Chapter One - Intoxicated By Him

Brynne tore her gaze away from the hottest specimen on earth and ordered another refill. Her senses swam as she tried to focus on her drink. She knew she should stop, but the scene with Adam and his wh*re kept on playing in her mind. His cruel words echoed in her head, crushing her innocent heart.

All her life, she had steered clear of men. If it hadn’t been for her parents’ untimely death, she would still have stayed away from Adam Carter. He crawled into her system at her weakest moment. Not that she was in love with him, but she cared about him for everything he had done for her.

Adam had helped her when she was at her lowest and had no one to turn to. Brynne was indebted to him for helping her get a grip on her life. She should have remained just friends with him and not accepted his proposal. Their relationship was shallow, forced, and lacked the spark right from the start. It was a sure-shot disaster.

Brynne picked up her drink to finish it in one gulp when a suit-clad arm caught her wrist. She looked up in surprise, only to see the hottest specimen on earth standing in front of her. He eased the drink out of her hands. “That’s it for you.”

Brynne gaped at him for a split second, trying hard to focus on the stranger. Why was he so concerned about her when her boyfriend wasn’t? “Excuse m-me. Do I know you?” she spat back bitterly. She had no idea why she reacted so violently to the stranger. Maybe it was the vodka in her system. Or was it the electric sparks that shot up her body at his touch? It could be the look in his eyes as if he cared about her genuinely. It all triggered a strange chemical reaction in her brain, causing her to temporarily lose her mind.

“Not yet, but you will soon.” He held Brynne’s gaze for a minute and even in her inebriated state, she had the feeling he knew her. Really knew her! How could it possibly be when she had just met the man?

“Why d-d you c-care?” she stammered incoherently. “No one d-does. I w-want to forget m-myself t-tonight.”

Yet the man didn’t leave her table or release her drink. Instead, he pulled a chair and sat down with her, leaving his bevy of females behind at his table. “I can’t let you fall sick on the first day of this special cruise.”

Brynne searched his mesmerizing eyes for some hidden motive but found none. Why was he helping her? Why did he care if she fell sick or not? “I want to f-fall s-sick. Maybe I shouldn’t have c-come on this trip.” He looked at her for a moment, a frown marring his handsome features.

“Did you come on this trip for someone else or because you wanted to?” Brynne sighed, focusing her glassy eyes outside the bar on the shimmering deck lights. Something in him made her want to lose all her inhibitions and confide in him. He released her wrist and covered her hand with his on the table. His warm touch did wonders to her senses, making her relax. And when he slowly drew circles with his thumb on the backside of her hand, it triggered a need that shot to her brain and heart simultaneously.

“Both. But you know what? H-he cheated on m-me.” The man leaned over and tucked a loose curl behind her ear. He didn’t look like the friendly, caring type. Then why was he going out of his way for her? Then there was the staring! Why did he have to stare at her as if he knew everything she was going through?

“Do you want to talk about it? I mean, just get it out of your system, maybe.” Brynne nodded, wanting to do just that. She wanted to teach Adam Carter a lesson he would never forget. She wanted to show him he wasn’t indispensable to her. But why did she trust this stranger more than her best friend? Her eyes met his, and she had a momentary lapse of sanity. Tired of bottling it all up, she wanted to open up to someone tonight.

The man looked around to see all the curious gazes hooked on them. “Not here. Come with me.” Her rational mind would have warned her to run as far away from him as possible, but Brynne wasn’t in her senses tonight.

“W-where?” she gasped when he stood up to leave.

“You’ll see.” He stepped towards her with a skew smile playing at the corner of his lips. Brynne staggered backward, her eyes hooked on the insanely se*y man as he took another step towards her. Under the sparkling lights, he looked like a predator on the prowl. Why would someone like him want her when he had a troop of females ready and waiting for him?

He flashed her an iceberg-melting smile, as if aware of the effect he was having on her. “Let me help you.” Before she could realize what was happening, he picked her up in his arms, making her gasp with horror. Her head swooned, and she rested it on his broad shoulders, suddenly glad of the support.

“Add the bill to my account,” he instructed the server and strode towards the door.

Brynne raised my head worriedly. “I c-can pay. P-please put me down.”

“Later.” Her head swam as she tried to focus around her. The man carried her effortlessly as if she weighed nothing at all. She could feel all eyes hooked on her. Why were they all staring? Was it her imagination playing tricks on her senses?

“E-everyone’s staring,” she mumbled in a state of daze.

“Let them. I don’t f*cking care.” He walked in with her into the nearest elevator that took them to the fourteenth floor. Brynne’s head swooned, and she closed her eyes to block out the strange looks she was receiving everywhere they went. What was wrong with the people here? Hadn’t they ever seen a drunk woman before?

“Um, I’m s-staying with a f-friend in DF5101, deck 5.” She could feel him tense for a split second.

“With whom? Your boyfriend?” The growl in his voice surprised her. It seemed as if he knew her boyfriend.

“No, he cheated on me. I’m staying with my best friend.” Yet he was rigid. She could feel his tense muscles against her body as he held her flush against himself.

“He’s waiting for you, right?” Brynne raised her head and looked at him in confusion.

“Who?” He watched for a second as if some cogs had turned in his head.

“Your best friend. Who else?” Brynne blinked out of her daze and smacked her forehead.

“It’s a she. Chill!” She grinned at the relieved look on his face.

The elevators opened onto the fourteenth floor instead of the fifth. “Why are we here? You can put me down. I’ll go to my cabin.” Her head swam, and she grabbed onto his shoulders for support.

“We’re near mine. It’s just a few steps away. Come on,” he coaxed, his ocean-hued eyes holding her gaze. Brynne swallowed hard and her breath caught in her throat. Even in her inebriated condition, she could ponder over the implications.

Was she doing the right thing? Who was the man? What if he was a criminal or a killer? If her mom had been alive, she would have been shocked to see her blindly trusting a stranger like him.

“No, I’m good. I’ll go down.” Yet he didn’t put her down, watching her with a frown.

“You’re not in a condition to go.” It was true. Brynne blinked, knowing she had too much to drink. Maybe she could forget her mom’s warnings for one night and enjoy herself for a change. After all, she would never see him again!

Without waiting for her reply, he walked over to the luxurious section of ocean-facing suites.

A tiny smile tugged at his lips as he watched the jaw-dropped look on her face.

He eased her down and unlocked the door of the Royal Owner’s Suite 1001. Brynne blinked in confusion, unable to focus ahead. With the alcohol in her system taking a toll on her senses, she could hardly think straight.

Why did the hottest specimen on earth bring her to the Owner’s suite? She would have to ask Daniella.

“Welcome to my humble home for 7 days!” he whispered, picking her up and entering his far-from-humble room.

Brynne’s eyes went round as she watched the luxuriously decorated, spacious suite. The little cabin she would share with Daniella was nothing in comparison.

“Do you like it?” he whispered, carrying her straight to the grand sofa in the living room.

“It’s nice.” He stood in front of her, again continuing with the staring contest. Brynne couldn’t tear her gaze away, nor could she focus on him.

“Vodka cranberry cocktail?” Brynne nodded with a shrug. What harm could one more drink cause?

He returned with two drinks and set hers in front of her. Perching beside her, he sipped his drink while watching her like a hawk. The way his legs brushed against hers and his arm resting behind her touched her skin, Brynne was on fire. “So, you were talking about your cheating boyfriend?”

“I want to forget him, please.” His eyes sparkled as he caressed her nape, his fingers working their way down her shoulder, easing the tension spots. Brynne sucked in a deep breath and leaned into his touch.

“Trust me. I know just the way, Brynne!”