by Lexy Timms
It was all those things that drew her to him. That magnetized her body and convinced her to never let go.
She fell asleep underneath Ash, his dick still sheathed within her warmth. She fell asleep underneath the stars with her legs spread and filled with him. His steady breathing against the crook of her neck lulled her to sleep. The way she felt safe underneath him made her comfortable shutting her eyes. She slipped into a deep slumber, taken over by thoughts of a life she could share with him.
A life of travel and adventure. A life of sunset coves and snowy days. A life of jobs that earned them enough to travel and fuel their adventure and not a care in the world as to the realities of home. She dreamed of working one month and then taking another off. Taking her earnings and traveling side by side with Ash. Taking his hand and allowing him to show her all the wonders of the world.
Ash dominated her dreams.
And then, she woke up.
Violently.
“Kallie. Get up.”
Ash’s voice was panicked, and suddenly she rolled toward the side of the cushion.
“Come here,” he said as he wrapped his arm around her.
The boat was rocking side to side. Rolling them around and crashing them against the waves. Wide swings battered against the boat as Kallie peeled her eyes open. Tried to shake the fog from her sleepy head. She steadied herself and gripped onto the closest edge she could find, then turned around to find Ash trying to step into his clothes. The boat was rocking wildly, and he was having a hard time getting into his shorts. She reached out for him to help steady him, then he rushed as he pulled his shorts up his body to the helm of the boat.
Kallie looked out into the horizon, and the sight in front of her froze her in her spot.
It should’ve been close to dawn. The sun should’ve been rising over the sea, waking them up gently from their night of romance and passion. But instead, the dark clouds roiled across the sky and screamed out in the distance. Lightning strikes sank to the water, kicking it up as waves moved heavily in the distance. Pregnant with anger and swollen with rage, the storm had taken over the beauty of the sunrise and morphed it to its own nefarious purposes.
“Oh my gosh,” she said breathlessly.
Kallie scrambled to her feet as best as she could. She reached for her clothes, stumbling against the boat as she tried to put them on. Ash reached out for her, catching her before she went overboard. Fear was creeping up her throat and tears were welling in her eyes.
“Here. Let me help you,” he said.
Ash steadied her in his arms as she hopped into her dress. Her bikini was lost, but she didn’t care. Her eyes were trained on the distance. On the angry clouds moving toward them. Beckoning for their lives and asking if they wanted to play a game of poker.
“What’s happening?” she asked.
“I want you to get below deck, okay?” Ash asked. “Get into the room and hunker down. Everything’s going to be fine. Kallie!”
She whipped her gaze over to his eyes and she found a calm in them that was almost unbelievable.
“Everything’s going to be fine,” he said.
She nodded as her eyes panned back out to the angry purple sky. The gray waves toppled about in the distance, and she made the grave mistake of looking back. Her eyes peeked over Ash’s shoulder to see how close they were to land.
And there was no land in sight.
The storm had dragged the out to sea, and now it was going to chew them up and spit them out.
Ash led her to the stairs, and she stumbled down them. Tears were brewing behind her eyes as she barreled into the room. But the rocking of the boat and the tumbling of the waves made her sick to her stomach. Without the earth to steady her vision, she felt as if she were floating aimlessly. Her head was spinning and her stomach was rolling, and with each crash of the wave bile crept farther up her throat. She could feel it burning. The room was spinning.
She couldn’t stay below level.
Not without Ash.
Kallie made her way back out to the stairs and rested against them. She clung to them as the storm battered against the yacht. Lightning arced out of the clouds, lighting up the world around them before disappearing. Giving them a taste of just how small they were against the ocean tides before leaving afterimages burned upon her retinas.
Kallie was shaking.
Violently.
Like the boat on top of the raging sea.
