Page 14 of Sink With Me

The odd question breaks the buzzing in my brain. The slow ripple of the stars against the water distracts me from my thoughts.

“I don’t think so.” I lie, pushing my ribs into the barrier to steady myself as the ripple seems to affect my inner ear. My blinks are hard and rapid to clear my head. I never claimed to be a good person, but I have good intentions. However, intentions when I lie for him are questionable at best.

“Do you know how to swim?” The statement alone has me all too aware of where I’m standing, causing me to step back from the rail. My dad taught me before he died. Now he’s in there, disintegrated and a part of the thing I fear. My hands tremble at my side so I force them behind my back. I did know how to swim, but not anymore.

“Yes.” I can hear Karma whispering liar right in my ear.

He nods again, his mouth formed into a tight line before he pushes himself away from the railing.

“Night Captain.”

Stepping around me, he disappears behind the steel door joining the men and women unaware of the liquid terror they are traveling through. My chest constricts as though there’s an invisible snake wrapping around it. What was becoming a familiar scene, transforms back into a waking nightmare. After that day I have refused to go anywhere near water I can’t touch the bottom of.

Breathe.

No, no, I can’t breathe, not when the depths stare right back at me with no remorse for their actions. They will pull me in and suck me down. They don't listen when someone says they can't breathe. They hold the power to take a life and never face repercussions.

“Oh,” a small huff for a laugh. “Don’t you be tellin’ me old Joey spooked you.”

The voice startles me enough that my brain short-circuits. Clutching my hand to my chest, I take an inhale deep enough that it makes my nostrils flare and my mouth gapes open to draw in enough air to make my lungs burst. The familiar southern drawl gives me some relief even if it does little to ease my inner turmoil.

I’m not completely alone out here.

“Haha, very funny.” I hum, maneuvering myself so my back leaned into the rail to get a better look at the only man I ever came close to having a relationship with. The corners of his brown eyes crinkle as he grins enough to show a hint of his only dimple. Daymen.

“Or was it the water that sent you into a fit?” His voice softens as he takes a step closer, pushing his hands into his pockets. I never was too open about my life, but he knew the basics and didn’t press for the rest. Glancing over my shoulder at the daunting ocean, I shrug.

“Come on, Cordelia.”

“You’ve lost your mind!”

I take a few steps forwards ready to storm by him, but his arm finds itself around my stomach, the other, the small of my back and they work in tandem to slowly pull me closer until I’m chest-to-chest with him. That tousled black hair falls over his brows, cut just the way I remember it, reminding me of all the times I’d run my fingers through it. He takes a step forward, making me step back. The alarms in my head start sounding.

“Do you remember our first date?” He whispers. Clever. Trying to distract me. But I can feel the sweat from my persistent nausea cling to my skin, making each soft gust of wind chill my flesh. Another step forward met with one back.

I roll my eyes, turning my head to the side and staring across the now empty deck. “I’d hardly call mandatory training a date, Daymen.”

“I thought it was the best one. Seeing you in your natural habitat.” He teases, his attention out toward the stars before being brought back down to me. His proximity successfully getting my shoulders to relax.

“It was the only one.” I correct, a small grin pulls at the corner of my mouth. Each breath I take becomes easier, matching the steady rise and fall of his chest. My limbs are numb, almost like they’ve never been through a battle or under stress. That damn dimple peaks out again.

“Oh no, darlin’, I’d consider this a date right now. So definitely not the only one.” His voice drops an octave, making a blush crawl up my neck into my cheeks. The curve of my back bumps the rail. Instead of my usual panic, I remain still, focusing on the way his eyes shine as the moon reflects in them.

“Turn around.” He whispers, his lips barely moving.

I shake my head, unwilling to break the trance. Like the stolen glances during debriefings and secrets left in barracks, it feels safe. His hands fall to my waist, making my heart jump into my throat, refusing to be swallowed back down. He’s gorgeous in a boyish way, with smooth features, and not a speck of stubble. Maybe when everything is said and done—

I gasp as my body twirls and my hands scramble for the cold metal rail. The vibration of a small wave crashing into the side of the boat rings up into my palms.

“Let go of the rail.” The words fall down the length of my neck. Even if I wanted to release my grip I couldn’t. It’s like my body is hard-wired to seize up when I’m so close to something so terrifying.

“For a subordinate, you are making an awful lot of demands.”

“You didn’t mind it before.” I can only imagine the damn smirk he’s holding. Rough fingers trace a feather-light touch over my arms until his palms wrap around my wrist. “I’m not going to let you fall.” He murmurs, letting his lips graze the shell of my ear, making me squirm against his soft pull. I want to move, go lock myself in a room, and pretend I’m on vacation far off somewhere, not here, on this goddamn ship with Daymen behind me. I don’t know when, but somewhere in my meltdown, warm skin replaced the cool steel. I open my eyes.

“See, look at that.” He sounds too proud of his actions as my fingernails dig playfully into his skin.

“You’re cruel.”

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