He’d thought it would be fun.His university days had been amazing, and he’d soaked up everything he’d learnt, wanting to be the one who made a career.But with the advance in technology, so few people turned up for lectures and the only reason people were at the tutorials was because attendance formed part of their grade.
“You’d be an excellent teacher,” Dot said.“You were great at explaining things to me.”
He smiled.“You were interested.”He tapped his fingers on the bottom of the boat.“I’m not sure why some of them are studying maritime archaeology.Take Andrew.I’m fairly sure his dad is making him.Lucas mentioned he came from a family of ocean-faring people and was adamant Andrew was part of the expedition.”
“Does Lucas have any other sons?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Did Lucas take part in the planning?”
“No, but he’s called every day for an update since we’ve been here.”
“Did you tell him about the journal?”
“Andrew did.I thought Lucas was going to drop everything and come here, but I asked him to give me a couple of days.”
“Have you confirmed the identification yet?”
“I’m ninety-nine percent certain it’s the wreck from the journal, but I was hoping to confirm it tomorrow by finding the ship’s bell.It should have the name on it.”He slipped his hand back into hers.“Did you get any leads on the cannon?”
“No one saw it come to shore at the marina, but there are other places it could have been taken.”She glanced at him.“Does Lucas have a boat?”
He frowned.“He wouldn’t steal from an expedition he was sponsoring.”
“Sorry, that wasn’t what I meant.My brain went off on a tangent.”
“He has a pretty big luxury yacht,” Oliver said.“That’s where we had the launch dinner.”He chuckled.“The man doesn’t understand how good he has it.He has staff to take the boat wherever he wants it and then helicopters in for a few days.Meanwhile we’re in a boat a quarter of the size, with far more people on it, and we stay out for weeks sometimes.”
“He made his money in shipping?”
“Yeah.”
Dot was silent, staring across the other side of the boat but a million miles away.Oliver stayed quiet.She’d often done that when she was working through something, and he didn’t want to interrupt her thoughts.The faster she worked out who was smuggling drugs, the safer she would be.
He slid his arm around her shoulders and she tilted her head up towards him.It felt as natural as breathing as, without thinking, he bent his head and pressed his lips to hers.
Her gasp was followed by a quiet moan.Heat flooded his body as he drew her closer, needing her body against his.His head fought with his hormones to take it slowly, be gentle, show her how much she still meant to him.
He inhaled as his hands swept up her back and cupped the back of her head.
Her lips nipped and tasted as if relearning his, cautious but also insistent.He needed more, so he teased her mouth open.The same drugging taste of Dot.All the memories came flooding back of the nights when they’d spent hours kissing and exploring each other’s bodies, learning what the other liked or didn’t like.Figuring out how to make the other gasp and beg.
He smiled against her mouth as he remembered something and then slipped his hand under her shirt and ran his fingers lightly up her ribs to her breasts.He was rewarded with Dot’s groan of passion.She’d always had sensitive nipples.He’d spent so much time pleasuring them into peaks with his fingers and mouth.
Dot pulled away and got to her feet, moving to the back of the boat.“Wait.I can’t think.”
Neither could he.He stood to go after her before the shock of cold air helped clear his head.His heart pounded and all he wanted to do was drag her into his arms again.He swallowed hard, trying to find something witty to say.“I’d say we’re still compatible in this way.”
Her quick smile sent a surge of affection through him.“We got that bit right at least.”
Suddenly she spun around, looking into the dark.In the distance a boat engine hummed, getting closer.Sam and Sherlock knew they were waiting out the tide, so it had to be someone else.He shifted to his feet and looked around for the source.
TheOceanidhad her lights on and people were on the deck, but the noise wasn’t coming from that direction.It was coming from town, but wherever the boat was, they were navigating by the faint light of the moon, and it was impossible to spot.
Dot reached for the binoculars on the dash of the boat.Slowly she scanned the area and then swore.“I can’t see it.”
“Neither can I, but the sound is toward the barrels.”
