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"I think we should pay Boris a visit," Bradley says. "As inconspicuously as possible. Can we orchestrate something that would draw our attention to him without making it look suspicious?"

"No need." Raven finally looks up and smiles. "Boris is holding a gala soon as his daughter is being married off to another Russian family. The last bullet point of their new alliance, and he wants to show off. It'll be very easy for us to attend. In fact, it would probably look weird if one of us didn't attend."

"That's great. I'll call Ruslan. He hasn't stretched his legs in months. The gala will hopefully give us an in with Boris that might give us some insight into what Leo is up to. The fact that he bought Sabina and is friends with a human trafficker feels too strong to be a coincidence."

"I agree." I fight a yawn as I straighten back up.

"And in the meantime," Bradley continues, "we'll ensure that Illyana gets the best possible care."

"About that…" I glance back out to Sabina on the balcony. She remains as she was but now sparkling lights kiss the horizon, showing just how close we are to returning to the world. "She wants to do the surgery. She wants to give Illyana her kidney."

Raven finally stops typing. "Wow. That's huge."

"I know." Pride swells up in my chest and I can't fight the smile. "We don't know what will happen, but I know Sabina wants to make sure she has a chance at a future with Illyana. Even if it's one where they have to navigate the pain of her absence these past years."

"She has time," Bradley says quietly. "I'll let the team at the hospital know."

"Thanks, guys. Talk soon." After the call ends, I close the laptop lid and slide off the bed. The glass doors hiss softly as I open them, and a stronger gust of cool ocean air washes over my bare chest as I join her.

Sabina doesn't react until I slide one hand around her waist and press my lips to her bare shoulder.

"How was it?" she asks softly. "Your super-secret meeting?"

"It was good," I reply softly with another kiss. My lips lazily trail up to her neck, and I push her hair gently to the side so I can kiss just behind her ear. "Things are looking good."

"They won't stay that way, though, will they?" she murmurs, and the note of sadness in her voice makes me stop.

"What makes you say that?"

"Everything on this ship has been like a dream. You and me. Illyana being happy with me. The beautiful water and everything." Her head dips and she stretches out her arm that still has all of the vine leaves colored in, even if the ink has faded slightly. "When we get back on land, reality will be there waiting for us. I'll have to tell Illyana the truth. Your grandfather will be hunting us. God knows what's happening with her father."

Sabina slowly turns in my arms and gazes up at me with the moon reflecting in her irises. She lazily drapes one arm around my shoulders and cups my jaw with the other, caressing my cheek with her thumb. The sparkling lights of Naples dot the horizon in the distance.

"I want the dream to last a little longer," Sabina murmurs, and she arches into me as her mouth closes over mine in a slow, deep kiss.

24

SABINA

Both of Cassian's arms wrap tight around me and he pulls me close against his body. The heat of his bare skin against my hands sends a thrill racing through me and my pulse lurches as his kisses grow more and more insistent.

I happily give over control, melting into his embrace and letting the dream last as long as I can. In the moonlight, his tattoos shadow his gorgeous skin, and I trace my fingers over the design at his neck before he kisses me once, hard, and drops to his knees.

The only thing to support me when Cassian disappears under the sheet wrapped around my body is the railing behind me, so I grip it with both hands and tip my head back with a soft gasp. His lips brush up the soft inside of my thigh. When his mouth closes over my pussy, my eyes roll back in my head and Cassian shifts underneath me. His hands curl around my thighs, lifting me onto his shoulders and holding me firmly enough that even though my heart lurches from the change of angle, I know he won't drop me.

The sea churns softly below us as the yacht glides through the water, and an infinite blanket of stars stretches out above me. Cassian's tongue tenderly curls through my folds and the lingering sensitivity from our time together yesterday is enough to ignite heat within my core in only a few kisses.

My dream is perfect. My dream is him. This safe, perfect bubble on this yacht has me yearning to never leave. We could stay here forever, fucking under the stars until the sun comes up and then swimming in the ocean until the sun sets again. It would be a luxury. The dream plays out in my foggy mind as Cassian eats me out with such attentiveness that soon all I can think about is him.

Each curl of his tongue, each kiss, each soft, suckling motion, each gentle thrust inside me. I close my eyes and spread my arms out into the air, safe in the knowledge that I'm secure in his arms. My orgasm crests almost immediately and I let it take me over, giving myself to the surge of pleasure with bliss in my heart.

I think… I think I might love him.

I definitely love what he does to me.

Post-orgasm, Cassian carries me back to bed, and there I remain until an hour later when Valentina interrupts us with a smile.

It's time.