Haden set his phone back on the bedside table and ran his hand through his hair. He knew his father would be angry that he hadn’t kept his promise to have breakfast with him or to join him on the boat, but last night was still very much with him.

He glanced at the woman asleep beside him and frowned. He barely remembered coming home, somewhere between one and two this morning. He knew he had a guest with him – he always had a bed partner – he just didn’t remember where he’d picked her up.

Tossing the covers aside, he stood up from the king-sized bed, then staggered back to the edge of the mattress. His head felt the familiar fuzzy sensation that always accompanied a night of bar-hopping, but with a pot of coffee and some Tylenol, he’d be ready to face his old man.

Haden cautiously stood up again, smiling as his legs held him, feeling slightly less disoriented. He walked into the adjoining bathroom and turned on the taps to one of the double sinks. With a quick splash of cool water across his face, he began to wake up. Taking his toothbrush and toothpaste from the drawer, he quickly began to scrub the remnants of last night from his teeth, before reaching for the minty mouthwash.

He turned and walked to the large tiled shower, swishing the liquid around the inside of his mouth. With each passing second, he was beginning to feel more like his old self. He turned the knobs to the water and sighed as the multiple jets began to spray warm water across his muscles. Last night had been particularly long, with three bars, and at least two girls between each stop. The one still asleep in his bed must have been the waitress at the last club they stopped at. He vaguely remembered a cute redhead with a tight bottom, but he wasn’t sure if that had been from last night or the night before.

Haden spit the mouthwash out and reached for the scented bar of soap. A few passes across his chest and arms, and his eyes began to focus more clearly. The shampoo woke him a bit more and by the time he’d washed his private areas, he was wide awake and looking forward to a weekend on his father’s yacht, even if he was going to be forced into temporary celibacy.

Shutting off the water, Haden reached for the thick towel hanging outside the stall and briskly rubbed the moisture from his large body. He smiled as he stepped out of the tiles and back onto the marble floor. He liked drinking champagne or beer more than hard liquor. He didn’t get the hangover he normally did with whiskey or bourbon.

With a deep breath of relief, he walked into the massive closet and rummaged through the clothes hung up and waiting to be worn. He chose a pair of light blue jeans and a dark blue pullover, then took his sneakers and socks and returned to the bedroom.

The woman was still asleep, but that would end soon. He wasn’t going to leave her alone in his room while he took off. He’d learned his lesson two years ago, while on spring break in France. After having his hotel ransacked and his belongings stolen, including a pair of expensive diamond cufflinks, his designer jeans, and over fifteen thousand euros in cash, he made a new habit of sending the woman out before he left.

Haden sat down on the bed and pulled his clothes on, then slipped his feet into the shoes. He gathered his phone and wallet – checking to make certain he still had his credit cards and cash – then walked to the small bar in the corner of the room. He removed a bottle of water, then returned back to the bed. He was really confused now. The woman wasn’t the redhead he thought was with him, but a brunette with purple and red streaks in her shoulder-length hair.

He pushed on her shoulder twice, noticing the dark purple marks he’d left across her neck and small breasts. The woman moaned but continued to keep her eyes closed. Again, he pushed on her shoulder, pulling the blankets off her slender body. She wasn’t that bad to look at, he thought, and fought to keep himself from taking advantage of her state of complete nudity.

“Wake up,” he said in a stern voice. “It’s time for you to get out of here.”

“I’m too tired, and my head hurts,” she whimpered, and he rolled his eyes in disgust.

“It doesn’t matter, you have to get out of here. I’ll call you a cab.”

“Can’t we take that sweet car of yours?” she asked, rolling to her back and stretching her arms over her head.

“Sorry, but I’ve got other plans.”

“Another woman I suppose?”

“Actually, my father, now get your ass up and get dressed.”

Haden ignored the jealous expression she gave him when she asked about another woman, then stood up and tossed the bottle of cold water to the bed, smiling when she yelped as it rolled into her side. He removed his phone from his pocket and dialed the cab company he kept under his favorites list. He watched as the girl struggled out of his bed and reached for her clothes.

“I need a cab,” he said into the receiver. “You have my information. The name is Haden.”

“Yes sir,” the man on the other end said. “Usual place?”

“Yeah, that’s great. You’ll be taking one passenger to…” he paused and moved the phone from his mouth, looking at his guest. “Where do you live?”

