by Zelda Knight
“Can I get you anything else?”
I shake my head. “I am good now. Thanks. So, Mr. Captain. How does all this work?” I point to the control panel to the right of me.
His smile and his eyes radiate so much light it almost seems brighter than the moonlight casting over us. “Well, I’ll let you in on the secret.”
“Secret, eh? I think I can stand for this.” I giggle as I sway over to him.
“The captain and his crew steer the ship maybe thirty percent of the time. Otherwise, the ship is driven by autopilot.”
“No way. So, the movies have it all wrong then?”
“Maybe. You see”—he points to a computerized system—"this system does the majority of the work, allowing us to tend to the long list of duties on board.”
“I bet being a captain can be overwhelming at times, being in charge and responsible for all these people?”
“Yeah…sometimes, but I wouldn’t trade this for the world. I love being out at sea. The sight of the ocean gives me a sense of calm.” Dorian sighs as he looks out into the ocean, and his masculine features soften a little.
Watching him watching the ocean puts a smile on my face. “I definitely agree with you there.” I inch closer to him, admiring the spectacular sight before us. “When did you become a captain of a ship? No offense, I just expected a man with wrinkly skin and gray beard.
“Ha,” he laughs. “I get that a lot. My father was a captain of another cruise line. He took me on my first cruise when I was eight years old, and I’ve been hooked ever since.”
“That’s amazing.” When I glance at the clock, I noticed it’s a quarter to midnight, and a lump rises in my throat. My heart races faster now, and I can’t keep my thoughts together.
“So, tell me about you.” He makes the gap between us even smaller, stealing the air from my lungs.
“Umm…there’s not much to me.”
“Sure, there is. Don’t be shy.”
Less talk, more action, Blaire. I’m running out of time. It’s almost midnight. Digging deep, I find my inner sexy and toss my hair back. His eyes widen.
I turn my body to his and slowly run my hand down the length of his chest. “Maybe we can talk another day. But right now, there’s something I need to do.”
“Is that so?” His arms envelope around me as I bravely look into his eyes. The gold swirling within them has me hypnotized once again. For a short moment, I forget to breathe. “Is it something I can assist you with, Blaire?”
“Yes,” I murmur, inching my face closer to his. Even though I am tall, with my heels on we are the same height. Going in for the kill. I kiss him, slow and steady.
He doesn't pull away and pushes back with an intensity that has me melting in his arms, needing to feel more of him. Every nerve in my body sparks with pleasure.
“Oh, Blaire.” He groans against my lips, taking my tongue deeper into his.
I don’t want to stop, but before I get too enraptured in this kiss, I reluctantly disconnect our lips and head for the door. I don't look back to see his reaction, nor do I give him enough time to reject my abrupt departure. I flee to my room, head down. I don't know what I'm more ashamed of—kissing a man I barely know or the fact I left him hanging the way I did after he’d been so kind to me? He must be so confused right now.
My body jolts backward as I bump into a body of solid muscle. “Going to bed so soon.”
How did he get here so fast? My question soon fades as his deep voice caresses over me like a wave. All I want to do is feel his lips against mine once more. His firm, unforgiving arms enclose around me, pulling me deeper into the ecstasy my body craves. But I can't. “Yes. So, if you'll excuse me, Captain.” I go to unlock my cabin door with my keycard, but he blocks the entire doorframe with his massive body. Inhaling a breath, I tightly clench the keycard within my grasp. Everything I could want in a man stands before me, but I must resist the temptation at all costs. Because that's precisely what he is—a fantasy—an illusion. A man as perfect as him doesn't truly exist, and I won't fall for his tricks.
“You can't kiss me the way you did, then run away.”
Yes, I can. “I didn't want to kiss you. My friend dared me to do it.”
He towers over me. “Well, your mouth and body told me otherwise, but go ahead, deny it all you want. You’ll be back.” He moves away from the door as I look down at my feet. “Goodnight, Blaire.”
