The Adelina rocked as if she were caught in a massive eddy, and I knew someone had climbed over her side. I could picture him—because, oh, yes, he was very male—traversing the boat’s deck, descending her ladder, striding the corridor to my cabin on silent feet, and I sat up, shivered in anticipation, and stared avidly at the latch to my cabin’s door.
Come to me, I begged.
I’m here.
The latch lifted slowly, and the door began to open. I knew I had to be dreaming, but it didn’t matter. I’d been so lonely, and all I wanted was to remember this dream come the morning.
I began to raise my gaze to better see my visitor but found myself stopped in mid-motion. I was eased onto my back, my position the most tenuous I’d ever been in—restrained, not by physical bonds as I’d been when Viejo had at
