Nadine Book 7

55. Not Acceptable

I wake up with Marcus. I'm sleeping on his back. I roll off him and stretch big. He doesn't even wake up. He must have had to drive last night. I grab an island dress and some underwear. Then I go shower and get dressed. I remember the oil.

I slept a long time. It's a couple of hours after breakfast.

Nikolas is in the desk room.

"What you working on?"

"China resort still. Trying to finish up the spa rooms." He grabs me and kisses me.

I throw my arms around his neck.

"Everything is coming together perfectly over there."

"I'm glad. Did you figure out the wolf form?"

"I sure did. It worked exactly like you said."

I kiss him again.

Then the door flies in and hits the wall. Dipak and Tre are standing there. Tre has red eyes.

I let go of Nik. "What's wrong?"

"Where did you sleep last night?"

"With Marcus. I think I fell asleep with him at dinner. I woke up on his back like an hour ago."

"I'm asking Marcus." Tre walks off.

I stare at Dipak. "What was that about?"

Dipak shuts the door. "Tobias is getting on everyone's nerves about you woman."

"Why?"

"Because you were pretty drunk last night, and he was sitting there with his arm around you."

"He was showing me poker. Nothing else."

"But you were drunk."

"We were all sitting there. He was helping me."

"It wasn't right for a grown ass man to have his arm around a drunk teenage girl."

"I'LL NEVER TALK TO ANY MEN AGAIN. THAT'S ALL ANY OF YOU WANT." I push him out my way and run out the door.

I run towards Tye's room and pass Tre coming back. His eyes aren't red anymore.

"Baby."

"DON'T TRE. f**k YOU FOR NOT BELIEVING ME. I HOPE YOU GOT WHAT YOU NEEDED TO HEAR OUT OF MARCUS. DON'T BOTHER ASKING ME ANYTHING AGAIN. YOU'LL JUST ASK SOMEONE TO VERIFY IT. I'M NOT GOING TO f*****g WASTE MY BREATH ANYMORE."

I run to Tye's room and jumped into bed. I slam myself down and throw the blanket over my head. How dare he ask me where I slept last night and then not even believe me when I tell him? Asshole. Where the f**k did he even think I slept?

I toss around for 20 minutes then go to the balcony. "Assholes."

Marcus laughs. "What happened, angel?"

I run to the edge and peek around the wall. "I forgot they weren't soundproofed."

"I noticed that. But what happened?"

"Tre asked me where I slept last night. I told him with you. Then he ran off all mad to ask you about it. Like, where the f**k did he think I slept? And why bother asking me?"

"He's mad, angel. Don't let it get you upset."

"Why is he mad? All he did was piss me off."

"Tobias shouldn't have been touching you when you were drinking."

"Why? That's ridiculous. He didn't do anything wrong. We were sitting there with Tye and Johen. He was showing me how to play poker. He did that so I could see better. And what the hell does this have to do with where I slept?"

"I'm not exactly sure, angel. I think Tre was making sure Tobias wasn't trying to take advantage of you."

"Because he showed me how to play poker when I was drinking? We weren't even alone for 1 second. You boys are being dumb."

"Well, when you put it like that."

I roll my eyes.

"Come over here. Eat on the balcony with me. I got some fruit."

"Ok." I climb up on the rail and walk in front of the wall separating the 2 balconies.

He smiles and reaches for me.

I reach for him and fall off the back of the boat.

I hit the water and go under.

His arms wrap around me. He pulls me up to the surface. "You ok?"

"I'm ok. I wasn't planning on going for a swim."

He gives me a little kiss. Then he throws me in the air. I turn to a dragon and lift him up by his arm. I fly us back up on the boat.

We land by Kane, Elek, and Tye. I think Kane is showing them how to drive.

I smile. "Good morning."

Kane raises an eyebrow. "Have a nice swim?"

Marcus nods. "Yea it was great. Thanks for waiting."

"What the hell happened?"

"I was trying to climb between your balcony and his. I went over. He jumped."

Marcus kisses my head. "I'm going to go take a shower and then try to get some more sleep. You want to come with me?"

"I think I'm going to put on a swimsuit and get some sun today."

"I'll walk you down."

10 minutes later, I'm back on deck in a bikini. I lay on a towel.

Dipak and Tre walk by but don't say anything. They get to the wheel. Dipak asks. "Why is everything all wet?"

Elek smiles. "Someone went for a fall off the boat."

"Who?"

Tye smirks. "I'll give you 1 guess."

Dipak rolls his eyes. He can be such an asshole.

Tre squats down beside me. "What happened for you to fall off the boat?"

"Go ask Marcus. I'm sure he'll give you the truth." I turn my head the other way.

"What did she say?"

"Go ask Marcus."

