A single tearrolled down her cheek as she replayed their conversation over and over again, especially the last.I think you are amazing.
She lay beside him, his powerful, strong arm clamped over her body as he slept, her curled up against him as though she’d been designed to fit perfectly in that space, just like this. It was too much.
Too perfect. Everything had clicked into place that afternoon, and afterwards, they’d spent the evening swimming and laughing, the early spring weather warm enough in the middle of the sea to allow for sunbaking and simply enjoying life. They’d eaten dinner and it was late before Cora realised they were meant to leave the yacht, and how much she didn’t want to.
How much she wanted to stay right where she was, floating in the sea, with this man. Forever.
The word sent a thousand little bombs into her bloodstream and they were detonating so fast she couldn’t help but react, pushing his arm off her and standing in one swift motion, so Samir was awake, frowning, confused, but awake.
“Cora? What is it?”
Her blood was rushing through her body, hard and fast, panic flooding her.
“We should go,” she said, barely recognising her voice.
He looked outside the window at the moon high in the sky, then to the bedside clock. It was two in the morning.
“You wouldn’t prefer to stay another night?”
Oh, she’d infinitely prefer it, which was why they had to go. This was all too easy. Being with him was dangerously addictive and Cora feared she was already addicted. How had she been so stupid? To think they could keep doing this without one of them getting hurt?
Because no matter how carefully she’d tried to guard her heart, it hadn’t mattered in the end. Samir had found a way into it and Cora needed to put an end to that. Self-preservation instincts were at the fore, albeit a little too late.
“We agreed. Two nights.”
“Yes.” His voice, unlike hers, was flattened of emotion. “But we fell asleep.”
“I’m awake now. So are you.”
“Yes.” He frowned, perhaps still shrouded a little in sleep. “Am I missing something here?”
“No.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “We said two nights. We said we’d return at midnight. We should go.” Each staccato sentence was rising in pitch. She pushed a smile to her face but it was ghostly. She was terrified.
“Okay, if that’s what you want,” he said, but she heard the tone of his voice, the frustration, and her heart sank.
Shedidn’twant this. She wanted to walk away effortlessly, easily, to end things casually, like they’d always expected they’d end. She wanted to end things so she could start moving on with her life, without Samir. She had to move on. The alternative was too immense, too scary. “I’ll let the captain know.”
He dressed quickly then left the room, and only then did Cora exhale fully. But it wasn’t over: she was about to have to give the best performance of her life—and she was dreading it.
7
“CAN YOU COME UPSTAIRS A MOMENT?” She said, without removing her helmet. It was now five in the morning, and there was the beginning of morning activity—trucks delivering food to local cafes, joggers out pounding the pavement.
Samir followed without speaking, keeping his helmet on until they were in the building, when he unhooked it and carried it in the crook of his arm.
Cora did the same thing, but still, neither spoke.
The silence was heavy and oppressive, and the moment she opened the door to her apartment, she broke it.
“We need to talk.”
“Yes.”
So he knew what was coming? Perhaps he was expecting it, even wanting this?
“This has been amazing,” she said, placing the helmet down carefully on a side table, her pulse so thready she thought it might give way. “But it has to end.”
Silence. It crackled and hummed and his lack of response had her lifting her face, so her eyes met his and saw the surprise in the depths of Samir’s. This wasnotwhat he’d been expecting, then.