Resonating Souls (Bermuda Nights #1)(11)

His voice was a low growl. “It is not,” he countered. “It’s like a tapeworm. It digs into your system, and grows, and grows, and clawing it out can involve excruciating agony.”

He stilled, and his voice became tense. “Did you –”

“No,” I quickly reassured him. “Kayla and I stayed as far away from that junk as possible. We tried to get Tanya to quit, too, but she was just too hooked into Eddie. Hooked into her dream.”

He nodded, his body relaxing beneath me. “You can’t make that decision for someone else,” he murmured. “You can do your best to provide the path, but they’re the one who has to take that step. Or it will never stick.”

I blinked away the remaining tears, tilting my face to look up at him. “Thank you for listening.”

His breath caught, his pine-forest-green eyes glimmered in the shadows, and a deep groan shook through his body. “God, Amanda, you are so beautiful.”

I stretched up against him, brushing my lips against his, a butterfly’s flutter.

His groan grew deeper, and his hand slid along my waist.

I turned so I straddled his leg, half laying across him on the velvety bench, and I brought my mouth more firmly onto his. His lips parted in a strong inhale, and I slipped my tongue in, being driven on by a strong emotion I barely knew existed within me.

I wanted him. I wanted him with every ounce of my being.

His tongue slipped against mine, craving coursed through my sex, and I moaned in agony.

He shuddered, his hands flexed, and –

He blew out his breath, seated his hands on my hips, and lifted me up, putting me back on my side of the bench.

I blinked at him in shock, my breath coming in heaves, my nipples hard and pressing against my bra, burning in sheer agony. My entire body tingled, resonating with him.

Then shame flooded through me, rocking me to my very core.

He didn’t want me.

I turned to find my purse, tears welling in my eyes again, streaming down cheeks burning with embarrassment. I could barely get the words out.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what I –”

His fingers laid gently on my chin, turning my head so I looked to him.

His voice was rough with emotion. “God, Amanda, no. Don’t think that. You are amazing, and beautiful, and –” He cut himself off, running a thumb down my cheek, smearing away a tear. His breath was a whisper. “I could never hurt you.”

A glimmer of a thought came to me. “Is it … is it your work?”

His brow creased for a moment, then smoothed, and he nodded. “Yes. If you could … if we could just wait until we get back to Boston, we can start again. Fresh. It could … we could try.” His hand cupped my face. “God, Amanda, I want to try.”

I blinked in confusion as the Thunder God came to mind. “But if Sven –”

His brow creased again before he took in a breath. He shook his head. “Sven has been on this run for years,” he explained. “I’m barely a week into my spot. I can’t afford to screw this up. Not now.”

I nodded, relief coming through me. “I understand. Really, I do. I had to work two jobs to keep myself going through school. You do what you have to do.”

He twined a hand through my hair. “Wait for me,” he whispered. “It’ll take time, before I’m done with this, but tell me you’ll wait for me.”


I nodded, and the look in his eyes was all I could have dreamed of.





Chapter 6


I adored Bermuda. I adored everything about it. The brilliant blue skies over my head, the drifting white clouds, the rippling waters which shimmered in the cove before me. I was at the Snorkel Park, a mere five minute walk from the ship. To the right stretched a grey cliff wall, and to the left a ring of stone created a shallow zone of safety which was perfect for snorkeling.

Best of all, amazingly, there was barely anybody here. Most of the passengers, undoubtedly, had taken tours to go off to ride jet-skis, play golf, or do some deep-sea fishing.

I smiled. Great news for me and my fish.

I finished tucking my sarong into its dry bag, then slipped that into the mesh bag attached to the belt at my waist. I wore my black swimsuit, matching black swim shoes, and I held my snorkel and mask in my hand. My body glistened with suntan oil.

I breathed in the crisp salt air in deep, heart-felt satisfaction.

I looked down at my mask and spoke to the world at large. “Now, time to find some fish.”

A warm voice sounded at my shoulder, rich with amusement. “Care for some help with that?”

I turned in surprise, and my breath left me.

He was a god. Surely he was some sort of tropical ocean god, descended to earth for a brief, shimmering moment, and when the waves receded he’d be gone again.

He was clad only in black swim trunks and black swim shoes. He had a waterproof watch on one wrist, and a dry bag at his side held his phone and ship pass. That was it. The rest of him was solid, naked, rippling muscle, gleaming in the sun, making my mouth go dry.

I could barely speak. “They let you get off the ship?”

He chuckled at that. “It’s not a prison barge, you know,” he teased. “They do give us some time off for good behavior.” He glanced back in the direction of the ship. “This is our down time – the ship is pretty empty right now. I’ll need to go back in the evening, though. They want those clubs filled at night, when they rake in their money from booze.”