Dipak yells, "WOMAN."

I put my middle finger up at him.

Tye shakes his head. "Dipak, let her cool off. It's not even your fight."

I tune the boys out and concentrate on the sounds of the ocean. The cool breeze.

I feel myself getting picked up. I wiggle around and snuggle in. It's Tre. I snuggle him more. Then I remember I'm mad and try to push him off.

"Shhh. You're alright. Go back to sleep baby. I'll wake you up for lunch."

I do exactly that.

He wakes me up by rubbing my back an hour later.

"I'm sorry baby. I wasn't mad at you and I never thought you lied."

"Why did you run off to ask Marcus? I told you the truth. He was showing me how to play poker. I wasn't even alone with him for 1 second."

He kisses my head. "It scared me so bad when they said he had his arms around you and was whispering in your ear when you were drinking."

"He was teaching me poker."

"I know. I'm sorry. I was afraid he would try something else with you since you were drinking. And I know you didn't lie. But I was afraid if you were too drunk, maybe something would happen that you didn't remember. I knew if you were with Marcus you were safe. I had to have him tell me. I'm sorry I ran off to Marcus like that. I had to make sure. I wanted to kill that i***t for having his arm around you when you were drinking."

"I wasn't doing very good with the game. He offered to help me. I sat close to him, so I could see the cards. That was all. I guess it was my fault I sat so close. He didn't try anything or say anything to me weird. Tye and Johen were there the whole time. I wasn't alone with him at all. I went with Marcus after that. Where did you think I slept?"

"Baby, I was scared you passed out somewhere weird, and he drug you to his room. You have been known to pass out in weird places. I had no idea how much you drank. It scared the hell out of me."

"Do you really think he would do that?"

"I don't know." He rubs his eyes. "But I'm not going to chance it. It's not you. I trust you. But I do not trust him."

"Why is he here if you feel this way, Tre?"

"Because everyone else thinks he's harmless. They think he likes you, but that's it. I don't trust him."

"Why was Dipak being a d**k?"

"I think he's starting to agree with me. That man should never have touched you at all when you were drinking. But all he said was he's sorry again. If given the chance, it would happen again. It was the same thing when you had dark eyes. 'Oh I'm sorry her eyes were messing with me. I won't do it again.' It's f*****g bullshit. He's looking to sleep with you, and would take any opportunity to do it."

"I don't know if I agree with that. He didn't try to force himself on me. But I'll pay more attention and if I decide to drink, I'll let you know."

"Thank you baby. That makes me feel better. I do love you. I want you to be safe."

"I know that. I love you too."

"Let's go get some lunch."

I sit between Tye and Tre for lunch. I laugh with them a bit. Dipak must get tired of me being happy. He picks me up and carries me out when I'm done eating.

He carries me to his apartment and puts me on my feet. I cross my arms and glare at him.

"I don't even know why we're fighting, woman."

"You keep yelling and giving me dirty looks."

"That's because you're doing it to me. You even flipped me off."

"You yelled at me."

"You yelled at me earlier because I asked where you slept."

"I didn't even get a good morning. It was just where did you sleep?"

"I'm sorry sweetheart. When I walked in that room, you were visibly drunk, and he had his arm around you. It wasn't to show you the cards or anything else. And he knew you were drunk. Tye said he whispered something in your ear before that."

"Tre said the same thing. He said he asked Marcus cause I like to pass out in weird places. He's worried Tobias will drag me into his room if I pass out."

"Yea, Tre will end up killing him if he doesn't knock the stupid s**t off. How did you get him to calm down?"

"I told him I would pay more attention and if I decide to drink again, I'll make sure he knows."

"Yea, that will make everyone feel better."

"Why is he on the boat if Tre feels this way?"

"Almost everyone likes him. Other than Tre. We thought the stupid s**t with you was over once Elek threw him out the window. The only thing is, he really could end up your mate. We don't know who it's going to be. Are you having s*x with Elek?"

"No. But anyone in the world could end up being my mate. They're not all on the boat, Dipak."

"He's got a lot of potential. He's older. Oldest sibling. He surely likes you. You seem to like him."

"You're going to make Tre snap. Tre feels I'm in danger and that is not acceptable to him."

Dipaks nods. "I'll get him off the boat when I can. It's still going to be a few days before we come across any islands. I'll let Tre know too. Hopefully, that'll calm him down."

"Thank you."

"You and Elek get anything worked out?"

"You boys won't give me a minute to talk to him alone. I understand why, but it's not like we'll be able to work anything out if we can't even talk. And with Tre like this, it's going to have to wait."

"You can always talk on the deck."

I give Dipak a blank stare. "Yea, you and your perfect hearing would love that."

"Oh I love you woman." He pulls me into his arms for a hug.

"I love you too."