Nate’s bellow carried through the chaos. “Evan, I need you on the wheel. You two can make out later.”
The boat sliced into a massive wave, bow rising upward at a steep angle that pulled Heath’s feet out from under him. He scrabbled for purchase, catching the rail with his fingers as they crashed down with such force, it felt like he’d compacted the bones in his legs. He’d be very sore later, and also cross if Evan was now taller than him.
A vicelike grip wrapped around his forearm, pulling him back from the edge and toward the hatch. The warm scent of Evan’s skin wrapped around him as he shoved him through the door to the galley.
“Hold on, kids. Gonna be a wild ride,” Evan joked, masking the concern in his eyes.
“No!” Heath whirled around, blocking the door before it closed. He caught Evan’s hand.
“What are you?—?”
Empty of thought and acting purely on adrenaline, Heath snaked his hand around the back of Evan’s neck and dragged him downward. If they were going to die, by God he was going to know what Evan tasted like before it happened.
He’d expected surprise. Possibly resistance. Maybe even a fist to the face. What he hadn’t counted on was Evan kissing him right back, and sweet Jesus, could the man ever kiss.
Why did that surprise him? Evan carried himself with unwavering confidence. Of course he’d know exactly what to do with that goddamn luscious mouth.
Heath squeaked with surprise when Evan pressed the advantage, then moaned like a wanton harlot at the first sweep of his tongue against his lips. He opened to him, clinging to Evan’s sopping wet shirt when fingers dug into his wet hair and the kiss deepened.
Evan tasted like the ocean and battering rain, with a sprinkling of mango and fermented grapes. The growl rumbling low in his throat rivaled that of the thunder and sent Heath into a spiral. No, they werenotgoing to die, because kissing him only once wasn’t enough. He needed to do this again. And again.
He pulled back before he lost the ability to stop himself and looked Evan in the eyes.
“Don’t you dare die.”
The answering smile was roguish and entirely enchanting. “Not a chance, pookie.”
A wave crashed across the deck, flooding the stairwell, and Evan shoved him backward, slamming the door before more water could rush into the galley. Heath stood there, breathless and speechless, staring at the trickle of water seeping beneath the windowless wooden barrier. What had he just done? What hadtheyjust done?
A double clearing of throats from behind him stiffened his spine, and he performed a slow pirouette to face the grinning women lounging on the L-shaped sofas framing either side of the cabin.
“Well, that certainly guarantees our luck.”
“Oh, absolutely.”
Neither Isabella nor Olivia looked half as relaxed as they were trying to appear, but the shit in their grins was entirely authentic.
He righted himself and made careful way to the couch Isabella was on. “How worried should I be?”
Olivia gave him a tight smile. “I think we’re cutting it closer than Nate says, but we should be fine. Though I wish I hadn’thad that last glass of wine. My stomach and rough seas don’t get along.”
Neither did Heath’s, as it turned out. It rolled and roiled along with everything else as the storm overtook them moments later.
Through the slender windows on either side of the cabin, they watched the clouds grow heavy as waves and rain lashed against the glass. It was midnight beyond the skylights. A blackened sky streaked through with crackling brilliance between furious roars.
Olivia turned green and excused herself, dashing for the master cabin and leaving Heath and Isabella staring at one another from their respective brace points. He tried for a smile, but it was more about gritting his teeth against the nausea. “This is more excitement than I signed up for.”
Isabella had the nerve to look radiant, even though there was a trace of worry on her face. “Think of the story this will make when you get home.”
“So long as I’m the one telling it and it’s not being reported in the local paper.” He waved his hand over his face. “Beloved teacher lost at sea. Men everywhere mourn.”
Isabella’s laugh faded as Nate shouted and Evan responded. The words got lost in the wind and pounding water, but it sounded serious. Heath itched to check on them, even knowing it was a terrible idea.
“He said we’re in for a wild ride,” Isabella echoed, scooting closer to the grab bars on the end of the sofa.
Another dip sent his head between his knees. Oh, dear God, what was he doing? He’d kissed the man. He’d kissed Evan!
Red flags went flying. He’d made two promises before leaving on this trip, and he’d broken both of them before the first week was even over. Disappointment washed over him. No fun, and no feelings for unattainable men. Dammit!