“Reseda,” she answered, trying to turn her dress right side out.

“Reseda,” Haden repeated to the phone, then turned his back on the woman.

“Yes sir. What time would you like the pickup?”

“Ten minutes.”

“Yes sir. The driver will be there. Do you want the usual payment arrangements?” the man said as the sound of a keyboard clicking echoed through the receiver.

“That would be great. Thank you.”

Haden hung up the phone and slid it back into his pocket, then turned back in time to see his guest slide her tight red sequenced miniskirt down her hips. She may not have been the best-looking woman he’d picked up the past eight months, but she was a damn good second.

“The cab will pick you up downstairs,” he told her after clearing his throat. “Once you’re ready I’ll walk you down and make certain you get something quick to eat.”

“I’m not hungry,” she grumbled, sitting back on the mattress and strapping her heels back on her small feet. “My head is exploding, and I feel like I’m going to lose my stomach.”

“Then take this,” he told her, taking his wallet out of his back pocket and pulling out three hundred-dollar bills.

He stared at the woman, noticing how thin she was and how her face looked sunken and pale. He removed another seven bills, each one a hundred dollars, then handed it to her.

“This should get you some food, and replace that dress,” he continued, seeing the rip on the side and remembering his haste to remove it.

“I’m not a whore,” she grumbled with a frown.

“If I wanted a whore, I sure as hell wouldn’t pay her a thousand dollars. I feel bad that I tore your dress and kept you here all night. This would help my conscience feel better about the state you’re leaving in if you take this. Consider it my way of saying thank you for an incredible night.”

“Well…” she said hesitantly, ignoring the grumbling in her stomach. “I guess if it makes you feel better…”

Haden smiled, knowing what his looks did to the opposite sex, then handed her the cash. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her neck, then turned her to the door. They walked together down the crescent moon shaped stairs, ignoring the disapproving look from Bentley.

“My guest is leaving,” he told the older man. “Have the cooking bag up a couple of pastries and some orange juice.”

“Yes sir,” the older man said, turning and leaving the couple alone.

Haden took her to the bench and sat down, pulling her down to his knees. If he wasn’t already running behind, he’d have carried her into the parlor and made use of the time that remained until the cab arrived. As it was, he knew he’d get hell once he finally joined his father.

“You don’t have to feed me,” she said with a shy smile.

“I don’t want you to vomit in the taxi. Besides, the more sweets you eat, the less there is for me to ignore.”

“You know, you never did tell me your name. I mean, I’ve never spent the night with a strange man before, but you are ten times more gorgeous than any of those men there last night.”

“Where exactly did we meet?” he asked, ignoring her question.

He worked hard at protecting his father’s name and knew how furious Ronald Valentini would get if the girl knew she had been screwed by a billionaire’s son. It was probably the only thing he took special precautions in protecting, besides his health.

“The Lunar Eclipse. It’s in Reseda.”

“Well, my beauty, I’m very happy I stopped there. I can’t thank you enough for a memorable evening.”

The doorbell rang, preventing Haden from taking advantage of his previous idea. He stood the girl off his lap then stood up and walked to the door, placing his hand into his pocket. He turned the elaborate golden handle then looked behind him as Bentley came back into the foyer.

Haden smiled a wicked grin, watching the disapproving look on the older man’s stern features as he handed her a brown paper bag, then pulled the door open. He smiled at Curtis, the usual driver who came to escort his women away from the mansion. He shook his hand, slipping a hundred-dollar bill into it, then stepped aside for the woman to join him. He kissed her on the cheek, winked to Curtis, and patted the girl’s backside – for Bentley’s benefit, he assured himself.

“See to it she gets home safely,” Haden told Curtis.

“Yes sir. I always do.”

The girl left the house and Haden watched as she climbed into the back of the cab. The taxi pulled away from the mansion before Haden closed the door and drew a deep breath. He needed to get packed for the weekend and get out of here before his father’s anger grew any hotter.

Ignoring Bentley, he turned and walked up the stairs, taking them two at a time. He hurried down the hallway to his room and closed the door. They’d made a mess of the place. Blankets were tossed to the foot of the bed and the floor, his clothes were scattered from the door to the bed, and there were beer bottles and a champagne bottle on the carpet. Used packages of condoms lay strung across the sheets and on the floor next to the trashcan, and he smiled. Eight condoms for one woman. She must have been better than he remembered.

