Fun Below Deck

Chapter 13

Arabella

It’s the morning after announcing our dating to everyone. After we had sex I came back to my own cabin although the amount of times Dom protested when I explained that if we were dating on land we wouldn’t be staying together. He finally agreed as long as I greet him this morning.  

With me being chief steward, I never have myself on breakfast shift as I normally do late nights. With being off last night I gave the morning shift to myself to give Zara a lie in. Brianna is always up with catching up on laundry.  

So today is the first morning of this charter that I'm doing breakfast.  

I make my way to the galley, thankfully Zayn has fruit platters, fresh croissants and bowls of porridge made.  

“Morning sunshine,” Zayn stirs his homemade syrup, “Grab a bowl while its fresh. By the time you eat I’ll have this made.”  

If this is the treatment morning staff get I'm doing breakfast from now on, “Thanks, Zayn.”  

I sit up on the free counter and shovel the porridge down, its amazing. Zayn is genuinely the best chef I've ever worked with. Not once have I heard him complain, we’ve never clashed during dinner, and he can take the pressure of whipping up quick dinners.  

“Are you happy?” he turns to face me.  

I think it over, “I am. Zayn, I know there’s rules on this behavior but I can’t help it. We have an attraction. I did try to stay away from Dom, but it was impossible.”  

Zayn lifts my empty bowl from the counter, “Then take the platter up and go greet your man.”  

I balance the tray of porridge on one hand with the fruit platter on the other. Zayn thankfully comes up behind me with the platter of fresh croissants.  

When the automatic doors open the Greek heat hits me square on the face, its very humid today and I want nothing more than to jump in the ocean. But I'm working today unfortunately. I lay the table with the platters and that’s when I hear his voice coming up the stairs.  

He’s talking to one of his friends. “But I do like her. There’s just something about they way she makes me fell. I can’t believe I'm saying this already but I'm falling.”  

The smile erupts on my face, but I stay on the opposite side of the table, best to pretend I heard nothing. If he wanted me to know he would’ve told me himself.

His eyes roam around deck and when they land on me, he strides straight over cupping my chin again, planting light kisses on my lips, neck, collarbone. I have to stop him, I know we are out in the open but I still have to keep some professionalism. I kiss him back gently then introduce their menu this morning.  

They all sit and dig in, when I walk around pouring everyones coffee Dom keeps a close eye on me. I can't help the blush that erupts.  

I stand beside Dom, “Coffee sir?”  

His hand rests on my ass, “Yes, m’lady.”  

I giggle at his response, “Anything else Gentlemen?”  

“Yes, for you to join please.” Oliver asks and I'm stunned.  

“I.. I can't. Sorry I'm still technically working.” Crew aren’t allowed to sit with the guests. Unfortunately we have to stand at all times.  

“We insist. If need be, I’ll speak to Captain. We just want to meet the woman who has taken our Dom off the market.” Leo points at the seat beside Dom.  

I shrug as I'm about to sit on the seat, Dom grabs me by the hips and sets me on his lap. I squeal in response but soon settle back leaning against his chest. My body molds to fit his.  

He nuzzles his mouth into the crook of my neck and places light kisses again. Then he offers me a sip from his coffee cup and that’s when I realize I haven’t drunk a coffee this morning. Yet I woke full of life, high on love. Yes, I know that sounds cheesy, but it is true. I never thought of myself as a woman who could possibly be this obsessed with a man but here we are.  

We talk among ourselves for a while asking basic questions; where we grew up, family background.  

I know that Dom is a finance broker for people richer than him but nothing too specific; client confidentiality.  

I also learnt that Dom is a family orientated man, which is great for me. I love my family to pieces, and I love to stay close with them. This job makes it hard but once a week we facetime together which is better than nothing at all.  

Zara appears and helps clean up while the men go down for watersports, my radio buzzes and captains voice comes through asking me to the wheelhouse again.  

Zara gives an apologetic smile with a weak thumbs up. Last time I came here it was for a telling off. Hopefully this time it’s not.  

“Cap you wanted me?” I stand beside the ships wheel.  

“Arabella I’m not happy with what happened last night. I spoke with the company and they're not best pleased either.” He looks at me, my heart beat spikes. This is it, I’m getting fired.  

I start to ramble how I’m sorry but I still won’t back down from Dom.  

He holds his hands up, “they want me to monitor your performance. To make sure you won’t let your duty slip. Along as you can do both they are happy but we must keep it minimal and make sure no one outside of this yacht finds out.”  

I nod slowly, “I’m sorry I’ve got you in this situation too. I didn’t set out for this to happen; we’ve done three charters together and you know I’ve never done anything like this Ste.”  

When I make it back down to deck I head for my cabin. I need a nap this isn’t going how I expected it too. Maybe I should quit, but that would mean leaving the yacht and not seeing Dom. Perhaps he would leave the charter too? I couldn’t ask him to do that.