips that caught the sunlight every time she moved.
She had thrown on oversized black sunglasses, her curls pulled back loosely.
Confident.
Unbothered.
Exactly Mira.
“You look insane,” I said.
“I know,” she replied without hesitation.
⸻
“Althea.”
I turned.
And just like that— everything shifted.
Adrian.
He stood a few steps away, wearing beige tailored shorts and a slightly open white linen shirt, the fabric soft, sleeves rolled just below his elbows.
Casual.
Effortless.
But it was the way he carried it.
Relaxed.
Grounded.
Like he wasn’t trying to be noticed— and still was.
His gaze lingered for a second.
Not inappropriate.
Not rushed.
Just… appreciative.
“You look…” he paused slightly, like he was choosing his words carefully, “…really good.”
Heat rose subtly to my cheeks.
“Thank you.”
Mira leaned in, whispering just loud enough, “He’s already doing better than someone else.”
“I can hear you,” Adrian said.
“Good,” she replied.
“That was intentional.”
I laughed softly again.
And for a moment— it felt easy.
⸻
“Wow.”
Lucian’s voice came from the dock.
We turned.
He stood there in black swim shorts, unbuttoned patterned shirt hanging loosely off his shoulders, sunglasses low on his nose.
His gaze swept over us.
Slow.
Dramatic.
“Okay,” he said.
“I respect the effort.”
“Only now?” Mira shot back.
“I said I respect it. I didn’t say I wasn’t impressed before.”
“Idiot.”
“Accurate.”
⸻
“Everyone ready?”
Ryan stood near the yacht entrance, wearing navy swim shorts and a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled.
Aria stood beside him in a soft lavender two-piece set, flowy skirt brushing her legs, matching top hugging her frame gently.
Elegant.
Soft.
Radiant.
“Can we talk about how good we all look?” Mira said suddenly.
“We always look good,” Lucian replied.
“No,” she corrected, gesturing around, “this is a different level.”
“Speak for yourself,” he smirked.
“I am.”
⸻
And then—
I felt it.
Before I even saw him.
That shift.
That pull.
I turned.
Elias.
Standing just behind them.
And for a second—
I forgot how to breathe.
He wore black swim shorts, sitting low on his hips, paired with a loose white shirt, completely unbuttoned now, exposing toned skin, the faint outline of muscle catching the sunlight.
Effortless.
Controlled.
Devastating.
His gaze found me immediately.
And stayed there.
Slow.
Intent.
Dragging.
Not even trying to hide it.
Mira inhaled sharply beside me.
“Oh… this is bad.”
“Please don’t start,” I muttered.
“I’m not starting anything,” she said quietly.
“I’m reacting.”
⸻
Elias stepped closer.
Not rushed.
Not hesitant.
Deliberate.
His eyes moved over me— from my face… to my shoulders… to the line of my waist beneath the sheer fabric… then back up again.
Something shifted in his expression.
Darker.
Tighter.
“You look different,” he said.
My brows lifted slightly.
“That’s one way to put it.”
His jaw flexed.
“Not what I meant.”
“Then say what you meant.”
Silence.
Brief.
Heavy.
Then—
“You look…” he paused, voice dropping slightly, “…like you know exactly what you’re doing.”
My heart skipped.
“I don’t,” I said calmly.
His gaze didn’t move.
“Yeah,” he said quietly.
“That’s the problem.”
⸻
“Okay!” Ryan clapped his hands once.
“Before this turns into something else—on the yacht. Now.”
Lucian smirked.
“Too late.”
⸻
We boarded.
The music hit instantly—low bass, smooth rhythm, something that settled into your body without asking.
Drinks were passed around.
Laughter started.
Movement.
Energy.
But even with all that—
I felt it. Find the original chapter at g.com.
His eyes.
Still on me.
⸻
“Dance with me.”
Adrian’s voice.
Gentle.
Steady.
I turned to him.
He wasn’t watching Elias.
Wasn’t reacting.
Just looking at me.
Waiting.
“Okay,” I said.
⸻
The moment we stepped into the center— everything shifted again.
His hand found mine.
Warm.
Light.
Respectful.
The other hovered just at my waist—not touching, just there.
Giving me the choice.
Always that.
I stepped closer.
And this time— he did touch me.
Fingers resting lightly against my side.
Steady.
We moved slowly at first, matching the rhythm, nothing rushed, nothing forced.
I laughed softly when he spun me lightly, the sheer fabric of my cover-up lifting with the motion, exposing more of my thighs for a brief second.
“Careful,” I said.
“Why?” he asked.
“You’re getting confident.”
“I adapt,” he replied.
⸻
Across the deck—
Elias watched.
Completely still.
Glass in hand.
Jaw tight.
Lucian leaned toward him, clearly saying something.
Ryan chuckled beside them.
Elias didn’t react.
Didn’t laugh.
Didn’t move.
Just— watched.
⸻
“You’re thinking about him again.”
Adrian’s voice was quiet.
Close.
I looked at him.
“I’m trying not to.”
“Then don’t.”
Easier said than done.
But for a second—
I tried.
I let myself stay in the moment.
In the music.
In the way his hand rested against me—not demanding, not controlling.
Just… there.
⸻
And that’s when I felt it.
A shift in the air.
Sharp.
Immediate.
Elias had moved.
I felt it before I saw it.
Before I could fully turn— a voice cut through the music.
Light.
Sweet.
Dangerous.
“Well… this is entertaining.”