I bite my lip. Dorian whispering into my ear sends a throbbing ache coursing throughout my body, ending where I've never been touched, but desperately want to be. Ugh, what is this man doing to me? I remain here, silent, as he walks down the hall, never looking back. I watch him until he disappears around the corner, and only then, do I push the key card into the slit. The green light blinks, and I open the door to find Melanie sitting on the bed, all smiles. “So... how’d it go with Mr. Dreamboat?”
I drag my body over to the bed and let myself fall against the golden silk covers. “I don't want to talk about it.”
“C’mon, this game isn’t fun unless you share the juice. And by the looks of him, I bet his kisses were extra juicy.”
They sure were. I struggle to keep from biting my lip. “Shut up.” I sit up to shove her off the bed.
Melanie gets up, dancing around the room as she sings that annoying ‘kissing’ nursery rhyme. “If you two get married one day, I want all the credit.”
I launch a pillow at her head. “Never.”
“We’ll see about that.” She dives onto the bed to grab a pillow and hits me in the face, knocking me over. Melanie may be petite, but they didn't call her Lil Scrappy in high school for nothing.
“Okay, I give.” I lay there, laughing.
She lies next to me, out of breath. “By the way...you don't need to tell me. It's writing all over your face, you shank.” She sucker punches me in the arm and runs into the bathroom, laughing.
I clench my hand over the sting. “You’ll have to come out of there at some point. In the meantime, I get this ultra-comfy bed all to myself.”
The bathroom door creaks open. “I suggest you sleep with one eye open tonight.” She laughs, closing the door. Although she is joking, her threat still sends a tingle down my spine. I hope she doesn’t pour hot sauce in my mouth again…
Chapter Three
DORIAN
“Blaire.” I love the way her name rolls off my tongue. I can still feel her lips gliding across mine. Kissing her was so soft yet primal, awakening the hungry beast within me. Usually, I don't seek out attention, but the way she smells has me undeniably drawn to her. My mouth waters with an agonizing crave to taste her. However, I must remind myself of what my men and I are here to do. Nothing—not even a gorgeous and sweet-smelling morsel like Blaire—can derail our mission. There were many girls before her, and there will be plenty after her. I’ll show her a good time, sure. Blaire deserves that much at least for what is going to become of her and her friend Melanie. We are predators, and they are our delightfully scrumptious prey waiting to get picked off. In good time, my little deer.
A knock at my door shatters my vision of her. “Captain, we need your assistance with a problem.” Flex—my second-in-command—uses a tone revealing all the information I need. I am so sick of this shit!
“Flex, I’ll be right out.” With a sigh, I pull myself from the comfort of my bed, put back on my clothes, and swing open the door. “Where is he?” I growl through gritted teeth.
Flex hangs his head as he says, “The VIP room in the casino.”
Before he has time to look up and follow me, I zip down the corridor at lightning speed and crash through the door to the VIP Room. My hand latches around Hunter’s thick neck, lifting him inches off the ground, so our eyes link. Mine burn into him with fury. “What have you done?”
I follow his eyes to the floor and get a whiff of copper. My hold tightens as a rumble rips from my throat. “How many times do I have to tell you, no feeding until the ritual?” Hunter’s face t
urns blue while he gasps for air. His hands lock onto my arm, but I refuse to let up until he’s on the brink of death. I’ve had enough of his insubordination, and I’m quickly running out of patience at his indiscretions. Annoyingly, I can’t kill him. But if he’s not careful, he will reveal what we are before it’s time. I can’t have that either. Not only is my responsibility to my crew but the women aboard my ship. They need to remain alive until the night our Goddess performs the ritual to restore our powers.
As Hunter begins to wither away, I release my hold, and he falls to the floor in a heap. “Name?”
“Jessica, sir,” Flex says.
I glare at Hunter. “Throw her overboard, then clean up this mess before anyone sees. Don’t fuck up again.”
He nods, rubbing his throat.
Swiftly, I return to my cabin for much-needed rest. The crew and I have a busy morning entertaining the guests as we reach the last leg of our cruise before arriving in Bora Bora.
