Lifeline

When the door opens, my eyes fly toward it while my body jerks, my muscles tightening with apprehension, but then O’Brien comes in.

I’m hit with relief, my emotions on a wild rollercoaster ride.

He’s carrying a small bundle of fabric which he tosses on the bed. “Put that on.”

Wishing he would look at me, a pleading look forms on my face. “Can we talk?”

I get my wish as his eyes snap to me, his expression still hard and devoid of emotion.

“Please?” I beg, needing to know where his mind’s at.

Suddenly O’Brien stalks toward me, and when he’s within reaching distance, he grabs hold of my damp hair and yanks my head back so I’ll look up at him. “You will not ask any questions, and you’ll do exactly as I say.”

My breaths explode over my lips from the shock. “Okay.”

His intense gaze burns into mine. “I don’t care how. Just get out of this alive.”

“Okay,” I breathe again.

He lets go of me just as suddenly, taking a step back. “Get dressed. We’re expected out on the deck.”

I hurry to the bed and grab the fabric while letting go of the towel, not caring about my modesty. Turns out the clothes are nothing more than a skimpy bikini that only covers my nipples and manicured strip down south.

Now I care about my modesty. A lot.

My cheeks flame up as I turn to face O’Brien, and he takes one look at me before grabbing the shirt at the back of his neck and ripping it over his head. Tossing it against my chest, he barks, “Put it on.”

Grateful, I quickly tug his shirt on, then his warmth falls over my skin like a security blanket. “Thanks.”

Try as I might, I can’t stop myself from devouring the sight of his bare chest and abs. Golden muscle defines every inch of him, and the jeans hanging low on his hips only makes the view so much hotter.

His gaze is still unyielding on me, not a speck of familiarity or warmth to be found. “You do exactly as I say. You don’t talk. You don’t make a fucking sound.”

I barely have time to nod when he grabs my hand, and I’m yanked forward. I’m almost jogging out of the door to keep up with his pace. I’m led down a dim-lighted corridor and out onto a deck where whatever equilibrium I’ve managed to gain is shredded from me.

A girl on all fours is forced to give a blow job while she’s being choked, tears streaming down her red face. Another girl is being rammed from behind, where she’s cuffed to a railing, her cries echoing into the dark night.

God. Almighty.

The depravity instantly sticks to my skin, but before I can spiral down a dark hole, I’m yanked against O’Brien’s solid frame, my face planting into his chest. His hands lock on my hips, and I’m lifted from the floor. “Legs around my waist!” he snaps, and I immediately carry out his order, wrapping my arms around his neck. He moves until I feel a flat surface beneath my butt, and once I’m seated on a counter, he doesn’t let go but starts to plant hot kisses along my neck. His lips knead their way up to my ear, my eyes falling shut from how good it feels.

But I can’t get totally lost in O’Brien, the cries, groans, and grunts constantly clawing at my attention.

“Focus only on me,” he orders, his voice low and deep. My lips part to reply but his teeth sinking into my earlobe rips a whimper from me instead, then he growls, “Not a fucking sound.”

Shit, that’s going to be hard.

A girl lets out an agonizing scream, and my eyes dart to the side, but before I can focus on her, O’Brien grabs my jaw and forces my face back to him. “Eyes on me!”

The dominance pouring off him soaks through my skin, right through to the marrow in my bones. I can’t find any will to disobey, my very being submitting to him.

Satisfaction bleeds over his face making him look like a predator, a savage beast that’s a second away from ripping me apart.

And I’d let him tear into me and enjoy every second.

This side of O’Brien, all dominant and unforgiving, is the hottest turn-on I’ve ever seen, casting me under his spell where none of the depravity swirling around me can touch me.

I’m his and his alone.

Chapter 18

O'Brien

I turned off my conscience because it’s the only way to save her.

Keeping JJ alive is my only goal. I don’t care what happens around us. I just care about her, my lifeline, my everything. She has to survive no matter what I have to do to ensure it.

I’ll kill, rape, and fucking tear every living soul on this yacht apart to save the woman I love.