Bliss of the Oceans: Forbidden Tides

Chapter 1: Dangerous Currents

Remi’s heart thundered in her chest as she stormed away from Ernesto, her sneakers slapping against the polished deck of the Bliss of the Oceans. His threat lingered in the air like a storm cloud, dark and oppressive, but she wasn’t about to let some cocky steward intimidate her. She was fifteen, not a child, and she’d be damned if she let him think he could own her. The cool night breeze did little to calm the fire raging inside her as she slipped below deck, seeking solitude in the labyrinth of narrow hallways.

The hum of the ship’s engines vibrated through the walls, the dim lighting casting long shadows as she navigated the unfamiliar corridors. Her mind raced—should she tell her parents? Report him? Or handle this herself? She wasn’t some damsel in distress; she’d faced worse than a creep with a god complex. Lost in thought, she didn’t hear the soft footsteps behind her until a familiar voice sliced through the silence.

'Running away, princesa?' Ernesto’s tone was mocking, dripping with arrogance as he leaned against the wall ahead, blocking her path. His dark eyes glinted with something dangerous, but Remi squared her shoulders, refusing to flinch.

'I’m not your princess, asshole,' she snapped, her voice sharp as a blade. 'And I’m not running. I just don’t waste my time with pathetic losers who think they can scare me.'

He chuckled, stepping closer, his presence suffocating in the tight hallway. 'You’ve got a mouth on you. I like that. Makes it more fun when I break you.'

'Break me?' Remi laughed, a cold, cutting sound. 'Boy, you couldn’t break a twig if it begged you to. I’m not one of your little conquests, and I never will be. So back the hell off before I make you regret it.'

Ernesto’s smirk faltered for a split second, but he recovered quickly, his gaze raking over her with a hunger that made her skin crawl. 'You think you’re tough, huh? I’ve seen girls like you before. All bark, no bite. But I’ll have you panting for me soon enough.'

'Keep dreaming,' she shot back, her pulse racing—not from fear, but from the raw, electric tension crackling between them. She hated him, hated his smug face, but there was something about the way he looked at her, like she was a challenge he couldn’t resist, that stirred a dangerous heat in her core. She pushed it down, focusing on the fight. 'You’re nothing but a sad little boy playing king of the ship. Newsflash: I don’t bow to anyone.'

He moved faster than she expected, closing the distance until she could feel the warmth of his breath on her face. 'We’ll see about that,' he murmured, his voice low and husky. His hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek, and though she slapped it away, the brief contact sent a jolt through her. Damn it, why did her body betray her like this?

'Touch me again, and I’ll make sure you’re scrubbing toilets for the rest of this cruise,' she hissed, stepping back but finding herself pressed against the cold metal wall. Her breath hitched, not from fear, but from the way his eyes darkened, the way his body loomed over hers, all hard lines and barely restrained energy.

'You’re feisty,' he said, his lips curling into a wicked grin. 'I bet you’re just as wild when you’re wet and dripping for me.'

Her cheeks burned, but she refused to look away. 'You’ll never find out. I’d rather jump overboard than let you anywhere near me.'

But even as she said it, her body hummed with a forbidden thrill, her mind traitorously imagining what it would be like to shut him up with something other than words. The air between them was thick, charged with a heat she couldn’t ignore, and as his gaze dropped to her lips, she knew they were teetering on the edge of something explosive. She hated him, but god, she wanted to wipe that smirk off his face—maybe with her own mouth, just to show him who was really in control.