Chancey would be here soon, if he had in fact been released after theyd sailed. He wouldnt leave her much choice in the matter. When she convinced herself that her future wouldnt be decided by her lack of willpower in dealing with Sutherland, but by an irate Irisher, she gave in. She had to take every second she could with Sutherland before they separatedif hed take her back.
Decided, she flung the core into the water and began the long walk back to the ship. She hardly registered the brilliant setting sun or the dimming sound of the closing shops because she was so lost in thought. A memory from her fourteenth year kept surfacing insistently in her mind.
It was one of those days near the equator when the sky perfectly matched the flat sea and enveloped everything in a vast, blue ball. Becalmed and bored, she and the cabin boy had rigged a rope-swing halfway up the mast. She couldnt remember if it was her idea or his, but theyd pulled the swing over the water, and before her father could catch them, each had dived off from the sheer height. When she thought of Sutherland, she felt the same sharp feeling in her belly, as though she were plummeting straight from the sky. Wasnt that why they called it falling in love?
Oh, Lord, she did not need to be in love with Captain Sutherland.
She replayed her predicament. If he wanted her after the way shed treated him, she would have to purposefully close herself off. Although she couldnt seem to resist his bed, she had to make sure she didnt lose her heart any more than she already had. Shed promised to marry when she got back, and suffered no illusions that a rake like Sutherland would be on her grandmothers list of desirables. Not to mention her fathers hatred for the man.
When she at last reached the Southern Cross, it was nearing midnight.
Thank the Lord you came back, said one of the three midshipmen on deck when she stepped aboard. They all looked especially glad to see her.
She raised her eyebrows. You boys missed me? she asked in greeting.
We have. Capn snaps at us and barks his orders.
Its because of you, another crewman finished with a solemn look. His companions were shaking their heads emphatically, and she had to smile.
You worried the capn something fierce, Miss Lassiter. He aint ate. Nor slept more than a couple of hours since you left. Go on, then. He gestured her past. You know the way.
When she entered his room, the lights were low. He lay in bed, facing away from her, and appeared to be sleeping. The idea of snuggling close to his long, solid body had her flying out of her clothes. She should find a shirt to sleep in, but she didnt want to wake him. No, honestly, she simply wanted her skin to touch his. Quietly, she slipped in and eased up to him.
Just as she was about to lay her head on the edge of his pillow, he said, I didnt know if youd come back.
She hesitantly placed her hand on his arm. His body was rigid with tension. I didnt know if youd take me back.
He hadnt relaxed a fraction. Exactly how angry was he?
I looked for youI was worried about you being out there alone.
Is that the only reason? She moved her fingertips down his broad back.
He sucked in a breath when the muscles contracted. No. I want you to stay with me. He turned to face her. Here.
I will for as long as I can, she replied truthfully, and he seemed to accept that.
He sat up, slowly pulling the sheet off her, tugging it over her ni**les, already hard and sensitive, leaving her bare. She reached up to kiss him, but he pressed her down, petting her.
He smoothed her arm back over her head, then the other, skimming the undersides, down the sides of her br**sts to her waist. When she shivered, he smiled. Then he brushed his lips across her collarbone, licking and lightly nipping before descending to her ni**les. She wanted to cry from the sensations when he took one in his mouth and drew on it sharply.
He enthralled her, grazing his teeth against her, pushing her br**sts together to lavish one, then the other. So much so that she barely perceived he was wrapping her wrists together with a piece of cloth.
When she did, she yanked away, straining to free her hands.
He merely laughed at her attempts. We have a score to settle, he promised her, the words harsh. Moving over her in a predatory manner, he tightened her bonds before securing her to the bunk.
Now, Ill have you. He returned his hands to her. They were rough and burning hot. My way.
She had no idea what to expect from this man. What would he do to her? Alarm spiking through her, she fought against her bonds and bucked his hand away when he brushed it over her br**sts again.
Sutherland continued to stroke her, rubbing his flat palm over her ni**les. He changed positions, bringing his hard shaft against her leg and his skilled touch lower and lower, gentling her struggles. One hand pushed her legs apart while with the other he delved his fingers inside her.
Mindless. Teasing her inside, coaxing her wetter. Until he cruelly stopped.
His hands went to her br**sts to hold them as he brought his mouth down. She raised her hips against him, searching for his giving fingers, but he ignored her. Shed been so close, and now she throbbed, on the verge of begging him to touch her again. Shed put him through this. Now she understood. He was merciless.
Sutherland, please she whimpered.
Call me by my name, he commanded in a low, heated voice. I want to hear you say my name.
Derek! Please
At last, he moved to place himself between her legs, but instead of pushing himself into her as hed done before, he grabbed her bottom with splayed, clutching fingers and lifted her to his bent head. To his lips.
Ive wanted to taste you for months, he said just above her flesh, so close she could feel the heat of his mouth. Then he kissed her directly in the place shed begged him with her body to caress, jolting her lower body off the bed, onto his waiting tongue.
This had to be wrong! She thrashed to get away.
He pressed her down into the bed, hard, then lifted his head to catch her gaze. You wont deny me this. Youll never deny me this. Wrapping his arms around her thighs, he dragged her closer to his mouth, clenching her down onto his shoulders. He held her imprisoned as he ran his tongue up and down her, in her, then higher taking that sensitive bud in his mouth, wholly, sucking. She would fly apart
No, Derek, no. Not like this . She melted, flowing, wet beneath his lips. Never taking his mouth from her, he reached up and rolled her nipple in his fingers, plucking at one, pinching the other.
Without warning, the madness crashed over her, that hot rapture that made her buck her hips to his mouth, to get closer to his firm lips, to his clever tongue rubbing inside her. He was ruthless in wringing every ounce of pleasure from her. Wave after wave, first one, then incredibly another, her spasms coming with every lash of his tongue.