Walking into his closet, he removed his leather satchel and stuffed in three pairs of jeans, three tee-shirts, and his swim trunks. He stuffed in two pairs of socks and a lightweight jacket, then went into the bathroom. The ship had all the toiletries he would need, but he still wanted his aftershave – even though he did little more than trim his beard – and his cologne, just in case he found someone worth spending some quiet time with.

He doubted there would be any female companionship within a hundred miles of the yacht, but he could always hope for a maid or two to keep him entertained. He returned to his bedroom and took one last look around. Mary was going to freak out when she came up to clean, but he didn’t have time to set the room right.

Taking his case, his tablet, and laptop, he left the room and headed back downstairs. He glanced at Bentley who was coming out of the kitchen, a small silver tray in his hands with a chocolate alligator jaw on a ceramic plate, and a cup of coffee next to it. He paused when he saw Haden jog his way down the stairs, then frowned.

“Let Mary know my room needs to be cleaned and the sheets need changing,” he told the man, taking the cup and swallowing nearly half of it in one drink. “I’ll be on the Carol’s Angel if anyone needs me.”

“Yes sir,” Bentley said, the expression on his face appeared almost relieved that he wouldn’t have to endure his employer’s son alone for the whole weekend.

“Call the pier and have them get a speedboat ready. I’ll need a lift to the yacht.”

“Yes sir,” the butler said again, watching the younger man take the pastry off the plate and head to the front door.

“If Aaron Nielsen should come by, remind him that I’m spending the weekend with my father, but I’ll be back Sunday night. We can leave for Ireland Tuesday as we planned.”

“Yes sir,” Bentley said one last time as Haden opened the door and left the mansion, heading to the garage.

“Where’s he going?” Mary asked, coming around the corner of the hallway.

“He’s going to spend the weekend with his father.”

“That’s a surprise. I didn’t think he liked to do anything with his father, now that he’s a grown man.”

“He wants his birthday gift,” Bentley said with a disgusted expression.

“Those figures. It’s not bad enough he wastes his father’s money on cheap floozies, but to expect to receive a monetary settlement for the day he was born, is obscene.”

“Speaking of floozies,” Bentley began.

“I know. His sheets need to be changed, his room needs cleaning, and I’ll need gloves and a can of Lysol to air the place out.”

Bentley actually smiled as the middle-aged Hispanic woman began walking up the stairs, still grumbling about the work the young man left her with.

She had every right to be frustrated, he thought, returning the tray to the kitchen. Every time Haden returned home, he left the place a disaster with the parade of women he’d bring through the front doors. Once he had used up the mansion’s supply of beer and champagne, he was gone until next visit, usually months down the road.

It had been this way before he went off for college, and every holiday he was home. Since graduating from Harvard last fall, he’d only been home three times, just long enough to resupply his bank account, then off to another corner of the globe.

Bentley felt sorry for Ronald. He was a hardworking man, honest and dependable. He was the most reliable, kindhearted man who ever walked the face of the earth. His son, however, was just the opposite. He was good-humored, kind and polite, but he was a spoiled womanizing brat who did more than email his father once a week. He liked spending money and he loved expensive toys. Everything that made him appear irresistible to the opposite sex.

The entire staff knew Ronald was at his wits ends with the boy, and they all heard bits and pieces of what he had planned for his son. Just enough to make them aware that all hell was going to break loose when they returned, and they were all anxious to see how things worked out for the playboy heir.

Haden pulled his baby blue Lamborghini Aventador Roadster convertible out of the garage and headed down the long drive to the security gate. He took a bite out of the pastry as he paused by the keypad and punched in his code, then watched the gates open. Five minutes later, he was on the road that would take him to the pier.

The sky was clear, and the weather was warm, but he was happy and content to finally be leaving the disapproving glances of his father’s staff. He knew they didn’t like his lifestyle any more than his father did, but they really had no clue how he spent his life. What harm came from spending his youth doing what he wanted. He loved occupying his time with beautiful women, and he enjoyed sex, even the kinky, perverted kind.

Just thinking about all he’d learned in France made his blood boil. Bondage, BDSM, whips, toys. They turned a boring weekend into an interesting, intriguing way to spend a few hours. Even sharing a woman with his best friend, Aaron, made him appreciate a woman’s body that much more.

