“JR, yeah, it’s me. You got his location yet?”

I watch him nod.

“Fuck. Yeah. Let me know when you do.”

He brings the phone down, and growls a curse. He’s obviously having a bad night. He turns and storms toward the bathroom, muttering something about incompetent idiots. He slams the door, and I leap to my feet. I don’t think, I don’t hesitate, I just run toward the phone on the desk. I flip it open, darting my gaze to the bathroom door. Oh God, I have seconds, maybe minutes, if I’m lucky. He could walk back out at any moment.

Adrenalin fills my veins, and I begin to shake as I fumble with the keys, punching in Eric’s mother’s number. I know it by heart, because we’ve been close for so many years. My heart is thumping, and my head is spinning as I struggle to catch my breath. Come on. Come on. I bring the phone to my ear when a hand lashes out and thumps my wrist, sending the phone flying. I spin around, crying out as I lunge towards it, landing on my knees and wincing in pain.

Hendrix is on me in seconds, flattening his body over mine. He lashes out and grips my wrist as I attempt to reach out for the phone. His hard body is crushing me into to the floor, but I still squirm, desperation taking over.

“Enough,” he rasps into my ear, tightening his grip on my wrist. Tears burn my eyes, and I struggle to blink them back. No weakness. I swore I’d show no more.

“Just let me go, I don’t want you to sell me!”

He flips me over, and puts his hands either side of my head, pinning me with his gaze. “You made a deal, a choice.”

“You didn’t give me many options,” I yell, squirming.

“You’re not in the position to be given options.”

His dark eyes are piercing and deadly.

“Just get off me, get off me!” I cry, squirming.

“This is the only phone on the ship,” he growls. “It will now remain with me at all times.”

“You’re a pig!” I spit as he moves his body from mine.

I scramble to my feet, and turn, rushing toward the sofa. I drop down onto it, sinking into the old, well-used cushions. I grip the sheet, and I pull it up over my head before letting the tears escape my eyelids. I sob quietly, not wanting him to hear my weakness.

He doesn’t leave the room, and he doesn’t speak to me again, but I know he can hear me. I know he can hear my pained whimpers as I cry myself to sleep.

It’s dark, and I can hear his soft breathing. A faint light is coming underneath the door, and it shines just enough for me to see his silhouette. I am on my hands and knees, crawling toward him as quietly as I possibly can. I know he’s got the phone on him, and I know I’m going to give it one last shot. I can’t give up that easily. I can’t just lie down and accept my fate. I have to try, just once more.

I reach his bed, and I rise up onto my knees, staring down at him. Why does he have to look so beautiful under this light? Why does it have to caress his body, showing every stunning curve of muscle? I reach down, and gently place my hand on his leg, slowly moving it up. He makes a grunting sound, and I freeze quickly. A moment later, he’s breathing deeply again. I slide my hand up higher until I reach his pocket. Nothing in there. I reach over gently, and try the other one. I feel a hard bump.

My heart begins to pound.

I flex my wrist, and then I gently angle it so that I can reach into his pocket. I can just feel the top of the phone when his hand moves at lightning speed, and grips mine. He wraps his fingers around my wrist, and he tugs. I go soaring forward and land half over his body, with my legs dangling off his bed. I squirm, but his other arm comes up and pins my hips, pressing me down into him.

“You just don’t give up, do you?” he murmurs.

It takes me a moment to respond, because I am completely dazed by the smell of him. His skin has a warm heat radiating off it, and the smell is a blend of rum and man. I swallow, and my vision swims as I realize how good it feels to be draped over him. I shake my head, horrified at myself for even taking a moment to enjoy the feeling of him against me. I tug my wrist free from his hand, and he snorts, tightening his arm over my hips.

“Did you really think I’d make it easy for you?” I snap.

“I did, considering you tied your friend’s life to your behavior.”

I freeze.

Eric.

I stopped for just a second, thinking about how this could impact him. I close my eyes, horrified with myself.

“Did you truly think you could sneak up on me and take that phone?” he says, his fingers flexing on my hips.

“Let me go.”

“Answer me, inocencia.”

“No, I did not, pirate. But I had to try. I might have put my life before my friend’s, but it doesn’t mean that I will just roll over and accept it when I see a window of opportunity.”

“So stupid,” he murmurs, and his fingers begin making circles on my hips. I stiffen.

“L…l…let me go.”

“In good time.”

What the hell?

“What makes you think you can just do whatever you want?” I whisper, tugging my body backwards in another poor attempt to wriggle free.

“I’m a pirate, I make the rules on the ocean, and I break the rules on the ocean. I’m untouchable out here.”

“It doesn’t make you invincible, pirate. I’ll make you pay for this. One day, I’ll find a way to make this burn.”

He chuckles softly. “I know you will, inocencia.”