Rissa flashed me a wicked grin. Then she yanked the wheel hard to port, causing the boat to lurch sideways. Distant yelps sounded from the cabins below deck.
"Oopsie!" Rissa giggled, widening her eyes at me in the fakest innocent look I’d ever seen. "Like this?" She jerked the wheel in the opposite direction. The yacht pitched again as more disgruntled shouts reached my ears.
I couldn't help it, I burst out laughing. This woman was a riot. "Okay, okay, you got me. Now straighten 'er out before you make everyone seasick!"
Rissa joined in my laughter. She was stunning when she let loose like this. Part of me wanted to pull her into my arms right then and there.
But I resisted the urge. There'd be time for that later, if she was willing. For now, I'd just enjoy this playful, carefree side of Rissa—one that I had a feeling not many got to see.
Luck was on my side today. Rissa lurched the wheel too hard to the left, accidentally this time, losing her balance. She stumbledsideways, crashing right into my arms. I caught her reflexively, pulling her close to steady her.
The laughter died on my lips as I stared down into her face, mere inches from mine. Rissa's breath hitched. Neither of us moved. Neither of us spoke.
In that suspended moment, I was struck by how perfectly she fit against me, subtle curves molding to my body. By how good she felt in my embrace, all sleek muscles and soft skin. By how badly I wanted to kiss her senseless until she forgot every name but mine.
Rissa must have seen something in my expression, because her pupils dilated, darkening the emerald of her irises. Could she feel my heart hammering beneath her palm? Did she know the effect she had on me?
I swallowed hard. This wasn't just lust. It wasn't only physical attraction, though there was plenty of that between us. No, the emotions swelling in my chest ran deeper, fiercer. More dangerous.
But did Rissa feel the same? Or was this nothing more than a flirtation to her, a fun distraction to pass the time at sea? Another notch on her bedpost, albeit a very satisfying one?
I thought of the nights we'd spent tangled together in silken sheets, the way she moved under and over me, wild and uninhibited. The sounds she made when I brought her to the edge again and again. I'd had many lovers, but none like her. Rissa was...something else.
I opened my mouth to tell her that this was more than just sex for me, that I was falling for her hard and fast, consequences bedamned. Before I could get the words out, Cathy’s startled cry echoed from the main cabin.
Rissa and I sprang apart, the intimate bubble around us shattering. She shot me a questioning look as we hurried out of the cockpit.
We met Rey at the entrance to the living area. Pitch darkness engulfed the space, the warm glow of the recessed lights extinguished. I could barely make out the shadowy shapes of furniture in the gloom.
"What happened?" Rissa demanded, her tone sharp with concern. "Is everyone okay?"
“Just startled,” Cathy responded.
As Rey moved to her side I navigated the room by memory, heading for the drawer beneath the kitchen table bench where we kept emergency supplies.
Rissa followed close behind. As my fingers closed around the drawer handle, I couldn't help but wonder if the sudden blackout was a coincidence...or something more sinister.
Flashlight beams cut through the inky darkness as Rissa and I distributed them to the others. The stark white light cast eerie shadows across tense faces.
"Let's check the engine again," I suggested, already moving toward the stern.
The engine compartment looked unchanged from our inspection, but I scanned it with a critical gaze, searching for anything out of place.
"Two major malfunctions back-to-back like this within days?" I said out loud, frowning. "It's too much of a coincidence."
Rissa crouched beside me, her brows knitted together. "You think someone's messing with the yacht?"
I didn't want to voice my suspicions and risk stoking fear, but I couldn't ignore the warning bells clanging in my head.
"I'm not sure. Probably not, but we need to stay alert. Keep an eye out for anything unusual."
Rissa's lips thinned into a set line, but she nodded.
I peered again into the engine compartment, my flashlight beam cutting through the darkness. "The breakers must be in the bow," I said, closing the panel with a decisive snap. "Let's check there."
We all traipsed to the front of the yacht, Rissa leading the way with her flashlight held high, Jeanette, Rey, and Cathy close behind her.
At the bow, I located the breaker panel in the deck and flipped the hidden panel open, only to find a small padlock barring access. "Locked." I grunted, tugging at it in frustration. "Who the hell puts a lock on a breaker box?"