Haden pulled his car into the reserved parking stall and shut off the engine. He climbed out of the luxurious interior and removed the top from the bonnet, then quickly snapped it into place before taking his bag. He closed and locked the door, then set the alarm and headed down the wooden walkway to the rental office.

The old man who managed and maintained the boats met him at the door, smiling happily as he recognized Haden. He shook his hand as he waved entrance into the shack.

“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Valentini,” the man said in a deep smoker’s voice.

“Thank you, it’s good to see you. Did you get my message that I needed a ride out to the Carol’s Angel?”

“Yes, I did. I have my son bringing the boat around. Your father filed a float plan before he left.”

“Good. I’d hate to have to search the pacific ocean for him.”

The sound of a motor echoed outside the open windows and Haden glanced out to see the small speedboat pull up beside the shack. He reached into his pocket and removed his wallet as the old man began writing up the rental receipt.

Within minutes, he was on the white and blue boat heading out to sea. He drew a deep breath and closed his eyes. The spray of the ocean was a long-awaited friend that he had very little time to embrace lately, and he was eager to enjoy it as much as he could. His father’s ship had wave runners, fishing equipment, a small swimming pool, and even a hot tub. It was the ultimate in luxury, and he was anxious to share it with the only man he’d ever loved.

Haden looked out the windshield and smiled. The large white and black yacht had anchored a few miles offshore, far enough out to enjoy the privacy, yet close enough to get back to dock if anything were to happen. He reached for his bag as the boy pulled up alongside the yacht where the ladder was positioned and stopped. Handing a folded hundred-dollar bill to his driver, he slipped the bag across his shoulder then climbed over the side and grabbed hold of the rope steps that led to the stern.

He swung his leg over the railing, he tossed his bag down and looked around. The sound of music echoed from the interior of the yacht, and he smiled as Franz came out to greet him.

“It’s nice of you to join us,” the German said, shaking Haden’s hand.

“I was afraid I’d miss the whole weekend,” he laughed. “Where’s my father?”

“He’s on the upper deck trying to catch a fish.”

“Let me toss my bag in my room and I’ll join him. Is there another pole and a few extra worms?”

“I’ll set things up for you,” Franz said with a warm smile, then watched as Haden walked into the heart of the ship.

Haden unloaded his bag and stowed it in the small closet, then left his room and headed up to where his father was relaxing. The middle-aged man sat in an upholstered chair, his gray-streaked dark hair was hidden beneath a tan golf cap, his muscular torso inside a white and green striped polo shirt, and his olive-colored legs hanging out from a pair of khaki shorts.

Ronald had his dark sunglasses perched across his nose and in the pole-holder was a long silver and red fishing rod. He looked like he was dozing, the sound of his favorite classical music echoing softly from the speakers.

Haden stepped up behind his father and placed his hands on the man’s shoulders. As he suspected, he was asleep and startled when he was touched. Ronald looked up as Haden kissed his cheek, then sat down in the chair beside him.

“I’m sorry I didn’t join you this morning,” he told his father.

“I know. Last night caught up to you,” Ronald said with a warm smile.

“Pretty much. So, what are you trying to catch?”

“Whatever it is, it doesn’t like my bait.”

“What are you using?” Haden chuckled, accepting the rod Franz handed him.

“Shrimp. I think. It may just be really fat nightcrawlers.”

Haden smiled as he tossed his line into the water and snugged it up, then placed it into the holder in front of him.

“How about a beer?” he asked his father, standing and walking to the bar on the opposite end of the deck.

“I’ll take a wine cooler. It’s too close to lunch to fill up on beer.”

“How have things been at work?” Haden asked as they reclined in the chairs, watching their poles.

“Same as always. We’re researching a new diet drug that’s supposed to be safer, without causing hypertension or palpitations.”

“If you can do that, it’ll be worth millions.”

“Most of our drugs are.”

Ronald was quiet for several long minutes as the two sat listening to the music, watching the ocean, and thinking. He was starting to reconsider his ideas, but the plan had already been set in motion, and he couldn’t back out of it now. For Haden’s sake, he had to continue, but he wasn’t willing to discuss it until the weekend was over. He wanted to enjoy his time with his son.

Before he was blocked out of his life forever.