Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
MIA
Alone inside my cabin, my heart is a thunderous traitor, banging hard against my ribs like it wants to escape. It drums a rhythm of want, need, and desire—all thanks to the heat and passion of Rigel’s kiss that still lingers on my lips.
I pace the confined space of my cabin, my steps silent on the carpet but loud in the echoing chamber of my indecision.
The danger outside these walls is real.
I stole secrets from Red Phoenix Pharmaceuticals, and they’re definitely out there, hunting me down.
I don’t think they followed me onboard the Serenity .
I’m pretty sure they didn’t.
I tried hard not to leave a trace, but I can’t say what will happen once the cruise ends. I’ll be on the run again, which means anything with Rigel can be nothing more than a shipboard fling.
But that kiss.
That kiss tempts me to abandon caution and move forward recklessly toward Rigel.
I shouldn’t start something with him, knowing we have no future .
I shouldn’t surrender to the sweetness of his seduction, knowing our stars are stubbornly misaligned.
I shouldn’t stray into the perils of a short-lived romance, defying destiny.
But if I don’t indulge in this passion now, will I regret it forever?
What’s the worst that could happen if I dare to seize this moment?
I know the answer to that.
I’ll have to face the inevitability of a final farewell.
I pause by the porthole, staring at my reflection. My hair’s a mess, and my cheeks are flushed with more than just the heat of the tropical night. I’m not this girl, the one who jumps headfirst into flings, especially when there’s no future.
“Stupid,” I mutter, pressing cool fingers to my burning cheeks. “You’re here to disappear, not get embroiled in a steamy shipboard fling. Focus.”
But oh, those hands of his, strong and sure—every touch ignites a spark, hinting at nights filled with fervent sensation.
And those eyes, sharp with a glint of wildness, promise hours of unrestrained passion.
His lips, adept and artful, are capable of silencing my deepest doubts with a single, purposeful kiss.
That voice, a deep and certain sound that cuts through the silence, promises a delicious descent into desire and carnal pleasure.
It’s madness to even consider acting on this impulse.
A shiver races down my spine, and it’s not from fear—it’s from the memory of his touch.
“Get a grip.” The words are harsh, meant to slap some sense into my sex-addled brain. I glance at the clock beside my bed.
Each tick of the clock pushes me closer to a decision.
A catastrophic crash?
Euphoric ecstasy?
Decadent delight?
This shipboard fling is insanity.
I know it .
But something calls to me, to something primitive within me. I’m tempted to let go.
I’m a woman defined by control and logic, a fortress of restraint, but Rigel makes me question everything.
His unspoken promises and veiled desires tempt me to lower my defenses. I teeter on the edge of reason and entertain the idea of surrender.
Not to him but to the wild, untamed part of myself I’ve kept shackled for most of my adult life. The part that yearns to explore the depths of passion, to drown in the sea of carnal pleasure, if only for a night.
He can give me that.
It’s like he’s challenging me to step into a world where I let my guard down and just feel, even if it’s just for one wild night.
“Damn you,” I whisper into the silence of my room, but it’s not him I’m damning; it’s the part of me that can’t resist him.
And just like that, it’s done.
My decision feels like stepping off a precipice. My stomach is a whirlpool of anticipation, nerves tangled with a fierce longing. With a deep breath, I straighten my spine and open the door of my cabin.
But Rigel is already there, just a breath away from my door, his hand raised as if to knock. A smirk teases the edge of his lips, and his eyes light up with surprise and delight as they lock with mine. It’s as if a current zaps through the air, undeniably electric, connecting us.
The unspoken truth thrums between us like electricity.
“Rigel?” My voice barely rises above a whisper, but it cracks like thunder in the silence between us.
His presence fills the hallway as if he’s the only thing anchoring me to this moment.
Everything else fades.
There’s just him, me, and the crackling tension that threatens to consume us both.
No past regrets.
No future worries .
Just the two of us and the pulsing air of anticipation that wraps around us, urging us closer.
His gaze meets mine, stormy eyes that pierce right through to my soul. In that look, there’s an understanding, a recognition of the tumultuous emotions churning inside me.
“Seems we’re on the same page,” he says, his voice a husky murmur that sends shivers down my spine. “At least, I hope you were headed my way, not out to the deck but to my cabin.”
A smile spreads across my face, mirroring the smirk on his. The nerves that once fluttered in my stomach now morph into a thrilling anticipation. We’re on the brink of something wild, something uncharted.
Wordlessly, I close the distance between us, driven by a force stronger than reason. My fingers find his hair, pulling him closer until our lips meet in a kiss that ignites every sense.
Nothing else exists—just the fiery connection that binds us, a testament to the leap we’ve both taken.
He pulls me into his arms. The familiar heat between us reignites instantly as our lips crash together in a hungry and urgent kiss.
In one swift motion, he lifts me off my feet. I wrap my legs around his hips and feel the very hard bulge of his cock pressing against me. The intensity of our connection is undeniable, a potent mix of longing and urgency that fuels the fire between us.
With a primal growl vibrating in his chest, Rigel carries me into the cabin, his lips never leaving mine. He kicks the door closed, and it slams shut behind us, sealing our fate for the night.
Our lips crash together, an explosion of need and longing that sends a shockwave down my spine. The kiss is fierce and hungry. Rigel’s taste—salt and storm—is intoxicating and addictive.
“Rigel,” I breathe against his mouth, my voice heavy with desire.
“Mia,” he growls back, the sound vibrating through me. “I’m going to spend all night buried inside of you. Fair warning…”
“What?”
“I’m not a gentle lover, but you’ll enjoy every bit of tonight. If you don’t want this, now is the time to stop.” His eyes search mine for any hint of doubt.
“Never been more sure about anything.” I tighten my hold on him and grind against his erection, leaving absolutely no doubt that I’m one hundred percent on board with this.
“Good.” There’s a promise in that single word—a promise of everything that’s about to come.
Rigel’s eyes lock onto mine, a silent question in their depths. I nod, breathless from our feverish kiss, my heartbeat thundering in my ears.
“Ready?” His voice is a low rumble, teasing, laced with the anticipation of what’s to come.
“Yes, please,” I barely manage the words.
“Fuck, but you know how to hit my buttons.” He grins that devil-may-care smirk that first drew me to him amidst danger and deception. Without warning, he tosses me onto the small bed in my cabin.
A tiny screech escapes me, the sensation freeing and exhilarating.
He stands over me, heat smoldering in his eyes. His stance promises both protection and pleasure.
“On your knees.” He points to the mattress, making his command clear.