Page 9 of Demon On Deck

“Better luck next time,” I say, turn, and head for the elevator.

Chapter 5

Danger On the High Sea

EVREN

Two days later, I still can’t believe I lost. I never lose, especially at numbers games. Odds are what I do for a living, for fucks sake. Either I was too confident in my ability to beat the house odds, something I should have known better than to underestimate based solely on the thievery of the slot machines, or the universe truly doesn’t wish me to spend more time with Kallie.

Clearly, I should have spent more time studying the game before placing my wager.

Leaving my suite, I wander down to one of the restaurants for breakfast. As I traverse the enormous ship, I search for Kallie. Again. Luck, however, does not seem to be on my side. By the time I reach the restaurant, I’m in a pissy mood, worse than when I first arrived.

Things don’t get any better from there. The waitress brings me the wrong order twice, then knocks over my glass of water into my lap. I want to snarl and snap at her to be more careful and watch what she’s doing, but my gruff demeanor is probably what made her nervous to begin with.

I leave her with a generous tip and begin aimlessly wandering. Well, that’s not entirely true. My aim is to find Kallie. Wandering is how I am trying, and failing, to accomplish that.

I’m about to head to the casino when her scent hits me, hibiscus and orange blossom. My eyes dart all around, desperately searching for her. I finally spot her, a flash of coppery hair and porcelain skin on one of the upper decks. Using my massive size to my advantage, I take the steps nearly three at a time. Rushing past families and couples, I nearly knock people over in my rush to catch up to Kallie.

When I spot her again, she’s standing in line for one of the off-ship excursions. With a little help from my demonic powers, I manage to clear the people behind her in line so I can creep up behind her.

Today her hair is pulled back in a low ponytail. She’s wearing a red bikini top that has me drooling like a cartoon caveman, and shorts that hug the curve of her ass like a glove. She’s a mouthwatering snack I’m more than eager to take a bite out of.

Once I’m behind her, I lean down and say, “Of all the lines, for all the excursions, you end up in mine.”

Kallie whirls around with a smile that rivals the sun and a musical laugh.

“You use that line on all the ladies?” She asks with a quirked brow.

“Not a chance, Doll. Only you.” I replied.

She laughs again, smiling brightly, making my stomach do somersaults.

“What are we in line for?”

“I thought this was your line?” She quips sassily.

Now I laugh, “I have many lines.”

“That’s what she said,” Kallie laughs again, and I join in. “To answer your question, deep sea fishing.”

I try, and fail, not to recoil.

“Not a fan of fishing?”

“Fishing is fine. Open water, not my favorite.”

Kallie’s smile dims a tad as we scoot up the line.

“Bummer. Maybe we’ll see each other later? I mean, the odds seem to be in our favor of running into each other.” She says, smile returning as we hit the sign-up station.

Kallie turns and signs all the necessary paperwork. When she steps aside, I step up and do the same despite the anxiety steadily growing in the pit of my stomach.

“You’re going?” She asks excitedly. It pleases me that she’s eager to spend more time with me.

“I am,” I say with as much confident enthusiasm as I can muster.

As we make our way down the steps to a lower deck and head outside, I ask, “What have you been up to since I failed miserably at roulette?”