CHAPTER 371: BON VOYAGE (2)

Georgia’s POV

Despite the darkness of the ocean, I wasn’t scared at all. The moon hung above us like a silver lantern guiding us in our path, and the distant glow from the shore shimmered softly across the water. With the steering wheel beneath my palms and the cool sea breeze brushing my cheeks, I was finally getting the hang of steering my yacht.

Nick stood beside me, watching me with that proud-husband smile that could melt glaciers.

"It’s getting late," he murmured, sliding a hand over my shoulder. "Not good for you to stay up too long. Let’s anchor here. Perfect spot to spend the night."

"Captain’s orders?" I teased.

"Absolutely. But you’re the captain here, it’s your decision."

"Then, aye aye, Chief. Dropping the anchor, we go!"

He laughed, shaking his head. He looked so happy tonight, and that’s something I wish would never change.

"But..." I added, wiggling my brows. "Are we going to bed already?"

Nick’s expression shifted so fast, from amused to oh-I-know-that-look, that I almost snorted. His mind had clearly wandered somewhere else.

"What exactly do you feel like doing, wife?" he asked, sauntering toward me, eyebrows dancing ridiculously.

I bit my lip. "Honestly? I’m craving something sweet... but sour at the same time."

Nick blinked. Twice. "Oh. So you meant actual food." His disappointment was loud. Hilariously loud.

I leaned in, grabbed him by the collar, and pulled him in for a quick kiss that left him breathless. "Well... who knows what I’ll be craving something else once I’m full?"

His grin spread slowly and wickedly.

"There are grapes onboard," he said, voice low but playful. "Or if you want something different, I can heat up the food in the fridge."

"Grapes are perfect," I said, standing from the captain’s chair. "Take over the helm, Chief. I’ll go hunt for my midnight snack."

Nick slid into the seat with a smirk, watching me with that look—the one that promised the night wasn’t ending with grapes.

I grabbed a handful of grapes that were on the table in the cockpit and finally took the chance to explore the yacht properly. I hadn’t really seen anything when we left the resort; I’d been too busy learning how to drive a yacht.

The yacht might look small and modest from the outside, perfect for a woman like me who is very new to the whole "owning a literal yacht" situation... but the moment I stepped down the stairs, my jaw dropped so hard it nearly hit the floor.

"Okay... what the hell," I whispered to no one.

On my right sat a gorgeous leather sofa, gleaming like it had never been touched. On my left? A dining table for six—six!—currently buried under take-away food boxes from our wedding reception. The place even had a galley with an induction stove, prep counter, and a sink big enough to wash an elephant. Well... a baby elephant at least, maybe...

I opened the fridge and nearly fell backward. "This is too much food! Are we going away for a month?" I hissed. Knowing Nick? Probably.

I checked the rooms next. The first one had bunk beds, good for six people, and its own bathroom. My brows shot up. "Is this for a honeymoon or a field trip?"

Then I opened the master cabin and... wow. Just... wow. It wasn’t big, boat life and all, but the layout, the colors, the lighting... it felt like a cozy modern bedroom on land. Soft. Warm. Comfortable. A little dream tucked into the hull.

By the time I heard the engine finally shut off, I knew Nick had anchored us safely. I grabbed one of the cakes and a fork from the dining table and began climbing back up to the flybridge.

Halfway up, I bumped into Nick.

"Where are you going, wife?" he asked, eyeing the cake like that was his romantic competition tonight.

"Up," I said proudly. "I want to sit on the deck, look at the stars, and eat my feelings... which are currently strawberry-flavored."

Nick chuckled, took the bowl of grapes and the cake box from my hands as if he’d been waiting to pamper me all along, and headed up first.

I followed him, feeling the happiest kind of full—full from the reception, full from the love around me, and full from the fact that this man kept giving me surprises I never knew I wanted.

"There’s a beverage fridge in the cockpit. Grab some before following me to the deck," Nick uttered.

The moment Nick disappeared up the stairs, I looked for the drinks. My pregnant stomach demanded something fruity, cold, and preferably in an unreasonable quantity.

I searched for the beverage fridge, expecting a long hunt, but of course, Nick wouldn’t make me suffer. I found it immediately, tucked neatly in one corner like it was winking at me. I opened it and grinned.

Orange juice. Mango juice. Apple juice. Even sparkling water.

"This man really thinks I’m going to get stranded and dehydrated on day one," I muttered, amused.

I grabbed an orange juice for now and a mango juice for later, even if "later" meant five minutes from now, and hurried up to the deck.

When I stepped out, I paused on the port side, smiling.

Nick was on the sofa, except it wasn’t a sofa anymore. He was adjusting something underneath, and to my absolute delight, the whole thing extended and flattened smoothly until it became a proper bed.

A lounging bed. On a yacht. Under the stars.

My eyebrows flew up. "Are you kidding me right now?"

Nick looked over his shoulder with a proud little smirk. "Convertible deck lounge. Perfect for stargazing with my wife."

"My yacht," I corrected, teasing.

He chuckled. "Yes, Captain. Your yacht."

I walked toward him, still in awe. "I can’t believe how... functional everything is. Like... how does something this small feel like a tiny luxury house? Every corner has a purpose. No space is wasted. It’s like... magic."

Nick reclined on the newly formed bed and patted the spot beside him. "Good magic or bad magic?"

"Very good magic," I said, settling beside him with my drinks and cake. "I didn’t know yachts could be multitaskers."

Nick stretched out beside me, tucking one hand behind his head, the other pulling me gently against him.

"Everything on this yacht," he murmured, "is designed to make tonight perfect for you."

I smiled, touched his cheek with my palm, and said, "Everywhere is perfect as long as you’re with me, baby."

Under the open sky, with the ocean whispering around us, it genuinely felt like it already was.

******

Thank you for the Golden Tickets!

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