She heard Ash trying to call in the authorities, but she could tell by the sound of his voice that he wasn’t raising anyone on the radio. She peeked her head up from below and surveyed the chaos around them, noticing how close the storm was approaching. They were headed straight for it, even as Ash tried to turn the boat around. Tears dripped down her cheeks as Kallie clung to the stairs, and soon she heard his voice.
“Kallie. Kallie, look at me.”
“Yeah?” she asked.
“We have to brace ourselves, okay? I’ve put in various calls to the guards, but it’ll take time for them to get the messages.”
“Okay,” Kallie said breathlessly.
“I have to stay at the helm and make sure these waves don’t take us anywhere we don’t need to be, but I want you to stay right here. If you get seasick, there are some tablets and some patches in the bathroom behind the mirror. Help yourself.”
“Okay.”
It was all she could say. All she could manage to get out. The boat rocked and her eyes attached to the sky, trying to root herself with the stars or the sun. Anything to convince her this wasn’t happening.
But all she saw were clouds swollen with an anger they were hell-bent on spewing.
Her eyes drifted to Ash at the wheel of the boat and he seemed so calm. So collected as the storm raged around them. His stance was strong, his back was straight, and his eyes were hooked directly in front of him. His forearms were flexed, throbbing with veins that protruded as he held the wheel steady. Keeping the boat from capsizing as the waves tossed them around.
He seemed so calm and assured to Kallie, even as his beautiful eyes darkened upon the horizon.
The storm was growing worse.
And they were trapped in the middle of it.
Chapter 23
Ash
Ash gripped the wheel as tightly as he could. Lightning was arcing from cloud to cloud and connecting with the water off in the distance. The angry purple clouds had turned as dark and gray as the ocean water. The boat was tipping. Teetering. And Ash tried to keep as much control in his hands as he could. The waves were choppy and the horizon was endless, and every time he tried to fight the storm in one direction, it would flip on a dime.
He felt like an idiot, bringing Kallie out in something like this. Putting her in danger the way he had. He’d checked the weather numerous times before they left, but island weather could be unpredictable at best. He got caught up in himself. Caught up in the moment. And now, Kallie was in danger. Rocking in a boat with no way out. Even though there hadn’t been a hint of bad weather in the forecast, Ash should’ve known better.
After all, he lived on the fucking island four months out of the year.
Every time Ash glanced over, he could see Kallie. Her little head peeking up over the edge of the deck below and stealing glances at the sky above. At him and what was going on. Her was face pale and her eyes were wide. It tugged at Ash’s heartstrings. She was petrified and had every right to be. He knew better than to look back. He knew the waves had dragged them out into the middle of the ocean. He knew if he dared to look back on the horizon, he would see nothing but a dim glow swallowed up by the angry clouds that hovered over them.
No land in sight.
Ash bent his knees and steadied himself against the strengthening waves. They hadn’t met any tidal waves yet, but he was concerned they would. He didn’t know what type of storm they’d been caught up in. A hurricane? A heat storm? A monsoon? His communications were down and the emergency weather radar on the yacht wasn’t wor
king. For all he knew, no one was getting his messages. For all he knew, they were stuck out there until the storm lifted.
But Kallie didn’t need to know any of that.
She was terrified enough.
There was little Ash could do at the helm. Their last prior coordinates were sent to shore before all communications went down. The rain was pounding the deck and the boat was swaying endlessly in the torrential winds. He was soaked to the bone. Dripping with water as the waves came dangerously close to the edge of the yacht. His hair was dripping in his eyes and the only thing he could see for miles were choppy waves and thick streaks of lightning that lit up the land in front of him.
Well, the water in front of him.
His body temperature was dropping. His hands shook with the cold settling into his bones. There was nothing more he could do topside. He had to get below where it was warm. Safe. He had to get somewhere dry and get his wet clothes off his back. It did Ash no good to be stuck out in a storm on a yacht in the middle of the ocean and develop a cold.
He had to take care of Kallie first.
