Page 78 of A Perfect Disaster

“Helen. Do me a favor and turn off that little brain of yours for five minutes.”

I try to cling to logic, desperately searching for a phrase to bring order to my thoughts, but it’s a lost cause.

“Maika, this is downright reckless. There’s a chance security might come by here. And my uniform…”

She doesn’t let me finish. She takes a step forward, closing the distance, and her fingers rest directly on the top button. She doesn’t take her eyes off mine, holding my gaze with a boldness that makes me tremble. I feel the precise pressure of her touch, the warmth of her skin against mine, and that faint blush on her cheeks that betrays how desperately she’s dying to devour me.

“The uniform is already ruined…” she murmurs, beginning to unbutton the garment with an exasperating slowness that forces me to hold my breath. “Just like your precious self-control.”

The first button gives way. The second one too. The icy night air kisses the exposed skin of my neck and collarbone, contrasting wildly with the fire that begins to rush toward my pelvis. I smell lemon, sugar, the sea… and her.

My mind tries to play one last trick on me, trying to label the situation as a simple slipup, a truce after victory. But that’s a lie. Maika is no longer my rival on this ship. Maika is my absolute downfall.

Before I can say anything, she slips my jacket off my shoulders and lets it fall without a second thought. My arms are exposed, as is my white undershirt. Maika takes a step back, unties her apron, and tosses it to the floor. Underneath, she’s wearing a tight T-shirt that accentuates her curves and chef’s pants. The soft glow spilling from the hot tub outlines her silhouette in a way that takes my breath away.

“Come here,” she orders in a whisper, reaching out a hand toward me.

I don’t think twice. I shed the rest of my clothes with a haste I don’t recognize in myself, piling them in a corner. She does exactly the same, undressing with an innate sensuality that sets my blood ablaze. When she takes my hand again, she guides me straight to the water’s edge.

The steam envelops us completely.

I sink into the hot tub up to my waist. The hot water embraces my hips, dissolving the sticky sugar residue, the tension, and the exhaustion of the day, but intensifying that citrus scent I’m carrying. Maika steps in right behind me. I feel the ripples of the water, and immediately, her warm body presses completely against my back. I feel the firmness of her breasts against my shoulder blades and her hands, determined and possessive, wrapping around my waist beneath the water.

“Maika, really…” I try again, though my voice sounds much weaker and more defeated than I intended. “We shouldn’t… If someone from the deck peeks in and sees us…”

Her lips brush the nape of my neck, cutting me off. She gives me a light, tender kiss, followed by another that makes me arch my back. Her teeth gently bite my skin, and an electric shiver runs down my spine, sending any logical argument packing.

“Shut up already, Helen,” she whispers against my ear, brushing my earlobe with her lips as her hot breath burns me. “Tonight, I’m the one giving the orders.”

Her hands travel up my torso. Her nails gently scrape my ribs above the water, drawing a heavy sigh from me as I enjoy the contrast in temperature on my bare shoulders. Without giving me time to react, Maika covers my breasts with her palms, kneading them with an urgency that drives me wild and making my nipples harden instantly beneath her fingers.

A wave of pleasure washes over my belly, and a muffled moan escapes my throat before I can stop it.

“Well, well… looks like the security officer knows how to moan,” she murmurs playfully, pinching a nipple between her thumb and index finger. “Where did that strict demeanor go?”

Her words act like gasoline on a fire. I feel my analytical mind slip away completely. Maika forces me to turn in the water so I’m facing her, leaning against the edge of the hot tub. As I look into those eyes of hers, bright, filled with a wild need, I forget the risks, the crew, and the consequences.

I lunge straight for her mouth. At first she’s taken aback, but it takes Maika barely a second to take control. Her tongue invades my mouth, claiming it, exploring every corner with an authority that fascinates me. It tastes of lemon and victory. My hands, desperate to touch her, cling to her bare shoulders, slide down her back, and pull her forcefully toward me, wanting to meld our skin together.

Maika uses the momentum to wrap her legs around my waist, straddling my lap. With her in that position, I lean forward and take one of her breasts into my mouth, sucking her nipple with a hunger I didn’t know I possessed. Maika lets out a sharp moan and arches her back toward me as she tangles her fingers tightly in my hair, pulling me closer while panting into my ear.

“Like that… please,” she moans, losing her breath as well.

Hearing that plea on her lips, broken by desire, makes me feel more alive than ever. I’m no longer in transit; I’m no longer thinking about the shipping company’s future. I’m here. With her.

We slide a little further down into the water, letting the bubbling waves wash over us. Our bodies rub together inevitably, creating friction that sends sparks through me. My hands explore the curves of her body: her narrow waist, her generous hips, and that firm ass that I squeeze tightly to press her intimacy against mine.

Maika pushes me back against the edge of the hot tub. And then, her hands travel down my belly, submerging beneath the hot water, following a burning path that leads straight to my crotch. The water laps at my exposed sex, but it’s the anticipation of her fingers that makes me tremble completely.

“Look at me, Helen,” she commands, breathless.

I lock my eyes on hers. Maika spreads my legs a little wider and slides her fingers between my lips, finding me completely soaked for her. My head falls back instantly. The night sky is a dark blanket over us, and the only sound accompanying us is the roar of the sea. Maika begins to move, sinking into me.

“Maika…” I gasp. And my facade crumbles. “This is too much… oh, God…”

She doesn’t respond with words. Her fingers curve inside me, making me thrust my hips against her hand involuntarily. The water churns around us.

“Don’t stop… please, don’t stop,” I beg, completely lost in the moment.