KARMA COLADA

Chapter Twenty-Six

LEON had basically given up on trying to catch the last ferry leaving Donsak Pier at five in the evening. So, he asked Spivey to take them directly to the night ferry instead, which was apparently located at a different location an hour away — Ban Don pier.

But as it turned out, Spivey's initial predictions were correct, and the ferry was almost all booked up by the time they reached.

The night ferry was really a large wooden fishing boat, with lumpy mattresses cramped together on the upper deck. For young backpacking tourists thirsting for adventure in the Land of Smiles, the experience would've been exciting.

Leon, however, was less enthusiastic about the idea of sleeping next to thirty other strangers, forced to share the same air. So when Spivey said there was one mattress left at the night boat, it was a hard pass. Sure, they'd have to waste another night.

But look where being impatient got him the last time.

"I don't think so," Leon uttered blandly, scrunching up his nose at the night ferry.

"I thought you were in a hurry." Spivey gave him a knowing look. "Or are you just not keen on sharing a bed with birdy for one more night?"

It didn't occur to him that they'd have to sleep together again. Surprisingly, Naomi wasn't a terrible bed partner at all. She hardly moved at all when she slept, or if she did, he didn't notice because he slept like a rock both nights. The whale-like snoring was thankfully just a one-time thing.

With Francine, he'd have to play tug-of-war with the blanket until the next day. She was also such a bed hogger he'd sometimes fall off the mattress in the middle of the night. Even if he didn't want to admit it aloud, he'd take sleeping with Naomi over Francine any day.

But before Leon could explain himself, Naomi blurted in a panic, "You go, Fitzy! Spivey and I'll get on the first ferry tomorrow morning and meet you at the island."

He cocked a brow at her. "And how are we going to find each other without our phones? Telepathy?"

She blinked twice. "Oh yeah."

"Yeah," Leon parroted.

By the looks of it, she was the one who wasn't keen on sharing a bed with him again. He should be pleased with this discovery, but the only thing he felt was irritation simmering in his blood. Leon tried to brush it off, convincing himself that spending another night next to Naomi would be a terrible idea.

Especially after she kissed him. In the neck, that is.

The unintentional contact was fleeting, but it still drove him mad with desire.

Her lips were as soft and supple as he imagined, maybe even more. And after feeling them on his neck, he realized he wanted them everywhere else on his skin. Particularly, around his—

"What do we do now?" Naomi's voice broke through his lust-laden mind.

Spivey hummed thoughtfully, before suggesting, "Since you're tight on budget, we could drive to Donsak pier and just wait for the earliest ferry at five in the morning?"

Leon couldn't help but scoff. "One whole night in that seriously small—" his voice cut off when Naomi elbowed him hard in the ribs. When he noted Spivey's stony features, Leon quickly changed his tune, "...and yet surprisingly quaint car. Why didn't I think of that in the first place?"

Spivey nodded agreeably. "Expert save."

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