After tightening the helm of the boat, then releasing the stabilizers on the side of the yacht so it wouldn’t careen out of control, Ash made his way for the staircase. Kallie moved so he could get down, then he shut the door above their heads. His eyes panned around, making sure all the flotation devices were where they needed to be. Just in case the yacht capsized and they needed life vests or the inflatable raft he had stowed away for emergency purposes.
Like the scenario he had just sent them into.
“You’re freezing,” Kallie said. “We need to get you warm.”
But Ash watched as Kallie heaved, her pale skin turning to a sickened blue.
“We need to get you a patch,” Ash said.
“And we need to get you warm. Come on.”
Kallie took his hands and led him into the room. Ash quickly began to strip out of his clothes while Kallie tossed him a new set from his small bag. The boat was teetering and she was having a hard time staying on her feet. Ash went to reach for her, to help steady her as the boat rocked. But a wave crashed against the side of the yacht and sent her careening into his arms.
“Kallie!”
Ash stumbled back into the wall, his muscles digging into a picture. Her body pressed against his felt so wonderful and warm, but the tears streaming from her eyes made him ache. Kallie was shaking. Filled with a fear she was trying desperately to control. His arms wrapped around her and he led them to the bed, sitting them both down on the edge. His legs steadied the rocking of his body against the mattress as Kallie curled into him. Her cheek fell against his bare shoulder and her nose nuzzled against his cold cheek.
Then, he felt her heave again.
“Here. Get under the covers. Let me get you a patch and some Sprite.”
“Please don’t leave me,” she said breathlessly.
He kissed the top of her head before settling her underneath the covers.
“I won’t,” Ash said as he stood and put on his clothes. “I’ll be right back.”
He slipped into the bathroom and ripped the bathroom mirror back. The contents of the cavern came spilling out as the boat rocked and bobbed. He bent down and grabbed the patches before knocking his head against the edge of the sink. He bit down onto his lip to keep from cursing out in anger before he stumbled back into the main room.
“Lift up your shirt,” he said. “I’m going to put this at your side.”
His fingers glided over her skin, smoothing the seasickness patch over her soft curves.
“Are you thirsty?” Ash asked.
“Please come lie with me,” Kallie said.
“I’ve got Spri—”
Another wave crashed against the yacht, sending the boat careening and Kallie into a crying fit. Ash slid underneath the covers with her and held onto her tightly, her leg pressed between his. Her face was buried into his neck. Her tears drenched his shirt. His hand rubbed up and down her back as her heaving slowly ceased and he did whatever he could think of to calm her down. Kissed her forehead. Ran his fingers through her hair. Pulled her close.
Anything to keep her from quaking with fear.
“This yacht is as safe as it gets on the high seas,” Ash said. “I promise you, we’ll be able to ride out this storm.”
“What if we hit a large wave?” she asked. “What if we tip over?”
“People only encounter those types of waves in hurricanes. I don’t think we’re in one.”
“You don’t think?” she asked.
“No. I don’t. Hurricane-style storms have a different makeup. A different cloud cover and formation. That type of formation isn’t what we’re encountering. I think it’s a simple island heat storm.”
The boat dipped heavily, sliding them both to the edge of the bed against the wall of the yacht.
“Simple?” Kallie asked.
“I promise you, we’re going to be okay,” he said. “You have my word.”
“I’m scared, Ash.”
“I know you are. But so long as you’re with me on this boat, nothing will happen to you. I swear it.”
He pressed his lips to her ear and softly sang to her. Reassured her in every possible way he could. His want—no, his need—to protect her was surfacing in ways he’d never felt before. Nothing was more important than her safety. Not even his. He’d sacrifice the yacht. His life vest. His existence. Anything to make sure she made it out of the storm okay. He stroked his fingers through her hair and pulled her close as the waves battered the sides of the boat. There were moments where it dipped so heavily into the water that Ash was concerned the boat would capsize. He started running emergency scenarios in his head. Ways to get them out from below deck if the yacht did turn over.
