Page 68 of Rescuing Mia

I should stop this.

I should resist, but the pull of this man is too strong. I want him, need him, and the thought of leaving is unbearable.

He breaks the kiss, gazing deeply into my eyes, his expression a mix of desire and unbridled lust. The longing in his eyes is mirrored within me.

I don’t want to stop this, but it’s not fair to him if I pretend we have a future.

We don’t.

Our time together is limited.

Measured in days.

He looks at me, his eyes filled with sadness and unspoken emotions as if understanding the torrent of emotions rushing through me. The weight of my unspoken words hangs in the air between us, heavy and almost painful.

I trace the curve of his jaw with my thumb, loving the way the stubble rasps against my skin. I run my fingers through his hair,which is so soft and full of life, delaying the inevitable. My heart aches with every touch, knowing tonight all this must end.

As I pull away, Rigel’s arms wrap around me once more, holding me close as he presses his face into my neck. The scent of him is intoxicating, a mixture of sea and salt and something more, something that speaks to the very essence of him.

I close my eyes, trying to commit every moment of this embrace to memory. The way his body molds against mine, the feel of his breath on my skin, the warmth of his touch… I can’t bear the thought of losing this.

But as much as I want to stay, I know I can’t.

I mourn all the moments we’ll miss, the conversations we will never have, the sunsets we will never share.

I take a deep breath. Rigel releases me, his hands falling away from me. He looks at me, his eyes full of raw emotion, as if he can see into my soul and understand the torment I feel.

“Don’t.” He grabs my arm, and I pause, reluctant to leave. “Don’t run from this. From me.”

“You don’t understand.” With a heavy heart, I pull away and step back, my eyes never leaving his. “I’m so sorry, but I have to go,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “It’s not right to lead you on when there is no chance for a future.”

“All the more reason to enjoy what time we have left. No regrets, Mia. When we step off this boat, are you going to stand here and tell me you won’t have regrets? That you don’t want this as much as me? That you won’t wonder how good we could be? Don’t you want more?” His somber expression feels like a knife cutting into my flesh.

“I’ll cherish every moment we have left, but we must end this.” With that, I turn and walk away, my heart heavy with the weight of our unspoken feelings.

I’ll never forget this night or the man who touched my soul in ways I never thought possible. As I leave, I know it’s for the best.

Not that it hurts any less.

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 theSerenity.

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.

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