Part 14 (1/2)

The fact that she was determined to put a brave face forward when others facing the possibility of death would not have possessed sufficient courage to do so raised his opinion of her yet another notch.

”The s.h.i.+p is fine. She has been through worse storms.”

”What about-”

”-all the s.h.i.+ps are fine.”

She stepped closer and smiled. Though his hair was wet and his sea-drenched clothes were cold and stuck to his body, his blood was now coursing white-hot.

”The storm is subsiding. There is no need for alarm.”

”Thank you. It was kind of you to come to my cabin and inform me of this, to spare me further concern.”

He gave her a curt nod. Leave now, his inner voice warned. And he was going to heed it.

As he turned to go, he heard, ”Simon?”

She approached and stopped before him, her body now too close for his sanity.

She bit her bottom lip as though she was searching for her next words. There was something different about her tonight.

”Simon, how does a woman ask a man to kiss her?”

He felt as if cold water had just splashed him in the face. ”What? What man do you think to ask?” he demanded, seized by an unnerving sense of possessiveness.

”You.” Her one word dissolved his ire and tightened his groin. ”Do I give you leave? Or...am I to kiss you first?”

He blinked. This couldn't be real. This was one of his many erotic dreams of her. It would only escalate from here, and he would wake up alone. His c.o.c.k rock-hard.

She raised her hand and covered her breast. ”Will you...touch me and kiss me here again?”

Christ. If her words weren't enough, seeing her touch herself was too much. He grasped her wrist and pulled her hand away from her breast, unable to muster words while she beguiled him so.

”You cannot ask me to kiss you and touch you and expect me to stop there.” How much will did she think he possessed?

”Then don't stop.”

His brows shot up. ”Do you know what you are asking? What you are giving me leave to do?”

She looked back at the bed. His gaze followed hers, his mind filling with the image of her lying naked under him, taking every hard inch of his c.o.c.k inside. He quashed the groan that surged in his throat.

Capturing her face between his palms, he forced her to look at him. ”What you are suggesting will impact on the rest of your life.”

”I was hoping it would,” she said softly. ”You're right about what you have said. Everything you have said. I don't want to just exist. I want to live. Feel alive. I want to know the pleasure you described. I want you to do to me what you did the first day of the voyage. And more.”

Good G.o.d. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers. ”Angelica... I want you too much. I'm no saint...” She's offering herself to you! Practically begging for it. What was he waiting for?

”Just one time, Simon. Just tonight... Show me what the release, the 'ultimate fulfillment' feels like...please...”

That was the prettiest plea he'd ever heard. He hauled her up against him, and had her mouth in an instant, crus.h.i.+ng it with savage intensity. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew he should stop, but as she laced her arms around his neck and returned his heated kiss, all his objections burned away.

Just once was all she wanted. Just once was all he needed to end his s.e.xual suffering. But he was going to make sure she partic.i.p.ated in this debauchery so that she couldn't condemn him in the morning.

”Open your bodice,” he murmured. ”Offer me those gorgeous b.r.e.a.s.t.s.”

He drew back to look at her, her hands sliding from around his neck down to his chest. She glanced at the neckline of her gown and paused. He feared she was vacillating. And he wasn't about to let her stop now.

He brushed his mouth over the sensitive spot below her ear and lightly bit her earlobe, adorable freckle and all, enjoying her little gasp. Cupping her breast, he pinched her excited nipple through her clothing. For his efforts, she rewarded him with a delicious little mew. He held the sensitive tip firmly, letting the pressure build into inflaming throbs.

”Open your bodice, chere. Let me give you what you want,” he said in her ear, releasing her nipple, then lightly pinching the other. She whimpered. ”You like that, don't you? You want more, no?”

Her quickened breaths warmed his ear. ”Yes...”

He released the tip and stroked his thumb across it. He felt her little s.h.i.+ver of excitement all the way down to the end of his c.o.c.k.

”Will...Will you do what you did the last time, Simon?”

”Oh yes.”

”You said that...this act between men and women is pleasurable in the extreme. You'll show me...everything?”

”Open your bodice.” His voice was gruff with impatience. ”I will give you what you're looking for.”

He watched as she tried to unfasten her clothing. Garnished with bows of ribbon down the front, the bodice posed a challenge for her nervous fingers.

His patience snapped. He pulled her up against him, captured her lush mouth, penetrating it with his tongue. His eager c.o.c.k twitched with antic.i.p.ation. She gave his tongue a long, luscious suck, her actions sending heat through him like a bolt of lightning, inciting him further when he was already in a state that required no encouragement.

He stripped away her clothing, coaxing her along with hot whispers and caresses. He told her how much he wanted her, how good it was going to feel being inside her, how hard he was going to make her come.

When he was done, he paused to devour the sight before him. She had the sweetest, most edible form he'd ever seen. Beautiful b.r.e.a.s.t.s that rose and fell with her rapid breaths. Gorgeous curves. The softest skin. Eyes shut, she tried to s.h.i.+eld her body from his view, but he caught her wrists and held them apart, looking his fill. Tonight, she was all his. And she was definitely worth the wait.

”You are every bit as beautiful as I envisioned,” he said.

Her eyes snapped open. The small smile adorning her lips told him that his comment pleased her.

Cradling her breast in his palm, he dipped his head and sucked her nipple into his hungry mouth. She thrust her fingers in his hair, instantly frenzied by the erotic sensations.

He pressed her down on the bed, still drawing on her breast, enticing sharp, shallow pants from her. He wouldn't relent until he had her writhing. Until she panted out his name. She was so d.a.m.ned desirable. Every untaught movement and uncontrolled sound she made drove him wild. Turning to her other breast, he swirled his tongue around the pretty peak before giving it the tiniest bite. Her cry of pleasure lanced into his groin, milking a dollop of pre-come from his c.o.c.k.

Simon yanked off his s.h.i.+rt and tossed it onto the floor.

This time, he wasn't going to be denied. There was no way he could stop. Not even if the b.l.o.o.d.y s.h.i.+p was sinking. He'd be the one to introduce her to carnal delights. That incredible thought pulsated through every nerve ending in his body. The gift she was giving him moved him.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her mouth to his. Urgency pounded in his blood. Yet he forced himself to slow down, noting she was squeezing her thighs together.

Intent on spiking her hunger, he grazed a hand over her smooth belly, then cupped her s.e.x. They both groaned. She was so slick, her curls already wet with her juices. His c.o.c.k seeped more s.p.u.n.k. With the heel of his hand he applying direct pressure over her c.l.i.t, relis.h.i.+ng her mewl. ”Spread your legs for me. I can make you feel so much more.” He kissed her neck and slipped a single finger between the wet folds of her s.e.x. ”Trust me...” Lightly, he delivered a stroke over her c.l.i.t so swollen with need. This time, she jerked back before losing her breath, stunned by the sharp, carnal sensation.