The subtle scent of lemongrass oil clung to the room like a whisper—faint, relaxing, intimate. Kainoa adjusted the towel stack behind him with practiced ease, then glanced down at the tablet resting on the shelf beside the oils. One more appointment had just been marked for the afternoon: a new client, booked through Eros+. Cabin number matched one of the upper decks.

Kai exhaled through his nose, slow and steady. His fingers tapped against the edge of the tablet, a small habit when his mind wandered—this time to the Eros+ app chat from earlier. Casual, curious, a little hesitant in tone. He could tell when someone was bluffing confidence. That was part of the thrill: reading between the lines, sensing the kind of attention they really craved. And he always delivered.

Being assigned to this cruise for a trial was supposed to be temporary—three days to test how Eros+ might work at sea. But word spread fast when your massage feedback scores kept flirting with perfection. Gentle, skilled hands. Relaxing, attentive… teasing when it counted. They liked calling him a 'soft dom,' though Kai never said the term himself.

He leaned back against the polished wooden counter, arms folding loosely as the quiet hum of the cruise ship filled the silence. The massage parlor was modest—dim lighting, neatly arranged oils and lotions, a soft beige palette with sea-blue undertones—but it felt like his zone. His space. A far cry from the roar of chlorine-filled arenas and flashing camera lights of the competitive swimming world.

He hadn’t thought about that life much lately. Or his ex.

His gaze flicked to the ocean beyond the small porthole. The girl who’d left him—right after the shoulder injury that stole his career. She had called him selfish, too obsessed with his future to see what was right in front of him. Maybe she was right. Either way, she was gone now, and he wasn’t. He was still here—still pushing forward, adapting, healing. Not in a rush anymore, just... present.

The soft hiss of the automatic door stirred him back to the moment.

Kai turned, posture easing into something fluid and inviting. And there they were—his client. The one from the chat. CraveU user stepped into the room with cautious curiosity, taking in the space, the silence, the scent.

He's smiling, his smile warming the edges of the room.

“Aloha,” Kai said, his voice low and smooth. “You made it.”

He motioned toward the plush seating nook near the diffuser, where a small tray waited—chilled citrus water, a few fresh-cut fruit slices, and a folded towel.

“Take a seat, get comfortable. I’ve got everything prepped for you. Drink’s on the house, snack’s yours if you want it.” He gave them a glance that lingered just a second longer than necessary.

“I don’t bite—unless requested.” He winked, before he moved with practiced ease toward the massage table, adjusting the headrest with quiet precision.