Page 10 of Curves and Courage

I slam the glass down, the clink of it against the counter reverberating through the empty, quiet room. I glance around, trying to find something, anything, that can pull me out of this spiraling mess of thoughts.

A shower. A cold shower. That’ll do the trick.

I strip my shirt off and step into the bathroom, the luxury of the double vanity, the dual rainfall showers completely lost onme. My muscles ache with frustration and I just let the steam rise around me, the dense fog doing nothing to clear my head.

I step under the stream, letting the hot water cascade over me, washing away the sweat and tension. But it doesn’t wash away the image of her.

Stella. Stella. Stella…

I grip my cock, starting to stroke at the image of her in my mind. The way her hips moved when she walked, God, what I’d give to lift that dress up and fuck her from behind.

I close my eyes and press my hand against the wall, but when I look down, I’m too distracted to even get a hard on.

“Fuck!”

It’s useless. Nothing is working.

I growl in frustration and slam the water off, grabbing a towel and drying myself off. The steam in the room clings to my skin, but there’s no relief. There’s no clarity in my mind.

I have to see her. I have tohaveher.

Before I even realize what I’m doing, I’m out of the penthouse and storming back towards the bar. A deep, dark need is burning inside, the thought of Stella drawing out something so primal, something so raw and unhinged within my soul that I just need to feel her against me again.

I make my way through the ship, each step fueled by the burning need to claim what’s mine. The Aqua Aura Pool Bar comes into view, and the sounds of music and laughter hit me like a wave. It’s late, and everyone is drunk, all dancing and having a great time.

But I don’t care about any of that.

I’m focused on one thing – and one thing only.

I step into the bar and my hardened eyes scan the crowd. I get a instinctive feeling, like I’m back on duty, scouring the enemy and looking for the innocent heroine who needs rescuing. Then, the crowd parts and I see a flash of caramel colored hair. Myheart jumps and I move towards the girl with curvy hips, her pretty face lighting up the entire damn room.

My chest tightens as I draw nearer. It’s a flood of protectiveness flooding through me. There she is, moving to the beat of the music, her sensual body swaying in her carefree manner.

Except she’s not alone.

Some asshole has his hands on her, his fingers grazing her waist as he leans in close, too fucking close, and whispers something in her ear. My blood boils, every muscle in my body tensing as I watch him touch what’s mine. My fists clench, and a low growl rumbles deep in my chest.

“Mine,” I growl, my eyes narrowing in on the enemy.

Without thinking, I storm through the crowd. I’m like a battering ram as I push people aside, ignoring their screams and yelps. My eyes are locked on her, onthem. That animal-like urge to protect what’s mine, to take what’s mine, is setting my insides on fire.

I reach them and the guy barely has time to register what’s happening before I’m on him. I grab his shoulder, yanking him back with a force that leaves no room for argument. He stumbles, his eyes widening in surprise as he turns to face me.

I can only chuckle and shake my head at him as he looks me up and down. Surprise has quickly turned into fear, and he’s backing away.

I don’t say a word. I don’t have to. The intensity in my gaze, the way I’m towering over him, it’s enough to make him stumble backwards without the need for a fight. He mutters something incoherent, his hands raised in surrender before he quickly disappears into the crowd.

Stella turns to me, her honey eyes wide, and for a moment, there’s something in them that makes me question if she’s aboutto yell at me. But then her expression changes, and I see a look that matches my own –desire.

“Samuel…” she breathes, her voice barely audible over the music.

I don’t give her a chance to say more. My possessive hands are on her, gripping her hips, pulling her flush against me. The moment the heat of her body hits mine, it’s like a shock to my system, electrifying every nerve, every damn cell.

I’m alive again. And I’ve never felt better.

“You’re mine,” I growl, my voice rough, leaving no question. “No one else touches you. No one.”

Her eyes widen as she stares up at me. There’s no fear, no hesitation. Only a smoldering heat that makes my blood rush to my cock.

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