Page 68 of Dagger in the Sea

The powerful twin motors kicked up, and I tugged Adri down on the seat next to mine, keeping my grip on her tight. Her breathing quickened, her legs pressed together.

We zoomed toward the Russian mega yacht. It loomed ahead, towering over us, this floating white fortress. My heart fisted in my chest.

Yes, it was a kingdom, a continent unto itself.

The question was, how mad was its king?

20

Turo

Behemoth.Mammoth.

Insane.

Those were the first words that came to mind.

It was after three in the morning, but the party was going strong here on Evgeny’s ship. We climbed a free floating spiral staircase to an upper deck, then an elevator to another deck. There were eight decks in all. Adriana stayed close to me as we walked behind Luca through this gold-plated universe.

“Have you been on this ship before, Luca?” I asked.

“Not this one, no. I’ve been on the old one. Much smaller. I’ve been hearing about this ship for a while now.”

We paused at the entrance to a gambling hall. Roulette wheels, blackjack, poker. The mood was serious, the chatter a low hum edged with theclack clackof chips, thethripof cards, the whistle of spinning wheels. Tall, long-haired beauties in plunging neckline dresses served drinks and manned the tables. The betting level in here had to be stratospheric.

We moved on to another room where flickering soft lights played in the darkness.

“Hmm.” Luca’s lips tipped up as we entered the room.

A staccato electric rhythm echoed in the room; a haunting soundtrack mimicking my thudding heartbeat. Adriana glanced at me as we moved farther into the space.

People were gathered around a stage where two performers were singled out by a spotlight. Moans hung heavy in the darkness. Adriana’s hand skimmed mine, my insides tightening at the flash of her warmth over my skin.

A naked woman was bound to a thick, wooden table with large cuffs and a scarf binding her mouth. The man picked up a ladle and ceremoniously poured hot liquid over her middle. Her body arched as she cried out, and the onlookers let out moans of their own.

“W-What is that?” Adri whispered roughly, pressing into my side.

“Hot wax,” I replied.

“Hmm,” she whimpered, pressing her lips together. Adri’s hand brushed mine, and my fingers searched for hers. Our fingers meshed and clung, heat igniting heat.

I’d been to sex clubs before, but on my own, not with a date. Not with a woman like Adri; a woman I gave a shit about. The desire to be her guide overwhelmed me. The need to protect her overwhelmed me.

Another man appeared on the stage flourishing a spiked, double-headed glass dildo as if it were an impressive weapon or instrument of magic his audience should be in awe of. He stroked it between her legs, and the girl moaned and writhed. Adriana’s breathing deepened. With a dramatic groan, the man fucked the girl with his dildo. Adriana gasped, and I licked my lips at the raw, slippery sounds of sex filling the space. I squeezed Adriana’s hand and she tightened her hold right back, the two of us pressed together, breathing together, watching the girl writhe, moan, twitch, jerk. Witnessing every moment of her body coming to orgasm.

The man raised his hands in the air, beckoning his witnesses, and they moved forward, taking turns using other, almost macabre, dildos on the girl, admiring. Touching her, touching themselves. Cum spewed on flesh. Satisfied, excited, exulted cries, and soft laughter shot around the circle.

“Oh my G—” Adri’s voice was jagged, her body wavered.

I wrapped my arm around her, holding her close, steadying her, and she pressed against me, small, low noises escaping her lips. The heat of her body seeped into mine and my pulse jammed in my neck.

“Turo,” she breathed.

My cock tightened in my trousers at the sound of my name on her lips, my heart thundered in my chest. That was what need sounded like. Raw, unapologetic, undisguised need.

I know, baby, I know.

My fuck switch had been turned on, but as I tightened my grip on Adri, I gripped my fierce arousal even harder, like a steering wheel in a race car I was commandeering. I wanted nothing more than to take her mouth, rip at her dress, feel her body shudder under my hands. But I had to stay sane. Anything could happen at any time on this crazy vessel in the middle of the sea, and it already had.

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