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 cruise ship. The cool night air did little to soothe the fire of rage burning inside her. His words echoed in her mind, a sinister promise wrapped in honeyed tones. She wasn’t some helpless damsel, and she’d be damned if she let him think otherwise. But beneath the anger, a sliver of fear snaked through her. She was far from shore, far from safety.
Determined to put distance between them, Remi slipped below deck, her footsteps echoing in the narrow, dimly lit hallway. The hum of the ship’s engines vibrated through the walls, a constant reminder of how isolated they were out here on the open sea. She needed a moment to think, to strategize. She wasn’t about to let some cocky steward intimidate her.
Just as she turned a corner, a shadow loomed ahead. Her breath caught as Ernesto stepped into the flickering light, his broad shoulders filling the tight space. His dark eyes glinted with something dangerous, but his smirk was all charm, as if he hadn’t just threatened her moments ago.
“Running away, princesa?” he drawled, his voice dripping with mockery. “I thought you had more fight in you.”
Remi squared her shoulders, her jaw tight. “I’m not running, asshole. I just don’t waste my time on creeps who think they can ‘pick’ whoever they want. Newsflash, Ernesto, I’m not your damn toy.”
He stepped closer, the scent of saltwater and cologne wrapping around her. “Oh, I like that fire,” he murmured, his gaze raking over her with shameless intent. “Makes it more fun when I finally get what I want.”
Her pulse raced, but not just from fear. There was something electric in the air, a tension she couldn’t ignore, even as she hated herself for feeling it. “You’re delusional if you think I’ll just roll over for you,” she snapped, her voice sharp as a blade. “Touch me again, and I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Ernesto chuckled, low and dark, leaning in until his breath brushed her ear. “I don’t need to touch you to make you want me, Remi. I can see it in your eyes—you’re already curious. You’re wondering what it’d be like to let go, just for a night, out here where no one’s watching.”
Her cheeks flushed, but she refused to back down. “Keep dreaming, dickhead. The only thing I’m curious about is how fast I can knock that smug grin off your face.”
His grin widened, and before she could react, he braced a hand against the wall beside her, caging her in without touching her. The heat of his body was maddening, and she hated how it made her skin prickle. “Go ahead, hit me,” he taunted. “But we both know you’re not just angry. You’re intrigued. And I’m hard just thinking about how wild you’d be if you stopped fighting it.”
Remi’s breath hitched, her eyes narrowing as she met his gaze head-on. “You’re disgusting,” she hissed, but her voice trembled just enough to betray her. She could feel the heat pooling low in her belly, a traitorous response to his raw, unfiltered desire. She shoved against his chest, hard, forcing him back a step. “Get the hell away from me.”
But Ernesto didn’t budge far. His eyes darkened, and he licked his lips, a predator sizing up his prey. “I’ll give you space—for now. But mark my words, Remi, by the end of this cruise, you’ll be dripping for me, begging for my cock. And I’ll be more than happy to oblige.”
Her fists clenched at her sides, but before she could fire back, he turned and sauntered down the hallway, leaving her panting with a mix of fury and something far more dangerous. She pressed a hand to the wall, steadying herself as her mind raced. She wouldn’t let him win. But as she stood there, her body still buzzing from the encounter, she couldn’t deny the heat between her thighs, the wet ache that whispered he might not be entirely wrong.
The game had just begun, and Remi Willow wasn’t about to lose.
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