The morning festivities come and go, and Blaire is nowhere to be found, so I decide to check on her. I reach her cabin and knock on the door. Her friend Melanie with red curls, answers. “Hello there, Mr. Dreamboat. Blaire hasn’t been able to shut up about you.” She smirks.
I clear my throat. “Really?” My heart jumps. “Can I speak to her?”
Melanie shakes her head. “To be honest, she’s been a little distant…haven’t seen her since this morning.”
I mirror her frown. “Don’t worry, I’ll find her.”
“Oh, I know you will.” She winks, waves goodbye, then closes the door.
I search high and low only to come up empty-handed. The worst ideas of what could’ve happened to her plague my brain. I run into Cade on the way to the bridge. If anyone has seen her, it would have been him as it’s his job to keep a close eye on our guests. “Have you seen a tall, curvaceous girl with long straight black hair and brown eyes? Goes by the name of Blaire.”
He rubs the length of this face. “Blaire, Blaire…Blaire.” He takes a moment to think, but to me, it’s a moment too long considering the douche bag we have lurking on board. “Ah! I think I saw a girl that fits that description hanging around the lookout tower, sir.”
I clap him on the shoulder. “I knew I could count on you.” I teleport to the tower. Looking up, I spot black hair cascading in the wind, a floral scent finding its way to my nostrils. Blowing out a breath of relief, I ascend the tower. It’s her.
“Blaire, I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
She jumps an inch but calms when she realizes it’s just me. “Well, you found me.” She goes back to staring at the ocean with her knees pressed to her chest.
I sit next to her and dangle my legs over the edge. “Melanie mentioned to me that you’ve been distant. Is something bothering you?”
She continues to look forward, pulling her knees closer to her chest. Her face pales several shades. “I just want to be left alone. Please go.”
“I understand. But if you need someone to talk to…I am here.”
Finally, she turns to acknowledge me with eyes full of disdain. My heart twists into a knot. Why is she so upset? Have I done something wrong? Has someone hurt her? My fists clench into a ball. If they have, I’ll make them suffer an agonizing death.
“Yeah, whatever,” is all she says before turning her attention back to the ocean.
At this moment, I wish Blaire trusted me enough to confide in me, and thinking about her impending fate, she probably never will. I frown. I wish things could be different, Blaire. I’m sorry. Being what I am is a blessing and a curse with no way out, and I only have myself to blame.
It takes everything within me to leave her. I didn’t want to, but she’s made it clear she wants nothing to do with me. So, I stand up and leave. Part of me prays she’ll call after me. She doesn’t. I reach the bottom of the tower and organize my crew, making sure everything is on track. We can’t afford any more mishaps this close to Bora Bora. Even throughout the day, all I can think of is Blaire. Will she ever talk to me again?
Chapter Four
BLAIRE
I swing open our cabin door, startling Melanie, and pull my clothes out of the closet.
“I take it things didn't go well with Mr. Dreamboat?”
“Melanie, we have to get off this boat.”
She puts her hand on my shoulder. “So, it didn't work out. There are plenty of hot guys here.”
“It's not that.”
“I'm sorry about the hot sauce, okay. It was a childish thing to do.”
For the first time since last night, I look at Melanie, imprinting her tan skin, green eyes, and her bouncy, red curls to my memory. We've been through so much together that I consider her my sister—a part of me. And God forbid, if something terrible happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself for not being more insistent about leaving this cruise. I just hope we can survive whatever comes our way. “Melanie...I witnessed something awful. We have to get the fuck off this boat.”
Her jaw drops as she stares at me. Usually, she would try to convince me I'm just paranoid, but the fear consuming my eyes can't be ignored. “What did you see?” She walks me over to the bed, and we sit down.
Closing my eyes, the horrifying images play over through my mind... Last night, I was having trouble going back to sleep after attempting to brush the hot sauce out of my mouth. So, I decided to take a walk. The commotion had calmed down, and a few drunk girls were lounging by the pool. Well, I should say, passed out. I walked over to the pool to soak my feet. The coolness surrounding me seemed to calm down my nerves until I heard an oddly familiar voice. The cold invaded the rest of my body as I sat there, frozen.
