Chasing His Scentless Mate (Caroline) novel Chapter 283

Chapter 283: Chapter 283 Weekend Getaway

Ava’s POV

The moment we hit the coastal highway, I knew exactly where Joseph was taking me. My heart fluttered with excitement as I caught glimpses of the sparkling blue water between buildings.

"You’re taking me to the beach, aren’t you?" I asked, unable to contain my smile.

Joseph’s lips quirked upward. "Maybe. Or maybe I’m taking you to the airport for a surprise trip to Antarctica."

I playfully smacked his arm. "Just tell me!"

"And ruin the surprise? Not a chance." His eyes sparkled with mischief as he turned up the music, some upbeat pop song that had me dancing in my seat.

For the ride, we chatted about everything—my first week at Thorne Enterprises, the apartment Mom and I had chosen, and how Linda had become increasingly hostile as the week progressed.

"You should tell Draven," Joseph said, his jaw tightening. "That behavior is unacceptable."

"I can handle her," I insisted. "I don’t want to seem like I’m complaining during my first week."

"There’s a difference between complaining and reporting unprofessional behavior, Ava."

I shrugged, not wanting to ruin our weekend with work talk. As we approached the waterfront, my excitement mounted. I nearly pressed my face against the window like a child.

"Someone’s excited," Joseph chuckled, reaching over to squeeze my thigh.

"I love the ocean," I admitted. "Growing up in Northhaven, we didn’t have beaches like this. Just cold lakes and lots of snow."

Instead of heading to the public beach as I expected, Joseph turned toward the marina area, pulling into a private parking lot. My curiosity peaked when he grabbed our bags and led me down the pier.

"Close your eyes," he instructed.

"Why?"

"Just do it, baby."

I complied, allowing him to guide me forward several steps before stopping.

"Okay, open."

I gasped. Before us floated an enormous yacht, gleaming white against the azure sky. "You rented a yacht? Joseph, that’s—"

"I didn’t rent it." He grinned at my confused expression. "It’s mine."

My jaw dropped. "Yours? As in, you own this?"

"Welcome aboard the Blue Horizon," he said proudly, helping me onto the vessel.

The interior left me speechless. It wasn’t just a boat; it was a floating luxury home with four bedrooms, a state-of-the-art kitchen, and a spacious living area with panoramic ocean views. Everything was clearly expensive but not showy—soft colors, modern lines, and comfy furniture.

"This is..." I couldn’t finish my sentence. Everything was so beautiful, I was completely mesmerized.

I approached silently, wrapping my arms around his waist and pressing a kiss to the back of his neck.

"Mmm, there you are," he murmured, covering one of my hands with his. "See that small island in the distance? The one with the strip of trees?"

I squinted against the sunlight. "Yes."

"There’s a secluded beach there. I thought we could anchor nearby and enjoy the water without any... distractions."

"Sounds wonderful," I agreed, excitement building at the thought of having Joseph all to myself in such a beautiful setting.

As we approached the islet, Joseph focused entirely on navigating and anchoring the yacht, his movements skillful and confident. Once satisfied with our position, he finally turned off the engines and faced me.

"Now you’re all mine," he declared, pulling his shirt over his head to reveal his sculpted torso. "No phone calls, no interruptions."

He walked toward me with that intense look in his eyes that made my stomach flutter. When he reached me, his kiss was hungry and demanding, making me dizzy. His fingers found the tie of my cover-up, quickly undoing it and sliding the fabric off my shoulders.

When he stepped back to look at me, his eyes darkened. "That’s barely a bikini," he growled, his gaze roaming hungrily over my body. "Tell me you don’t wear this in public."

"What if I do?" I said playfully, turning around slowly. "It covers everything important."

When my back was to him, his hand came down in a playful smack against my barely covered bottom, making me gasp and laugh. It also sent tingles through my whole body and left me burning with desire.

"This," he growled, fingers tracing the edge of my bikini bottoms, "covers absolutely nothing."