Ways to get her out, at least.
Ash felt like an ass. He should’ve known better than to attempt something like this. Summers in St. Barts were volatile, and he knew this. He had allowed his time with Kallie to blind him to realities that were plainly in front of his eyes. He had allowed her romance and her beautiful green eyes to sweep him away. Make him feel impenetrable and infallible in his decision-making.
Fuck. He felt like an idiot.
He had no idea how to get out of this situation. The only thing he knew he could do was ride it out. Kallie clung to him as his body warmed and his skin dried against the mattress. He couldn't simply lie there and do nothing. He had to be at the helm. He had to be in control of the boat. He couldn't rely on the miniscule safety procedures the yacht came installed with to get them out of the storm. He had to be there. Looking out and dodging waves. Making sure lightning didn’t strike them too closely and risk electrical damage to the yacht.
They’d have no way to call out for help otherwise.
“Kallie?”
“Yeah?”
“I have to go back up,” Ash said.
“No, no, no. Please stay. Don’t go back up there.”
“I have to. I have to keep trying to contact the authorities.”
“Ash. Please,” she said with a whisper.
Her plea broke his heart, but he had to do something. He had to find a way to get her out of this.
“I promise I’ll be back soon,” he said.
Then he kissed her lips heatedly before slipping over her body.
Kallie grabbed his hand, but he released his fingers from hers. It ached him to leave her. He could see the mounting terror in her eyes. He threw the door open and allowed the rain to pour in momentarily as he climbed the stairs. The storm was howling. Crying out its anger as he emerged from below deck. He shut the door behind him so the cold wouldn’t creep down to Kallie, then made his way back to the helm.
His eyes gazed out toward the horizon and there was the smallest glimmer of hope. He wasn’t sure if his eyes were playing tricks on him, but he could’ve sworn he saw light glowing. The sky was dark. Pitch black, even though the sun was supposed to be suspended in the air. The waves wer
e rolling underneath them as the tips of their peaks sloshed onto the yacht’s deck. Ash grabbed the radio at his side and pressed the button, trying to hold the wheel with his knee while he tried to scan through radio signals.
“Mayday. Mayday. This is US Yacht Worthington. Can anybody read me? Over.”
“Mayday. Mayday. This is US Yacht Worthington. If anyone copies, I’m stranded in the storm headed north-northeast away from the island of St. Barts. Over.”
“Mayday. Mayday. This is US Yacht Worthington. We’re taking on heavy water. Does anyone copy? Over.”
Ash slammed the radio receiver down as the waves started to roll.
The yacht nosedived and sputtered up until even he was getting seasick. He tried to field the waves as best as he could, making sure to never fully overcorrect. All he had to do was sail toward the light. Toward the glowing yellow aura on the horizon that signaled the breaking of the storm clouds. The good news was that hurricane potential tidal waves were out of the question.
The bad news was the comforting yellow glow was still at least ten miles out.
“I’m a fucking idiot,” he said with a murmur.
Then his hands gripped the wheel tighter as his legs braced for the crashing of the waves.
Chapter 24
Kallie
The storm was terrible. Kallie was battling her seasickness and trying her best not to follow Ash out onto the deck. She curled up into the bed below deck and closed her eyes, demanding her stomach stay calm. Silent tears brewed in her eyes before spilling onto the pillow even though she tried to be strong. Tried to be brave. Tried to be supportive of Ash and his decisions. But every time he came down below deck to check on her, she threw herself at him. Clung to him. Was grateful to him for coming back.
And she cursed him every time he left.
She wanted it all to be a terrible nightmare. Every time she fell asleep against the rocking of the boat, her eyes would flutter open and she would pray it was over. But every time she woke up, something else had gone wrong. Whether it was the boat taking a dive into a wave and Kallie crashing to the floor, or whether it was the electricity going out and having to survive on electric lanterns, there was always something.
