AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sam brought both hands to the sides of my face. His stare was intense as he moved his lips closer to my mouth. The thoughts in my brain sounded something like: No, we can’t do this. This is wrong. I just told you that Dean was a threat, and he doesn’t want us together.
Except my body refused to listen to anything my brain said, and those words never left my lips. My body felt him push up against me, showing me he was ready for me. His lips took mine, and I moaned in response, opening my mouth to his. His hardened length pushed against my stomach as his tongue invaded my mouth.
I ran my hands underneath the back of his shirt, feeling the muscles tighten. We were ravenous, desperate after days of avoiding the inevitable. This was unavoidable. An attractive man sleeping next to me every night. A man who thought I was beautiful on one of the worst days of my life. Eventually, we had to come together this way. There weren’t a lot of joys on this boat, but I guaranteed there was a lot of sex. Anybody could sense the tension walking through the halls. People needed an escape.
His hands moved down my back and then slipped underneath my pants, cupping my bare ass. I pulled him closer to me, and he groaned. We continued to kiss for several minutes until my lips swelled from the force and pressure. His tongue danced in my mouth and sent shivers through my body. I trembled in response.
He broke away for a moment and placed one hand on the bed. He carefully lowered himself down with a firm grip on my ass. He grunted with discomfort but recovered, pulling my body down to him. I followed his movements and straddled his lap, careful to lean on his uninjured side. I yanked my shirt over my head as he did the same with his.
Skin to skin, heat radiated from his body to mine. Our heavy breaths joined in unison as we rocked together, desperate for more. He moved his lips down my body, nibbling my neck and biting my clavicle. I ran my fingers through his hair as he took my nipple in his mouth, and I whimpered. He sucked and nipped until I cried out and begged. I wasn’t sure for what, but I could hear myself saying it. “Please, please, Sam. Oh God, don’t stop.”
But life had a terrible sense of humor. The moment his hand found its way lower, hovering at the clasp of my pants, ready to open them, the room went dark. A loud buzzing blared from the hallway, and after the alarm sounded a few times, he stopped. We panted with our faces inches away from each other, trying to register the turn of events. A red beam of light blinked underneath the doorway and the noise was so loud it vibrated inside my chest.
I rose from Sam and looked for my shirt in the darkness. “Can you walk some?” I snapped. My temper and confusion were bubbling to the surface.
“Yes,” he panted. “I can walk enough. Walk where Rowan?”
“I don’t know,” I shrugged, still topless.
I was half blind with the blinking light as my only guide to finding my shirt, but I felt Sam’s eyes on me. “It’s hung on the chair, but I prefer you this way.”
I huffed a laugh. “I think the party’s over.” We both put our shirts back on and I wrapped my arm around his waist to help hoist him up.
“For the moment,” he teased in my ear as we lifted. Goosebumps covered my body, knowing he’d keep his word.
I could hear footsteps in the hallway and thought it best to follow the crowd. I was unfamiliar with the protocol, and I should have been if I were truly Ashley.
Sam walked with a slight limp and minimal weight on me. I encouraged him to put more on my shoulders so he could make it however far we were going. The boys were with Lori, and she would take care of them. I was sure of that but anxious to have them back with me. I clenched my jaw in frustration and quickened our pace. Is this what mom guilt feels like?
A herd of people flowed through the hallway, and the terrible memory of our first day here resurfaced. This time, everyone walked with a purpose without running or pushing. They were heading upstairs to the upper decks.
“Stairs,” I hissed to Sam.
“It’s fine,” he responded. I couldn’t see his expression with the red lights blinking and blinding my vision. It was daytime, but the thick hull of the ship created a perpetual night when everything shut down. I made a mental note to find a flashlight in case we were ever in this situation again.
The first steps Sam took with ease, but by the time we were on the sixth flight, I could feel myself pulling him with me. He grunted and huffed through each step, and I was sweating, holding his weight as we continued.
“Two more flights,” I grumbled, and I felt his head nod in response. Our path led to the top deck, and as the last flight of steps emerged, light beamed from the open doorway. “Almost there,” I continued. I saw a spot of blood on his leg had formed. This had been too much for him, and I instinctively kissed him on the cheek. Whether it was for my comfort or his, I wasn’t sure.
“I can do this. We can do this together,” he said, assuring me.
Stepping out into the daylight, the contrast from the dark halls blinded me once more. We made our way through the crowd, where everyone had formed lines across the width of the hull. It looked to be a thousand people. Some were standing and others sat, but there was a logical formation from one end of the boat to the other. We moved into the line and Sam collapsed to the ground. He shook, and the blood trailed down his leg. I looked him over and frowned.
“Don’t worry,” he demanded, gripping my hands. “I’ll be fine.”
“But what is this?” I asked, gesturing at the crowd. More people formed behind us, and the alarm continued in the distance. “I need to find BeLew.”
“Go, I’m good.”
I hesitated to stare once more at his leg. The stain of blood stopped growing, but the journey up to the deck was a setback. His lips formed a tight line, trying to hide the pain.
“I’ll just be a moment. I’ll be right back.” Again, I had no clue if my words were to comfort him or convince myself everything would be okay.
He placed a hand on my stomach and nudged me. “Go. We’re in this together, and by together, I mean with BeLew. Find the kids.”
I nodded and jogged off to the edge of the boat. As I made it to the front of the lines, I saw a small platform or stage. Is this a performance or a genuine emergency?
I inspected the rows. The school was closer to the deck, so Lori and the boys would be near the front. I heard them before I saw them. “Row!” a yell came from deep within the crowd. I couldn’t find them. Too many people were still standing and blocking the way. “Row - Mama!” louder this time. The sound was moving towards me. It was BeLew. They had never called me mama, but yelling aunt would have gone against our cover story. Whatever the reason they said it, my heart melted in response.
