Page 28 of Adrift

The world falls away. It’s only him and me. He adds another finger, the rhythm timed with his tongue to send me even nearer to the edge. I’m so close. My back arches, and I grind into his face. I’m so wet, so close. He adds another finger. I’m going to explode. And when he sucks hard on my clit, he reaches up his hand and covers my mouth. Sam’s holding me down, his head on my hips, and my body doesn’t know what to do. I try not to scream my release into his hand, but I can’t help it. I can’t be quiet—it’s too good. Convulsions wrack my body, one after the other.

Only when I’m still does he let go of my mouth. Limp and relaxed, I close my eyes. I let myself not think for a whole two seconds before I worry about what I’ve done. What we’ve done.

I reach for the captain. But I know the reality of it is we can’t snuggle. Heck, we might never do anything again—not until the season is over or maybe not ever. This is going to be the longest two months of my entire life.

I close my eyes for a moment and Sam’s disappeared. Water runs in the bathroom. A minute later, he’s back with a warm cloth. I move to take it, but he shakes his head. He holds my hand while he cleans me. I let my head drop to the bed. The reality of what I’ve started is sinking in. He’s found my shorts and pulls them on.

I’m enough of myself now to pull them up the rest of the way. Glancing at him, I expect to see my layer of worry or regret, but he’s all smiles. He shakes his head.

“We’re going to need a plan,” I say.

“We’re both adults.” His fingers trail up my leg.

I bite my lip. “But during the actual season, this could be complicated.”

“You are the most amazing woman.”

I kiss him, tasting myself on his lips. I want nothing more than to go down on him, but... “I’ve been here too long.”

He nods. “Anders won’t say anything, but you’re right. We both have to get back to work. Our reprieve from Rocky and his family is short-lived.”

I stand, and his fingers run through my hair. “I meant it when I said you are one of the most intoxicating women I’ve ever met. We?—”

“—have a job to do. And forming a new relationship during a season when we both are going to have so much work... It’s going to be impossible.”

He pulls me to his chest and presses a kiss on the top of my head. “You’re something else. I’m going to Thailand after the season is over, before we reposition the yacht. A month—you should come with me.”

I take in his smell, the firmness of his chest. He sends a fire of longing through me. Just last week, I told myself I couldn’t have a relationship, not until I got myself under control, learned to love my body and where I am in my life. Being a stewardess wasn’t my plan. Or Sam. He’s not a landlubber. And jumping into a month-long trip? “I’ll think about it.”

His laugh resonates through him. “I’m glad one of us is mature enough. All right, Haley. We better get back to work. I hear your boss is a real ass.”

He pinches my chin and tilts his mouth to mine. His grip is strong. And while I’m the one who started this, whatever it is, Sam is clearly the one in charge. I kind of love it and hate it at the same time. The kiss is blistering, and there is no doubt my lips will be swollen. He’s claiming me.

Sam pulls back first. He holds my shoulders. “Think about Thailand.”

I turn to leave. I’m dizzy. My world is rocking more than a boat during rough waters. I glance in the mirror by his door and smooth my hair.

“Haley?”

I glance back at Sam. He’s tucking the comforter tight. “You might need this.” He scoops up my radio from the floor and tosses it at me.

I catch it. “Thanks.”

“And—”

I know what he’s going to say. “I won’t tell anyone. You don’t have to worry.”

“Actually, section eight, paragraph three, I was going to say. It’s up to you if you want to tell people. Just let me know if you do. So I’m not blindsided. But you’re right, we both have jobs to do. We should slow this—whatever it is—down.”

“Yes, sir.” But I saysirwith a sexy twist.

“Fuck, Haley.”

I wiggle my eyebrows and get out of there. My nipples are hard, and I’m getting wet just looking at him. And I have a hell of a lot to do.

I leave Sam, the captain, without glancing back at Anders on the bridge. I don’t want to know if he heard me. How could he not? I’ve never come so hard in my life. Actually, all of my other orgasms no longer count. They were meager scraps of what sex should be.

“Shayla, Shayla, Haley,” I say into the radio. “What’s your location?”

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