Breaking Through Read Online Free PDF Page B

inwardly. I consider slamming the door in his face, but before I can, he sticks his arm out, ready to block me from making any sudden moves. Instead, I settle for crossing my arms and glaring at him. I glare hard too.
    “What do you want, Haskal?”
    “Oh don’t be like that, sweetheart. I just wanted to stop by and lay down some ground rules.” He comes inside uninvited, forcing me to back up so he’s not on top of me. He chuckles and purposely brushes against my arm.
    I grimace, wiping at where he touched me. “I’m not your sweetheart, and what do you mean ‘ground rules’?”
    “You know, with us sharing a wall and all,” he says, hitting the one my bed rests against. “They’re not exactly soundproof, if you haven’t figured that out yet.”
    “And you have?”
    “I share my other wall with Britta. Sounds like she took one look at the place and broke down into tears, poor baby. Between that and Barton hijacking her phone, I think she wants her mommy.”
    “Shut up, Haskal, and get to the point.”
    He moves closer and takes a lock of hair between his fingers, twisting it. “My point, sweetheart, is that if you get too lonely in here, or, I don’t know—too hot —all you gotta do is say my name.” His gaze floats to my lips. “I’ll be right here to make it all better.”
    This guy makes my blood boil. For him to piss me off on board a ship that’s leaving port isn’t the wisest decision. If it were only me and Haskal the Asskal, I wouldn’t care about losing my cool. But we’re not the only ones, and the rest of the ship doesn’t deserve to drown today.
    I take a deep breath. Calm down. Relax. Slow your heart rate. I let out my breath slowly and go for a different approach.
    “Those are your ground rules, huh?” I say. “You shared them with Britta too then, right? She’s more likely to need you than I am.”
    Haskal clears his throat as he gives me a onceover. “The thing about playing hard to get, Nautia, is that it’s hard—not impossible. Give it time.”
    I press my palm against his chest and bat my lashes. “The thing about time, Haskal, is that yours is up. Get out.” I shove him toward the door.
    He puts his hands up in surrender. “For now. See you at dinner.”
    Before I can slam the door behind him, he motions to the metal hinges, which swing the door closed.
    Whatever. Haskal is a dick, but not unmanageable. I can deal for ninety days, right?
    I go back to unpacking. Not two minutes later my door opens.
    “Not the Caribbean Cruise ship I signed up for, but all in all, not bad either.” Kray sweeps past me and plops down on my bed. He bounces a few times, then shrugs. “Spared no expense on the mattresses, I see.”
    “Come on in,” I deadpan, walking over to close the door he left open. “Make yourself at home.”
    He grins and takes a bite off a Twizzler. “I always do.”
    I stare at him, waiting. Judging by the goofy smile on his face, he’s got something he’s dying to tell me, but he wants me to ask before he divulges his treasure. So annoying.
    I give in. “I take it you haven’t been unpacking.”
    “You get a gold star today, Nautia.”
    “Lucky me. What have you been doing, then?”
    “I’m so glad you asked!” He takes another bite off his Twizzler, then points the rest at me like it’s a stick. “Reconnaissance.”
    I grab the desk chair, flip it around, and sit down, facing him. “Okay. What did you find?”
    “There’s a freaking basketball court two levels down!”
    I roll my eyes. “Reconnaissance, you said?”
    “That’s not all I found, but it’s pretty sweet, isn’t it?” Eyebrows high, he bobs his head, trying to get me to agree with him. I don’t.
    “Yeah, not really. Unless there’re classified files hidden inside the balls.”
    “Balls?” Kray says like a junior high kid. “You want to check the captain’s—”
    “Get on with it, Kray,” I prompt.
    “You’re no fun. Okay, so when Barton said this ship was