Lucia.
Of course.
The music didn’t stop.
The laughter didn’t fully die.
But the energy— shifted.
People noticed.
They always did when she walked in.
She was dressed to be seen.
A bold crimson red bikini, the color striking against her skin, the cut deliberately daring—high on the hips, minimal, designed to draw attention.
A sheer black sarong was tied loosely around her waist, flowing behind her as she walked.
Every step— calculated.
Every glance— intentional.
And right now— all of it was directed at me.
Or rather— at us.
Her gaze flicked from me… to Adrian’s hand resting at my waist… then back up again.
Slow.
Judging.
Amused.
“Well,” she said, tilting her head slightly.
“That didn’t take long.”
My body stilled.
Adrian’s hand didn’t move.
Didn’t tighten.
Didn’t retreat.
Just… stayed.
Grounded.
That alone said everything.
Lucia noticed too.
Of course she did.
Her smile sharpened.
“New replacement already?” she continued casually, stepping closer.
“Or is this just… temporary entertainment?”
Mira, from the side, let out a quiet scoff.
“Oh, here we go.”
Lucian chuckled under his breath.
“Right on schedule.”
I inhaled slowly, keeping my voice steady.
“Lucia, not today.”
“Why not?” she asked, feigning innocence.
“We’re all just having fun, aren’t we?”
Her eyes flicked to Adrian again.
Assessing.
Sizing him up.
“And you are?” she asked, tone polite—but not really.
“Adrian,” he replied calmly.
No tension.
No ego.
Just— steady.
She blinked once.
Not expecting that.
“Doctor, right?” she said.
“Yes.”
“Hm.” She stepped closer, circling slightly—not fully, but enough to invade space.
“You don’t look like her type.”
That landed.
I felt it.
Adrian didn’t react.
Didn’t bite.
“I don’t think that’s for you to decide,” he said simply.
“Okay.”
Lucian grinned.
“He’s holding his own.”
Lucia’s smile tightened.
Just slightly.
Then— she turned to me.
And dropped the softness completely.
“Be careful, Althea,” she said, voice lower now, sharper.
“You don’t want to confuse attention with intention.”
I held her gaze.
Didn’t flinch.
“I’m not confused,” I said.
Her brows lifted slightly.
“Oh?”
Before I could say anything else— a hand wrapped around Lucia’s arm.
Firm.
Controlled.
Elias.
His grip wasn’t gentle.
Not aggressive enough to draw attention— but enough.
“Lucia,” he said quietly.
Warning.
Clear.
Her smile flickered.
But she didn’t pull away.
Instead, she leaned slightly into him.
Deliberately.
“Oh relax,” she said lightly.
“I’m just talking.”
His jaw tightened.
“I told you,” he said, voice low enough that only we could hear, “not to do this.”
“And I told you,” she replied just as quietly, “you don’t get to control me.”
Tension snapped.
Right there.
Between them.
Visible.
Dangerous.
Lucian muttered, “Yeah… this is about to get worse.”
Mira crossed her arms.
“I’m enjoying this.”
⸻
Elias’ gaze shifted.
To me.
Then— to Adrian.
Then back again.
Sharp.
Burning.
“Enjoying yourself?” he asked.
The question wasn’t casual.
It wasn’t light.
It was loaded.
I exhaled slowly.
“I was.”
That hit.
Adrian’s hand shifted slightly at my waist—not pulling me closer, not claiming—but present.
Supportive.
Elias noticed.
Of course he did.
Something in his expression snapped.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
But enough.
“You’re done,” he said.
I blinked.
“Excuse me?”
“You’re done,” he repeated, stepping closer now.
Adrian didn’t move.
Didn’t step back.
Didn’t step forward.
Just— stood.
Between control and calm.
“I don’t think she is,” Adrian said quietly.
Silence.
Immediate.
Heavy.
Lucian sucked in a breath.
“Oh—”
Mira whispered, “This man is insane.”
Lucia’s smile slowly returned.
Wider now.
Because this— this was what she wanted.
Elias’ eyes darkened, locking onto Adrian.
“And I don’t think,” he said slowly, “this concerns you.”
“It does,” Adrian replied, just as calm, “if you’re speaking for her.”
That— that was it.
That was the line.
The tension snapped tighter.
My heart pounded.
“Okay,” I stepped in quickly, placing a hand lightly against Adrian’s arm.
“We’re not doing this.”
Elias’ gaze dropped to my hand.
On him.
And that— that did something.
Something dangerous.
Something immediate.
“Althea,” he said.
Low.
Controlled.
Barely.
I met his eyes.
Steady.
“You don’t get to decide anything for me,” I said.
Lucia let out a soft laugh.
“Oh, this is getting good.”
Mira snapped, “Shut up, Lucia.”
“For what? I’m enjoying the show.”
“You are the problem,” Mira shot back.
“And yet,” Lucia smiled, “I’m still here.”
⸻
Elias stepped closer.
Too close now.
The music still played.
People still laughed.
But around us— everything had shifted.
Focused.
Tight.
Unavoidable.
His voice dropped.
Just for me.
“Walk away,” he said.
My pulse jumped.
“No.”
Silence.
Then— something in his expression changed.
Not anger.
Not control.
Something deeper.
Something more dangerous.
“Don’t make me ask again.”
Adrian’s hand shifted slightly.
Not pulling me.
But ready.
And for the first time—
I realized—
This wasn’t just tension anymore.
This was about to explode.