Say It Again On My Lips, Aurora

Aurora Brooks POV

I studied Captain Alexander's sinful figure the same way he studied mine. His body inside that sharp uniform stole my breath and locked my tongue on the last word I had spoken.

Before Martin could say anything angry to scold me, the captain spoke in a cold voice wrapped around his rough tone.

"You may leave, Engineer."

Martin's tense expression loosened. He walked to the door without even looking at me. I liked the way the captain stopped him from saying another word to me.

Mr. Alexander leaned back in his leather chair, playing with a fountain pen between his fingers. His raven black hair fell over the right side of his forehead.

"Getting you here was easy, Aurora."

My fingers tightened around my bag.

"What exactly do you want from me?"

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to keep my nerves from breaking. My voice shook with every word that left my throat.

"I know you refused your son's engagement to my sister just to control me. So what do you want from me?"

He threw the pen onto his desk. The surface was decorated with small wooden ship models and an old style steering wheel.

"What do I want from you? Are you serious, little one?"

My body trembled with anger ready to explode.

"My name is Aurora Brooks. Not little one. Understood?"

His eyelids twitched in irritation when my voice suddenly rose. Then he stood up and walked toward me with quick, heavy steps.

"I will tear your vocal cords apart one by one, little one."

I stepped back instinctively. Danger was standing right in front of me. Still, I loved life, even if it had been cruel to me.

"Do not come any closer."

His boots struck the floor as he stopped directly in front of me. His face hardened.

"How dare you come to my workplace? I do not even allow my own children here."

My eyes sharpened when I remembered why I had come.

"I am not here for you. And I certainly did not come to see your face."

I pushed my hair back when I noticed the faint smile forming on his lips.

"I am here to talk about the decision you made about your son and my sister. You have no right to kill the love they built for years. Even if I am the reason."

He lowered his head slightly, moving the tip of his black shoe across the floor with careless amusement.

"Aurora, my little one."

The calm tone of his voice scared me more than anger would. It felt like speaking to a man who had already lost his mind.

His dark eyes lifted toward me.

"You are fighting with everything you have to make this marriage happen."

Confusion spread across my face. His words were strange.

"What do you mean?"

He stepped closer. A dark little smile curled on his lips.

"Are you planning something? I doubt this childish marriage is your real goal."

I stepped away again. My long hair flew behind my back while his sharp eyes followed every movement.

"What intentions are you talking about, Captain Alexander? You clearly have trust issues too."

He moved suddenly. One short step and he was right in front of my face.

Our eyes locked.

Mine were confused.

His narrow pupils were unreadable.

"Captain."

He whispered the word against my skin. His hot breath brushed across my flushed cheeks and the tip of my nose. I could smell his cologne. Dark and masculine. And mixed with it was the faint scent of cigarettes. It made something inside my chest tremble.

My voice shook when I asked him.

"What?"

His voice dropped low. Dark as a moonless night.

"Say it again, little one."

I pressed my back against the wall. It was the only thing stopping our bodies from crashing together.

"Captain."

He lowered his head even more until our faces were only inches apart. Our lips almost touching.

"Say it again on my lips, Aurora."

I blinked slowly, hiding the panic building inside me. His movements terrified me. They also made me want to run far away from him.

But his eyes were devouring my mouth.

Our breathing mixed in the small space between us. A kiss without lips.

"Captain."

He exhaled deeply and closed his eyes for a brief moment. Then he lifted his head slightly, like a man who had just tasted something powerful.

"You steal my breath when you say it like that, little one."

One hand slipped into his trouser pocket. The other wrapped around my neck.

His hard touch sent a sharp shock through my chest.

"Your clean voice could be used for anything. That tone is pure destruction."

When my mind returned to me, I grabbed his wrist and tried to push his hand away from my neck.

"I think your wife's death drove you insane. Let go of me, you idiot."

I did not raise my face to look at him. But his grip on my throat tightened until my veins felt ready to burst. I was forced to look up at him while gasping for air.

"When you speak about my wife, wash that mouth with honey first. Maybe then it will be clean enough to mention her memory."

My mouth opened desperately for air. Even while choking, I managed to fight back.

"I am cleaner than both of you. You and your precious wife are nothing but whores. One day you will meet in hell together. So do not be too sad."

I laughed with barely any air left in my lungs.

"Do not cry, Captain. Please. Your pure wife might get upset."

His breathing turned savage.

Suddenly he slammed me against the wall so hard my weak back almost broke. A painful sound escaped my lips when I felt the impact.

I noticed his jaw twitch violently.

I spoke again with careless cruelty. All I wanted was for him to release me from his brutal grip.

"She must already be sad. She saw you kissing a nightclub dancer after you tried to fuck her the first time."

His voice turned dark with warning.

"Aurora. You are playing with fire."

My lips opened with a tired sigh.

"I have always played with fire. It does not scare me."

His teeth clenched as he dragged a deep breath into his lungs.

"My patience is very short, little one. When it runs out, I will bury you alive."

I lifted my chin proudly, crushing his arrogance with my words.

"You will be the one buried alive when I get what my sister and your son want. You drove me crazy. So take responsibility for your actions."

A furious, unsteady smile appeared on his face.