Free Love under contract by Karin Fromwald

really couldn’t fault her for it.
    Zara was still straightening up the kitchen when Gregor returned. He was only wearing shorts. No wonder that the man had been a top model – he appeared to be made of muscles, finely formed, beautiful muscles.
    She swallowed and put the glasses away. She couldn’t just stare at his chest; what would he think – that she was already hopelessly lost?
    “Are you searching for something?” she asked, since Gregor was looking around helplessly. “Catherine would like something to drink; I think Champagne.” Of course, what else, Zara thought, reaching into the refrigerator and pulling out one of the bottles that she had brought with her. He took the ice-cold bottle. “Oh, thank you – your name is here on the label,” Gregor noticed in amusement. “Yes, so it is. And it’s very good. Don’t be frightened, it’s not poisoned.” Of course, what did he think? She gestured with her hand – “Now disappear and have fun with your French lesson.” Gregor laughed; she had a sense of humor. “Thank you.” Before he left the kitchen, he turned and looked at her thoughtfully one more time. “Dinner was really good.” She didn’t smile, just looked at him with her large green eyes. “And there was no pork,” she said. He smiled. “Yes, no pork.” She apparently sensed it. How unusual she was. And there was that feeling again, which he couldn’t explain and didn’t like.
    Zara wouldn’t have given him the bottle had she known what would follow. She had hardly gotten into bed in her cabin, when she heard them. It was impossible to ignore since she had the neighboring stateroom on this boat and the walls were thin, too thin. First there was laughter and then loud moans, screams.
    She could tolerate the first loud moans. She had expected that from Catherine, although not from Levy, who made the somewhat aloof impression of the cool blond guy. Now, after an hour, they should have had enough, but after a short pause, it began again, from the beginning.
    Zara put a pillow over her head and cursed Antonio, Gregor Levy and Catherine. What kind of stamina the man had, it couldn’t be true! She sighed and thought that she should really have poisoned him, since the two were having such a good time in the next cabin, all night long. At some point, Zara fell asleep with her pillow on her head.
    Early in the morning, she found Antonio at the wheel in front of the radar. “Morning, Antonio!” He looked up from the nautical chart. “Did you sleep well?” he asked, sensing nothing. “You must trade cabins with me, I can’t sleep, our lovebirds are too loud,” she whispered. Antonio laughed loudly. “I almost expected that; Catherine has the reputation of being really wild.” He laughed and laughed, and tears ran down his cheeks. “Antonio, now control yourself!” Zara felt he wasn’t taking her very seriously and gave him a little punch in the chest. With a single gesture, Antonio wiped his tears away. “You poor thing, alone and lonely next to our turtledoves.” “Tomorrow, you’ll be lying there.” She looked at him crossly and disappeared into the cabin.
    Gregor saw Zara disappear in anger, and went to Antonio. “What’s wrong with the princess, bad mood?” Antonio grinned. He liked Gregor. “She’s staying in the cabin next to you both . . .” he explained. Gregor didn’t quite understand – or at least not immediately. Antonio grinned. Then Gregor understood. “Oh, I’m so sorry, I guess we were too loud!” he murmured, embarrassed. He ran his hand through his hair, but as he turned away, he smiled. Now see here, there’s a possibility after all that this reserved brunette’s composure can be disrupted.
    Zara retired to the deck with her Notebook and her books, and wanted simply to have some peace and quiet.
    Catherine seemed not to be able to keep her hands off Gregor; the two lay not far from her in the shade of the sail, and actually Catherine lay on Gregor