Excerpt of "Netherworld: A Dream You Cannot Escape" by Nikita Swart

It took her a while before voices came to her completely, and it took her a little while longer to realize that they were in the same room as her.

“The barrier has been intruded. We are trying to find the source...” the person across the room from her stopped mid-sentence when he saw her glued to the spot.

Taking a cautious step back when he took a step in her direction, he stopped moving long enough to exchange words with his friend.

He spoke softly, as if not to frighten her. “Make contact with the captain. Now,” he ordered.

His companion hastily left the room, quick to follow through with his order.

Her eyes followed him until he left her sights. Her way out.

She scooted along the room slowly, careful not to draw any unwanted attention her way, not wanting to attract his attention to her only escape route.

As he took another step closer into the light, she could clearly see his face now.

“You!” She exclaimed.

“Listen to me, you are not supposed to be here now, we…” he started talking, but she was not paying much attention.

But his words were a little too late, not that she would have listened to Jonathan anyway. She was already sprinting towards the door.

She managed to get to the door before him by some miracle, but as she stepped outside the cabin, she realized her mistake. Because she might have escaped the cabin, but she was stuck on a ship.

And a very, very angry, but extremely sexy pirate was glaring her down. She only had a second to catch a look before she noticed that he leapt for her at the same time as she tried to sidestep him to make a run in a different direction.

Unfortunately, he was much, much faster, and he caught her easily around her waist while she was attempting to flee into another direction.

He took a second to compose himself, his body stiff against her back.

It made her aware of every inch of him. He was a brick behind her, full of muscles in all the right places, pressing against her back. He was warm, and he smelled of ocean and something strong and muscular. Sheesh, it smelled amazing.

It seemed like he was trying to get himself under control.

He bent his head closer to hers, and she could feel her body tense slightly.

Because to be honest, she was not sure what she should be expecting.