"Are we there yet?"
Standing on the top deck of the yacht, Scarlett Johansson leaned against the railing, raising her head to gaze far into the distance. All she could see was water, so she asked Duke beside her, "How much longer?"
"Be patient," Duke replied casually, not knowing the exact distance. "Maybe another half an hour or so."
"It's so boring."
Scarlett turned and walked toward the shade of a sun umbrella. "There's nothing fun on this yacht."
She sat down in a chair and, seemingly wanting to be more comfortable, rested her feet on another chair. The sea breeze blew her oversized T-shirt upward, revealing the small bikini bottoms underneath. Scarlett didn't seem to care and lounged boldly, grabbing a bottle of sweet wine from a nearby ice bucket.
"Hey, Duke," she waved at him, "come and drink with me."
"You're sneaking drinks again?"
Duke walked over and sat across from Scarlett. She had already opened the bottle and poured two glasses of wine. "Grab your own; I'm not in a convenient position right now."
Glancing at her very unladylike posture, Duke picked up a glass of wine and reminded her, "Scarlett, you're exposing yourself."
Scarlett took a sip from her glass, then looked down and shrugged nonchalantly. "It's a swimsuit. I wanted to go for a swim, but you wouldn't let the yacht stop."
Despite her words, Scarlett obediently pulled her feet off the chair, adjusted her loose T-shirt slightly, clinked her glass with Duke's, and said before drinking, "When we get to the island, I'm definitely going skinny-dipping."
Duke pointed a warning finger at her but said nothing.
Scarlett's eyes darted mischievously. She slid her chair closer to the table, reducing the distance between them, and said playfully, "Why don't we go together?"
Duke glanced at her curvy figure, barely hidden even under the loose T-shirt, and could only glare at her. "What's going on in that head of yours, Scarlett?"
"Just inviting you to swim." Scarlett hugged the wine bottle and took a big swig directly from it. Then, switching to a singsong tone, she said, "On a deserted island, we stand together, facing the end of the world. On the last day of existence, we come into the world bare and leave it bare…"
"You're drunk," Duke said, dismissing her nonsense.
"I've just had a little," Scarlett grumbled, pouring herself another glass. "I once drank an entire bottle of whiskey."
"What?" Duke asked, looking at her.
Scarlett shrugged, her expression turning somber. "A few years ago, during my most rebellious phase."
Sighing, Duke understood she was referring to the time after the Johnsons' divorce. The pain of a broken family often left scars that could last a lifetime.
He took a small sip of wine and said, "So, you do realize you were rebellious."
"I'm not one of those girls who knows nothing and only indulges in drugs, drinking, and promiscuity," Scarlett said while hugging the wine bottle. "Even though my family…"
She shook her head. "But I have my godmother. I know who truly cares about me."
Suddenly, the yacht's horn blared. Duke stood up and looked ahead. On the horizon where the sea met the sky, several small islands were scattered like pearls in an oyster shell.
"Stop drinking," Duke said, taking the wine bottle away. "Scarlett, we're almost there. Go pack your things."
The islands were part of a small archipelago east of the Great Barrier Reef. Most of them were privately owned or leased. Duke had rented one that wasn't very large but was well-equipped, with facilities for docking small and medium-sized yachts, complete electricity and water supplies, and a flat beach facing north. A villa was perched on a hill behind the beach.
With help from two bodyguards, Duke and Scarlett carried their luggage across the long pier and onto the island's electric cart, which took them to the villa behind the beach.
The island belonged to a private rental company and had staff available for service. However, Duke had specifically requested not to be disturbed unless necessary.
After unpacking his luggage, Duke called Scarlett, who had just chosen her room.
"What is it?" She stumbled over, her face slightly flushed. "I was about to take a nap."
Duke opened a large box and pushed a long rectangular gift-wrapped box toward her. "This is for you."
"Ah?" Scarlett's sleepy eyes instantly lit up. She grabbed the ribbon on the box and lifted it slightly. It wasn't heavy. "Is this my Christmas present?"
"Yes," Duke nodded. "Go get some rest."
"Thank you, Duke."
Clearly delighted, Scarlett hugged the box and ran back to her room. After tidying up his things, Duke went into the master bedroom, exhausted from a day of flying and boating. He took a shower and lay down for a nap.
Before sleeping, he called his mother, but her phone was still off. Judging by the time, she hadn't arrived in Europe yet.
Closing his eyes, Duke quickly fell into a deep, sweet sleep, only to be awakened by a knock on the door.
He threw on shorts and a T-shirt before opening the door. Scarlett stood there, radiant.
"It's Christmas Eve," she said excitedly. "Are you planning to sleep until dark?"
She held a surfboard in her hands. "Thanks for the Christmas present. Let's go to the beach."
"You're welcome," Duke replied, leaning on the doorframe. "I'll get changed."
"Wait, I have a gift for you too," Scarlett said, tugging at his arm.
"A gift?" Duke looked at her. Scarlett was still holding the surfboard.
"Close your eyes," she said.
"What are you up to?" Duke asked suspiciously. Scarlett's childhood antics had left a deep impression on him. "Just give me the gift."
"Close your eyes!" Scarlett urged.
Frowning slightly, Duke complied. Suddenly, he felt warm breath approaching rapidly. Just as he was about to open his eyes, he felt soft lips brush against the corner of his mouth.
"Scarlett…"
When Duke opened his eyes, Scarlett had already stepped back. "I just wanted to say thank you."
Duke turned and walked back into his room.
Changing into loose swim trunks, Duke opened the door to find Scarlett gone. Outside, on the beach, she was wearing a bikini and seemed to be building something in the sand.
Wearing beach sandals, Duke trudged across the soft sand and found Scarlett sculpting a snowman—or rather, a sandman.
"Come help me, Duke," she called out, standing up and waving. "I've always built snowmen in thick winter clothes during Christmas. Now I'm doing it in a swimsuit. It's such a unique experience!"
It was Duke's first Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere. Although Los Angeles winters weren't cold, it was never warm enough for beachwear.
Celebrating a blazing Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere had its charm.
While the Northern Hemisphere shivered in winter winds and snowflakes, Australia basked in summer's heat. Duke and Scarlett embraced the holiday with their own twist—building a sandman adorned with a carrot nose, a straw hat, and a festive red-and-white scarf.
Scarlett set up a tripod for her camera, then ran over to Duke, hugging his arm tightly and flashing a victory sign.
Dressed only in a bikini, she hugged Duke's arm so tightly that her chest pressed against him as she adjusted her pose. Scarlett seemed oblivious, but the camera captured the moment perfectly.
Later, Scarlett insisted on teaching Duke to surf. While balancing on the board, Duke felt every bit of her "teaching"—especially as Scarlett held him from behind, her hands firmly on his shoulders and her body pressing closely against his.
"You're stronger than I expected," she murmured, her hands moving slightly as she spoke.
Duke, trying to stay composed, growled, "Scarlett!"
But his sudden movement threw off their balance, flipping the board and sending them both into the water with twin screams.
The shallow waters only reached Duke's chest. He stood up quickly and saw Scarlett floundering.
"Scarlett!" Duke waded over and lifted her.
Scarlett, startled, clung to him like a koala, her limbs wrapped tightly around his body.
"You can let go now," Duke said as they reached the beach. "We're back on land."
...
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