“Keep a lookout,” a husky voice said.
At the back corner of the boat, I saw shadows moving closer before they came into view. A bald man appeared, and suddenly his words rang in my head. “Your fun won’t last.” I gasped. What was the bouncer from the club doing here?
Quietly, I got up from the pool and tiptoed over to lean against the wall of the ship. I peered around the corner to find the bouncer and another man carrying a girl. I clasped my hand over my mouth to keep myself from screaming. Blood was seeping from her neck or what was left of it. She was blonde. Blonde? My mind pondered as I scanned through all the people I’d encountered on this trip. Squinting to get a better look, I soon realized she was the girl who yelled at me to get on the ship. Now, I wished we hadn't. The sight of this just proved I should’ve listened to my gut all along. Getting on this cruise was a fatal mistake. What—who did that to her? I crept even closer as both men groaned. Her lifeless body went flying over the edge and plunged into the sea below.
I thought I had seen the worst of it. Maybe I was in shock by what I had seen, and I was imagining things, but no, I don’t think my mind could elaborate something like this. The men transformed into the biggest tigers I’d ever seen and sprinted off into the night.
Melanie gasps, both hands covering her mouth. Tears start to stream down her cheeks. “We—we have to go,” she nods uncontrollably. “We fucking have to go.”
We scramble up from the bed, frantically zooming around the cabin to grab all our belongings. Out of breath, we meet back in the middle of the living room.
A stern knock at the door makes us jump.
Melanie and I look at each other, standing in silence. I hope whoever is on the other side of the door will just go away.
They knock again.
My heart pounds loudly in my ears so that I can’t hear myself talk. “Who is it?”
“It’s Marcel. The captain sent me to check on you. Would you like me to bring you some lunch from the buffet?”
We sigh with relief. “Umm…no thanks, Marcel. I appreciate you asking though.”
“My pleasure. If you need anything later, just page me.”
“Of course.” Moving closer, I watch his feet disappear from the door. “That was a close one.”
“So, what’s the plan? We are in the middl
e of the freaking ocean.”
“While I was sitting on the watchtower, I noticed a few lifeboats hanging off the side. We can take one of those.”
“Okay…that sounds good and all, but what if we get caught? Her hands are glued to her hips. “And if we don’t, we could die at sea from starvation or thirst. Plus, we don’t have a damn clue where we are, Blaire.”
“C’mon, Melanie. Do you think I’d risk our lives without a plan? I saw what looked like an island west of here. We can row us in that direction. It may take us a few days, but once we are on land, we can report these assholes.”
She looks down at her feet. I give her a minute to absorb what’s about to happen. “Okay,” she sighs. “We can do this. I’ll work on food and supplies. You focus on securing us a boat.”
“Gotcha.”
“It’s go time.” Melanie walks out of the room with the confidence I’ve always admired and vanishes around the corner.
It’s raining, and everyone is indoors. I wait for my moment to sneak out of the room to investigate the setup. Usually, a guard is patrolling that area of the boat, but right now, he is nowhere in sight. Stealthily, I slide around the corner and quickly glance over the rail. The lifeboats are anchored to the cruise ship by a mechanical arm. Hopefully, the device won’t be too hard to maneuver.
Quietly and quickly, I return the way I came, meeting Melanie back at the room. We decide it’s best to leave while it’s still raining—less chance of getting caught. This whole situation sucks. I wish I weren’t right about something being off. I frown, knowing what was supposed to be the vacation of the summer ends here—tainted by murder and mystery. “All right. Got everything we need?”
“Yeah, and then some.” Melanie pulls two raincoats from her duffle bag. “I managed to snag these from the staff utility closet when no one was looking.” She smirks.
“Sweet.” I hide my carry-on with all the essentials underneath my blue raincoat because lugging my suitcase around will only slow us down. “Ready?”
